Pass the ketchup: St. Pete is hosting a french fry festival

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.dolphnsix.com/news/3111438/pass-ketchup-pete-hosting-french-festival

Pass the ketchup: St. Pete is hosting a french fry festival

Tuesday, March 14, 2017 2:00pm

ST. PETERSBURG — Move over, grilled cheese: the Sunshine City has moved onto another fast-food favorite to celebrate.

The french fry.

This Friday is the first St. Pete French Fry Festival, hosted by the Gulf to Bay Food Truck Association. A dozen trucks will be at the marina ready to dish out speciality fries and some of their regular menu items from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Among the offerings are "stoner fries," a new creation from the I Wanna Wok truck that's debuting at the fest. They're topped with Korean bulgogi beef and macaroni and cheese. That truck also serves the "wrappers delight," a massive wrap that includes fries as an ingredient.

In the Middle food truck said its perfecting a new feta fondue to top its feta fries with.

The day is in partnership with the Marine Discovery Center and the Tampa Bay Rowdies, organizers said.

The Sir Winston cruise ship will be docked at the port for visitors at the French Fry Festival to tour, and the marine center will have a booth set up outside.

So head to 250 8th Ave. SE to munch the beloved bits of deep-fried potato on March 17.

Admission is free and open to all ages, but alcohol will be available for purchase. Local band Glass Half Full will also be playing.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://thingsaroundtown.com/news/blog/2017/03/14/pass-the-ketchup-st-pete-is-hosting-a-french-fry-festival/

Pass the ketchup: St. Pete is hosting a french fry festival

(Follow link for full article.)

http://torontoobserver.ca/2017/03/14/rowdies-morell-back-to-his-roots-on-and-off-the-field/

Rowdies’ Morell back to his roots, on and off the field

Returns home to begin season with a new team

(Follow link for full article.)

http://torontoobserver.ca/2017/03/14/tampa-bay-native-darnell-king-finds-success-with-hometown-team/

Tampa Bay native Darnell King finds success with hometown team

“My motto is if I am on the field, I’m doing the right thing," says Rowdies defender

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3082138/miami-dade-officials-blast-david-beckhams-mls-plans-over-stadium-delay

Miami officials blast David Beckham's MLS plans over stadium delay

Max and Herc ask MLS Commissioner Don Garber the tough questions on the league's growth, Miami and more.

Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez said on Monday that the county should consider using the site designated for Miami United's new arena for affordable housing as David Beckham's planned MLS franchise bid stalls.

Beckham had his franchise plans, tentatively called Miami Beckham United, cleared in 2014, but has struggled to reach a deal with Miami-Dade County over a new stadium and his plans could be delayed until 2019.

Last year, the ex-Manchester United, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy midfielder's ownership group purchased land in Overtown on which to build a stadium, but still need to acquire more.

According to the Miami Herald, Suarez made his comments during a meeting of the county's Housing and Social Services committee. He suggested the land be used to address Miami's housing gap with projects for middle-income buyers.

"How long are we going to negotiate for the use of that [county-owned land] before we decide that maybe that ought to be made available for some affordable housing?" he told the committee. "Are we going to wait for these folks forever before we use that property for something more?"

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez told the Herald that he is ready to negotiate the sale of a three-acre vehicle depot for the stadium complex there. This is the land Beckham's group need to complete the stadium. But county officials claim they haven't heard anything from Beckham's team in months.

"Are they bringing a stadium there?" Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, whose district includes the proposed stadium site, said to the newspaper. "I haven't heard anything.

"They would have to get the residents in that area to agree to it," Edmonson said in an interview. "I'm going to follow the lead of my Overtown residents."

Beckham's group also includes his agent Simon Fuller, and businessmen Marcelo Claure and Tim Leiweke, who brought Beckham to the Galaxy in 2007. They are still seeking the investor dollars needed to build the facility expected to cost more than $200 million to develop.

MLS commissioner Don Garber confirmed over the weekend that Los Angeles will be the only expansion team to debut in 2018.

"We're making progress toward our goal of fielding a team in 2019," the ownership group's publicity firm said in a Feb. 28 statement. "And we appreciate the strong support of our fans as our kick-off draws closer."

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3868/main/2017/03/15/33639052/miami-officials-how-long-are-we-going-to-wait-for-beckham

Miami officials: How long are we going to wait for Beckham?

