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Post by FuryJP on Apr 3, 2008 0:16:33 GMT -6
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Post by soccer fan on Apr 3, 2008 6:39:05 GMT -6
April 16th is the following Wednesday, but no matter.
It was a great time last year, $10.00 tickets in advance is a great price (as is $12.00 at the door) and it'll be great to see both teams back in the neighborhood.
The Fire played their full starting lineup for the first half last year.
Will "Mr. White" (aka Cuautemoc Blanco) be there and play? If really hope so, and if he does, I suspect the place will be PACKED with people from Pilsen. What a great experience for the UIC players, and what an opportunity to get more fans to UIC Soccer!
Best of all, the proceeds go to charity, so you really can't go wrong.
I am SO up for this. I hope the weather cooperates.
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Post by FuryJP on Apr 3, 2008 13:02:06 GMT -6
Yep, the following week, thanks. If anyone wants to join in, I'm trying to get a group of 20 so that tix are just $8. If you're interested, just reply or email me jpaone2@uic.edu and I'll add your name to the list. We'll figure out $$ once I have 20 people for sure.
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Post by soccer fan on Apr 3, 2008 15:43:56 GMT -6
Count me in. I'll email you.
What do you think it would take to resurrect some semblance of the cheering section from the playoffs last fall?
Section 8 is sure to be out in force, and screaming for the Fire.
We need Flames fans! All hands on deck!
And speaking of Section 8, if those knucklheads light flares again, I'm not gonna give the cops a bullshirt story about it being OK with the athletic director like I did last year. They were going to thrown them all out! As it was, only the fool who threw one on to the field was. What a moron.
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Post by Big D on Apr 3, 2008 15:49:29 GMT -6
Kind of off-topic, but does anyone know anything about our new recruits coming in this year? I noticed Loyola released info on their soccer recruits well over a month ago at the end of February. Loyola was either early, or UIC continues to prove that they are one of the worst when it comes to giving fans info on recruiting...
In any case, does anyone know if we've been able to sign some potential stars? I'm hoping that with our success the past couple years, we'll have a chance to step up our recruiting...
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Post by soccer fan on Apr 4, 2008 8:42:54 GMT -6
I've been wondering the same thing.
For whatever reason, the soccer program has not released any information, and I am reluctant to believe rumors.
We all know the departures of Zambrano and Dunjer leaves a gaping hole in the midfield, and I've been wondering who or how they intend to fill it. I'm hoping (praying) for some good transfers, because those two really were the heart and soul of that offense.
My policy is not to bug any of the players I cross paths with around the 'hood, but I may make an exception in this case, because I am really curious.
Back on topic:
I don't know if anyone caught the Fire vs. New England game last night, but this year's Fire is a vastly improved team from last year.
The Flames defenders are really going to have their hands full with Blanco and Frankowski - assuming they play, of course.
Frankowski and Blanco, two international superstars, veterans of the World Cup, coming to OUR field and playing OUR team. And they are not even whining about it!
It just shows you what a two-bit punk Bruce Weber really is.
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Post by soccer fan on Apr 9, 2008 11:57:41 GMT -6
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Post by EzE on Apr 9, 2008 12:04:48 GMT -6
I've got a meeting that night...I wish I didn't...go Frankowski!!! errr...go UIC!
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Post by goflames31 on Apr 9, 2008 13:18:02 GMT -6
I didn't go last year but from reading their forum about it, I'm excited about this year!
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Post by FuryJP on Apr 16, 2008 12:18:55 GMT -6
Didn't get the 20 people needed for a group rate  None-the-less I'll be skipping my 300-level class to go to the game tonight. |
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Post by soccer fan on Apr 17, 2008 5:58:27 GMT -6
Fire 0 - Flames 0
It was not exactly an even match, but our guys withstood the onslaught and got away with a tie.
Several observations:
1. UIC's defense played really, really well. The team of Younger looks much improved and teamed with Bubonja looks to be downright intimidating when they get into their own league.
2. Charlie Trout: That kid can flat-out play. He spend a good part of the first half guarding Blanco, and held his ground.
3. Baggio: A fine game from him, too.
4. The most obvious difference between the pros and the NCAA is that the pros were almost to a man, bigger, stronger, and faster. It is clear to me that the MLS, or at least the Chicago Fire, have fallen into the trap of drafting physical specimens. A lot of the Fire players do not play soccer very well, despite the fact that they are big, strong, fast, and dribble the ball well.
