MLS Expansion?

Young Drachma · 07-29-2005, 11:12 PM

Toronto has emerged as the front-runner for one of two expansion teams, Garber said. Houston, Cleveland, St. Louis and Milwaukee are also among the finalists, but others have expressed interest.

This comes from the Washington Post today.

I think St. Louis would be cool. Dunno where else.

Thoughts?

Chubby · 07-29-2005, 11:15 PM

rochester is still trying

TazFTW · 07-29-2005, 11:16 PM

You can expand out of the country?

I thought soccer leagues had to have teams inside a certain area.

Galaxy · 07-29-2005, 11:54 PM

I think Houston would be good, with a good Hispanic population.

Wolfpack · 07-29-2005, 11:54 PM

Hmm...isn't the San Jose franchise in jeopardy of moving or something like that? I thought they were going to Houston. Maybe I'm remembering wrong.

I also note that MLS had planned on putting a team in San Antonio next year, but I just went to the MLS website and found an article that said they were withdrawing it because of stadium issues.

As for expanding to Toronto, why not? Does Canada really even have a soccer league that would be stepped on by MLS? I think NASL had a team in Toronto and one in Vancouver. I want to say the A-League had a Vancouver team at one time, but I could be wrong.

Galaxy · 07-29-2005, 11:55 PM

I believe Toronto plays in the A-League.

SirFozzie · 07-29-2005, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

Hmm...isn't the San Jose franchise in jeopardy of moving or something like that? I thought they were going to Houston. Maybe I'm remembering wrong.

I also note that MLS had planned on putting a team in San Antonio next year, but I just went to the MLS website and found an article that said they were withdrawing it because of stadium issues.

As for expanding to Toronto, why not? Does Canada really even have a soccer league that would be stepped on by MLS? I think NASL had a team in Toronto and one in Vancouver. I want to say the A-League had a Vancouver team at one time, but I could be wrong.

A League has several teams in Canada

MLS already ran it by FIFA, since there is no equivalent first division in Canada, they are A-Ok with it.

RPI-Fan · 07-30-2005, 12:29 AM

Cleveland?????????????????????

bryce · 07-30-2005, 12:57 AM

I'm quickly becoming a pretty big MLS fan, and, as such, this is what I've read most often and most recently in various publications:

San Jose is most likely moving to Houston next year;
San Antonio is out of the running for expansion - city politics killed their bid;
Milwaukee has emerged as THE frontrunner for one expansion team;
Rochester is trying HARD to get a team, but is not considered a 'major' contender.

Edited for typo...

CHEMICAL SOLDIER · 07-30-2005, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryce

I'm quickly becoming a pretty big MLS fan, and, as such, this is what I've read most often and most recently in various publications:

San Jose is most likely moving to Houston next year;
San Antonio is out of the running for expansion - city politics killed their bid;
Milwaukee has emerged as THE frontrunner for one expansion team;
Rochester is trying HARD to get a team, but is not considered a 'major' contender.

Edited for typo...

Ither than Rochester are the other cities soccer friendly?

Young Drachma · 07-30-2005, 01:22 AM

I'd love to see Rochester get a club, they'd be like the Green Bay of MLS..

Toronto would be good for the league to be in a major market that might care...but I dunno. Milwaukee would be good, weren't they pretty supportive of their soccer teams for a while? And they'd have a rival not too far away.

Izulde · 07-30-2005, 01:42 AM

Milwaukee isn't as good an option as most people think it is.

The Wave have a really strong following that would be tough to break into.

Unless the indoor and outdoor seasons run opposite one another, then it'd be okay.

Ragone · 07-30-2005, 05:50 AM

St. Louis can have the wizards.. they tried to get an attendance record here by giving away free tickets.. and they still didn't get it.. don't get me wrong.. i love soccer.. just not a big mls fan

Jonathan Ezarik · 07-30-2005, 09:28 AM

I would like to see a club in Pittsburgh. I don't know if it would fly or not, but at least it would give us something to do in the summer instead of having to watch the pathetic Pirates.

Toronto's a good idea. I'm not sure about the others listed. Is MLS really strong enough for all this expansion right now, especially after having to contract a couple of years ago? I read where the MLS commish stated he wanted 18 teams in the future, and while that is a good goal (no pun intended), how realistic is it?

henry296 · 07-30-2005, 09:43 AM

I know Pittsburgh had an A-League team that hasn't drawn very well. In fact, didn't they drop down a level.

ice4277 · 07-30-2005, 10:17 AM

There is a group that has been trying to get a team in Detroit, they've had moderate grass-roots success in the area, but there's no real viable outdoor stadium to play in. It would be pretty tough to get it to fly here in the next few years.

