Atlanta to MLS?

Discussion in 'Atlanta NASL' started by msilverstein47, Mar 30, 2011.

  1. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    KICKING IN: In Atlanta, Douglas Sams reports Brazilian soccer team Cruzeiro Esporte Clube "wants to build a $30 million youth soccer complex" in Alpharetta, Ga., and its leaders "say they have deep-pocketed investors to pull it off." Cruzeiro "might also consider introducing a Major League Soccer team to Atlanta, though that part of the plan is not as far along." One site under consideration for the youth complex is developer Stan Thomas' "stalled Prospect Park at Georgia 400 and Old Milton Parkway." The soccer complex "could cover 100 acres and contain up to 18 fields." Cruzeiro President Zezé Perrella said that "expanding its youth soccer program into Georgia is part of the club’s broader effort to build its name in the United States" (ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE, 3/25 issue).
     
  2. offside33

    offside33 Member

    Mar 24, 2009
    Atlanta
    Club:
    Atlanta
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That's a lot of fields.
     
  3. Cyclonis

    Cyclonis Forza Juve

    Jul 12, 2007
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    [​IMG]



    Silverbacks to MLS NOW!!!
     
  4. Topher_Himself_ATL

    Topher_Himself_ATL New Member

    Dec 1, 2011
    Atlanta
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If Blank builds a new outdoor stadium downtown for football, I think part of the plan will be an MLS team.

    I just hope Blank does it right and isn't an owner in the mold of Kraft at NE.
     
  5. Cyclonis

    Cyclonis Forza Juve

    Jul 12, 2007
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Everyone is holding out for Blank, but if he gets the nod, I doubt he'll take the Silverbacksd under his wing. Chances are, he'd want to start his own legacy and the Silverbacks would be be demoted to the minor leagues forever... And they say there is no relegation in MLS. :rolleyes:

    Nope! I'd rather the franchise that has struggled to stay afloat and earned it's place in the grassroots soccer community make it to MLS than for some rich Football guy to start a new team so that he can line his pockets during the offseason. Forget that!

    I say, unleash the gorilla on MLS!!



    [​IMG]
     
  6. westau

    westau Member

    Feb 11, 2009
    Atlanta
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    At this point I don't really care as long as Atlanta gets an MLS team. If it is the Silverbacks great. If it is Blank or someone else that is fine with me too as long as they aren't Bob Kraft 2.0. I will keep enjoying going to Silverbacks games until someone gets an MLS team though.
     
  7. ATLDIRTYSQUAD

    ATLDIRTYSQUAD New Member

    Dec 5, 2011
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Anybody here interested in joining the Atlanta Silverback supporters groups next season!!?? Westside 109 & Dirty Squad...check us out!!

    www.facebook.com/ATLDIRTYSQUAD !!
     
  8. TerminusFooty

    TerminusFooty Member+

    Feb 4, 2012
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  9. westau

    westau Member

    Feb 11, 2009
    Atlanta
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  10. drummer

    drummer Member

    Nov 29, 1999
    Atlanta
    It is a very uphill battle for Mr. Blank and MLS. Judging from the news stories on the open-air stadium discussions, there is little public (governmental) support for such a project. There has been talk about such a stadium since the "Atlanta Soccer Village" over 10 years ago, but it never gets beyond talk. Without that open air stadium there is no chance of Atlanta in MLS.

    Compare that to Cary which is right now spending 6 million on expanding their little stadium and has governmental support. My head says Cary has the edge on MLS expansion right now. They show they have public and private support behind their NASL team, just as Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, and Montreal did.

    I don't see how we get that public and private support until there is support for the Silverbacks. Building up this team is the ONLY way I see forward.
     
    1 person likes this.
  11. Atlanta-manunited

    Sep 29, 2009
    Atlanta
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    +1, All we can do right now is support the 'Backs. Carolina and Orlando are in better positions at the moment. We have to show the MLS that Atlanta can support soccer.
     
  12. westau

    westau Member

    Feb 11, 2009
    Atlanta
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Of course if Arthur Blank put real weight behind a bid we would immediately jump them.
     
  13. Atlanta-manunited

    Sep 29, 2009
    Atlanta
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    True, but that's a big IF. It's a scenario that becomes less and less likely over time. The new Falcons Stadium faces a lot of hurdles. Just curious, Traffic Sports is pretty loaded. How serious are they about investing in the growth of the Silverbacks? The recent signings of Navia and Turcios are encouraging. Silverbacks Park is expandable to 15,000 and its in a pretty darn good location. Any chance Traffic sees Atlanta as a gold mine, and decide to go all in?
     
