North American Pro Soccer 2017

[bosrs1]

4 minutes ago, kcchiefsfan said:

I will say, I don't like SD as much because of LAG and LAFC. However, I think they could be a really good choice. It is a huge market that is ripe for the picking. Bring in a team, make them wear Brown and call them the Saints and you have a winner IMO. There is also a really great opportunity for a great international derby that could take place yearly between SD and Xolos which play about 30 minutes from the Q.

 

Saints?

 

As for LAG and LAFC, I'd just point out as the Chargers have very abruptly found out, there is not much cross over between San Diego fans and Los Angeles fans. They're 120+ miles apart and are two completely separate markets. There are few Galaxy fans (mostly in north county) and there are no LAFC fans that I've yet seen. I mean I can see objecting to three teams in SoCal, but that's like objecting to Philly because the mid-Atlantic has 2 teams already in NY IMO. It ignores the reality of the two regions. MLB has had 3 teams in SoCal for almost 50 years quite successfully.

[JTernup]

I just threw Saints out there because it goes well with Padres and the history of the city and the San part of San Diego. I just don't want any more Geographic Identifier FC, or City, or United. I would like MLS to have a few more American style names in the next expansion. 

 

I totally understand that LA and SD are very distinct markets but the South and Midwest have hardly any representation. From my perspective PHX, Indy, Charlotte, Detroit and StL are all more attractive because SoCal has two teams. As much as you want to call SD and LA different regions, the entire South has Atlanta, the entire Midwest has KC so that isn't even on the same scale as far as regions go.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

I wouldn't be averse to San Diego, but I could also see them missing out on this round. Though MLS could be loved forever if the sting of the Chargers loss was salved a bit with a new soccer franchise.

 

My two choices would be Indianapolis and St Louis to fill out the Midwest, but that's just looking at a map and not thinking about anything else.

 

(I could see a case for North Carolina but the entire state deserves nothing good until the odious bathroom bill is gone.)

[TBGKon]

5 hours ago, BlackBolt3 said:

Well honestly, who does have an advantage at this point? I thought that Sacramento had it locked up until their news came out. Most canidates have certain skeletons in their closets.

The homer in me is not speaking here, but Tampa Bay really seems to have their stuff in line. 

 

Owner Bill Edwards is all in, his stadium plan is one of the simplest and will not request public money other than some local infrastructure.

 

Localities also seem to be on board as well, and a budding derby with Orlando would do wonders.  Tampa Bay looks more in place now than any Miami deal ever has.

-----------

 

With team #24 in question and bids going out for #'s 25-28 my top 5 bids are as follows:

 

- Tampa Bay

- Nashville

- San Diego

- Indianapolis

- Sacramento if they get their sh** straight (doubtful)

[B-Rich]

6 hours ago, DG_Now said:

Of the application packages submitted I think Indianapolis has the coolest looking stadium. I also think MLS could stand to build out the center of the country -- they have Columbus, Minnesota (just) and KC right now.

 Umm... Chicago?

 

Based upon what I have noticed and posted before as a kind of trend-- placing an MLS teams in an area with a winter pro-sport only location (Salt Lake, Columbus, Vancouver, Portland, San Jose, Orlando, Montreal)-- I figured there was a good shot for Sacramento, Raleigh-Durham, and San Antonio at admittance.

 

However, with what I've read on this board, looks like Sacramento is out.  San Antonio has that Texas third wheel deal with Houston & Dallas going against it.  Raleigh-Durham, however,  still fills a hole between Atlanta and DC and is a soccer hotbed with a very youthful populace.

 

What the old man fan in me wants (despite the Florida 3rd wheel argument, especially if Beckham's Miami franchise gets done) is the return of my childhood faves, the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Please, please please, somehow let the Rowdies come back to major league status. 

 

And make them wear those old collared jerseys with the hooped sleeves:

 

By the way, somewhere in my attic, I STILL have this very same shirt:

 

[dfwabel]

1 hour ago, kcchiefsfan said:

I just threw Saints out there because it goes well with Padres and the history of the city and the San part of San Diego. I just don't want any more Geographic Identifier FC, or City, or United. I would like MLS to have a few more American style names in the next expansion. 