Jonathan Ezarik · 07-30-2005, 11:32 AM

There is a team in the Pittsburgh area, the Riverhounds. And while they say they're from Pittsburgh, they actually play in Washington, PA, whilch is about an hour outside of Pittsburgh. And they play on a baseball field. Who wants to drive an hour to watch minor league soccer played on a baseball field?

MrBug708 · 07-30-2005, 12:14 PM

The owner of the Mexican team, America, had wanted to buy a franchise somewhere in the Southwestern part of the United States. Dont know how much that holds true or not

Wolfpack · 07-30-2005, 09:23 PM

I've thought that Raleigh-Durham would be a viable place for MLS. CASL is (or was in my time living there) a large youth soccer organization in the area, which meant the state high school championships were dominated by Raleigh teams (particularly Sanderson) for a while. College soccer has also had a decent following in the area. SAS Soccer Park in Cary is already in place, they'd probably just need to expand it. Only competition during summer is minor league baseball.

illinifan999 · 07-30-2005, 09:25 PM

Milwaukee would be cool if only because it would probably become a nice rivarly between them and Chicago.

Mac Howard · 07-30-2005, 09:47 PM

MLS expansion is a bloody pain for smg designers

Cringer · 07-30-2005, 10:45 PM

Houston would be a great place for a team I think, but I am curious where they will play.

San Antonio I think would have been better, but I am not surprised someone said local politics killed it. Local politics are a mess there it seems.

Blade6119 · 07-30-2005, 10:52 PM

Am i the only one who thinks either tuscon, az or Albuquerque NM would make great host cities(not phoenix as there is too much competition). I think especially the latter due to the huge youth boom there in soccer and the lack of real competition....but maybe im crazy

duckman · 07-30-2005, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blade6119

....but maybe im crazy

Yeah, you're crazy.

Cringer · 07-30-2005, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blade6119

Am i the only one who thinks either tuscon, az or Albuquerque NM would make great host cities(not phoenix as there is too much competition). I think especially the latter due to the huge youth boom there in soccer and the lack of real competition....but maybe im crazy

No, I think those would be pretty good places. Although I think all Arizona teams should move to Albuquerque...

CHEMICAL SOLDIER · 07-31-2005, 12:14 AM

Why dont I see Seattle as a possible expansion city? Isnt seattle a soccer hot bed?

Young Drachma · 07-31-2005, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHEMICAL SOLDIER

Why dont I see Seattle as a possible expansion city? Isnt seattle a soccer hot bed?

I think the problem with a lot of these soccer hotbeds is there is no owner there and MLS is trying to get away from one entity owning like half the league.

B & B · 07-31-2005, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBug708

The owner of the Mexican team, America, had wanted to buy a franchise somewhere in the Southwestern part of the United States. Dont know how much that holds true or not

America is gonna kick the hell out of Tigres this afternoon.

Mr. Wednesday · 07-31-2005, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBug708

The owner of the Mexican team, America, had wanted to buy a franchise somewhere in the Southwestern part of the United States. Dont know how much that holds true or not

They've been negotiating on landing in Houston (first in the Astrodome, then in a SSS), and it's widely speculated that they would be buying and moving the Earthquakes.

BigDPW · 07-31-2005, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

I've thought that Raleigh-Durham would be a viable place for MLS. CASL is (or was in my time living there) a large youth soccer organization in the area, which meant the state high school championships were dominated by Raleigh teams (particularly Sanderson) for a while. College soccer has also had a decent following in the area. SAS Soccer Park in Cary is already in place, they'd probably just need to expand it. Only competition during summer is minor league baseball.

I agree having grown up in Raleigh and living about an hour away now I think Raleigh/Cary/Durham could easily support a major franchise here in soccer. I agree with SAS Soccer Park being an ideal place to play if expanded. The Carolina Courage (women's soccer team) have played their and the USMNT has trained their also.

B & B · 07-31-2005, 07:03 PM

Final
3 - 1 America over Tigres.

(cha-ching)

FrogMan · 07-31-2005, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galaxy

I believe Toronto plays in the A-League.

you mean "Toronto is sucking it up in the A-League"

http://www.a-league.com/standings/2005/

On the other hand, the Montreal Impact lost for the first time this season only two games ago. 11 wins, 5 draws, 1 loss in 17 games is pretty good

Vancouver is also in the League.

