W♥M

U.S. Womens National Soccer Team at Allianz Field, St Paul (Sept 2019)

Read More Soccer Major League Soccer becomes a true reality in the Twin Cities as Minnesota United FC is about to debut their brand-new soccer-specific stadium, Allianz Field in St. Paul. …

(We all miss sport. Any new sports at this point, as evidenced by record TV ratings for the recent NFL Draft and current ten-part Michael Jordan documentary. Here’s an event we covered last summer, but are posting it up for the first time – enjoy and here’s hoping things get back to some kind of safe normal soon!)

Fresh from winning their record fourth World Cup by shutting out Netherlands 2-0 in July, the greatest team in U.S. soccer, The Women’s National Team embarked on their Victory Tour, stopping at Allianz Field in St. Paul in early September for a match against Portugal.

The match was an instant sellout of all 19,600 tickets, leaving many left wanting, but the team graciously opened their practice session held the day before, for free on a first-come/first-serve basis.

This actually ended up being the best way for fans to see most of their favorite players, as seven members of the World Cup-winning team, ended up sitting out the next night’s match for various reasons (injuries, etc), though many still attended/participated in the practice and could be seen much closer up and casual, versus during a normal match.

Outside, the blocked-off plaza in front of the stadium featured interactive exhibits, sponsor tents, former player appearances, and a live DJ. Inside, the main bar and several food stands were open but unfortunately due to high winds, the set of World Cup trophies brought along for public display, weren’t able to be accessed.

The players jogged onto the field for their hour-long practice to a standing ovation of applause and cheers, along the one side that was open for public seating and proceeded with a regimen that started with simple stretching and ball handling, to half-pitch short practice games, ending with a jog around the field to a roaring crowd and a short presentation to end.

At the actual match the following evening, the US Women dominated Portugal, easily winning 3-0, with Carli Lloyd scoring the first two US goals (her 20^th career multi-goal game) in this third match of the tour. Lindsey Horan scored the team’s final goal (with the US dominating shots on goal 21-1) giving USWNT coach Jill Ellis (who would depart after the tour in October) a tying mark for all-time wins in the program’s history.

The current health crisis canceled early spring 2020 matches against Australia and Brazil and of course, delayed the upcoming Summer Olympic Games until next year, but the players also continue to fight to narrow the pay disparity between they and their male counterparts.

A collective bargaining agreement was reached in April 2017 getting things closer towards their goal of equal pay and a gender discrimination lawsuit has also been filed, alleging in addition to pay, their playing, training, and travel conditions are also compromised.

Striker Alex Morgan just gave birth to a baby girl and defender Becky Sauerbrunn has been selected as the first president of the United States Women's National Team Players Association so many players are making the most of their forced quarantine, until play can safely resume.

U.S. Womens National Soccer Team at Allianz Field, St Paul (Sept 2019)

john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

We♥Sports: MN United FC - Allianz Field open house, St. Paul (March 2019)

Minnesota United FC Regular Season Schedule 03/30 Minnesota United at New England Revolution Gillette Stadium 04/06 Minnesota United at New York Red Bulls Red Bull Arena 04/13 Home Opener: MNUFC vs. NYCFC Allianz Field 04/19 Minnesota United at Toronto FC BMO Field 04/24 Minnesota United vs. LA Galaxy Allianz Field 04/28 Minnesota United vs. DC United Allianz Field 05/04 Minnesota United vs. Seattle Sounders Allianz Field 05/11 Minnesota United at Chicago Fire SeatGeek Stadium 05/18 Minnesota United vs. Columbus Crew Allianz Field 05/25 Minnesota United vs. Houston Dynamo Allianz Field 05/29 Minnesota United at Atlanta United Mercedes-Benz Stadium 06/02 Minnesota United vs. Philadelphia Union Allianz field 06/08 Minnesota United at Colorado Rapids Dick’s Sporting Goods 06/29 Minnesota United vs. FC Cincinnati Allianz Field 07/03 Minnesota United Vs. San Jose Earthquakes Allianz Field 07/06 Minnesota United at Montreal Impact Saputo Stadium 07/13 Minnesota United vs. FC Dallas Allianz Field 07/20 Minnesota United at Real Salt Lake Rio Tinto Stadium 07/27 Minnesota United vs. Vancouver Whitecaps Allianz Field 08/04 Minnesota United vs. Portland Timbers Allianz Field 08/10 Minnesota United at FC Dallas Toyota Stadium 08/14 Minnesota United vs. Colorado Rapids Allianz Field 08/17 Minnesota United vs. Orlando SC Allianz Field 08/22 Minnesota United at Sporting Kansas City Children's Mercy 09/01 Minnesota United at LAFC Banc of California Stadium 09/11 Minnesota United at Houston Dynamo BBVA Compass Stadium 09/15 Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake Allianz Field 09/22 Minnesota United at Portland Timbers Providence Park 09/25 Minnesota United vs. Sporting Kansas City Allianz Field 09/29 Minnesota United vs. LAFC Allianz Field 10/06 Minnesota United at Seattle Sounders CenturyLink Field Read More Soccer So this Sunday will see the Sydney Sailors and the Western Wal­ers will take to the football oval to fight for the honour of the inau­gural Reclink Community Cup. …

