No one can be guaranteed that it eventually means MLS. MLS is closer to its ceiling than it was in 2004 or any year since, though we can debate where that ceiling is. And it's not just Montreal. Vancouver, Portland and Seattle all moved up from the second division and have been successful. But that doesn't mean Edmonton could (or couldn't), doesn't mean Tampa Bay could. And if you sell someone on that carrot, they're more than likely going to be disappointed. If you have a group of 12 investors, they can't all get into MLS and they won't all get into MLS.
I think I've done this before in the other thread, but basically: 1 - We don't have any realistic place for a D2 team to play. The options are either too big (U of Phx Stadium, Sun Devil Stadium, Chase Field), baseball stadiums (Chase Field, any of the spring training complexes), outdoors (every high school/juco field and every baseball stadium), unrealistic (the Greyhound Park) or simply don't exist yet. You'd have to build something. Either with a permanent roof or (better) a retractable, and who's going to make that investment for a D2 team? 2 - Given the time of year, the weather's simply an issue. You can play soccer here in the summer, and it's been done, and Arizonans can get used to playing in it, to a point. But you're going to struggle to get anyone to buy tickets to go see it. I know you all are tough guys who can handle anything, but despite those who think soccer fandom is an exercise in how much misery you can endure, soccer fandom is not an exercise in how much misery you can endure. You won't get enough people who feel like you feel. We've been really fortunate in that we haven't gotten Balls Hot yet - few years ago it was 120 on Memorial Day, this weekend was really nice. But it is usually over 100 degrees at midnight here in the dead of summer. Playing at 7 or 8 or even 9 isn't going to make a difference. 3 - Yes, there's a Hispanic population here, obviously, but demographically you can't rely on that. This sport is still a suburban, white (though changing) spectator sport, and the people with money who you'd need to make this fly will have a problem with points 1 and 2 above. And we do have grass here. It's possible to grow grass. Costs extra because we don't have a lot of water. A turf field for soccer here in the summer would literally kill someone and that would be the end of your team. I'm sure it's hot in San Antonio in the summer, and I know it's hot in Houston in the summer (and Dallas and Kansas City), and it's humid to boot. Lack of humidity helps a bit here, but not when it's over 108 or so (and we go way over that). People just aren't going to pony up for D2 soccer tickets here in any great numbers if it's an outdoor situation in the summer. Just not happening. If someone wants to build something, fine. But it ain't cheap.
That's an incredible run-down. Amazing job. Thanks for taking the time to explain that. As hot and humid as it gets here in SA, we definitely get below 100 at night. It's mid 90's but still... I guess getting someone to build the facility will always be the major issue, due to the other factors necessitating it.
Well, now i know for sure. Anything wrong with St. Louis I should know about too? Any problems with OKC? I figure they'd be ripe for another team.
I'm not sure where they'd play. There's bound to be a suitable stadium there somewhere, but I don't think OU or OCU have soccer teams, so nothing specific.
Minnesota Stars FC still unbeaten after tie in San Antonio Boxscore News Minnesota Stars FC missed a chance to go top of the North American Soccer League table Saturday night, earning a ... Shorthanded RailHawks defeat Islanders for first NASL win News & Observer Despite improved play of late, there was an unwelcome but familiar feel to the Carolina RailHawks home match Saturday after the ... Scorpions and Stars miss chance to go top Examiner.com The San Antonio Scorpions remained undefeated in their last eight but missed the chance to go top of the league as they fought out a scoreless Saiko making mark on FCE Edmonton Sun FC Edmonton's Shaun Saiko Named May's NASL Player of the Month Oye! Times He won the title of Offensive Player of the Week for a second time in Week Eight after his one goal and one assist game against the San Antonio Scorpions in a 2-2 draw. Saiko's impressive play has been recognized on an international level as he ... Fort Lauderdale Strikers get first franchise win against Tampa Bay Rowdies Boxscore News The Fort Lauderdale Strikers (3W-4T-3L) defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies (3W-3T-4L) at Lockhart Stadium on Saturday night by a final of 3-1 for their first win against Tampa Bay in franchise history. Goals by Abe Thompson, ... Strikers rally for 3-1 win over rival Tampa Bay Sun-Sentinel The Fort Lauderdale Strikers rallied from a first half deficit to defeat state rival Tampa Bay Rowdies 3-1 before 3255 fans at Lockhart Stadium on Saturday. The victory snapped the Strikers (3-3-4) five game winless ... Tampa Bay Rowdies fall 3-1 to Fort Lauderdale Strikers Tampabay.com The Rowdies allowed three goals ...
