Comments on: US National Team Viewing at the Sweetwater – An Interesting Success Story http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/11/world-cup-viewing-at-the-sweetwater-an-interesting-success-story/ Uniting Soccer Fans in Minnesota and Beyond Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:34:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/11/world-cup-viewing-at-the-sweetwater-an-interesting-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2083 Brian Quarstad Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:32:14 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10168#comment-2083 Talked to Saeed about that today and there's a good chance he will show it although it will cost him. You may want to call down there and confirm he will show it. Game starts at 6 CT. Talked to Saeed about that today and there’s a good chance he will show it although it will cost him. You may want to call down there and confirm he will show it. Game starts at 6 CT.

]]> By: Terence http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/11/world-cup-viewing-at-the-sweetwater-an-interesting-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2082 Terence Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:01:01 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10168#comment-2082 What are the chances the Uruguay/Argentina game will be played there? What are the chances the Uruguay/Argentina game will be played there?

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/11/world-cup-viewing-at-the-sweetwater-an-interesting-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2069 Brian Quarstad Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:27:16 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10168#comment-2069 The Kartik report on the World Cup seeding- how will it work?: http://bit.ly/4RWLE The Kartik report on the World Cup seeding- how will it work?: http://bit.ly/4RWLE

]]> By: smatthew http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/11/world-cup-viewing-at-the-sweetwater-an-interesting-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2061 smatthew Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:15:37 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10168#comment-2061 Big ups to Saeed as well as the DC/MN1st crew who have been working to help improve the environment for US soccer fans in the Twin Cities. I remember it was just in the last qualifying cycle dealing with being turned down from one soccer bar and scrambling to see if the other would televise it only to get second fiddle to England. I didn't make the game but its great to read about the numbers and I tip my hat to all the hard work everyone has put in to improve the experience for US soccer fans here. Big ups to Saeed as well as the DC/MN1st crew who have been working to help improve the environment for US soccer fans in the Twin Cities. I remember it was just in the last qualifying cycle dealing with being turned down from one soccer bar and scrambling to see if the other would televise it only to get second fiddle to England.

I didn’t make the game but its great to read about the numbers and I tip my hat to all the hard work everyone has put in to improve the experience for US soccer fans here.

]]> By: hater http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/11/world-cup-viewing-at-the-sweetwater-an-interesting-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2055 hater Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:20:46 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10168#comment-2055 Although he runs an excellent store he is a poor referee!!!!! Although he runs an excellent store he is a poor referee!!!!!

]]> By: Zach Walker http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/11/world-cup-viewing-at-the-sweetwater-an-interesting-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2054 Zach Walker Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:38:25 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10168#comment-2054 Yes I was referring to "Sia" actually. Thanks for the clarification. Sia is a good guy who runs a great shop. Heck he even used to let me set up Subbuteo demos in his store from time to time, haha. Anyways, great to read all the good stories from the Sweetwater and here's to hoping that there are many more of those large turnouts in the future. P.S. Doesn't matter if the US gets a seed or not, we will advance out of the group stage. Positive thinking never hurt anyone, right? ;) Yes I was referring to “Sia” actually. Thanks for the clarification. Sia is a good guy who runs a great shop. Heck he even used to let me set up Subbuteo demos in his store from time to time, haha.

Anyways, great to read all the good stories from the Sweetwater and here’s to hoping that there are many more of those large turnouts in the future.

P.S. Doesn’t matter if the US gets a seed or not, we will advance out of the group stage. Positive thinking never hurt anyone, right? ;)

]]> By: Ross http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/11/world-cup-viewing-at-the-sweetwater-an-interesting-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2048 Ross Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:47:18 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10168#comment-2048 That was, by far, the most fun I've ever had watching a sports event on TV. To SAEED! :-) That was, by far, the most fun I’ve ever had watching a sports event on TV.
To SAEED! :-)

]]> By: From the Wire http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/11/world-cup-viewing-at-the-sweetwater-an-interesting-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2047 From the Wire Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:07:03 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10168#comment-2047 By the way, Keeper Ken is right in that Siavosh Rahimi or “Sia” is the proprietor of Planet Soccer but that is located in Minneapolis on Lyndale. Another fine soccer store in the the Twin Cities. I took my C-license with Sia far too many years ago to speak of. :) By the way, Keeper Ken is right in that Siavosh Rahimi or “Sia” is the proprietor of Planet Soccer but that is located in Minneapolis on Lyndale. Another fine soccer store in the the Twin Cities. I took my C-license with Sia far too many years ago to speak of. :)

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/11/world-cup-viewing-at-the-sweetwater-an-interesting-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2045 Brian Quarstad Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:32:52 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10168#comment-2045 Thanks for the clarification Leper. I thought I head heard the US was hoping for a seed after the good finish at the Confederations Cup and a top finish in CONCACAF, even though I am much aware of how weak CONCACAF is compared to many confederations. I'm hearing of people turned away at a lot of bars across the US as they had well extended their max capacity. Thankfully Saeed had planned ahead and had access to the conference/banquet rooms at the Kelly Inn. However, if something like this comes up again I would have liked to see a larger TV or a projection TV perhaps in that room. I think they had something like a 32 inch in there and it was not really very adequate for the number of people in that room. Also on my wish list is a larger TV for the main TV at the round table. He should have a giant one over there. Hopefully that will be something we can request in the coming year or so. Thanks for the clarification Leper. I thought I head heard the US was hoping for a seed after the good finish at the Confederations Cup and a top finish in CONCACAF, even though I am much aware of how weak CONCACAF is compared to many confederations.

I’m hearing of people turned away at a lot of bars across the US as they had well extended their max capacity. Thankfully Saeed had planned ahead and had access to the conference/banquet rooms at the Kelly Inn. However, if something like this comes up again I would have liked to see a larger TV or a projection TV perhaps in that room. I think they had something like a 32 inch in there and it was not really very adequate for the number of people in that room.

Also on my wish list is a larger TV for the main TV at the round table. He should have a giant one over there. Hopefully that will be something we can request in the coming year or so.

]]> By: leper http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/11/world-cup-viewing-at-the-sweetwater-an-interesting-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2044 leper Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:15:31 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10168#comment-2044 Great times indeed. I showed up about 10 minutes before kickoff expecting to see a good crowd, but nothing like what was there. Very impressive. Regarding the seed - only the top 8 teams are seeded. South Africa gets one as host, so only 7 seeds are available. FIFA never really publicizes the method, but for the last few World Cups it has been based on a combination of performance in previous World Cups and FIFA rankings. They have tweaked the formula slightly as to the relative weight of the components and how far back they go, but it's the same general concept. The US obviously did well in 2002, but that is worth less in the formula now, and our poor showing in 2006 is more heavily weighted. Long and short of it though, is cy is right - the US isn't going to get a seed. And even if we were close and in the running for one, the difference between finishing 1st and 2nd in the hex is not much difference in the formula anywa. Great times indeed. I showed up about 10 minutes before kickoff expecting to see a good crowd, but nothing like what was there. Very impressive.

Regarding the seed – only the top 8 teams are seeded. South Africa gets one as host, so only 7 seeds are available. FIFA never really publicizes the method, but for the last few World Cups it has been based on a combination of performance in previous World Cups and FIFA rankings. They have tweaked the formula slightly as to the relative weight of the components and how far back they go, but it’s the same general concept. The US obviously did well in 2002, but that is worth less in the formula now, and our poor showing in 2006 is more heavily weighted.

Long and short of it though, is cy is right – the US isn’t going to get a seed. And even if we were close and in the running for one, the difference between finishing 1st and 2nd in the hex is not much difference in the formula anywa.

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