Mar 15, 2017 04:08:50

Miami-Dade's commissioner said the county should consider other uses for land that is earmarked for a new MLS stadium.

The long wait for David Beckham's proposed MLS franchise in Miami has taken its toll on local officials.

Speaking at a meeting of the county’s Housing and Social Services committee, Miami-Dade commissioner Xavier Suarez proposed an alternate usage for the land in the Overtown neighborhood that has been earmarked for a stadium to house the Beckham-led team. The English superstar first publicly announced his proposed team in 2014.

What is David Beckham's net worth?

“How long are we going to negotiate for the use of that [county-owned land] before we decide that maybe that ought to be made available for some affordable housing?” Suarez asked Monday, as reported by the Miami Herald. “Are we going to wait for these folks forever before we use that property for something more?”

County officials say they haven't heard from Beckham's group for months, despite Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez telling the Herald that he's ready to negotiate the sale of the final three-acre parcel of land needed to build the stadium on the Overtown site.

“Are they bringing a stadium there?” Commissioner Audrey Edmonson asked. “I haven’t heard anything.”

Edmunson's stance reflects a growing impatience in the Miami political community toward the Beckham group, which would have to gain the county's approval for street closures and zoning changes in order to get a stadium built.

“They would have to get the residents in that area to agree to it,” Edmonson said in an interview. “I’m going to follow the lead of my Overtown residents.”

Beckham's team includes Sprint Corporation CEO Marcelo Claure, entertainment industry super-agent Simon Fuller, and former AEG and MLSE honcho Tim Leiweke. The group is looking for further investors to help fund the stadium project, which is estimated at $200 million.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/03/14/mls-commissioner-don-garber-sxsw

Podcast: MLS Commissioner Don Garber's wide-ranging panel at SXSW

Garber also indicated that all 12 cities that have bid on expansion franchises would succeed in the league, though only four spots are open for future clubs, and he lauded the potential of Zlatan Ibrahimovic signing with the league (the LA Galaxy have made a recent offer), though he said he was not aware of any bid for his services that has been made.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/03/14/mls-sxsw-commissioner-garber-talks-streaming-expansion-world-cup-bid

MLS at SXSW: Commissioner Garber talks streaming, expansion, World Cup bid

Naturally, then, with two new teams playing in the 2017 season, the conversation moved to expansion and MLS’ growth. Some 12 cities have applied for the next round of expansion, and Garber said he believes that all of them boast a pretty strong chance.

“I feel like all 12 of the cities would be successful,” Garber he said, adding that he wouldn’t have made that assertion even a few years ago. He pointed to Atlanta United’s season ticket sales before 2017, as well as fan rallies in cities like Sacramento aspiring to join MLS. He also pointed out another key piece of evidence: the enthusiasm of a number of U.S. Conference of Mayors attendees in Austin, with whom Garber spoke hours before the SXSW session.

During the Q&A part of the panel, one audience member asked the Commissioner about the speed of the league’s growth. Garber replied that the quality of play has gone up with the league’s recent expansion teams, and believes that as the league gets more and more attractive, that MLS will be able to tap into a global pool of players. “I don’t worry about dilution, I worry about distraction,” he said, explaining that he wants to grow deliberately enough to develop the business talent and coaching talent needed to best manage the player talent and ensure the teams’ viability.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.newsweek.com/la-galaxy-portland-timbers-major-league-soccer-twitter-sport-567523

Watch: LA Galaxy and Portland Timbers Fight Via Twitter Memes

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/tough-start-to-life-in-mls-with-new-team-for-stoke-city-hero-heath/story-30201995-detail/story.html

Tough start to life in MLS with new team for Stoke City hero Heath

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2017/03/mls_leads_the_way_in_rolling_o.html

MLS leads the way among soccer leagues worldwide as it prepares to roll out video replay

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4312898/Andrea-Pirlo-MLS-scrap-salary-cap-China.html

Andrea Pirlo calls on MLS to scrap salary cap amid Chinese Super League competition: 'If you want to compete, you have to get rid of any restrictions'

    MLS clubs have a salary cap but can have three 'designated players' in a squad
    Andrea Pirlo - who earns $6.5million (£5.6m) per season - is a designated player
    He believes MLS needs to scrap salary caps to compete with other leagues

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.phillyvoice.com/major-league-soccers-most-useless-or-most-underrated-statistic/

Is this Major League Soccer's most useless – or its most underrated – statistic?