Silverbacks earn first win of the season, 2-1 at Edmonton - Access North Georgia The Atlanta Silverbacks earned their first win of the ... Code Red: Shorthanded Carolina RailHawks hobble Puerto Rico Islanders 2-1- The Independent Weekly NASL Week 9: RailHawks, Silverbacks Earn First 2012 League Wins - IMSoccer News FC Edmonton stunned by Atlanta in front of large Clarke crowd – the11.ca FC Edmonton wasn’t able to match the physical intensity of the Atlanta Silverbacks, and paid for it..
you are probably right, though I was referring to the last one of course is he MLS material you think ?
He's on the small side. Plus he's English so the international slot thing comes into play. Maybe not MLS, but if he keeps this up he won't be in the NASL for very long, that's for sure.
Very odd news out of Atlanta...seems that President Michael Oki resigned last week and they have a new GM. I thought Oki sounded pretty good in the interview he did a few weeks back with IMS Soccer news and he was driving a lot of their success in the stands this season. I wonder if he fell on the sword over selling the USOC game to the Sounders? Oh, and some late news over the weekend's games and a few previews of the USOC games to come tomorrow... Silverbacks Name Smith General Manager AtlantaSilverbacks.com The Atlanta Silverbacks have announced the promotion of Andy Smith to General Manager of the Silverbacks men's professional team. Smith will be in charge of all sales, marketing and operations read more... Silverbacks President Resigns, New GM Named Patch.com The Atlanta Silverbacks have announced the promotion of Andy Smith to general manager of the Silverbacks men's professional team. Smith will be in charge of ... Scorpions grind through tough schedule San Antonio Express San Antonio Scorpions practices barely fit the description these days. With five matches in 15 days, and another two over the next five, they're ... FC Edmonton Unable to Mount Second Half Rally in Loss to Atlanta Silverbacks Oye! Times It was a bit of a sloppy start for both sides on Sunday as the Atlanta Silverbacks came to town to take on FC Edmonton at Clarke Stadium. It was another enthusiastic crowd of 2521 and the players seemed to embrace the atmosphere as the first half ... Silverbacks Earn 2-1 Road Win in Edmonton Patch.com Atlanta's first win of the season pulls the Silverbacks even in the standings with the Carolina RailHawks and FC Edmonton. The Atlanta Silverbacks earned their first win of the season Sunday afternoon, topping FC Edmonton 2-1 at Clarke Stadium in ... FCE half as good Edmonton Sun Atlanta Silverbacks' Shaun Moroney scores a header past FC Edmonton keeper Lance Parker at Clarke Stadium on Sunday. Harry Sinkgraven wanted to see the beauty in the beautiful game. The FC Edmonton coach was counting on his teaming playing attractive .. Eddies give away the ball, shot at a victory Edmonton Journal The scoring chances came fast and furious in the second half, but FC Edmonton's frantic comeback attempt against the Atlanta Silverbacks came up short in a 2-1 loss at Clarke Field on Sunday afternoon. A flat opening half saw the Eddies fall ... Minnesota Stars FC set to take on San Jose Earthquakes Tuesday in Lamar Hunt ... Boxscore News Minnesota Stars FC will face Major League Soccer (MLS) Western Conference contenders the San Jose Earthquakes in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup at 10 pm CDT. tomorrow at Stanford University's Cagan Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif. USOC: Quakes out for another scalp against unbeaten Stars Major League Soccer On Tuesday, the Quakes face the NASL's Minnesota Stars FC at Stanford University's Cagan Stadium with a chance to move into the quarterfinals (11 pm ET, streamed live at sjearthquakes.com). Quakes coach Frank Yallop prefers the new format. Rowdies' unbeaten streak against Strikers ends Tbo.com When the Tampa Bay Rowdies dropped a 3-1 decision to the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday night, it ended a nine-game unbeaten streak for Tampa Bay in the series between the teams since it resumed in 2010. It also snapped a string of ...