The Loons finally have a new roost they can call their own home--

Major League Soccer becomes a true reality in the Twin Cities as Minnesota United FC is about to debut their brand-new soccer-specific stadium, Allianz Field in St. Paul.

The team’s home opener is not until April 13 vs. NYCFC , but we got an early look at the gleaming new facility. On October 23, 2015, team owners announced that the team would build a new privately-funded stadium on the thirty-five acre Midway area that mostly housed a former city bus barn.

Kansas City-based Populous was to design the stadium with Mortensen Construction hired as part of the stadium construction along with Populous. Mortensen also recently built U.S. Bank Stadium and worked with Populous on three other main Twin Cities sports stadiums: Target Field, TCF Bank Stadium, and Xcel Energy Center.

The stadium is ring-shaped with seating for 19,400, expected to grow to 24,474 with a future expansion. A glass-like polymer mesh oval exterior gives the outside a sleek facade and it is open air. Color-changing LEDs light the exterior mesh, similar to Allianz Arena in Munich and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

Major construction on the site began in June 2017 and construction on the stadium was completed on February 27, 2019, after 20 months of work. Final cost was $250 million with the field being natural grass and measuring 120 x 75 yards.

Additionally, the US Men's national soccer team's opening game of the 2019 Gold Cup will be held at Allianz Field on June 18.

Some facts:

Design Features:

88,000 square feet of translucent PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) stadium skin

1,700 emotive LED lights embedded into the exterior

360-degree canopy

Electronic playing surface heating

Street level design with exterior materials Minnesota-sourced Mesabi Black granite, metal panel, textured concrete and glass

Sustainably-designed to minimize environmental impact

Fan Amenities:

125 feet separate the back row and 15 feet from the first row to the pitch

17 different types of seat and service offerings

One of three current MLS safe-standing sections, featuring a 2,920-seat, pyramid-shaped supporters' section

Four premium hospitality clubs

2,300-square-foot retail store

Bike parking for 400 bikes

ADA & companion capacity: 280

Technology:

22x116' videoboard

Distributed antenna system for enhanced cell phone coverage

High-density wifi for mobile device coverage

Landscape Design:

28,000-square-foot great lawn acts as the stadium's front yard and year-round green space

Projected 2 million gallons of rainwater recycled each year

Native trees strategically placed to maximize shade

 

The Good and The Bad:

At first visit (the field was not painted and still being worked on, among other things), this is an impressive world-class facility and surprisingly intimate for being a 20,000 seat stadium. Hopefully, concerts and other public events will eventually be hosted here.

A Brew Hall is located just inside the main entrance and plans to be open year-round, with a giant selection of on-tap choices and upgraded bar-style food. However, $6 bottled water and most beers priced in the $10-13 range, make this an eat-and-drink-before-you-go destination for a lot of us.

Sightlines are generally good and every seat seems like a reasonably wide and unobstructed view.

Tickets will probably be scarce for this first season in the new stadium, as everyone is curious and wants to experience a match there early on.

Parking is very limited on-site and in the immediate area- highly suggest taking light rail (which stops just across the street), or Uber/Lyft/taxi, to save any grief and exorbitant expected parking costs.

The team is still finding its way as far as being truly competitive, finishing 9^th in its conference and 17^th overall last season, and its owner has had some dubious history but having a brand-new impressive stadium, may change some things for the better.

Allianz Field is a winner (mostly), we’ll have to see how much the team

itself can be during this season.

