Dilbert

Only 8 MLS clubs will participate in the US Open Cup. 9 of MLS reserve squads from MLS Next Pro (plus the two independent clubs) will participate. Orlando, Miami, Nashville, Cincinnati, Columbus, DC, Philadelphia, New England, St Louis will not field either team.

Maybe this all just a front so that people cant read the players names and have to identify them by their numbers so they buy more programs/yearbooks.

There seems to already be a Ottawa Black Bears team in Major League Quadball (aka Quidditch). Hmmm....

I get Omaha vibes from the proposed new Omaha arena. Most sports in Omaha are played in suburban venues and not in Omaha proper. The Storm Chasers and Union Omaha are in Papilion. The Lancers and Beef are in Ralston, and the newcomer Iowa Rampage are in Council Bluffs, Iowa across the river. The exceptions are Creighton, UNO, College World Series, and the new Supernovas volleyball team.

So the NAL has terminated North Texas and Topeka (though Topeka may be propped up by other owners or the league to continue) leaving the league with 6 or possibly 7 teams just before the start of the season. I knew the league was gonna look rough after losing everyone but Carolina. Gaining Omaha and Sioux City pulled the league out of the grave and back onto life support, but the rest of the teams just seem like fillers for the other three

It looks like we will be starting the MLS season with replacement officials. The Professional Referee Organization (PRO) announced it will lock out match officials as of 12:01am on February 18th after 95.8% of MLS officials rejected MLS and PROs CBA offer. The agreement would have mad PRO officials among the highest paid in the world. The five year CBA included: -Overall increases in guaranteed pay in the agreement’s first year: 10-33% for referees, 75-104% for assistant referees, and 15-100% for video match officials, plus increased match fees for regular-season games and playoffs. - An increase of seven percent in 2027 for all salaries/retainers and match fees – the highest mid-contract raise ever offered – with three percent increases in all other years. -First/business class air travel for the playoffs and MLS Cup throughout the deal, and for Decision Day in 2027 and 2028. - Additional benefits include enhanced injury continuance for referees and assistant referees, physical therapy reimbursement for referees and assistant referees in PRO’s sports performance program, employer contributions for assistant referees and video match officials for reimbursable health care costs, and increased severance for referees and assistant referees.

The team was clearly in distress back then.

Nothing official yet but league sources are pointing towards a Blue Jackets-Red Wings Stadium Series in March 2025 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

Love the Coal Cats branding. Unique name, colors look great, but then again I expected them to share the colors of Marshall University. As for the Stormers, the logo looks nice but I loved the old Barnstormers name and branding better.

USSF has granted division one status to the new USL Super League. The USLSL will be division one alongside NWSL in the womens pyramid. The USLSL will follow the European soccer calendar and begin the 2024-25 season in August with 8 clubs. -Brooklyn -Charlotte -Dallas/Fort Worth -Fort Lauderdale -Lexington -Spokane -Tampa -Washington DC Eight other are already in line to join in future seasons -Chattanooga -Indianapolis -Jacksonville -Madison -Oakland -Palm Beach -Phoenix -Tucson

Huntsville recently converted their old baseball stadium to soccer and it looks great.

So does this mean ESPN dumps ESPN+?

I have ventured from Cincy to Columbus only three times for hockey and only two times was it for a Blue Jackets game. The other was a game involving the farm teams at that time, Syracuse Crunch (CBS) vs Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (ANA/DET) Hockey has always been low man on the totem pole here in Cincy. Reds, Bengals, FCC up top, college football and basketball in the middle, and hockey at the bottom. I honestly believe that people here would rather see the NBA return with the Royals than get an NHL team. The Coliseum has its own charm. I dont know any other venue that doesnt serve Coca Cola or Pepsi products (they serve products of Dr Pepper Keurig- RC Cola, Diet Rite, Sunkist, Big Red, Dr Pepper, 7 Up, Sun Drop), but its no old fashioned barn by any means. Now the Cincinnati Gardens, that was an old fashioned barn. I swear in 2004 i could still smell stale popcorn and beer from 1972 in there. Was sad to lose that arena.

Didnt we say that when the Rams and Raiders left LA in the 90s. If the NFL can take not one but both teams out of the number 2 market, they can definitely take one out of the number 3 market.

Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League have a new logo.

It seems the preseason Messi tour isnt going well. While Miami finally got their first preseason victory today in Hong Kong (and first victory since before the US Open Cup final in September), fans were angry. Fans attending the game started chanting for a refund, and kicked Messis head off a cardboard cutout. Why? Because Messi didnt play. He sat out due to injury. Now the game against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo has been removed from Apple and the game against Newells Old Boys in Fort Lauderdale has been promoted as the next and final preseason match. Guess they dont want the same thing to happen in Japan as what happened in Hong Kong.

