Freedom Kicks for 26 February 2015: Soccer stadia, rivalries, alums

It is another snow day for everyone down here in RVA, and it looks like many of you have at least a delay up in DC. So use it well, and really dive into your Freedom Kicks today. And Happy United Day!

D.C. United to begin 2015 campaign with Champions League match in Costa Rica - The Washington Post: Steve Goff gives us the lowdown on what is going on with D.C. United ahead of their Concacaf Champions League game.

San Antonio Scorpions NASL: Canadian International Nana Attakora Signs With the Scorpions: Another D.C. United alum finds a new team in the lower divisions of US soccer. I am glad that players are willing to stay in the US soccer structure, raising the quality of play in those leagues.

VOTE: What's the best rivalry in MLS? Cast your ballot now ahead of next week's rankings | MLSsoccer.com: You have to click through to find the actual ranker of the best rivalries, the first poll you see is just the best of the rest. However, I am disappointed (but not surprised) to see that there is no respect for DCU-Union or DCU-Revs on either list, whereas apparently Red Bulls-NYCFC is already one of the league's top 10 rivalries.

U.S. Soccer’s Expansion Boom - WSJ: Nice articles on the successes and failures of the explosion in growth in US soccer.

ASN article: Still Think MLS Should Play Through the Winter?: It isn't about climate, but money this time.

‘Project Suriname’ |: Suriname could become a Concacaf powerhouse if their relationship with The Netherlands changes.

FIFA Panel Backs Winter World Cup In Qatar In 2022 : The Two-Way : NPR: We already knew this, but the fact that now even NPR is excoriating the process is telling.

Greek soccer league suspended indefinitely after violence | FOX Sports: And this is the third incident of fan violence this season.

Proposal to build soccer stadium at Utah State Fairpark rescinded | fox13now.com: Mostly to do with Utah politics and not him just being mean, but still, not good.

Senate leader: Indy Eleven stadium not a top priority: The Indy 11 stadium bill has passed the Indiana House, but is getting a lukewarm reception in the Senate

New York Cosmos put up billboard right outside of Red Bull Arena – Metro: Trololololol

Sky Sports wins rights to broadcast Major League Soccer | Football News | Sky Sports: So you can watch MLS even when you're travelling abroad!

And finally, this doesn't sound good for CBA negotiations (from RSL Owner Dell Roy Hansen):

Hansen: "(Free agency) is one of those real waste-of-time conversations."

— Matt Montgomery (@TheCrossbarRSL) February 26, 2015

That's all I have. What's up?