Incidentally, the Impact will be playing one of their home games in Quebec City in a couple of weeks and I'll be going with my son and wife. I think they play Puerto Rico...

FM

Sadalia · 08-01-2005, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TazFTW

You can expand out of the country?

I thought soccer leagues had to have teams inside a certain area.

There is some precedent; the constituent parts of the UK are seperate entities in FIFA, yet there are three Welsh teams (Cardiff, Swansea, and Wrexham) in the English league and an English team (Berwick) in the Scottish league.

Cringer · 08-01-2005, 03:31 PM

They should put a team down here on the border somewhere. Maybe A-League, I know MLS wouldn't do it. But I mean if you want Mexican fans, you sure got them here. You have McAllen to Brownsvile, and then Reynosa to Matamoros on the Mexican side. I know Reynosa has some kind of team though in a mexican league.

Really, I am surprised there is not talk of trying to bring a team here. They talk about bringing an NFL team here and that will never happen. Soccer is way more realistic....

MylesKnight · 08-01-2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cringer

They should put a team down here on the border somewhere. Maybe A-League, I know MLS wouldn't do it. But I mean if you want Mexican fans, you sure got them here. You have McAllen to Brownsvile, and then Reynosa to Matamoros on the Mexican side. I know Reynosa has some kind of team though in a mexican league.

Really, I am surprised there is not talk of trying to bring a team here. They talk about bringing an NFL team here and that will never happen. Soccer is way more realistic....

I agree with this entirely, and am a bit surprised that cities such as El Paso, Albuquerque and even Tucson are not being considered by the MLS. You want butts in the seats, this would definitely help the cause.

By the way I'll be in Chicago this weekend for the Fire/Crew game. Or shall I say the 1st Place Fire vs. Columbus Crew.

astrosfan64 · 08-01-2005, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MylesKnight

I agree with this entirely, and am a bit surprised that cities such as El Paso, Albuquerque and even Tucson are not being considered by the MLS. You want butts in the seats, this would definitely help the cause.

By the way I'll be in Chicago this weekend for the Fire/Crew game. Or shall I say the 1st Place Fire vs. Columbus Crew.

Houston is needs an MLS team. It would do great here. Huge hispanic population and quite a few people from up north. They also have a great stadium.

MylesKnight · 08-01-2005, 05:57 PM

Where I will be living in Chicago is about 10 minutes from the new stadium that is being built for the Fire.. Looks like it will be a fantastic venue with easy access to the suburbs.

Stadium details

This will make four soccer-specific MLS Stadiums, to go along with Los Angeles, Dallas and Columbus. This brings to mind the question of at what point will the MLS require soccer-specific fields of all existing teams as well as expansion candidates.

Wolfpack · 08-01-2005, 10:56 PM

Interesting. That bugger's going to be smack in the flight pattern around Midway. Going to be noisy as hell. I've flown Southwest into Midway often enough to know that you are practically landing in the middle of a neighborhood there.

CHEMICAL SOLDIER · 08-02-2005, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Wednesday

They've been negotiating on landing in Houston (first in the Astrodome, then in a SSS), and it's widely speculated that they would be buying and moving the Earthquakes.

Cant they also play in Reliant Stadium?

SirFozzie · 08-02-2005, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHEMICAL SOLDIER

Cant they also play in Reliant Stadium?

way too big. that's the problem with them playing up here in Gilette currently (also in KC at Arrowhead)

You may have 20-30K, a good MLS crowd, but the camera catches all those empty seats, it makes for bad TV.

basically, the current rule for expansion teams, have a SSS (Soccer-Specific Stadium), or have plans for one in the near future.

Mr. Wednesday · 08-02-2005, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHEMICAL SOLDIER

Cant they also play in Reliant Stadium?

They don't appear to be considering it. Certainly, Reliant Stadium is capable of doing soccer, that's where the Gold Cup and a lot of international club matches have been held. I know at one point, there was some sort of option that appeared to be for MLS in the contract language for Reliant, but I believe that option has expired. I don't know, now, what the economics would be; I don't imagine they would be all that favorable. While the sports authority probably would now be in control of the lease, I'd guess that the Texans would get a lot of the revenue (e.g. stadium signage, that sort of thing).

chris3627 · 08-02-2005, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TazFTW

You can expand out of the country?

