FOX 26 Sports has learned Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander is in negotiations to buy the Houston Dynamo soccer franchise. @MarkBermanFox26 I don't see how this could be anything but a good thing for the Dynamo. Les has always been willing to spend money, make big moves, and do whatever it takes to win (including completely rebuild the team when it needs to be done, as we are seeing with this year's Rockets...) http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/1...-alexander-in-negotiations-to-purchase-dynamo
Well, as long as he leaves Dom in charge of the soccer. And doesn't import that godawful NBA arena atmosphere approach into BBVA.
We will see where this goes. There are pro/cons to being willing to completely rebuild a team every year (i.e. TFC) but at least they would be similar success history between the two teams. Yes, atmosphere. We could potentially go from, now slightly toned back, MLB approach to NBA. Could be bad in that sense but it would be a local person.
At the beginning of the story it talks about Leslie Alexander buying out everyone (AEG, Oscar, and Gabrial Brener) then rest of the story talks about how the MLS wants the AEG to sell their portion so there isn't a conflict of interest like at the last MLS Cup. Seems odd that NBC didn't break this story with all the things they do with the Dynamo.
Yea, I don't see this as anything but good. Les has always been willing to make big moves. Sadly they haven't worked out so well in the last 15 years, but that wasn't for lack of effort. He also seems to let the basketball guys do their job without too much interference. The Astros are Rockets are launching their own network. Maybe the Dynamo could be a part of that. Just don't go messing with the colors or logo. This has been the worst part of Les Alexander's time as owner of the Houston Rockets:
IIRC, when Les bought the Rockets, he changed a lot of things, from the uniforms to the broadcast team to the goofy time-out entertainment. Maybe he learned some lessons from those experiences.
I guess I approve of this. The Rockets always tried to make big moves, didn't always work out but at least they were willing! Hopefully not too many changes (for the worse anyway).
Yeah, the Rockets got hit with some bad luck when their two biggest assets (McGrady and Yao) just sort of flamed out due to injury. You usually get at least some sort of ROI on those types of players and they got zero. And agreed with the previous posters, there's no where to get but up ownership-wise.
Exactly... Kevin Martin is slated to make three times what the Dynamo's entire roster makes this season. This will be chump change to Les. We may even end up with more than 7k printed Gameday programs per game next year! Not to mention, maybe we'll start having a "Tux and Cleats" Gala Fundraiser down at BBVA....
I don't really have an opinion either way. We all know what AEG is about. We know what Les is about too. But then again, with our approach-if it ain't broke don't fix it. If we keep that attitude then this could be good.
I like two parts of this. 1. Having one owner if Alexander really is buying out all three current owners. Seems like that would just work a lot better. 2. I also like the idea of getting into the Comcast SportsNet Houston with the Astros, Rockets, and Conference USA football which recently signed with CSN Houston. I really don't see much of a future for Fox Sports Houston. I think that channel is going to go back to being Fox Sports Southwest with a lot of non-Houston sports on it. C0mcast is putting a lot of money into these new local sports channels. We might have some scheduling conflicts but I can easily see CSNH-1 and CSNH-2 channels. That's what they do in Chicago since they carry Cubs, Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks, Fire, and Rush (AFL) games. And in Chicago the games that aren't on CSN-Chicago directly and carried on other local channels are still produced by Comcast so you get a uniformity of broadcast.
Disaster. AEG may be dispassionate about the Dynamo but they stay out of the way. Not sure that is in Les' DNA. I'd use the word "meddlesome" to describe him, with really average results since the early years of his Rockets ownership, which he lucked into that team. Mark my words, today, 8/16/12, if this deal goes thru that ticket prices will be up 50% in two years. He'll spend the money on talent but get it back out of the fans. I suspect part if not all of this is designed to lock up Downtown events and put more programming in Comcast Sportsnet Houston (Rockets own 40% of that) and get some sweeteners from that.
My understanding is that there's some diversity of opinion among MLS owners about whether to push harder with more spending on players. If that's in fact the case, then it seems that Les would likely be in the more spending camp. Could be interesting.
Les is specifically known for being a hands-off owner when it comes to meddling with the "basketball guys" in the Rockets' front office. Just this off-season, Les agreed, at the recommendation of his front office people, to pay $17.5 million for one of his best players (Luis Scola) to NOT play for him, all in the name of salary cap flexibility and to pursue the opportunities necessary to return the team to championship contention. That's dedication, homes!
Maybe he can get the Dynamo girls to wear those animals have rights too shirts that the Rockets Power dancers used to wear.
And I'm sure you believe he let his basketball folks make the call on Van Gundy and Adelman? A mediocre year and Morey is gone next. I can see Les bringing in Mo Johnston as GM since he loves wheeling and dealing so much! As I said, Les will spend money and with that comes high expectations and high ticket prices.