 

I totally understand that LA and SD are very distinct markets but the South and Midwest have hardly any representation. From my perspective PHX, Indy, Charlotte, Detroit and StL are all more attractive because SoCal has two teams. As much as you want to call SD and LA different regions, the entire South has Atlanta, the entire Midwest has KC so that isn't even on the same scale as far as regions go.

I may be in the minority, but I look at Phoenix and realize that while their demographics are close to ideal, as a whole, they're pretty damn apathetic towards their teams. They really seem to ebb and flow with their attendance ever since, say the 2001 Diamondbacks championship. University of Phoenix Stadium saved the Cardinals, but every other team has seemed to struggle at the gate ever since its opening, including Arizona State athletics. The Cardinals and the 16th hole at the Phoenix Open appear to lead everything.

[BlackBolt3]

1 hour ago, DG_Now said:

(I could see a case for North Carolina but the entire state deserves nothing good until the odious bathroom bill is gone.)

c'mon fam we trying

[JTernup]

1 hour ago, B-Rich said:

 Umm... Chicago?

Chicago is a midwest city, but Chicago isn't a Midwest City. I liken Chicago more to LA or NY in terms of culture. Now I have only lived in the midwest for a month but I don't think soccer fans in Indiana or Iowa are jumping at the opportunity to support the Fire. If I forgot a midwestern team that fits this bill I guess it would be the Crew more than the Fire. I also think that soccer feels like such a local centric sport that it is good to fill out the map in a way that it isn't necessary in other leagues. The Fire could win MLS cup for the next 10 years and they would never be the team of the midwest like the Cubs, Bulls, Bears and Blackhawks are and there are way more midwestern teams in those other leagues.

1 hour ago, dfwabel said:

I may be in the minority, but I look at Phoenix and realize that while their demographics are close to ideal, as a whole, they're pretty damn apathetic towards their teams. They really seem to ebb and flow with their attendance ever since, say the 2001 Diamondbacks championship. University of Phoenix Stadium saved the Cardinals, but every other team has seemed to struggle at the gate ever since its opening, including Arizona State athletics. The Cardinals and the 16th hole at the Phoenix Open appear to lead everything.

I agree but by that standard which of the expansion bids have the best track records for supporting their teams in other sports? SD certainly doesn't, nor does Sacramento, Charlotte, Tampa, or Miami. Phoenix is huge and I think MLS attendance is unique in that if the franchise is well run the people will come. It is easier to find 15-20K fans to fill out the MLS schedule than say 50K for and NFL schedule or 20K for an NBA or NHL schedule. There is also a large hispanic community in PHX and AZ that can help fill out a soccer stadium.

[tp49]

6 hours ago, Bucfan56 said:

Sigh ?

I saw the article in The Bee this morning and cringed and with Meg Whitman and Jed York as investors they're a Carly Fiorina short of an idiot sandwich.  The Bee article made it seem that all that needed to be done was for Nagle to buy out Smith to put the Republic name on the bid but they coluld not reach an agreement.  Then again it's The Bee and I dont trust them much.  Maybe you can allude to whether the article is accurate based upon your experience.

 

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/mls/article130037494.html

 

If the Sacramento bid is DOA this is really disappointing especially after going to a good number of games and the rally last summer on L Street.  Last summer I thought it was a done deal and now it looks like the deal's done, so yeah...Sigh 

[bosrs1]

38 minutes ago, tp49 said:

I saw the article in The Bee this morning and cringed and with Meg Whitman and Jed York as investors they're a Carly Fiorina short of an idiot sandwich.  The Bee article made it seem that all that needed to be done was for Nagle to buy out Smith to put the Republic name on the bid but they coluld not reach an agreement.  Then again it's The Bee and I dont trust them much.  Maybe you can allude to whether the article is accurate based upon your experience.

