North American Pro Soccer 2018

[GDAWG 814]

So there is a likelihood that three of the expansion cities could be awarded teams?

[Gothamite 16,474]

10 hours ago, GDAWG said:

So there is a likelihood that three of the expansion cities could be awarded teams?

 

Likelihood?  No.  A possibility, but I don't think it's a very great possibility.

 

12 hours ago, Brian in Boston said:

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.

 

I think it's more likely that either Sacramento or Cincinnati get fast-tracked to start sooner.  I'm not sure that three bids are actually ready.

 

12 hours ago, Brian in Boston said:

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.    

 

True, while softer bids are bolstered the best bids might start to fall apart.  But I still put that on the owners; they need to be constantly working on their bids to respond to conditions on the ground, just as they eventually will with their clubs.

[mr.negative15 737]

19 hours ago, Breakwood said:

 

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

I get it. It had to happen. TFC was/is too deep they were going to loose someone. 

It even makes sense for LA FC to trade him to a Canadian team, the whole international rules.

 

But I really wish he didn't go. If I'm TFC I would have just said "hey, take Clint Irwin and a couple superdraft picks". 

[gosioux76 561]

Looks like the Timbers brass have chosen Cosmos skipper Gio Savarese as their new head coach. The reaction  has been mostly positive so far, but i don’t know as much about the NASL. 

 

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/12/12/report-portland-timbers-eyeing-giovanni-savarese-head-coaching-job

 

Any my thoughts on this Gothamite?

[Brian in Boston 1,275]

Jorge and Jose Mas join Beckham bid in shake-up that sees top partner exit MLS venture

 

The Miami Herald is reporting that investment banker Todd Boehly - a co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the majority partner in David Beckham's Miami MLS expansion bid since April 25th of this year - has pulled out of the soccer venture.

Meanwhile, Miami business executives Jorge and Jose Mas - the brothers behind the family-owned construction and engineering firm MasTec - have joined Beckham's efforts.

While the addition of the Mas brothers softens the blow of Boehly's departure, this kind of revolving-door tumult involving the lead investors of a professional sports franchise can't be construed as a positive when it occurs just days before Beckham's group was to deliver a progress report and was hoping to get a thumbs-up on its bid from MLS brass. I have to believe that patience - both on the part of league executives and franchise investor/operators - has grown exceedingly thin with Beckham. No matter how much the league covets the Miami market, how long do they give Beckham to close the deal before they conclude that he is likely incapable of doing so? Further, given that MLS expansion fee has risen to $150 million, how much longer will the league be willing to stomach allowing Beckham to buy-in at a discounted $25 million price tag?
 

Frankly, if it were me, I'd bump Miami from the 2019 slot and award a franchise for that year - the league's 24th - to Sacramento. Then, I'd tab Cincinnati and Nashville for the 25th and 26th MLS teams in a pair of 2020 slots. Sacramento's had all of their ducks in a row for quite some time and is ready to break ground on a stadium. Hopefully, the league will have settled the situation in Columbus by 2020, so a Cincinnati-based club will know if it is entering the league as Ohio's sole representative in the league, or as part of a "Hell is Real" derby. The 2020 entrance date will also allow Nashville SC to get a season under its belt in the United Soccer League before joining MLS.

Beckham can be told that he's "on the clock" and that if he can't get every aspect of his bid signed, sealed and delivered by the time the league is ready to award its 27th and 28th franchises, then he's out of luck. He'll have to bide his time until the league decides to expand beyond 28 teams. I mean, enough is enough. Whatever positive attention Beckham brought to the league with his signing, it is now being undermined by the protracted dog-and-pony show that has been his bumbling pursuit of the Miami expansion team. 

[Bucfan56 7,973]

4 hours ago, Gothamite said:

 

Likelihood?  No.  A possibility, but I don't think it's a very great possibility.

 

 

I think it's more likely that either Sacramento or Cincinnati get fast-tracked to start sooner.  I'm not sure that three bids are actually ready.

 

 

True, while softer bids are bolstered the best bids might start to fall apart.  But I still put that on the owners; they need to be constantly working on their bids to respond to conditions on the ground, just as they eventually will with their clubs.

 

If that's truly the case, then I would think it pretty much has to be Sacramento. Cincinnati's stadium plan isn't even complete yet (or if it is, it's still in its infancy) while Sacramento is so ready to build the new yard that the tractors are literally tamping down the dirt on the stadium site just waiting for the go ahead to begin construction. 