I thought soccer leagues had to have teams inside a certain area.

FIFA ruled that since Canada doesn't have a premier league they can enter the USL and/or MLS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

basically, the current rule for expansion teams, have a SSS (Soccer-Specific Stadium), or have plans for one in the near future.

...and have a local ownership group that is willing to stick it out for the long term.

Alot of these potential expansion cities seem to have one or the other ready, but not both. MLS seems like they are requiring these two things from any new cities so they don't have to repeat any old/current headaches.

ISiddiqui · 08-02-2005, 04:24 PM

Toronto and Milwaukee would probably be good choices. San Jose is just about gone. Kansas City has to move, you'd think. St. Louis wouldn't be a bad choice if they got someone. Though I've heard rumors that a potential owner wants to buy KC and move them to Queens to be a competitor to the Metrostars.

I really wish that someone in Atlanta was willing to put him some money for a team. With the Latino population in Atlanta and the youth soccer population from the suburbs, I'm sure it could work out.

Galaxy · 08-02-2005, 04:29 PM

What cities that do not have teams, have a great base of either Latinos/Hispancis or Europeans?

Wolfpack · 08-02-2005, 05:22 PM

Just about any city in the South and West has decent Hispanic population at this point. I think the only city with substantial numbers of European immigrants anymore would be New York. Just about everywhere else is a bit too thin at this point. You've got enclaves in all the major east coast and midwest cities, but at this point, they're all pretty well Americanized.

sterlingice · 08-02-2005, 10:42 PM

So could someone put together the Rochester story in a nutshell? A friend of mine from upstate New York talks about how they get 10-15K for every game in A League but MLS won't give them a team.

SI

Mr. Wednesday · 08-02-2005, 10:43 PM

I think they still don't have an MLS-level stadium (they were ground-sharing with a minor league baseball team for a while, IIRC), and is there an adequate ownership group?

bryce · 08-02-2005, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sterlingice

So could someone put together the Rochester story in a nutshell? A friend of mine from upstate New York talks about how they get 10-15K for every game in A League but MLS won't give them a team.

SI

article:

http://www.rochester-citynews.com/gb...oid=oid%3A3508

JeeberD · 08-02-2005, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MylesKnight

I agree with this entirely, and am a bit surprised that cities such as El Paso, Albuquerque and even Tucson are not being considered by the MLS. You want butts in the seats, this would definitely help the cause.

I think the A-League Patriots have trouble drawing a crowd, so I really doubt that the MLS would ever move to El Paso...

Sounds like Houston has a team on the way, though...

http://www.soccertimes.com/mls/2005/jul08.htm

Chubby · 08-02-2005, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Wednesday

I think they still don't have an MLS-level stadium (they were ground-sharing with a minor league baseball team for a while, IIRC), and is there an adequate ownership group?

it will be finished by the end of this year (in construction)

07-30-2005, 12:29 AM	#8
RPI-Fan Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Troy, NY	Cleveland????????????????????? __________________ Quis custodiets ipsos custodes?

07-30-2005, 12:57 AM	#9
bryce High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dallas, TX	I'm quickly becoming a pretty big MLS fan, and, as such, this is what I've read most often and most recently in various publications: San Jose is most likely moving to Houston next year; San Antonio is out of the running for expansion - city politics killed their bid; Milwaukee has emerged as THE frontrunner for one expansion team; Rochester is trying HARD to get a team, but is not considered a 'major' contender. Edited for typo... Last edited by bryce : 07-30-2005 at 12:58 AM.

07-30-2005, 01:22 AM	#11
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	I'd love to see Rochester get a club, they'd be like the Green Bay of MLS.. Toronto would be good for the league to be in a major market that might care...but I dunno. Milwaukee would be good, weren't they pretty supportive of their soccer teams for a while? And they'd have a rival not too far away. __________________ Current dynasty: OOTP25 Blitz: RTS meets Moneyball \| OOTP Mod: GM Excel Competitive Balance Tax/Revenue Sharing Calc \| FBCB Mods on Github

07-30-2005, 01:42 AM	#12
Izulde Head Coach Join Date: Sep 2004	Milwaukee isn't as good an option as most people think it is. The Wave have a really strong following that would be tough to break into. Unless the indoor and outdoor seasons run opposite one another, then it'd be okay. __________________ 2006 Golden Scribe Nominee 2006 Golden Scribe Winner Best Non-Sport Dynasty: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) Rookie Writer of the Year Dynasty of the Year: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty)

07-30-2005, 05:50 AM	#13
Ragone Pro Rookie Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, Mo	St. Louis can have the wizards.. they tried to get an attendance record here by giving away free tickets.. and they still didn't get it.. don't get me wrong.. i love soccer.. just not a big mls fan Last edited by Ragone : 07-30-2005 at 05:51 AM.