(click on any photo below to enlarge and see full image)

MNUFC Allianz Field Building Plaque

MNUFC Allianz Field marquee

MNUFC Allianz Field

MNUFC Allianz Field Stands

MNUFC Allianz Field stands

MNUFC Allianz Field stands

MNUFC Allianz Field Brew Hall Taps

MNUFC Allianz Field Big Screen

MNUFC Allianz Field scoreboard time clock

MNUFC Allianz Field Brew Hall

MNUFC Allianz Field Team Store

MNUFC Allianz Field Team Store display

MNUFC Allianz Field outside

john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Reclink Community Cup Sydney - March 18th, Henson Park, Marrickville

So this Sunday will see the Sydney Sailors and the Western Wal­ers will take to the football oval to fight for the honour of the inau­gural Reclink Community Cup. Come along and witness music and entertainment indus­try personnel battle it out during an Australian football (AFL) match against local musicians all in the name of raising funds for Reclink Australia.

Gates open at 12 noon, match bounce is at 2pm. Band times are: Wolfpack at midday, The Meanies at 1pm, Front End Loader at half-time and The Celi­bate Rifles post-match. Gates close at 6pm Public Transport infor­mation and directions to the ground can be found at www.com­munitycup.org.au/sydney/match-details .

Bands performing on the day will be The Meanies, Front End Load­er, The Celibate Rifles and Wolfpack. Also Russell ‘Rusty’ Hopkinson from You Am I will be spinning tunes with Boonge between band sets throughout the day. Umpiring will be SBS-TV’s Rockwiz’s Brian Nankervis. The long-term weather forecast is indicating pleasant weather!

If there’s any question in your mind about whether to pop down there on Sunday or not then let Mr Rogers entice you…“The Community Cup is what my year is based around. Forget the A List occasions and Class A’s, this day is strictly for the Low Brow Elite. Elegant brutality and community spirit. I would love Sydney to wrap it’s legs around it and the two clubs to become freakin pow­erhouses of freak standards like our mighty Rockdogs and Mega­hertz”. - Tim Rogers, You Am I.

For more information on the 2012 Reclink Community Cup in Syd­ney go to www.communitycup.org.au.

For more information on Reclink Australia visit: www.reclink.org

www.facebook.com/sydneyreclinkcommunitycup

www.facebook.com/melbournereclinkcommunitycup

www.facebook.com/thesydneysailors

www.facebook.com/westernwalers

Topical Comedy Time

Well you Yanks may not know what a football vuvuzela is*, but the rest of us have been busy watching the FIFA World Cup. Including Richie Webb, BBC Radio 2's sport-comedy-music guy. And he's come up with this little ditty based around the not-so-well-received Jabulani ball. A day later and I'm still bursting out in random fits of laughter at that mid-song solo...

 

Richie Webb-Everyone's Doing The Jabulani

Richie Webb

 

Shamelessly ripped from Look Away Now, broadcast 24th June 2009.

* No, it's not the WHM boss's RPG handle. It's comedy gold, as I'm sure you'll agree after listening. Now, I'm off to perform some solos on me iPhing....

- Christophe-"Dugarry"-r

 

Raymond Wong - Shaolin Soccer Opening Theme

 

Photo: Chan Kwok-Kwan

Sorry for all these soundtracks, this will be the last in a while, I promise. I just couldn't help it with this entry, because my brother sent this in:

China films Bruce Lee biopic
Tue Apr 10, 9:15 AM ET

(excerpt)

Chan Kwok-kwan, who plays Lee in the TV series, said he had mixed feelings about playing the role of an icon.

"I'm nervous and also excited, but I will do my best," Xinhua quoted him as saying.

 

Raymond Wong - Shaolin Soccer Opening Theme

Raymond Wong

It's no accident Chan Kwok-Kwan looks just like Bruce Lee, apparently Stephen Chow did a search for a look-a-like to star in his film. Check out that yellow, black-striped, jumpsuit that looks like from "Game of Death" (incidentally, Uma Thurman wore a very similiar outfit for "Kill Bill").

So just a little trivia for you, before "Shaolin Soccer" was released in the USA, I read somewhere that Miramax wanted to replace the entire soundtrack (please listen to Raymond Wong's "Opening", to get a taste of the original soundtrack) and they wanted to dub the movie. They just didn't know how to market the film to the US audience.

To me, it was simple: just release the film in its original edit, with subtitles. But you know how it is: Americans just simply don't want to see a subtitled movie.

The only good thing out of the Miramax debacle was that when the DVD was released to North America, they included both (American edit and Hong Kong edit) version.

PS, I'm too lazy to do any research on Raymond Wong, the music composer. If anyone have any information, I will include it in this entry. Non-vox people, you can leave a comment here: www.haloscan.com
PPS, I will get around to fulfilling that Cat Power request (yes, we take requests, send us a message), that is unless someone else want to do a writeup on Chan Marshall/Cat Power. I already have the discography section built, I will happily insert it in any post.

  ♥ vu