?Expanding Summer League?

[Moose]

I agree with Horn, Most of the fun of summer league is seeing all the people I rarely see outside lax. I think it is a must to have all the games at one location. I would vote for single location, two fields.

[Frank Clark]

Just to clearify "Big Boy League" was not in reference to how Lars and Graff run things. I think they do a very professional job.

[Blake Randolph]

From playing the last few years my biggest problem has been being on teams with 6-8 d-poles and having to split playing time between all of us untill people stopped showing up due to lack of playing time.

I would like to see smaller rosters and maybe a few more games. I think if people showed up with their own teams it would lead to more conceded games and the the league would become one sided with really strong teams and really weak teams. I like the format we have now with drafting of players.

[AuggieLaxCoach]

i can see both sides of the "bring your own team" discussion. It would be fun to roll with all your friends. But, one of my favorite parts of summer league is playing with people I have never played with before and getting to know new guys.

Cuz I would see that making our own teams might end up with a UofM team, UMD team, SJU, UST, Northstar, Minneapolis, Lakers, etc...

We do that at Hot Dish, Kato, etc...

[Pinball]

Now the hard part would be finding two suitable lighted fields that fit the budget, have lights, short grass/turf and be close to Lars' house.

- is the second field at HA lighted?
- do we have to stay where there is turf?
- a stadium?
- Any ideas on location? What about the new field down by Parade Ice Center and sculpture gardens?
- Will there be enough Refs to cover two games going on at the same time?

[Dulax31]

What about hopkins, I believe they have two turf field right next to each other with lights?

[Frank Clark]

i can see both sides of the "bring your own team" discussion. It would be fun to roll with all your friends. But, one of my favorite parts of summer league is playing with people I have never played with before and getting to know new guys.

Cuz I would see that making our own teams might end up with a UofM team, UMD team, SJU, UST, Northstar, Minneapolis, Lakers, etc...

We do that at Hot Dish, Kato, etc...

I think you would be surprised of how that would divide up.

I know that there are some that get frustrated with the variations in level of play. While good for the newer people those who like more competition may find this as a reason to not always show or have a want to play.

Regardless of what some would like to see happen two people run the summer league and have their vision so that is where we are. They do a professional job and I think all involved are thankful for that. To some a higher level of play is desirable, and to some it isn't. I know I would get more excited and motivated if it was more competitive.

Hopkins would work really well with the multiple fields and central gathering area. Not sure about avaialbility but definately a great location!

[Chris Larson]

Now the hard part would be finding two suitable lighted fields that fit the budget, have lights, short grass/turf and be close to Lars' house.

- is the second field at HA lighted?
- do we have to stay where there is turf?
- a stadium?
- Any ideas on location? What about the new field down by Parade Ice Center and sculpture gardens?
- Will there be enough Refs to cover two games going on at the same time?

The field at AHA that we use is the only lighted one. I've noticed a lot of off season soccer practices we might need to work around if we tried the grass as a second field. I'll look into it.

Artificial surfaces can be used (usually) regardless of the amount of rainfall.

Stadia tend to be cost prohibitive

Parade? Talk about commuting nightmares

I think we can get 'er done with the officials. It would take 2 crews to cover it each week

What about hopkins...

please see

Now the hard part would be finding two suitable lighted fields ... close to Lars' house.

[Frank Clark]

Hopkins has lights and new artificial fields. Plus with less time slots daylight should work...right?

And close to Franks house

So after that comment it will surely be in bloomington or SP

[umdulax1]

Hopkins would work really well with the multiple fields and central gathering area. Not sure about avaialbility but definately a great location!

Don't forget you can walk there Frank!

[Frank Clark]

No not that close. If we go old school at lake calhoun then I can walk, and apparently swim on the field some days.

[Pinball]

Parade? Talk about commuting nightmares

Isnt more construction going to happen till like 2013 on that fun 62-35W interchange right by HA??

[Frank Clark]

Yeah thats what MNDOT is saying. What about augsburg? As a back up to the closest field tgo my house of course.

[AuggieLaxCoach]

i can look into field availability, we might run into a few issues; the field administrator is the head soccer coach and he likes to fill up all the time slots with all kinds of soccer activities. I can't even get practice time let alone put a league together. Secondly, playing any games before 6-6:30pm would be a disaster... both ways on 94 from 4-5:30, sometimes later are completely ridiculous. Those of us that live near the UofM or UST, Bethel... (and myself that lives right off 94 & Snelling)... it would be a wet dream... but coming from outside the TC, more like a nightmare...

I like the Hopkins idea, I think there are a lot of good ideas... but now that I work in Bloomington, I was looking forward to spending my entire wednesday after work at the field, telling wifey I always have night games and dont want to drive all the way back to STP and back to Holy Angels... Don't blow it for me guys.

[Frank Clark]

Probably no worse then most going to HA. I takes me forever from DT minny. Yeah a setup like hopkins with x fields would be nice. Of course the zebras need to show as well for two games at the same time.