5. In terms of getting the most mileage out of your talent, there is no doubt who has the better coach. The UIC kids were outgunned, almost to a man, but did not collapse under the pressure. They stayed in position, did not overplay, and chose their (few) attacks carefully. The Fire dominated the midfield and attacked relentlessly, but struggled almost every time they got near the goal. John Trask should probably should be coaching the Fire.
6. I am revising my expectations for the Fire down for this season. Blanco looks well past his prime, as does Frankowski, and the team didn't look cohesive or like they had much of an idea of what they wanted to do. Since the current head coach does not seem to have a strategy to utilize the talent he has to work with, I predict he will not last the season.
Overall, I think the Flames should be proud of their effort, and next season looks promising.
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Post by Big D on Apr 17, 2008 22:22:04 GMT -6
Nice to see our defense was able to hold the Fire in check. I am excited for UIC soccer to start up again. I hope that UIC considers streaming the home games. I would definitely watch.
So how was the UIC fan turnout on Wednesday? Was it poor? Looks like JP couldn't even get 20 people. I sure hope there were more than 20 UIC fans there out of 2000.
Again, any word on new recruits?
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Post by soccer fan on Apr 18, 2008 7:46:44 GMT -6
The fan turnout was excellent, all things considered. For some reason, they chose to start the game at 6:00 P.M., which in my opinion limited the attendance pretty drastically.
The crowd was largely pro-UIC, although the Section 8ers made most of the noise. I did hear some people chanting "UIC", but not in an organized or consistent manner.
With the exception of Section 8, the crowd was mostly neighborhood people, just like any other game, and being where it is, there were a lot of students as well as a lot of people from Pilsen. Flames Field really can't accommodate much more than 2000 people anyway, so maybe starting it at 6 was the right thing to do.
No word on recruits, and no word on anything else, either.
The only thing newsworthy is that I believe I heard the announcer say they will be selling Flames soccer season tickets for $25.00 this year.
Soccer has been included in the all-events pass in the past, but aside from men's basketball, it is head-and-shoulders above any of the other sports in terms of fan support and mind share. This will enable them to track soccer-specific revenue and hopefully encourage more people to support Flames soccer.
Personally, I don't know whether I'll stick with the all-events pass or whether I'll switch over. I like to think of myself as some kind of neighborhood guy, support the local kids, across-the-board UIC athletics supporter, but the truth is I am only a regular at soccer and men's basketball, and I make a point of attending a few baseball games.
The all-events pass has always been somewhat problematic for me because it is a four-ticket package for $75.00. I'm thinking it might make more sense to buy the soccer pass, donate the difference to the Athletic Dept. (and get a tax break in the process) and just pay at the gate for the baseball games.
I am undecided. Maybe somebody from the Athletic Department would be kind enough to chime in on the relative merits of all-events vs. soccer plus donation.
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Post by uic53 on Apr 18, 2008 9:12:10 GMT -6
I would gladly pay $25 for a soccer season ticket. For the product they put on the field, I think that's a huge bargain. I hope that it is successful and that people buy the soccer season tickets. I wonder if they would start numbering seats on the bleachers of if they will all be general admission? Personally, I would prefer general admission. It would force people to get there early to get the seats they want and help create more of a buzz. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season and can't wait to see what kind of talent we have coming in.
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Post by uic53 on Apr 18, 2008 10:20:53 GMT -6
And here is the answer to what we were discussing earlier...
Gentlemen,
To answer the question of the day …
The UIC Flames All-Sport Ticket plan will see a change for the upcoming year. Since the All-Sport ticket was introduced a few years ago as a four-pass plan, we’ve found that there are a number of neighborhood residents, alumni, faculty and staff, etc. who would like to attend multiple athletics events throughout the year, but that don’t need four passes. Next year we’ll be offering Flames fans the opportunity to buy the 2008-2009 All Sport Ticket (one pass for all non men’s basketball regular season events) for $25. This will make the All-Sport plan more accessible, and - in the long run – should increase attendance and revenue for each of the sports we are selling admission tickets to … starting with soccer and volleyball in the Fall.
We’ll roll out the plan publicly when men’s basketball season ticket renewals are sent out in June. Feel free to share with the curious masses between now and then.
As always, thanks for the continued interest and support, and know that I’m only a phone call or e-mail away if you have other questions or comments regarding UIC Flames Athletics!
Go Flames!
-S.G.
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