North American Pro Soccer 2018

[Gothamite]

Toronto FC are your 2017 MLS Cup champions, which puts a cap on the 2017 season and it’s time for a new thread.  

 

So... who ya got?

[Gothamite]

The one thing we know is that the NASL champions won’t repeat, as the SF Deltas folded after winning the Soccer Bowl in their one and only season.  But Toronto and Seattle could well be back next year. 

[Brian in Boston]

Plenty to discuss in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
 

Who amongst Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville and Sacramento will get the nod for MLS franchises #25 and #26? Will Major League Soccer's original franchise commit long-term to Columbus, or are they Austin-bound? How will LAFC fare in its first season in MLS? Will David Beckham's efforts to bring an MLS franchise to Miami finally come to fruition in 2018? Will the North American Soccer League survive to play another season? Which current NASL sides might follow North Carolina FC to the United Soccer League?

 

Have at it, folks.

[Gothamite]

29 minutes ago, Brian in Boston said:

Who amongst Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville and Sacramento will get the nod for MLS franchises #25 and #26?

 

Sac is a lock. Head and shoulders above anyone else. 

 

I think Cincy is likely to get the other one.  Nashville’s not quite there, and Detroit isn’t anywhere near. 

 

What will be interesting is next year, when the two remaining finalists have to face very strong Phoenix and San Diego bids. 

[Brian in Boston]

6 hours ago, Gothamite said:

 

Sac is a lock. Head and shoulders above anyone else. 

 

I think Cincy is likely to get the other one.  Nashville’s not quite there, and Detroit isn’t anywhere near. 

 

What will be interesting is next year, when the two remaining finalists have to face very strong Phoenix and San Diego bids. 

 

It will be interesting to see whether Major League Soccer's ardor for expansion to Cincinnati is cooled by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's threat to block the possible relocation of the Columbus Crew through the invoking of Ohio Revised Code 9.67, a law that was passed in the wake of the Cleveland Browns' move to Baltimore. Might the league be less inclined to do further business in a state where legal statute requires a professional sports team owner to give 6 months notice of a potential relocation and offer either local investors or a local governing authority the opportunity to buy the team if said franchise has received aid in the form of public tax dollars?

As for next year's expansion race, while MLS has long eagerly eyed the San Diego market, it remains to be seen whether the current bid will even exist there. The so-called "Soccer City" bid put forth by local Mike Stone and his FS Investors team is locked in a struggle with a rival development proposal for Mission Valley that is being championed by San Diego State University. While a ballot initiative that would authorize the City of San Diego to sell the Mission Valley site to Stone and his partners will be on the ballot in next November's municipal election, supporters of San Diego State University are in the process of securing the signatures necessary to place an initiative on the ballot that would direct the City of San Diego to sell to the educational institution instead. In all likelihood, both of the competing ballot initiatives will be put before voters next fall, and there is no guarantee that the "Soccer City" plan will best SDSU's proposal at the polls. And though SDSU's pitch maintains that a pro soccer team could be a part of the mix in the stadium that is included in its plan, it remains to be seen whether MLS would be open to a scenario in which a member-franchise was a tenant in a stadium owned and operated by SDSU. The league has moved towards a model where it wants its franchises controlling the revenue streams in and around their stadia. Given the enmity that has developed between FS Investors and SDSU, would the school be willing to cede enough revenue to an MLS side to make placing an expansion team in an Aztec-controlled stadium worth the league's while?   

Stay tuned.  

[FiddySicks]

I might be getting a little far down the rabbit hole here with this one, but here's where I'm at. 

