SoccerPlex Improving Mini Field

Construction and renovations continue to take place at SoccerPlex these days. They added the Kickin' It Lounge a while back, and now they are relocating their office space in order to expand the mini field they previously had. They plan on having regular leagues on this new pitch in order to offer players a unique soccer experience. It appears they will still have walls wrapping the field, so it won't be identical to Portland Futsal's fields.

Street Stadia Pricing Details

"Dear Mike ,

Thank you for your inquiry.

We see the Street Stadia product as a perfect complement to small sided soccer. The fact that the product is portable and can be assembled in a matter of minutes offers users a fantastic solution to setting up quick and easy small-sided games.

With regard to our product offering we offer three standard unit sizes:

18m x 12m Street Stadia – best-selling product used for a range of soccer and sporting events, used mainly for community projects and academy coaching

15m x 10m Street Stadia –used for community projects and junior soccer matches as well as smaller sided adult games

12m x 8m Street Stadia – ideal for junior soccer events

The retail price tags of the standard courts are as follows

18m x 12m - $20,500
15m x 10m - $18,250
12m x 8m - $15,000

This will give you an indication of the typical prices however we try and price according to what the customer’s requirements which are on an individual basis.

We can customize pitch sizes, goalposts, netting, etc. Street Stadia can also be adapted to be used in a variety of different sports – basketball, tennis, volleyball.

Panels are provided blank and are ready to either have branded stickers applied to them or magnetic brandings. That can either be arranged by yourself or we can arrange on your behalf

Kind Regards,

Maren Perry"

15 - 20 thousand seems a bit steep for this field. I bet if I constructed something on my own with help from some skilled hands we could do it under 2 grand. However, if this field is as easy to put together as they say, and if its durable enough to last long enough, it could be a good investment. Also curious if it includes the trailer in the price. .

Street Stadia + Pitch Black

The wheels are turning. Street Stadia, you have officially caught my attention. Looking into unit cost.

Nike5: Street Gato. Your Thoughts?

Who out there has had a chance to try out the new street gato from Nike? Let me know what you think about the shoes in terms of feel, touch, and durability. I'm probably most interested in the durability of these shoes. I've used my lunar gato boots outside on tennis courts and pavement and they have really taken a beating.

My personal favorite colorway would be the all black upper with white outsole. The little touch of neon green/yellow circling the boot completes the look.

Golazo, Welcome to Portland

If you haven't noticed I have been absent for about 2 weeks now. The explanation is simple. I have been stuck at 199 posts since I started this site, and I wanted to celebrate my 200th post with something truly special. Well here it is folks!

Golazo Energy is set to make its much anticipated debut in the Portland market this month, and I have been given permission to post the debut commercial! The spot is brilliant and it's sure to create a buzz around the drink. Let me know what you think!

Another Indoor Center Opens in Beaverton

Introducing Beaverton Indoor Soccer. If the area wasn't already over-saturated with indoor soccer facilities, now it is. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. The prices to field a team have continued to rise and leagues fill up quick if their not already full. Hopefully the addition of a new facility in Beaverton will drive down prices and force each center to improve it's offerings.

A quick glance at the website doesn't reveal much detail on the field, but I did discover some interesting information.

1. Team Fees will be $545. This is cheaper than Portland Indoor, SoccerPlex, Tualatin Indoor, and Indoor Goals. They are basically undercutting the entire indoor soccer market. League fees should never have passed $600 in the first place, so it's refreshing to see a new competitor charging a more affordable and appropriate price.
2. Player Cards will cost $10. This is also cheaper than most of the other facilities. The one exception being Portland Indoor, which doesn't even require cards.
3. Men's, Women's, and COED leagues will be offered.
4. Drop In soccer is offered Monday - Friday from 12 PM to 2 PM. Cost is $5.

There are no pictures available yet of the field or the facility, so I will need to make a stop soon to find out more information. I have been in the process of organizing a soccer team from the Nike Employee Store, and this facility might be the perfect spot to start at. I'll have a Pitch Black Undercover up in the near future! Stay Tuned!

Foggy Freestyle Volume VI

Trying to look cool with a soccer ball... not really working. Here are my latest freestyle clips taken today at our secret soccer tennis location in Lake Oswego.

Special Delivery: Golazo Energy

Valentine's Day came early for Pitch Black this year. I found this little package on my doorstep before leaving for work today. Bought a six pack online a few days back for $14.99 with shipping free of charge. Not a bad deal. I still haven't given it a try yet, but I conveniently have an indoor soccer game tonight with Joe Public FC. I want to put Golazo to the test. Energy drinks like Red Bull and AMP tend to have an equal amount of positive/negative effects on my body. Obviously, they provide tons of energy, but after the games I tend to feel sick to my stomach. Golazo is marketed as a sports energy drink that is designed to provide "ounce per ounce the same level of hydration as the worlds leading hydrating drink, and at the same time delivers the same level of energy as the leading energy drink." Look forward to a review on the taste and performance soon.