 

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/mls/article130037494.html

 

If the Sacramento bid is DOA this is really disappointing especially after going to a good number of games and the rally last summer on L Street.  Last summer I thought it was a done deal and now it looks like the deal's done, so yeah...Sigh 

 

I mean the deal isn't completely dead if they don't get the Republic name such from Smith. But it definitely doesn't help their bid to have the initial ownership group divided and such a divide in the existing fan support who put their bid on the map.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

1 hour ago, kcchiefsfan said:

Chicago is a midwest city, but Chicago isn't a Midwest City. I liken Chicago more to LA or NY in terms of culture. Now I have only lived in the midwest for a month but I don't think soccer fans in Indiana or Iowa are jumping at the opportunity to support the Fire. If I forgot a midwestern team that fits this bill I guess it would be the Crew more than the Fire. I also think that soccer feels like such a local centric sport that it is good to fill out the map in a way that it isn't necessary in other leagues. The Fire could win MLS cup for the next 10 years and they would never be the team of the midwest like the Cubs, Bulls, Bears and Blackhawks are and there are way more midwestern teams in those other leagues.

I agree but by that standard which of the expansion bids have the best track records for supporting their teams in other sports? SD certainly doesn't, nor does Sacramento, Charlotte, Tampa, or Miami. Phoenix is huge and I think MLS attendance is unique in that if the franchise is well run the people will come. It is easier to find 15-20K fans to fill out the MLS schedule than say 50K for and NFL schedule or 20K for an NBA or NHL schedule. There is also a large hispanic community in PHX and AZ that can help fill out a soccer stadium.

 

Thanks -- that was my reasoning for leaving Chicago out of my Midwest list, but I didn't specify as such or as eloquently.

 

Isn't Phoenix for MLS kind of the thinking that got us Chivas USA? I.e., Mexican-American fans will want to see a Mexican sport, just not a Liga MX team (but they actually won't)?

 

I think I read that Liga MX gets higher ratings in LA than the Galaxy do, which isn't surprising but also isn't great. I'd expect the same in Phoenix and likely San Diego too.

 

I think MLS needs to split the baby, and drop one team in the Midwest and another in either Southeast or California. Good luck MLS on figuring it out.

[ninersdd]

Chivas USA didn't work also because a lot of Mexicans don't like the Mexican Chivas so they weren't gonna support an Americanized version.

[FiddySicks]

2 hours ago, bosrs1 said:

 

I mean the deal isn't completely dead if they don't get the Republic name such from Smith. But it definitely doesn't help their bid to have the initial ownership group divided and such a divide in the existing fan support who put their bid on the map.

 

Nagle and his group of cronies are absolute idiots if they think they can open up a bid without SRFC's support. it's basically saying before the process even begins ":censored: the fans, and everyone who worked so hard to get us to this point". It's the most Jed Yorkian way of thinking I've ever seen, so it surprises me absolutely NONE that that piece of is involved in all of this. 

 

 

Here's an article that hits on some of the insanity of all of this. Jesus, guys. THREE F*****G YEARS to get this thing worked out, and this is the best you can do? This is embarrassing. 

 

MLS conference call sheds (some) light on (stupid) Sacramento MLS bid situation

[Sykotyk]

1 hour ago, Bucfan56 said:

 

Nagle and his group of cronies are absolute idiots if they think they can open up a bid without SRFC's support. it's basically saying before the process even begins ":censored: the fans, and everyone who worked so hard to get us to this point". It's the most Jed Yorkian way of thinking I've ever seen, so it surprises me absolutely NONE that that piece of is involved in all of this. 

 

 

Here's an article that hits on some of the insanity of all of this. Jesus, guys. THREE F*****G YEARS to get this thing worked out, and this is the best you can do? This is embarrassing. 

 

MLS conference call sheds (some) light on (stupid) Sacramento MLS bid situation

 

I feel bad for the Sacramento REPUBLIC FC fans. Yes, Sacramento has supported them in USL, and supported them very well. Sure, a lot of that support may be tied to the idea that if they really support this team, they'd get a shot at entering MLS with a new stadium, etc. So, those fans would be expecting THAT team to make the jump.

 

Some pointed out the similar situation with Seattle where the MLS team almost wasn't called the Sounders, and that though they're named as such, they're not really the same team that played before joining MLS.

 

But, just slapping the name on it wouldn't be enough. How braindead do the Sacramento MLS group have to be to realize they just alienated a good portion of their fanbase. And it's the part that is most vocal and most likely to stir up the hornets nest to get others to disapprove of them.