 

I've got a bit of a personal connection to this round of expansion due to working pretty extensively with Sacramento Republic FC over the last three years. I've done all sorts of things with them that range anywhere from working in the front office with the sales team sorting through and organizing thousands of ticket stubs for season ticket events, to tearing down the nets and lugging the hundred or so video boards they have at the stadium till 1 AM after matches with the field crew. I've seen all sorts of expansions and moves of teams in my lifetime and it's always exciting, but having the connection to this team I have makes this one really special. I've actually found myself unable to sleep over the past few days because I'm so damn excitied for this one. We've all been working our asses off to not just keep this thing running, but also to make it as successful as it can be. Seeing this all come to fruition after all the blood, sweat, and tears me and my co-workers and I have put into this project will easily be one of the biggest accomplishments I've ever been a part of, and one of the proudest moments in my adult working life to date. My love for this team goes so far beyond just your regular fandom because there's so much of myself within it. Words can't even really describe just how downright heartbroken I'll be if this one doesn't work out for us. There's a pretty strong prevailing thought that this may be our ONE real shot at this, because NOTHING is guaranteed for those next two spots (and with all of the great cities gearing up for those final two spots, it really shouldn't be, either). This isn't just the difference between us not having a fun team to watch, it's also potentially the difference in my entire career path from here on out. To say this upcoming decision is a heavy one would be an absolute understatement. 

 

I love this this city with all of my heart. I've lived here on and off since 2007, and have been here permanently since 2014. It's where I started my career, met the women who will be my wife and mother of my children, and where I've decided to make my life. Having the opportunity to be a part of it's history is something that would mean the world to me. I absolutely cannot wait to see where the future takes this club, and am so happy I've had the chance to see it all up close and personal. 

 

ALL of the bids this round are good in their own ways and all four cities have their strengths. But damnit, I absolutely f*****g WANT this bid with all my God damn heart more than I've ever wanted another sports-related thing in my entire life.

 

SRFC for MLS or motherf*****g bust.

[Still MIGHTY]

Does... does this mean? Is... is it time?

 

*ahem*cough*ahem*

 

 

L-A!

*CLAP* *CLAP*

F-C!

[Sport]

Everyone on FC Cincinnati's reddit seems pretty confident and I think they have reason to be, but I'm very much prepared for the World Famous Cincinnati Sports Kick in the Nuts. I'm operating as if they're not going to get the bid. This is essentially a playoff game and since 1995 we just simply do not win playoff games. 

[Jer15]

On 12/9/2017 at 6:27 PM, Gothamite said:

Toronto FC are your 2017 MLS Cup champions, which puts a cap on the 2017 season and it’s time for a new thread.  

 

So... who ya got?

TFC!

 

Lol just being a homer there, of course, it's very hard to say as we have the expansion draft and the "super"draft and all the signings yet. 

 

I also agree that we'll likely see Sacramento and Cincy in MLS. Do you (or anyone) know if Detroit and Nashville don't get in this round, are they still in the running for the next round? Or is this a 1 and done kind of thing? 

[TBGKon]

4 hours ago, mr.negative15 said:

 

I also agree that we'll likely see Sacramento and Cincy in MLS. Do you (or anyone) know if Detroit and Nashville don't get in this round, are they still in the running for the next round? Or is this a 1 and done kind of thing? 

I think its two slots now, and the next two get named next year or so?  The 2 runners up this time will likely go into the pool again for the next slate.

[Breakwood]

Literally on the train leaving the TFC parade and celebration. What a day and weekend for TFC and all the fans. From worst team in the world to treble winners. 

 

Cant for February and the start of the Champions League.  

[Jer15]

18 hours ago, Breakwood said:

Literally on the train leaving the TFC parade and celebration. What a day and weekend for TFC and all the fans. From worst team in the world to treble winners. 

 

Cant for February and the start of the Champions League.  

It was quite a weekend, wasn't it? So much fun and it feels like it's been worth all those :censored:ty years. 

 

I'm a little worried about what will happen today with the draft. Best case Clint Irwin goes but that's not likely, there's some defenders that are available that I don't want to loose. 

[Gothamite]

19 hours ago, AstroBull21 said:

I think its two slots now, and the next two get named next year or so?  The 2 runners up this time will likely go into the pool again for the next slate.