07-29-2005, 11:15 PM	#2
Chubby Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Syracuse, NY	rochester is still trying

07-29-2005, 11:16 PM	#3
TazFTW Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Honolulu, HI	You can expand out of the country? I thought soccer leagues had to have teams inside a certain area.

07-29-2005, 11:54 PM	#4
Galaxy Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2005	I think Houston would be good, with a good Hispanic population.

07-29-2005, 11:54 PM	#5
Wolfpack Pro Rookie Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC	Hmm...isn't the San Jose franchise in jeopardy of moving or something like that? I thought they were going to Houston. Maybe I'm remembering wrong. I also note that MLS had planned on putting a team in San Antonio next year, but I just went to the MLS website and found an article that said they were withdrawing it because of stadium issues. As for expanding to Toronto, why not? Does Canada really even have a soccer league that would be stepped on by MLS? I think NASL had a team in Toronto and one in Vancouver. I want to say the A-League had a Vancouver team at one time, but I could be wrong.

07-29-2005, 11:55 PM	#6
Galaxy Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2005	I believe Toronto plays in the A-League.

07-30-2005, 09:28 AM	#14
Jonathan Ezarik College Benchwarmer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bossier City, LA	I would like to see a club in Pittsburgh. I don't know if it would fly or not, but at least it would give us something to do in the summer instead of having to watch the pathetic Pirates. Toronto's a good idea. I'm not sure about the others listed. Is MLS really strong enough for all this expansion right now, especially after having to contract a couple of years ago? I read where the MLS commish stated he wanted 18 teams in the future, and while that is a good goal (no pun intended), how realistic is it?

07-30-2005, 09:43 AM	#15
henry296 College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	I know Pittsburgh had an A-League team that hasn't drawn very well. In fact, didn't they drop down a level. __________________ "It's a great day for hockey" - "Badger" Bob Johnson

07-30-2005, 10:17 AM	#16
ice4277 Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Berkley, MI: The Hotbed of FOFC!	There is a group that has been trying to get a team in Detroit, they've had moderate grass-roots success in the area, but there's no real viable outdoor stadium to play in. It would be pretty tough to get it to fly here in the next few years.

07-30-2005, 11:32 AM	#17
Jonathan Ezarik College Benchwarmer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bossier City, LA	There is a team in the Pittsburgh area, the Riverhounds. And while they say they're from Pittsburgh, they actually play in Washington, PA, whilch is about an hour outside of Pittsburgh. And they play on a baseball field. Who wants to drive an hour to watch minor league soccer played on a baseball field?

07-30-2005, 12:14 PM	#18
MrBug708 Head Coach Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Whittier	The owner of the Mexican team, America, had wanted to buy a franchise somewhere in the Southwestern part of the United States. Dont know how much that holds true or not

07-30-2005, 09:23 PM	#19
Wolfpack Pro Rookie Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC	I've thought that Raleigh-Durham would be a viable place for MLS. CASL is (or was in my time living there) a large youth soccer organization in the area, which meant the state high school championships were dominated by Raleigh teams (particularly Sanderson) for a while. College soccer has also had a decent following in the area. SAS Soccer Park in Cary is already in place, they'd probably just need to expand it. Only competition during summer is minor league baseball.

07-30-2005, 09:25 PM	#20
illinifan999 Pro Rookie Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: VA	Milwaukee would be cool if only because it would probably become a nice rivarly between them and Chicago. __________________ Chicago Eagles 2 time ZFL champions We're "rebuilding"

07-30-2005, 09:47 PM	#21
Mac Howard Sick as a Parrot Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Surfers Paradise, Australia	MLS expansion is a bloody pain for smg designers __________________ Mac Howard - a Pom in Paradise

07-30-2005, 10:45 PM	#22
Cringer Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Edinburg,TX	Houston would be a great place for a team I think, but I am curious where they will play. San Antonio I think would have been better, but I am not surprised someone said local politics killed it. Local politics are a mess there it seems. __________________ You Stole Fizzy Lifting drinks! You bumped into the ceiling which now has to be washed and steralized, so you get NOTHING! You lose!