San Jose Earthquakes beat Minnesota, advance to US Open Cup quarterfinals Marin Independent-Journal ... just couldn't break free from Minnesota Stars FC in a rugged U.S. Open Cup match in front of an announced ... Charlotte closes deal on Scorpions San Antonio Express Scorpions team captain Kevin Harmse, front, takes control of the ball ahead of Charlotte's Nathan Thornton during a U.S. Open Cup soccer ... Third-tier Charlotte Eagles advance in US Open Cup Houma Courier Chivas USA defeats Carolina RailHawks FOXSports.com Chivas USA tops Carolina Railhaws 2-1 in US Open Cup ... a penalty kick in stoppage time and Chivas USA beat the Carolina RailHawks ... Chivas USA tops Carolina 2-1 in US Open Cup Sacramento Bee DeCock: RailHawks steal show from MLS opponents Charlotte Observer
Listening to the PRI announcers they said the Owner Group is meeting in NYC today, I wonder if we will hear any news about new teams soon.
Wantland Stadium / UCO / Edmond, OK ***A suitable stadium is the least of the problems that a potential NASL team would face in OKC.
Recently renovated (2005), 10,000 capacity with some room to grow (like endzone stands if they wanted). I think the only real question for them is, do they sell beer? I wonder if Tulsa has anything similar.
Not this particular combination... Union Tuttle Stadium (high school) lacks corporate suites but seats about 10k http://goo.gl/maps/xFVr Chapman Stadium at the University of Tulsa was actually downsized/renovated in the fall of 2008 to 30k capacity (from 41k) with a brand new pressbox including 20 suites available.... both stadiums have narrow fields, limited space on sidelines, field turf. After the Tulsa Drillers AA baseball team downsized to a new 7800 seat stadium downtown, it left the old ballpark without a first tenant. The ballpark at the county fairgrounds holds 10,997. Both ballparks have natural grass fields. https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/why-not-drillers-in-the-nasl.1927095/ The new downtown ballpark is technically not owned by the Drillers, but by the Tulsa Ballpark Authority, and it appears the city may need more revenue http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/prin...=20120513_11_A24_ULNSbB807943&PrintComments=1 http://goo.gl/maps/vyAU
Lightning strikes twice: Carolina RailHawks outlast four-hour delay for 1-0 win over Minnesota Stars - The Independent Weekly ... a 1-0 win by the Carolina RailHawks over league rival Minnesota Stars, ... Expansion: 4-Hour Thunderstorm Delay Raises Questions About Southeast US - Bleacher Report The opinions in this article in no way reflect those of the poster, or any sane person and are the views of the author only. Anything resembling logic or common sense in this article is purely coincidental. Longest Game in NASL History Ends in RailHawks Win – CaryCitizen Scorpions beat Strikers in feisty match - Examiner.com Just one week on from their feisty match in Florida the Scorpions took on the ... San Antonio Scorpions Outlast Fort Lauderdale Strikers for 1-0 Win - IMSoccer News Scorpions outlast Fort Lauderdale - San Antonio Express FCE scores two goals in 93 seconds in win over Atlanta – the11.ca Going into Saturday’s date in Atlanta
The delays in Cary certainly should lead the NASL to question their regulations for abandoning matches. My guess is that the referee wasn't given any specific directive by the league. The team owners should figure out at what point they're okay with a match ending with or without a replay, given operating costs and travel.
Aren't the procedures pretty much USSF-driven rather than league driven? I would defer to an actual referee on this, but I was under the impression that it's kind of a nationwide system where once the officiating crew has taken control of a match, it's up to them, in consultation with coaches and management. (At least, that's what happened last year in Richmond during the deluge, though USL and FOX had something to say about it as well.) I don't know. Then again, there could be directives, and that doesn't necessarily mean each referee would follow them to the letter.
The Tulsa football stadia are WAY too narrow, so I won't even bother. The old ballpark is a promising possibility for a permanent facility, either east-west with minimal messing around (knock out the center OF wall), or north-south with a redevelopment plan. The new ballpark could host temporarily, and give a 110x75yd field with one end at the party deck (down 3rd base line).