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od **lw789** » pát 05. říj 2018 2:28:06

MINNEAPOLIS - The Super Bowl has been secured. Now the Minnesota Vikings have set their sights on soccer. With construction underway on their new stadium, the Vikings have intensified their pursuit of a Major League Soccer franchise for the NFL facility that team owners designed in hopes of accommodating both sports. Co-owner Mark Wilf met this week with MLS officials, the latest dialogue between the two parties. The Vikings also announced a partnership with promoter Relevent Sports, a major player in the soccer world that is helping sell an international tournament game between two European teams to be played at the University of Minnesota in August. "We like to go to new markets," Revelant Sports CEO Charlie Stillitano said Wednesday. "It seems like wherever we go an MLS team follows, and I think its a good thing." Most MLS teams, 15 of the current 19, play in soccer-specific stadiums for around 20,000 fans in a more intimate setting, but the Vikings have been touting their plan to classily cover the upper bowl of their new venue and reduce capacity from 65,000 to between 20,000 and 25,000. The translucent roof and five pivoting glass doors on the front of the building -- plus seats and suites close to the action -- give the facility a more vibrant feel. "Theres a real opportunity there, and we really have a lot of respect and admiration for the ownership group," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said earlier this year. Atlanta will begin play in 2017 at that citys new retractable roof NFL stadium to be built for the Falcons, whose owner Arthur Blank acquired the soccer club. Plans there will convert the 71,000-seat football facility to a soccer capacity of 29,000 by only using the lower bowl. With the regular season starting in March and the MLS Cup held in December, a roof would be ideal for a team in Minnesota. When Sporting KC won the championship game outside last year, the game-time temperature in Kansas City was 22 degrees with a wind chill of 12 that plummeted as the sun set. The MLS has added five teams in the last five years with a goal of 24, and New York City and Orlando will make 21 next season. Miami has also granted a franchise to former star David Beckham, contingent on a soccer-specific stadium being built there. That only leaves one spot left, and Garber said earlier this year Sacramento, California, San Antonio and San Diego are also under consideration. MLS executive vice-president for communications Dan Courtemanche said theres no specific deadline for awarding the next franchise. "There is no shortage of demand for future MLS expansion teams, and many markets and potential ownership groups have contacted the league office to inquire," he said. Criteria for MLS expansion include a committed local viable ownership group with a comprehensive stadium plan it controls, in an appropriate market attractive to sponsors and television networks with a history of strong fan support. The Twin Cities area currently has a team, Minnesota United FC, in the North American Soccer League, a level below the MLS. "We think our stadium is the perfect fit for MLS. We also think that Minneapolis-St. Paul has tremendous potential for MLS," Vikings vice-president for public affairs and stadium development Lester Bagley said. The legislation authorizing funding for the stadium included a five-year window from the opening during which the Wilfs have exclusive rights to bring an MLS franchise to the venue. That doesnt mean another group couldnt beat them to it at another site. Minnesota United owner Bill McGuire, the former CEO of United Health Group, has been linked with Minnesota Twins owner Jim Pohlad as potential partners in an MLS franchise. But that would require money for and construction of yet another new sports facility in a crowded market. Vikings officials will use the Aug. 2 match between Manchester City FC and Olympiacos FC, part of the Guinness Cup tournament, as an opportunity to gain more knowledge of and grassroots support for the sport. About 20,000 tickets have been sold so far, Stillitano said. Blake Swihart Red Sox Jersey . The 20-year-old Inoue landed a series of combinations and the bout was stopped 2 minutes, 54 seconds into the sixth round. Inoue, the first Japanese boxer to claim a world title in just his sixth professional fight, improved to 6-0 with five knockouts. Steven Wright Red Sox Jersey . - Pete Rose didnt want it to be about him, not on a day when four new members were elected to baseballs most exclusive club. http://www.redsoxapparelsshop.com/ted-w ... rsey-c-12/. - Buffalo Bills running back C. Hanley Ramirez Red Sox Jersey . Martin Reway and David Griger both recorded four points with a goal and three assists each. Mario Lunter, Daniel Gachulinec and Stanislav Horansky also scored for Slovakia (1-0). Dominik Kahun had both goals for Germany (0-2), who lost its opening match to Canada 7-2 on Thursday. Rick Porcello Red Sox Jersey . - The fiancee of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez is set to ask a judge to throw out allegations that she lied to a grand jury.SURREY, B.C. - The housecleaning continues