07-30-2005, 10:52 PM	#23
Blade6119 Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona	Am i the only one who thinks either tuscon, az or Albuquerque NM would make great host cities(not phoenix as there is too much competition). I think especially the latter due to the huge youth boom there in soccer and the lack of real competition....but maybe im crazy __________________ *Underachievement* The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the lawnmower. *Despair* It's always darkest just before it goes pitch black. *Demotivation* Sometimes the best solution to morale problems is just to fire all of the unhappy people. http://www.despair.com/viewall.html

07-31-2005, 12:14 AM	#26
CHEMICAL SOLDIER College Starter Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Henderson, Nevada	Why dont I see Seattle as a possible expansion city? Isnt seattle a soccer hot bed? __________________ Toujour Pret

07-31-2005, 07:03 PM	#31
B & B College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: A sports era long ago when everything didnt require a Nike logo	Final 3 - 1 America over Tigres. (cha-ching) __________________ Nobody cares about Kyle Orton because he's black. -PT

08-01-2005, 03:31 PM	#34
Cringer Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Edinburg,TX	They should put a team down here on the border somewhere. Maybe A-League, I know MLS wouldn't do it. But I mean if you want Mexican fans, you sure got them here. You have McAllen to Brownsvile, and then Reynosa to Matamoros on the Mexican side. I know Reynosa has some kind of team though in a mexican league. Really, I am surprised there is not talk of trying to bring a team here. They talk about bringing an NFL team here and that will never happen. Soccer is way more realistic.... __________________ You Stole Fizzy Lifting drinks! You bumped into the ceiling which now has to be washed and steralized, so you get NOTHING! You lose!

08-01-2005, 05:57 PM	#37
MylesKnight College Benchwarmer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Neptune Beach, Florida	Where I will be living in Chicago is about 10 minutes from the new stadium that is being built for the Fire.. Looks like it will be a fantastic venue with easy access to the suburbs. Stadium details This will make four soccer-specific MLS Stadiums, to go along with Los Angeles, Dallas and Columbus. This brings to mind the question of at what point will the MLS require soccer-specific fields of all existing teams as well as expansion candidates. __________________ IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BLACK & GOLD!!

08-01-2005, 10:56 PM	#38
Wolfpack Pro Rookie Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC	Interesting. That bugger's going to be smack in the flight pattern around Midway. Going to be noisy as hell. I've flown Southwest into Midway often enough to know that you are practically landing in the middle of a neighborhood there.

08-02-2005, 04:24 PM	#43
ISiddiqui Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Decatur, GA	Toronto and Milwaukee would probably be good choices. San Jose is just about gone. Kansas City has to move, you'd think. St. Louis wouldn't be a bad choice if they got someone. Though I've heard rumors that a potential owner wants to buy KC and move them to Queens to be a competitor to the Metrostars. I really wish that someone in Atlanta was willing to put him some money for a team. With the Latino population in Atlanta and the youth soccer population from the suburbs, I'm sure it could work out. __________________ "A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages" -Tennessee Williams

08-02-2005, 04:29 PM	#44
Galaxy Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2005	What cities that do not have teams, have a great base of either Latinos/Hispancis or Europeans?

08-02-2005, 05:22 PM	#45
Wolfpack Pro Rookie Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC	Just about any city in the South and West has decent Hispanic population at this point. I think the only city with substantial numbers of European immigrants anymore would be New York. Just about everywhere else is a bit too thin at this point. You've got enclaves in all the major east coast and midwest cities, but at this point, they're all pretty well Americanized.

08-02-2005, 10:42 PM	#46
sterlingice Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Back in Houston!	So could someone put together the Rochester story in a nutshell? A friend of mine from upstate New York talks about how they get 10-15K for every game in A League but MLS won't give them a team. SI __________________ Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!"

08-02-2005, 10:43 PM	#47
Mr. Wednesday Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South Bend, IN	I think they still don't have an MLS-level stadium (they were ground-sharing with a minor league baseball team for a while, IIRC), and is there an adequate ownership group? __________________ Hattrick - Brays Bayou FC (70854) / USA III.4 Hockey Arena - Houston Aeros / USA II.1 Thanks to my FOFC Hattrick supporters - Blackout, Brillig, kingfc22, RPI-fan, Rich1033, antbacker, One_to7, ur_land, KevinNU7, and TonyR (PM me if you support me and I've missed you)

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