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.portada-online.com/2017/03/14/mls-joins-other-leagues-in-broadcasting-matches-live-on-facebook/

MLS Joins Other Leagues in Broadcasting Matches Live on Facebook

(Follow link for full article.)

https://ussoccerplayers.com/2017/03/vancouver-tries-again-for-mls-in-the-concacaf-champions-league-soccer-news.html

Vancouver tries again for MLS in the CONCACAF Champions League

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/2017/3/14/14922052/mls-unpredictable-atlanta-united

The Unpredictability of MLS

It’s more than a cliche.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://wersm.com/facebook-strikes-deal-major-league-soccer-stream-games-live/

Facebook Is Bringing Live #MLS Games To Your Feed

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.rubbernews.com/article/20170314/NEWS/170319975/continental-to-extend-mls-sponsorship

Continental to extend MLS sponsorship

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2017/03/14/fc-dallas-is-trying-to-make-u-s-soccer-history-but.html

FC Dallas is trying to make U.S. soccer history. But are fans noticing?

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.brandonsun.com/sports/breaking-news/argnetine-connection-a-pipeline-of-soccer-talent-for-montreal-impact-416164314.html?thx=y

Argnetine connection a pipeline of soccer talent for Montreal Impact

By: Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

Tuesday, Mar. 14, 2017 at 4:14 PM

MONTREAL - Argentine players are flocking to Major League Soccer, and the Montreal Impact are reaping the benefits.

The Impact currently have five players from the South American soccer giant. While scoring star Ignacio (Nacho) Piatti is well-known around the league, midfielder Hernan Bernardello and defender Victor Cabrera are starters for the blue-and-black.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://gulfnewsjournal.com/stories/511088043-etihad-airways-renews-partnership-with-major-league-soccer

Etihad Airways renews partnership with Major League Soccer

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.newsquench.com/article.php?n=facebook-has-scored-a-significant-victory-in-the-live-streaming-space&id=122001

Facebook has scored a significant victory in the live streaming space

Facebook has scored a significant victory in the live streaming space after signing a deal that will enable it to stream at least 22 live Major League Soccer matches on its social network.

Through collaboration with both MLS and Univision Deportes, Facebook won the rights to stream the 2017 MLS regular-season matches in English. They will also enhance the video content with various interactive elements.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.cfjctoday.com/article/563398/argnetine-connection-pipeline-soccer-talent-montreal-impact

Argnetine connection a pipeline of soccer talent for Montreal Impact

MONTREAL — Argentine players are flocking to Major League Soccer, and the Montreal Impact are reaping the benefits.

The Impact currently have five players from the South American soccer giant. While scoring star Ignacio (Nacho) Piatti is well-known around the league, midfielder Hernan Bernardello and defender Victor Cabrera are starters for the blue-and-black.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://montrealgazette.com/sports/soccer/mls/montreal-impact/argnetine-connection-a-pipeline-of-soccer-talent-for-montreal-impact

Argentine connection a pipeline of soccer talent for Montreal Impact

Argentine players are flocking to Major League Soccer, and the Montreal Impact are reaping the benefits.

The Impact currently has five players from the South American soccer giant. While scoring star Ignacio “Nacho” Piatti is well-known around the league, midfielder Hernan Bernardello and defender Victor Cabrera are starters for the blue-and-black.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://au.news.yahoo.com/technology/a/34616956/facebook-scores-deal-to-stream-mls-matches/#page1

Facebook scores deal to stream MLS matches

(Follow link for full article.)

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-la-galaxy-did-a-good-tweet-and-now-mls-is-apparently-and-understandably-mad-about-it-022356887.html

The LA Galaxy did a good tweet and now MLS is apparently (and understandably) mad about it

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-fire/brandt-bronico-djordje-mihailovic-live-out-dreams-mls-debuts

Brandt Bronico, Djordje Mihailovic live out dreams in MLS debuts

Major League Soccer is old enough that the younger players in the league don't remember a time when the league didn't exist.

Two of those players on the Chicago Fire, Brandt Bronico and Djordje Mihailovic, got to live out childhood dreams of making their MLS debuts in Saturday's 2-0 win against Real Salt Lake.