 

MLS may be looking to fill the next four slots, and they may be saying there's a deadline. But, if I were an SRFC fan, I'd want to see the bid fail, contact MLS and try to reorganize a new bid from the team to make it in the second set of teams from this group. Or worse, hold off until the next overall round of expansion goes on. However long that may be. Because if you let Nagle and everyone with him get an MLS team, then you just lost your team and it was simple robbery by them. They used SRFC to get into MLS at the expense of SRFC. Where they could reap untold future returns by screwing over the team and fan that made Sacramento a dark horse candidate to MLS in the first place.

[Wings]

Unfortunately I think Sacramento gets passed over. I've lived there in the past and have tons of friends in the area (Roseville, Rocklin, Orangevale). 

 

I think we get San Diego, Cincinnati, St. Louis & Tampa Bay as the 4.

 

Thinks get worked out stadium wise with St. Louis & Cincinnati as well as Miami. 

 

Like most of us on here I see the league expanding pass 28 clubs anyway. So maybe Sacramento down the line. 

 

[Sport]

10 hours ago, Wings said:

 (Roseville, Rocklin, Orangevale). 

 

 

Ogdenville, Brockway, North Haverbrook 

 

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Is anyone else on the Soccer United Fan Council? It's a poll Listserv by MLS that asks questions periodically about what teams you watch, what merchandise you buy, and all kinds of other questions.

 

Yesterday they sent a simple one-question poll asking how MLS athletes compared to other sports as role models.

 

I answered about the same, but better and much better were in the lead.

 

Kind of a weird question, I think, and makes me wonder what they want to do with that info. We're not seeing an Artest-esque athlete crisis these days and MLS stars generally aren't newsworthy enough to be quoted on anything.

[Jer15]

6 minutes ago, DG_Now said:

Is anyone else on the Soccer United Fan Council? It's a poll Listserv by MLS that asks questions periodically about what teams you watch, what merchandise you buy, and all kinds of other questions.

 

Yesterday they sent a simple one-question poll asking how MLS athletes compared to other sports as role models.

 

I answered about the same, but better and much better were in the lead.

 

Kind of a weird question, I think, and makes me wonder what they want to do with that info. We're not seeing an Artest-esque athlete crisis these days and MLS stars generally aren't newsworthy enough to be quoted on anything.

I was very confused by that question too. I really didn't know how to answer so I also answered "about the same".

[dfwabel]

A&E buys a stake in NWSL.  Some games will be carried on Lifetime under a three year contract.

Quote

CHICAGO (Feb. 2, 2017) - The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and A+E Networks have entered an historic partnership whereby A+E Networks will become the league’s newest investor with an equity stake in the National Women’s Soccer League, joining the existing team ownership groups. As one of the leading women’s media brands, Lifetime, will become an official sponsor and broadcast partner of the league in a three-year deal, beginning in April. The strategic investment is accompanied by the creation of a new joint venture, NWSL Media, and marks a watershed moment in the league’s history that will bolster the league’s growth and support of the teams, players and fans.

 

NWSL Media, the new joint venture between the NWSL and A+E Networks, will act as the media and commercial arm of the league, overseeing all of its global broadcast and sponsorship rights. In addition, NWSL Media will manage all digital assets for the NWSL including a re-designed NWSLSoccer.com, a new NWSL app on iOS and Android, and the league’s social media platforms.  

 

NWSL Media will oversee the live streaming of all matches and produce the games in high definition with a consistent, state-of-the-art approach that will include exclusive new and original digital content for pre-game, halftime and post-game segments. The joint venture is currently negotiating with potential partners to stream the games not broadcast on Lifetime.

Lifetime, the premier entertainment destination for women, is making an unprecedented commitment with a three-year agreement to be the official broadcast partner. For the first time in NWSL’s history, a league game will be broadcast on television every weekend of the season. The NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime will provide fans throughout the country with a live viewing platform every Saturday at 4 p.m. ET to watch the best players in the world. A pre-game show will kick off each weekly event at 3:30 p.m. ET. Showcasing the network’s sponsorship and commitment to the league, Lifetime will be featured on all official jerseys with a patch on the right sleeve.

 

 

[FiddySicks]

4 hours ago, McCarthy said:

 

Ogdenville, Brockway, North Haverbrook 

 

 

Funny thing is, I live in Roseville (Technically I live in Citrus heights now, but my mailbox is still in Roseville), started college in Rocklin, and currently work in Orangevale.