Looks like Orlando will revive the Lions for 2011. Will Jacksonville go USL or will they opt for NASL ? Tea Men ? Cyclones ? FC Jacksonville ?
I don't know ... will they come up with another "catchy" name ? why do teams insist on some Wiz, Burn, Clash names to start a new club ?
No - the Gator Bowl went by the way of the wrecking ball. But JAX has several things going for it - no other sports scene: The Jaguars have outpriced themselves; there claims to be the largest adult soccer league in the state. There is excellent real estate still available in the region. None of which in itself makes a club, but the Teamen were a late move in the history of MLS. JAX has hosted the national team on several occasions and it would be an excellent regional rivalry to Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta and Ft. Lauderdale. They were briefly on the short list to host the World Cup for 2018 / 2022. However, I suspect that a Div. 2 or Div. 3 club might be practicle for the area.
Sort of; they basically gutted the Gator Bowl (leveling all but the newer part), and used its skeleton to build the "Whatever They Call it Now" Stadium. I have very bad memories of the old Gator Bowl; standing at parade rest (more like "Parade shiver") on the Gator Bowl field at band show in November 1980 (MBA Grand National Championship; what is now BOA). It's wet, cold, and some genius thought it'd be a good idea to turn the stadium lights off and have a fireworks show. We froze our butts off out there, and only got 9th freakin' place out of twelve. The fact that we sort of sucked that year is completely beside the point.
Would you want to draw 2500-3500, if that many, in a 80,000+ seat stadium? There has to be somewhere else in Jax where they could play.
Why is Orlando going with the USL in the first place? Didn't have the 1st Division lost half their membership because of poor league management from USL?
Because the Titans Lacrosse team president, Steve Donner has a lot of history with making the Rochester Rhinos successful (and partly to blame for them tanking). Also, the Central FL Kraze, a USL PDL team, is also involved with this club. So past success and USL being desperate is pretty much why (IMO) Orlando is going with USL.
2,500 or 3,500 fans in a 80 K stadium would look awful, plus the rent would probably kill the franchise
I think that potential owners are becoming sophisticated enough to understand that they are throwing their money in a black hole if there isn't a good stadium plan to support the team. Does anyone know if an owner or group has shown interest in a Jax team? Rumor out of St. Louis is that AC may be folding soon. That would not show well for NASL, or for 2nd Division soccer in general. Anyone else heard anything about that?
This rumor is spreading pretty quickly. I have yet to see any sources so I'll just ignore it until someone can prove something or anything. I will say there is a thread dedicated to this and it has nothing except typical BS speculation.
Just read it and agreed. The best info I got out of that thread was #1-someone started the rumor via a call in to a radio show and #2- some posters are overly excited about Game #2 drop in attendance and $1 deal for crappy tickets.
How about this place? Two downsides are the track and I think there is a AMNRL team playing there in the summer already. http://www.unfospreys.com/sports/2007/11/14/facilitieshodges.aspx
Yep... so late they never made the MLS bus stop. lol They were in the original incarnation of the NASL, having been relocated there from New England.
that was my error - I meant to say NASL. Jacksonville got the Teamen franchise from New England. However, the league was on the decline by the time they hit Florida. Still, they did do well in their short lived ASL - where they won the Championship in 1983. I did read AC St. Louis was in financial difficulties. But that could just be sour grapes from unfriendly media.