[Gothamite 16,474]

Yeah.  The only thing I can see is if FCC feels it will have its MLS coaching staff and players ready to go more quickly, and Sac decides to wait and keep building.

 

Not out of the realm of possibility, but I agree it's unlikely.  

[mr.negative15 737]

If the Beckham thing goes away, how likely do you think it is Miami FC tries to make a run at it?   

 

[Gothamite 16,474]

12 minutes ago, mr.negative15 said:

If the Beckham thing goes away, how likely do you think it is Miami FC tries to make a run at it?   

 

I don't think Beckham's bid will fail.  But for the sake of argument, I don't know.  I don't actually think MLS is terribly high on the Miami market; they certainly haven't done much to help Beckham.   And Silva would need a stadium deal, which doesn't seem any more possible for him than for Beckham.

[Bucfan56 7,973]

So, MLS had their big meeting to vote on the two expansion teams today. And they decided... To wait some more. I feel kinda sick to my stomach because the longer this drags out, the more I get this dreadful feeling that we're about get boned out of a spot in favor of a team with a fan base and infrastructure that's currently non-existent, after years of building up those exact things because that's what MLS said they required of any expansion candidates. 

 

If Sacramento gets passed up by either Nashville or Detroit and is left out in the cold, I am absolutely, unequivocally, :censored:ing DONE with soccer for good. I'll never waste another second on it. 

[Gothamite 16,474]

10 hours ago, Bucfan56 said:

So, MLS had their big meeting to vote on the two expansion teams today. And they decided... To wait some more.

 

We don't actually know that, do we?  Yesterday's Board of Governors meeting hadn't been announced as the final voting date, although a lot of people online speculated that it might be.  That's the problem with Twitter - rumor becomes fact and expectations are unfairly raised.

 

Neither do know that they didn't vote, either.  We know only that they haven't announced a final decision.  It's very possible that one team was approved and they're still debating the second.

 

And it's not like they didn't have other business to cover.  A good portion of the meeting was taken up with approving David Beckham's new partners in Miami.  That had to get done as well.

 

Stay strong.  I know it's frustrating, but you'll get there.

[Bucfan56 7,973]

All good points. Just trying hard to stay calm and patient!

[MBurmy 992]

3 hours ago, Bucfan56 said:

All good points. Just trying hard to stay calm and patient!

The announcements are coming by year's end...plus they'll be done IN the winning cities.

So SRFC posts a press release or sends you an e-mail inviting you to a "Major Announcement," you'll know exactly what it's for.

[Brian in Boston 1,275]

14 hours ago, Bucfan56 said:

So, MLS had their big meeting to vote on the two expansion teams today. And they decided... To wait some more. I feel kinda sick to my stomach because the longer this drags out, the more I get this dreadful feeling that we're about get boned out of a spot in favor of a team with a fan base and infrastructure that's currently non-existent, after years of building up those exact things because that's what MLS said they required of any expansion candidates. 

 

If Sacramento gets passed up by either Nashville or Detroit and is left out in the cold, I am absolutely, unequivocally, :censored:ing DONE with soccer for good. I'll never waste another second on it. 

 

Back in October, ESPN cited a Major League Soccer spokesman as texting that an announcement regarding the league's 25th and 26th franchises would be made "likely around Dec. 19-20."

[Wings 1,771]

I have a feeling it will be Detroit & Sacramento. Detroit joins in 2019 while Miami gets pushed back to 2020 with Sacramento. 

[oz615 22]

Well,it's down to Sacramento and Cincinnati!

 

[MBurmy 992]

Well, that's at least one city getting screwed...of course, maybe MLS is waiting to see what happens to the Crew before they decide on Cincinnati.

 

Still, Sacto should've been MILES AHEAD of any other bid...

[crashcarson15 1,974]

From the SI story:

 

Quote

The league had committed to naming two expansion teams this year, and selected Cincinnati, Sacramento and Detroit as the other finalists. There was no word Tuesday about their fate. It’s believed that ownership group questions in Sacramento and stadium questions in Cincinnati have made a decision more difficult than anticipated.

 

They're totally bringing in Detroit as 26, aren't they?

[oz615 22]

2 minutes ago, crashcarson15 said:

From the SI story:

 

 

They're totally bringing in Detroit as 26, aren't they?

 i Still don't think that option is on the table because of non SSS (Ford Field) but then again i might be wrong!

Edited December 19, 2017 by oz615
Speeling errors

[Gothamite 16,474]

It's a possibility - they're one of the four finalists, after all.

 

I don't think Sacramento has any ownership questions - they just added a multi-billionaire in Meg Whitman.