Free coasters and stickers with every purchase

Fridge is stocked

IRWIN FC REMAINS UNDEFEATED TO CLAIM COED INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP

The club concludes a perfect season with a 9-0 record

2/8/2011

Reported by: Shiloh Rodriguez

PORTLAND, Ore. – Irwin FC won the Winter 1 Sunday Coed League Championship February 6, defeating the Thundercats 9-5 at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center (MJCC) Indoor Soccer facility. The clash of the two undefeated teams was a mouth-watering fixture enjoyed by the many spectators in attendance. Irwin FC showed tremendous character by rebounding from an early 3-1 deficit.

Irwin FC manager/goalkeeper Nick Irwin gave his team praise after the match, “I could not be more happy for our squad, we showed grit coming back from an early deficit” He later went on to say, “the players left everything out on the pitch, this win is huge for the club and most importantly for our fans.”

The final was nothing short of entertaining with five lead changes. It was the Thundercats that found the back of the net first scoring shortly after the kickoff. Joe Fleckenstein (also know as Footy Guru in the blogging world) equalized for Irwin FC, striking a strongly driven low shot to the far post, leaving Thundercats’ keeper Max (hospital-ball) Schuetze dumbfounded. During the first half Irwin FC continued to pressure the defense creating numerous opportunities; however, this would soon backfire. The Thundercats punished Irwin FC for committing too many players forward scoring off of a counterattack and went into the halftime with a 2-1 lead.

At the beginning of the second half the Thundercats picked up right where they left off, capitalizing on the counterattack to take a 3-1 lead. It was at this point that Irwin FC seemed to hit a higher gear, essentially scoring six unanswered goals. The final score line of 9-5 does not accurately reflect the evenly contested match.

Irwin FC was collectively disappointed that star striker Steve Strand could not suit up for football on Super Bowl Sunday. “I blame our sluggish start on Steve’s absence, if he was here, it would have been an entirely different game,” Nick said after the game. Strand was in San Francisco over the weekend on a recruiting/business trip with adidas.

Striker Ross Schunk, who won the MLS Cup Championship with the Colorado Rapids in November, put on an impressive performance scoring twice (the league’s scoring limit for males).

Alissa Russell, the former Portland State University Women’s Soccer player, had her best game of the season netting four goals. Her critics were initially skeptical, there were rumors that she indulged in pre-game drinking; critics were silenced after her inspirational performance.

The club will continue its undefeated trek next week in the MJCC Indoor Soccer Coed League. Nick will announce what day the team will be playing in the next couple of days.

Irwin FC lineup:
Mike Fogg, Joe Fleckenstein, Jessica Ehlers, Bryan Irwin, Alissa Russell, Juan Mercado, Nick Irwin, Shiloh Rodriguez, Ross Schunk

Notes:

· Jessica Ehlers has yet to take a shot on goal.

· Juan Mercado started the match off a bit sluggish; rumors suggest he ate excessively before the game, four bratwurst sausages to be exact.

· Mike Fogg (aka Fogg Machine) showed tremendous heart, taking a ball to the face causing his nose to bleed. He was forced to leave the pitch but returned moments later.

· There will be another team photo taken at the first match of next session to makeup for absent players (Steve Strand)

Golazo Energy Sampling Party: Coming Soon

I don't want to brag, but back in the day I used to be an energy drink fiend. While I was at college my buddy lived next door to a 7-11, and whenever we got bored we naturally wanted sweets and drinks. It's human nature. So we would walk on over to the store and gaze at the splendors that resided within the coolers. Energy drinks always seemed to be located directly between the soda and beer. As if to say that if you weren't quite ready to party (beer), but you didn't want to look like a kid (soda), why not go crazy with some liquid energy.

Nowadays I limit myself, but that might all change with the introduction of Golazo Energy. The first and only energy drink that celebrates the sport of soccer. The drink is currently only available in the Seattle area, unless you order from their website. They have plans to expand to Portland, but I couldn't wait to get my hands on some cans!

I just purchased a 6-pack online and will have a sampling party as soon as they arrive. I'm not sure who will be the privileged few to taste the beverage, but if you follow my blog you might get some bonus points. I'll be sure to get my opinion of the drink up on the blog as soon as possible. I also plan to test its performance as a pre-game drink before one of our indoor soccer games. Let me know if you want to join!

Inspiration: Golazo Energy

So I'm visiting some of my favorite blogs when I came across this video. My jaw literally dropped. Golazo is an energy drink company that is focused on the sport of soccer. They are located in Seattle, but have plans of expanding to Portland in the future. I've known about the beverage through a friend, but I had no idea they were throwing parties of this magnitude. In this video they are showcasing a recent 3v3 soccer event that was held in order to promote the beverage. I couldn't help but think about Pitch Black as I watched this clip. It was great to see some of my ideas incorporated into the event. The graffiti murals on the walls, painted team crests, and the hard court surface are all features that I have discussed here on this blog. To see an event of the same style really gets me excited for the possibility of creating a permanent destination for this brand of soccer.

