Well, there's nothing going on, because there's nothing going on. Blank hasn't said diddly squat about MLS since he pulled his bid, and nobody else is doing anything either. I did see something on the internet about a proposal to refurbish AL Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, but that's it (and probably irrelevant to soccer anyway). Sigh...
Ive ran out of outlets as well. No one is saying anything about the bid for a MLS team here at all and its frustrating. Only thing coming up is the Atlanta Beat in Kennessaw
Yea... I guess we're taking a leave of absence for a while 'til something comes up. It's just hard to be motivated and get excited when there's nothing going on.
Good points I suppose, but what about meetings to watch random matches? Like once every month or two. Oh well. And forgive me if I'm not that excited about the women's team.
I feel like things will not get going again until Blank or another owner starts to ramp up the bid for a team in Atlanta. Right now I think the best thing for us to do is to grow B.O.S.S.. When we have enough numbers to show an ownership group that soccer will work in ATL we can approach Blank to show our support. Just keep doing what we are doing. Talk about southern soccer, spread the word.
maybe we need to go back to a name discussion... Honestly, it was easier to talk before we knew anything. At least everything was up for discussion. Now that we know the potential owner, we know nothing will happen until he makes a decision. It would be nice if there were some competition for ownership in town. Maybe Man City will think that Atlanta is a good potential market...
I agree. I don't know why we still can't be discussing some sort of supporters' club. Also...why Man City?
True, but Garber met with Man City to discuss investing in the MLS. Whether as a new team owner, or investing in an existing team no one knows. I couldn't find the original article, but here is another: Man City in talks with Garber about buying MLS franchise
Apparently Don Garber was talking expansion on his CBA teleconference. What has been reported is that he said, "You can't be a national league unless you have teams in the South". It seems as though MLS and Blank maybe talking more in the near future.
He also said there will be no new talks with Blank in the short term. When asked what "short term" means, he said "at least two years." Then he reiterated that if and when expansion does happen in the south, he couldn't think of a better owner than Blank.
Thanks. Also, I think it would be a mistake to say we shouldn't do anything until owner talks or whatever heat up. How beautiful would it be when Blank or whoever steps up to the plate and there is already a significant supporters club to join him in the effort?
Agreed. Using Sons of Ben as an example, they were active for years before they were even granted an expansion slot. The hard part is getting people motivated and excited when there's nothing going on. It also takes someone (or a small group) to really step up as far as leadership and organization, something I don't think I am in any place to do personally.
Nothing going on? You're kidding right? What about the 2011 Atlanta Silverbacks? Support them! Seattle, Portland, Vancouver and Montreal became great MLS candidates, at least in part, for their great support of lower division soccer in North America. Atlanta and the south need to step it up and show that they are passionate about SOCCER at ANY and all levels and not just at the first division. If you pack the place out for USL/NASL/PDL in places like Atlanta, Miami, Charlseton, Tampa Bay etc, Major League Soccer will notice and get you in the league lickety split!
Um, the 'Backs were supposed to have been back this year. At the moment, some of us have about as much faith in them coming back as most most people have in FCNY ever playing a game. Oh yeah, the USL Sounders didn't draw that spectacularly, if you look at the stats (you should know that, being in Vancouver). Your USL/MLS argument is nonsense, by virtue of both Seattle and Toronto. Minor league teams in major league cities seldom draw well. Atlanta being a top market will get notice a lot faster than the Silverbacks packing a 3,000 seat stadium, which was usually at least 75% full most of the time.
Uh...it's 2010 though. And only the third month no less. I don't know much about the lower lower levels of soccer here, except that the Atlanta Blackhawks of the PDL play at a high school field. Plus I wouldn't be that excited about spending money at every single one of those games. Maybe we can somehow find the people who do support those minor league teams and tell them about what we want to accomplish and then we can join forces!
Very true. I am reminded of the time I went to a Silverbacks game and there was like one very excited section which featured people banging on drums and playing other instruments. I wonder if there is a way for us to get into contact with those kinds of people.
Yes, that gives you almost a full year to whip up some excitement ala the Sons of Ben who were without a team for years! I wish you only the best and agree (as someone thousand of miles away) that it would be great for you guys to organize. The MLS needs a solid team in the south.