Posted:
Sun Oct 17, 2010 12:40 am
by laza
Henry meeting mods of Rawk within days of taking over sure is a sign of power of the internet
Posted:
Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:05 am
by mgabby
Predictions are hard to make, especially for the future... but as a long
time Red Sox fan, I'll try to look at what Henry and co. done with
the BoSox since 2002, and figure out what can LFC fans expect:
The order is random, as I think about more things...
1. Anfield / New stadium - Fenway is one of the oldest ballparks in America.
Still, they decided to renovate it, and not build a new one. Fenway capacity
is about 37,000 (with a difference between day and night games). One of
the smallest in the MLB. It is sold out since 2004, and tickets are sold on
ebay / stubhub 2 or 3 times it's face value. So no doubt Sox could sell
much more tickets for every game. They are adding more seats every year,
in any possible place - but still keeping the "old" looks of the park, and I got to
admit it looks great! I love going to Fenway.
If the stick to Anfield they might try and check if it is possible to add more seats.
Maybe building another level to it? If they go on a new stadium it will be a first
class one. And I am sure they will know how to keep the tredition of Anfield,
in the new one. Things like having a "kop", bringing some of the old seats from Anfield,
maybe even pieces of the grass...
2. Ticket prices - Will go up, but in a smart way. They will build first class VIP boxes,
and try to add as much as possible expensive seats (like the green monster seats in
Fenway), but might not change the price of regular seats, or hike it in a very modest
way. That way, average ticket price go up, yet cheapest ticket for the average fan is the same.
3. Go global - The Sox bought Daisuke Matsuzaka (yep, from Japan) for about 101 million
Dollars (including 51 million to the Japanease club for the right to speak to him), for 5 years.
Believe it or not, people in Japan started to follow the Red Sox! They watch games in the
middle of the night (when Dice-K is pitching, every 5th game), and they buy merchandise...
In the Sox store across fenway you can find shirts in English, Hebrew (big jewish comunity
in Boston), and Japanease... You can order Sushi now at fenway, not only Clam Chowder :-)
So my guess, Liverpool will try to expend to global markets. Don't be surprised to see
a Japaneas player... A LFC kit sold in Osaka is a kit sold!
4. Buying players - Well, they will buy players. They are not affraid of buying the top possible
players. No more N'gog as the top signing... BoSox are active in the free agent market
every year, aiming at the top players (Lacky was the top pitcher available last year, and
was signed). But they are also reasonable spenders. They will not offer Chelsea 100 million
for drogba. And if someone offers 100 million for Torres - he is gone. They will learn the
market and buy/sell players in reasonable prices. And yes, they know that a top player
has it's costs... BoSox payroll is second only to the evil empire from NY.
5. The goals - The goal is winning. Period. The BoSox were a team that won nothing
since 1918 (yep, 86 years curse) untill the dream year at 2004. We won again at 2007.
The goal in Liverpool will be to win the premier league. No one will celebrate a second
place in the new ownership. Oh, and as the global expension, Champions league will
be a top priority too.
6. The Fans - John Henry is very loved be the Sox fans, and I think he likes it. He
listens to the fans (I think this is why he kept the good old Fenway...) so I guess
he will do the same in Liverpool. Anfield? New Stadium? - he will listen to the fans!
Well, that's my 2 cents for now...
Go 'pool!
Go Sox!
Posted:
Sun Oct 17, 2010 10:41 am
by Igor Zidane
Heard that SOS are meeting the new owners tomorrow i think.
Posted:
Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:28 pm
by zarababe
The owners have backed Hodgson ahead of the Derby game. wonder if they are clued-up enuff, as yet. to know it's time he was relievd of his duty ...
BTW I'm really pleased this lot are our 'owners' - have belief in them !