 

Yes, that's the case.  Two spots are announced this year, and then the two remaining clubs can compete with everyone else for the two spots announced next December.

[Jer15]

15 minutes ago, Gothamite said:

 

Yes, that's the case.  Two spots are announced this year, and then the two remaining clubs can compete with everyone else for the two spots announced next December.

Ok, so if it goes as expected (or, as you and I expect though I think that's the general consensus) Nashville could still jump in the running or, hypothetically, Detroit might have some more time to come up with a plan for a SSS. 

 

Gotcha. Wasn't sure if a "no" meant "sorry guys, we're passing on this don't propose it again because we'll pass again". 

[Gothamite]

3 minutes ago, mr.negative15 said:

Wasn't sure if a "no" meant "sorry guys, we're passing on this don't propose it again because we'll pass again". 

 

No - I fully expect the two clubs left out next week to use the extra year to bolster their proposals.  Especially Detroit - Ford Field was a bit of a desperation move for them, and they will have an extra year to come up with a SSS proposal.

[Jer15]

Just now, Gothamite said:

 

No - I fully expect the two clubs left out next week to use the extra year to bolster their proposals.  Especially Detroit - Ford Field was a bit of a desperation move for them, and they will have an extra year to come up with a SSS proposal.

Which is actually exactly why I was asking the question..... great minds

 

I hope for their sake they do come up with a SSS otherwise I just can't see it happening.

[Jer15]

23 hours ago, Breakwood said:

Literally on the train leaving the TFC parade and celebration. What a day and weekend for TFC and all the fans. From worst team in the world to treble winners. 

 

Cant for February and the start of the Champions League.  

 

4 hours ago, mr.negative15 said:

It was quite a weekend, wasn't it? So much fun and it feels like it's been worth all those :censored:ty years. 

 

I'm a little worried about what will happen today with the draft. Best case Clint Irwin goes but that's not likely, there's some defenders that are available that I don't want to loose. 

 

They took Raheem Edwards, son of a gun! I thought they may pass on him because he counts as an international for LA. Here's hoping for a trade back. 

[Breakwood]

40 minutes ago, mr.negative15 said:

 

 

They took Raheem Edwards, son of a gun! I thought they may pass on him because he counts as an international for LA. Here's hoping for a trade back. 

 

I'm hearing some friends saying he may be sent to Montreal, which would be horrible.

[Corvus]

3 hours ago, Breakwood said:

 

I'm hearing some friends saying he may be sent to Montreal, which would be horrible.

 

Yep, he was, for Laurent Ciman, who is pissed about being sent away from Montreal, where he signed basically only because they have a great french language autism treatment options for his daughter. 

[Brian in Boston]

10 hours ago, Gothamite said:

 

Yes, that's the case.  Two spots are announced this year, and then the two remaining clubs can compete with everyone else for the two spots announced next December.

 

At last Friday's MLS State of the League address, Don Garber stated that "it's conceivable" that the entry of David Beckham's Miami expansion franchise could "move... back in the pack", with the 24th spot in MLS being taken by (A) one of next week's two anticipated expansion franchises moving up and launching in 2019, or (B) three of next week's four expansion candidates being awarded franchises, with one launching in 2019 and the other two grabbing spots 25 and 26.

As for any of the expansion candidates who are passed over in this year's voting sticking around to compete for the two spots announced next September, that's not solely in the hands of the potential franchise owners. While one would hope that the leaders of said bids wouldn't simply fold their tents if passed over this year, there's no guarantee that political leadership in said markets will remain supportive of pursuing a Major League Soccer team over the course of another year. Some elected officials who are currently in favor of pursuing an MLS franchise may change their minds with the passage of time. Some supportive officials may be voted or term-limited out of office in the interim. Others may pursue other elected offices, or simply leave the political arena. Perish the thought, but still others may pass away.