Onderwerp: Europa league 2009-2010

Rosenborg has a pretty strong team this year. Could be a outsider...

Why don't you just organise the WC or EC? You can build some big stadiums then and you're instantly ready for all requirements.

I think for countries like the Baltics it`s just not that easy. Especially during the financial crises. I don´t know how`s the situation in Lithuania, but for example Latvia is quite f....up. If I could tell you how much i.e teachers get paid there you would start to laugh. Luckily the situation is better in Eesti, but not good either. However we had even problems building our NT arena - capacity ~9k.

And in Lithuania basketball is by far the most popular sports there.
I haven´t seen any stadiums in Lithuania nor Latvia, but the arenas in Eesti are just silly. We have one quite good arena. And few should have few similar stadiums. When I was in Holland few years ago, then I saw Ajax´s and Eindhoven`s arenas. Can`t really compare with ours?

hi-hi

Why don't you just organise the WC or EC? You can build some big stadiums then and you're instantly ready for all requirements.
And than you'll have eight stadiums that are nearly empty after the championship.

No problem. South Africa will have that as well.

If Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania wants to arrange some kind of bigger cup, for example EC, then they will do it together. None of the countries is able to organize it alone. Infrastructure is the biggest problem. But you are right, after the competition the stadiums will be empty.

Here are some figures from top league in Estonia. Teams have played 15-17 games this season. That table shows attendance in home matches.

Team....... ..........Total amount........... Average in each game

Nõmme JK Kalju... 3857........ 429
Tallinna FC Levadia ... 1955 ........ 244
Tartu JK Tammeka... 1647......... 206
FC Kuressaare... 1628........ 204
JK Sillamäe Kalev... 1600........ 200
Paide Linnameeskond... 1415....... 202
Viljandi JK Tulevik... 1279.......... 142
JK Tallinna Kalev... 1165........ 146
Tallinna FC Flora... 937........ 156
Narva JK Trans.. 910....... 101
(gewijzigd)

Lol, that's hilarious. The highest level, and probably also the second highest level, of Dutch amateurs have higher attendances.

That's probably too little to maintain the stadium in a proper way. I found records of a match in South Africa with 10000 visitors, that is maybe enough to sustain a stadium (possibly with some government money).

What do you mean to say? That's impossible to maintain a big stadium with too few supporters or that it is impossible to maintain a small stadium anyways?

That the Estonian teams probably (I cannot know for sure) don't attract enough visitors to maintain a bigger stadium. In south africa this can probably be done by government money, but that would be too expensive in Estonia as they nearly have to pay all the costs.

But on the other side I believe that hosting an international tournament might make the people in those countries enthousiastic for football.

Lol, that's hilarious. The highest level, and probably also the second highest level, of Dutch amateurs have higher attendances.

It doesn´t surprise me. I guess our football isn`t attractive for people. Of course you can blame me too, because I have never seen football on a stadium. Have been to several arenas, but not for football:)

Off course I blame you. If you would have done a bit more your best you would already be playing in your premier league. That can't be too hard.
(gewijzigd)

Nõmme JK Kalju... 3857........ 429
Tallinna FC Levadia ... 1955 ........ 244
Tartu JK Tammeka... 1647......... 206
FC Kuressaare... 1628........ 204

Lol, even in Lithuania these numbers looks small :) Most our teams gets around 1500-2000 fans in a match, few smalest teams gets 300-500. More sad thing is that we as basketball country dont get much spectators in our local league :/ Ofcorse in international tournaments arenas are full..

But on the other side I believe that hosting an international tournament might make the people in those countries enthousiastic for football.

Yes, but it will probably not be enough. The attendance still has to increase bij 2000% or so to make the costs bearable. A youth-tournament is a better idea. With the national stadiums, that are already there and one or two new stadiums, you can organise a nice tournament for less money.

Of course. Still I don't even see that happen for a long time.