The Monsoon site was updated today (11/15) and states that they now have an "established relationship" with Pachuca. Are we getting closer to a D3 team, playing field and league? Or is this just another setup for disappointment?
Sounds like they are at least taking their time and doing it right. To often I've seen 2nd and 3rd division teams fold because they rushed into it. I would like to see them go NASL in 2012 myself. I'm surprised they are not trying to field teams this year in the NSSL or the NPSL however (basically D-4) in 2011.
Brian Wellman of the Railhawks/NASL did announce this week that they've all but locked up a new team for 2013. Maybe it's this one. Who knows.
Does anyone know what division/conference Phoenix Monsoon will be playing in? Why are they holding tryouts 4 days before Christmas? Where will they be playing?
That was my feeling. The number of questions it raises is outrageous. Is Thierry in some way involved with the franchise? Is he sponsoring them somehow? Will he be at tryouts? If not, why hasn't he sued them yet? This is the type of crap you see on playbills for techno shows at bars in Europe. Those are made by broke college kids. I would hope for better from a professional organization. Not a good start.
Actually I am more worried that they will hold a tryout, get a lot of young, financially challenged players to pay $50 or whatever for it and then just do nothing in 2011.
Apparently so, as that picture no longer exists. That they would even use Henry says a lot about the professionalism of the group.
Yeah, We run out time waiting for confirmation from both Rafa and Henry. Lol. The deal is USL/MLS/Tuzos Lol. MONSOON= TUZOS
That they built their site themselves--obviously with almost no technical know how--says even more. I know budgets are tight, but the internet and social media is not a place organizations can skimp. It hasn't been for 5 years (and that's being VERY generous). Buckle down, pay someone $2,000 for a professionally designed site, and don't use images of players whose rights you don't own in your posters. The former sends a bad message instantly--I will never support a team with a website from 1995 because I simply cannot believe such a team is to be taken seriously. The latter is just downright misleading. Of course, NASL's site (while better than the MLSsoccer.com "relaunch") doesn't exactly give the aura of professionalism.
There are two efforts to bring professional soccer to Arizona: Phoenix Monsoon (point-man is Stu Starkey) Phoenix Pro Soccer (point man is Chris Campasano) Phoenix Monsoon takes a cart before the horse approach. They make a lot of public announcements that fall flat. In fact, this forum is full of sarcastic remarks about Stu. Their approach is to form a league-less team and find other league-less teams in the southwest to play against. Essentially they are forming an exhibition team that they hope will later be accepted in a league. According to them, they have been in touch with both NASL and USL. If they could meet even the less restrictive USL Pro D3 requirements, they would have and would be playing in the 2011 USL Pro season. They definitely don't come close to meeting the NASL D2 requirements. Phoenix Pro Soccer is a group that organizes soccer and charity events. Their original hope was to go after an MLS team. They realize that they may have to go for a NASL D2 first, then hope to promote it to MLS D1 a la Portland Timbers style. They have been in touch with the USL, but they do not seem interested in a division 3 team at this time. In contrast to Phoenix Monsoon, this group seems to take a more pragmatic approach. However, I have come to doubt their abilities after they failed to follow through an some of their various goals (hiring interns, making application to NASL, organizing soccer festival, etc) in accordance with their own time schedule. It's obvious that both of these groups have connections both soccer and political. However, just looking at what they have produced (or failed to produce) according to their own goals/schedules is an indication as to the amount of money/influence their investor/ownership group has. No one knows the investors they are working with. They aren't publicly announcing this as some of these bids do: Bob Young (Hamilton), Marcelo Claure (Miami), Paul Kemsley (New York), or David Beckham who has an option to own an MLS franchise. When guys like these get involved, things move forward at a purposeful pace. When you have a bunch of hesitant investors or investors that can't meet the D1/D2/D3 financial requirements for ownership, then nothing moves forward and all you hear is talk of hopes, dreams, concepts, and ideas. Some guys can align the stars, others have to wait for the stars to align on their own. Phoenix Monsoon is going to have team tryouts on December 21st (right before Christmas). Of course, I don't know who wants to play in an unsanctioned league or who they will play against. Phoenix Pro Soccer seems to have gone in hibernation (except for organizing a charity event). Neither group seems to have a staff or anyone working on communicating with the public. This to me indicates that there is little to no funding in their organizations, just a couple of guys making phone calls and maybe a volunteer or two. Hey, both of these guys read these forums so they are welcome to respond to my opinion of their groups. I'm glad they are working on the issue, we don't have anyone else that is. I don't mean any of this maliciously, I'm just grading them on what they have accomplished and how they have accomplished it. If we do ever get a professional team in Arizona, I think it will be by one of these scenarios: 1) Some rich/influencial guy like David Beckham, Donald Trump, or Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani who is completely unaffiliated with Phoenix Monsoon or Phoenix Pro Soccer will come in and make it happen. 2) A struggling MLS/NASL team will move here in hopes of revitalizing their team in a new market. 3) USL pro who is eagerly trying to expand will form a Western Conference and Phoenix Monsoon will be included. However, I question the long term viability of a Phoenix Monsoon team and the fan following. 4) A municipality will agree to help fund a soccer stadium at the same time Phoenix Pro Soccer finds additional investors in order to make application for a NASL D2 team. I'm no insider, I'm just a guy who follows this stuff. This is just my opinion. p.s. It may be even more likely to get ASU to form a men's soccer team.
i like your passion for soccer... but u r a dreaming that MLS will come to Phoenix in the next 5-8 years
Yes, you are right. I am dreaming. We are all dreaming. Phoenix can forget about having an MLS team anytime within the next 10 years.
Gantry, apparently some missed your entire point of your post. Just wanted you to know that your thoughts are spot on and well thought out. Hopefully one of the teams (or both) will respond.