Ive mentioned before, IMHO, Omaha could potentially be the next Oklahoma City for the Big 5. It has a great track record supporting the teams and events they do have. Plus many still see Omaha as the small middle of nowhere midwest town. Omahas population has been on a big rise since the 90s. Its the 40th largest city in the US, ahead of Anaheim, Buffalo, Miami, Newark, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, St Louis, St Paul, Tampa, and Tempe. Of those 6 potential expansion cities, Omaha is in the middle population wise. 4. Houston 37. Kansas City 38. Atlanta 40. Omaha 64. Cincinnati 117. Salt Lake City

Cincinnati and Dayton are pretty close enough that they can be one big agglomeration. Kings Island and West Chester are about the mid point between the two. My issue is while many from Dayton come down to Cincinnati for the Reds, Bengals, FCC and other events, Im not sure many Cincinnatians go to Dayton other than attending college.

Adding more on potential for Cincinnati. While not confirmed, the interest in the NHL for Cincinnati could possibly be coming from FC Cincinnati Co-CEO and President Jeff Berding. Berding along with Co-CEO and founder Carl Lindner III are responsible for FC Cincinnati getting to MLS and building TQL Stadium. Berding was also an executive with the Bengals for 19 years and was on Cincinnatis city council from 2005-11. He is also currently board chair of Visit Cincy. With his role for Visit Cincy along with the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, just this week announced they are spearheading a study for a new arena. In the past year one spot mentioned for a potential new arena was located next to TQL Stadium at what is currently a parking garage and studios for Cincinnati Public Radio and WCET, the local PBS station. They are scheduled to move to a new building soon. Also this week on the north side of TQL Stadium, FCC is looking to build a three hundred million dollar development that would include a hotel, apartments, office space, retail, restaurants, music/entertainment venues and an outdoor plaza. The team requested $26.4 milion from the a state tax credit program, but was denied this week. Basically if this is Berdings doing for interest in the NHL in Cincy, it is a very plausible effort, seeing his success with FCC as well as other ventures here in the city. Berding might not have the money for an arena or a team, but he has connections with some of Cincinnatis wealthiest people.

We can handle the Reds, Bengals and FCC. I dont think we could handle a fourth. Cincy sports has a bit of a lull after the Bengals season ends until Reds opening day. Hockey is low on the totem pole here. With the Reds, Bengals, and FCC at the top, followed by college football and basketball, and hockey at the bottom. The ECHL Cyclones currently average 6,708 fans a game this season in the ECHL. Heritage Bank Center holds 14,453 for hockey if both the upper and lower bowls are open. Usually only the lower bowl is open but a few games a year attract enough for upper bowl sales. Most games bring in fans courtesy of some kind of promotion like $2 beers, teddy bear toss or a kids themed night from Nickelodeon or Marvel. While this may be good for minor league, I dont think the NHL could attract. Many here still wish for the NBA to bring the Royals back. Our biggest issue right now is arena. Heritage Bank Center opened for the WHA Stingers in 1975. It hasnt had a major renovation since 1997. There have been talks of a renovation or new arena for nearly a decade but nothing has ever come out of it other than proposals and renderings. The issue is who is going to pay for it. Government leaders and taxpayers are skeptical after deals to build Great American Ballpark and Paycor Stadium. Its the reason why TQL Stadium was privately funded. With renovations or a new arena going nowhere Cincinnati has lost out on big events and concerts to surrounding cities that have newer and larger facilities (most notably we lost out on hosting NCAA basketball tournament games and the Republican National Convention). Our local government believes a new arena isnt a rush right now as they are more focused on three larger projects, the convention center renovation and building of a hotel, the Brent Spence Bridge project and replacement of the Western Hills Viaduct. At the earliest unless a private individual comes forward to fund and build a new arena, they arent looking at an arena replacement until after 2030. Some here also believe that a new arena isnt worth the investment unless we bring in a major league tenant. Our current arena does fine with 34 Cyclones games, concerts, and other events. Plus IMHO, I think we would do just fine without a major league tenant, similar to how Kansas City does with the T-Mobile Center.

Bettman mentioned today that the league has talked with groups interested in expansion in Atlanta, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, Houston, Omaha, and Cincinnati. The first four are no surprise but Cincinnati shocked me. Cincinnati would need a new arena. There have been talks about a new arena here for at least the last decade. Omaha could possibly work, If Kansas City is a no go, plus Omaha doesnt have a team in the Big Four. I could see them like a hockey version of Oklahoma City with the Thunder. Their only competition for fans is the USHL Lancers in suburban Omaha and Creighton basketball.

BC Place in Vancouver was similar in that it could host both football and baseball. Im guessing when they did renovations there, the ability for baseball went with it too.

FC Cincinnati apparently has now leaked on EA FC

Groups have been announced for this years Leagues Cup.

Part of the stipulation for the team being sold was that the Majors name was to be returned to St Michaels. Mississauga had no choice but to rebrand.