  14. ceezmad

    ceezmad Member+

    Mar 4, 2010
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Red Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Most reports I hear is that Traffic is trying to cut back on NASL spending, having to prop up 3.5 teams is more than what they would like.
     
  15. drummer

    drummer Member

    Nov 29, 1999
    Atlanta
    What makes you think Mr. Blank isn't already doing all he reasonably can? Why do you think he is pushing for an open-air stadium that clearly many powerful interests oppose? Mr. Blank is powerful but not all powerful. I humbly suggest not waiting for him to do everything and pay for everything.

    Do your part. Put your money and energy where your posts are. Convince the nay-sayers. Support the Silverbacks.
     
  16. Sevin

    Sevin Member

    May 24, 2001
    U.S.
    Drummer's absolutely right. Signing a petition or voting in a poll (I've done both by the way), is not going to be as appealing to a potential investor as selling out every game for the team that we have.
     
  17. ATLDirtySquadBoy

    ATLDirtySquadBoy New Member

    Apr 27, 2012
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    I still don't get why everyone is pushing so hard for an MLS team. The Silverbacks put a very high quality product on the field every week. If we get an MLS team in Atlanta, ticket prices will rise, you will have less freedom in the stand, concession will go up, plus the personal satisfaction that comes with investing in a squad. MLS, NASL, or Wednesday men's league, I'll support the Silverbacks regardless. The league they're in is meaningless.
     
  18. Topher_Himself_ATL

    Topher_Himself_ATL New Member

    Dec 1, 2011
    Atlanta
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Because there is a big gap in quality between the NASL and MLS.

    I'm a Silverbacks fan as well, and go to the games, but I'm not sure what you mean by "very high quality product". The team won 4 matches last year (by far the worse team in the league) and haven't won a game this year (albeit, in my opinion, they are much improved).

    People want the MLS because they want a higher level of play and want to be part of a really exciting and growing league. I would much rather enjoy a game with 15k fans in attendance then just the 3k you're likely to see at Silverbacks Park.

    Don't get me wrong though, I will continue to support the 'backs until we get an MLS team, and I would actually rather see Silverbacks Park expanded to 18k than for an MLS team to play in a huge empty football stadium that seats 60k+ even if its downtown. I do also worry that an Arthur Blank owned franchise would be similar to the situation with Kraft in Boston (Revolution).
     
  19. ATLDirtySquadBoy

    ATLDirtySquadBoy New Member

    Apr 27, 2012
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    I also agree that making the Silverbacks an MLS team & expanding the current stadium to 18K would be the best idea. Starting a whole new franchise in Atlanta & not playing in a soccer specific stadium would be a step back in my opinion. As far as the high quality in play.....it hasn't always been on our side. It just aggravates me when people say they'll come to watch them if they were in the MLS. If you love he game & enjoy watching it, support the pro team that's in this city now!!
     
  20. Jossed

    Jossed Member+

    Apr 23, 2011
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    The problem with that idea is you need wealthy ownership willing to spend lots of money. The likelihood of actually finding that? Good luck.

    No they don't. They put together what they can afford. Which like other NASL clubs, isn't much. You are paying for what you get with meager payrolls. You basically are picking through MLS castoffs and scrubs. Like Topher_Himself_ATL said, the gap between the NASL and MLS is big. And some of the play is really bad.

    Step back from what? You would be hitting the lotto if Arthur Blank got his stadium and joined MLS. It's a long shot at this point. Let's see. A major league team in front of 15k to 30k, higher caliber players, some DPs, much larger fanbase, and media attention vs. a minor league team in front of 2k to 3k in mostly total anonymity. Again, how is that a step back for soccer in Atlanta? Compared to where you are now playing minor league soccer in a league most soccer fans in this country ignore?

    That is life. Put a MLS club in Atlanta and a lot more people will come out than a NASL club. Being part of a major league. Higher level of play. Better players. Bigger crowds. Getting local and some national media attention. Excitement of being part of a growing and hopefully future world class league. It is what it is.

    Cary expanding WakeMed has nothing to do with the RailHawks or MLS. The RailHawks only draw 3 to 4k. So adding all those seats would be pointless for them. It is entirely about bringing back the NCAA Championships to Cary. And they would have to spend a lot more to make WakeMed a MLS stadium.

    The RailHawks don't have any more private support than Atlanta does. Both clubs are currently being propped up by Traffic Sports so the NASL has 8 teams. Both badly need local ownership.
     

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