for the B.C. Lions.Less than two weeks after firing head coach Mike Benevides, general manager and vice-president of football operations Wally Buono said Tuesday the team is cutting ties with several veteran players, including quarterback Kevin Glenn.Its about winning, said Buono. Its not about anything else.The 35-year-old Glenn was acquired in the off-season as an insurance policy behind No. 1 pivot Travis Lulay, who was still recovering from off-season surgery to his throwing shoulder.But Lulay wasnt healthy enough to play until early September and re-injured the joint in his only start, meaning that Glenn ended up starting all but one game for a Lions team that finished 9-9 before suffering an embarrassing 50-17 playoff loss to the Montreal Alouettes.Glenn — who wont be offered a new contract — threw for nearly 4,000 yards and had 17 touchdown passes, but he was also intercepted 17 times in leading an attack that often stumbled at critical times.Professional sports, you get measured by winning, and when you dont win theres issues and usually theres consequences, said Buono. We have to analyze where were at, where were going and what do we do to make sure this team is a lot more competitive, this team is a lot more exciting and this team wins a lot more football games.Buono also announced the Lions will not be picking up the contract options for defensive back Dante Marsh, defensive end Khalif Mitchell, linebacker Jamall Johnson and punter Ricky Schmitt.Marsh played 11 seasons with the Lions, but the 33-year-old had injury issues in 2014 and said after the Lions playoff loss that he didnt expect to be back while at the same criticizing the teams lack of identity.Mitchell, meanwhile, was brought back into the fold after being traded to the Toronto Argonauts after the 2012 season, however the hulking lineman who dominated with the Lions in his previous stint with the club failed to make much of an impact.In taking his share of the blame Tuesday, Buono said there were things he could have done differently in assembling the team, including the character in the locker-room.When you look at the personnel and you look at the chemistry, maybe the chemistry wasnt what we wanted. When you bring in players theres always a risk that things blow up in your face, he said. Im not going to sit here and say that wasnt the case. Chemistry is a big part of winning and losing. Chemistry is a big part of harmony. Winning always masks your issuues (and) losing always exposes your issues.ddddddddddddIve never been around a winning team where everybody doesnt love each other. Ive never been around a losing team where there isnt a lot of animosity or a lot of infighting or a lot of guys on different pages.Lulay spoke to the media on Tuesday as well and said he expects to be ready for training camp, something he also said last year about this time before sitting out the first nine games of the regular schedule.He also agreed with Buonos assessment that something was off with the Lions in 2014.I think its fair to say we werent the team that wed hoped we would be, said the 31-year-old. Any time youre losing and its not going as planned, thats when those things come to the surface.We werent who we wanted to be and that needs to change.Buono spoke of the Lions getting some new blood on the sidelines when Benevides was axed, and said Tuesday the interview the process was already underway.He added he had yet to seek the permission of either the Calgary Stampeders or Hamilton Tiger-Cats to speak with any potential candidates who were involved in Sundays Grey Cup game.The one thing that Im trying to formulate in my mind is what and who this next head coach is going to bring to this football club, said Buono. The two most important people in your organization are your head coach and your quarterback. Everything goes from there.Buono was asked about Stampeders offensive co-ordinator and assistant head coach Dave Dickenson, who said last week he would be in Calgary next season.That declaration didnt seem to phase Buono.Me being the politician that I am, Im going to ask a number of teams if I can have permission (to talk to coaches), he said. Thats the etiquette of our business today. I will go through the proper channels.There are people on other teams that wed like to talk to.Another name that has been mentioned is that of Hamilton defensive co-ordinator Orlondo Steinauer, but Buono said his search will reach south of the border.Were not limiting to (Canada). Were going south of the 49th parallel too, Buono said before adding: There are certainly qualities you want.One of those qualities will surely be an ability to mend a fractured and fragile locker-room heading into training camp.We have to change the environment and the culture, said Buono. Whether you like it or not, whether Im hurting somebodys feelings or not, weve got to do that.We have to change the culture and we have to change the environment. Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Mets Jerseys Cheap Phillies Jerseys Cheap Nationals Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Brewers Jerseys Cheap Pirates Jerseys Cheap Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Padres Jerseys Cheap Giants Jerseys ' ' '