Bronico, 21, was less than 10 months old when the first MLS match was played in 1996. Mihailovic, 18, was born less than two weeks after the Fire completed its inaugural season in 1998.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/20-best-soccer-stadiums-usa

FourFourTwo's 20 best stadiums for soccer in the U.S.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://vancouversun.com/sports/soccer/mls/vancouver-whitecaps/tigres-2-whitecaps-0-no-miracle-in-mexico-for-the-caps

Tigres 2 Whitecaps 0: No Miracle in Mexico for the Caps

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.dosavannah.com/article/mon-03132017-2314/savannah-clovers-aim-attention-national-premier-soccer-league

Savannah Clovers aim for attention of National Premier Soccer League

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.highlandnews.net/sports/eric-gonzalez-and-jorge-moreno-to-share-socal-sc-s/article_80a4db0e-08e1-11e7-9f75-03e831a94799.html

Eric Gonzalez and Jorge Moreno to share SoCal SC’s armband in 2017

(Follow link for full article.)

http://torontoobserver.ca/2017/03/13/rowdies-brown-sets-sights-on-joe-cole-partnership/

Rowdies’ Brown sets sights on Joe Cole partnership

Tampa's marquee signing learning with former England international

(Follow link for full article.)

http://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/03/15/tigres-pounce-as-vancouver-sunk-in-concacaf-champions-league/

Tigres pounce as Vancouver sunk in CONCACAF Champions League

(Follow link for full article.)

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tigres-pounce-vancouver-sunk-concacaf-champions-league-044015168--sow.html

Tigres pounce as Vancouver sunk in CONCACAF Champions League

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.espnfc.com/concacaf-champions-league/story/3082807/vancouver-coach-carl-robinson-confirms-gap-between-mls-and-liga-mx

Vancouver's Carl Robinson confirms 'gap' between MLS and Liga MX

(Follow link for full article.)

http://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/editors-choice-plastic/

Editor’s choice: plastic

Could plastic be the architecture world’s most underrepresented and under appreciated material? Until recently, the design industry hasn’t seemed to view lightweight plastic polymers – in the form of ETFE and polycarbonate (PC) – as suitable for use as a primary material.

This may be about to change, however, with the more widespread understanding of the benefits of utilising plastic for a wide range of projects, alongside technological innovations that are continually expanding the potential of the material.

Ethylene Tetra Fluoro Ethylene, otherwise known as ETFE, is a fluorine-based plastic that is both recyclable and long-lasting. Originally developed in the 1970s by DuPont as a heat-resistant film coating for the aeronautics industry, for the first ten years of its life the material was mainly used as an upgrade for the polythene sheet used in greenhouses.

Unlike plastics with an understandably bad environmental rap such as PVC, ETFE is widely accepted to be cost-effective and highly durable. Due its extremely light weight it also requires minimal energy for both transporting and installing.

ETFE first came onto the architecture scene in 2001 with its use in the Eden Project in the United Kingdom, chosen as the enveloping membrane due to its high level of solar control and ability to regulate environmental conditions – fundamentally important to the sensitive plant life inside the biomes.

In 2008, ETFE was selected for use in the Beijing Olympic Aquatics Centre, aptly nicknamed the Watercube, for its aesthetic and acoustic qualities. ETFE has since been been utilised for several large sports stadiums, as well as in transportation projects, offices, schools and installations.

Alongside ETFE, polycarbonate plastic is now being used more often as a building material. Benefits include its ability to maximise natural light, improve a building’s thermal efficiency and its high strength – PC panels are 200 times stronger than glass panels and are often used for residential projects, temporary structures and cultural buildings.

The material allows for a wide range of design possibilities. Polycarbonate can be cut into different shapes and designs, can come as textured or corrugated panels and is available in a wide range of different tints, from blue to bronze. Like ETFE, it is cost-efficient due to its light weight and is durable and easy to clean.

Translucent polycarbonate enables diffused daylight to flood the interior without compromising the residents’ privacy. At night, when illuminated from the inside, the material creates a soft glow that gives buildings a blurred, almost ethereal quality.

The use of both polycarbonate plastic and ETFE is becoming more widely accepted in architecture. The 10 projects below and in the slideshow above illustrate how this versatile and malleable material can be successfully utilised in a wide range of typologies.