Pitch Black Undercover: MJCC

Brian Farber = Indoor Legend

We all know Brian Farber for his play with the Portland Timbers the past two seasons, but he got his real start playing indoor soccer. He has played with the Stockton Cougars, and its predecessor the California Cougars beginning in 2005. He is the franchise record holder for goals (110) and points (175). In this video you can witness one of Farber's insane bicycle kicks. Cut ahead to the 1:16 mark for an example of his athleticism. The height he gets on this leap is pretty ridiculous. Farber has been signed by the San Diego Sockers to a one-year contract.

California Cougars Opening Video

The Official Page of The California Cougars | Myspace Video

SoccerPlex Gets Upgraded

If you have been to SoccerPlex in Beaverton recently you have probably noticed the latest upgrade outside the field walls. A patch of turf has been laid down adjacent to the main office to allow players a spot to warm up prior to their games. The turf isn't the best quality, but it's better than nothing. Netting surrounds this area, and I believe I heard it would be used as a batting cage at some point.

Fogg Receives Praise From IRWIN FC Manager

I made my debut for IRWIN FC on Sunday and performed admirably during my trial. Our game was held at the MJCC field, and hopefully I will be signed by the manager, Nick Irwin. He thought he would throw me off my game by placing me in goal for the first half. It almost worked. I leaked in 3 goals, but I made countless saves against the relentless attack from the opposing team. In the second half I was switched out to the field where I poured in a hat trick. I guess you could say I felt the need to make up for my mistakes in goal. The manager seemed to notice. Here is what Nick had to say after the game:

"Fogg is a player we certainly need to have a look at in future games. He is welcome to play for Irwin FC anytime. He is a little shaky at the back, but I'm confident he can develop into a premier coed player."

My new manager representing the Timbers green

7.3 Thousand. Keep the Hits Rolling

Thank you all for supporting my little side project here. Pitch Black was created over 2 months ago to keep me busy during my free time. I had plenty of ideas that I needed to write down, and starting a blog seemed like the best way to showcase these ideas for all to see. Starting a soccer facility has been a dream of mine, and hopefully someday I can make it a reality. I have slowed down lately, but I hope to pick it up again with some fresh content. Keep on visiting and let me know what you think.

New FieldTurf Spotted at Tualatin Indoor

It's been ages since I played at Tualatin Indoor Soccer (TIS), but yesterday I joined another squad and had my first game tonight. TIS has always used an AstroTurf field, which is basically a rough carpet. It was a challenge going back there tonight and playing on that surface after playing at SoccerPlex most of the time. What I did notice tonight were probably a dozen giant rolls of turf sitting outside in the parking lot. After getting a closer look it seems comparable to what other indoor facilities and high school fields have. The artificial grass felt really long, but once they fill it in with the pieces of black rubber it will be more familiar. It will be interesting to see when it gets installed and how it feels during a game.

Pitch Black Court Surface: Eclipse

I gave my designer (my pops) a few design elements I wanted to incorporate into the court. First of all I thought it would be cool to use the image of a solar eclipse as the center circle. The eclipse makes sense considering the name of my facility and it could serve as a striking image making the court memorable for players. I also wanted to mess around with the use of dashed lines resembling street lane markings. These are only mock-ups and I will continue to think of other options for the court. Let me know what you think of the eclipse theme.

Pitch Black Mural of Champions

Teams want to be remembered for their achievements. Players want to be able to show their friends and family that they were the best squad on the field. It's the reason why after every championship game the winning team typically lines up in front of the goal and a photo is taken with the trophy. Sometimes photos are even taken by the indoor complex for publishing on the website or for posting on the walls. The winning team is able to take pride in themselves while opposing teams view the photo as a challenge to knock the previous champion out.

With Pitch Black I want to take this idea to the next level. The teams who play at Pitch Black will help create the history of my court. For now I will call this idea the Mural of Champions. When a team wins the premier division their team name, badge, or slogan will be illustrated on the wall. The art will be done in a graffiti style and clubs will have to receive approval for the message or team crest that is displayed. Having a permanent display of past champions wrapping around the pitch will add to the facility's atmosphere. The art will tell a detailed story of past champions, ongoing dynasties, and miraculous upsets. It will give teams a chance to express their creativity and become a part of Pitch Black history. The mural pictured above is from the Montalban Theatre, painted for a Nike event prior to the World Cup. I have also taken inspiration from other mural designs pictured here.

Please let me know what you think of this idea. It may be a daunting endeavor, but I feel that it could become a key landmark for Portland area footballers. Earning a mark on the wall could become every young players ultimate goal.