so here it is. we get all of the BOSS chapter people, actually anyone with a pulse and we go super old-school middle school class president on their asses and get a petition together. Yes, a petition. leg work. pounding the pavement like I pounded your brains with "firebirds". We collect signatures and e-mail addresses. then we send that shit to None other than Don Garber. We keep sending copies untill we get a notice of reciept. then we send out an e-mail to the list. It might suck but its better than yet another usless thread dedicated to colors or shirt sponsors or name of a team we are never going to have unless we get off our asses.
while you are absolutely correct about "pounding the pavement" and not posting useless threads... the petition thing is pointless. MLS doesn't care about names, and people are very weary of giving you full names and address' now. Take it from someone that went down that road.
If the USA gets the 2022 WC, then you won't have to do much, MLS will come to ATL as soon as they build the venue, which Mr. Blank will want sooner than 2022. If 2022 does not come to the USA, then I do not expect to see MLS in the ATL any time soon, regardless of what we do. Unless you have serious business and/or political connections (I do not), then the only other thing that can be done besides waiting for the Atlanta 2022 WC stadium to be built is to buy season tickets to the Silverbacks, network with other die-hards, and create some atmosphere (presuming they are actually serious about 2011).
Jeezeus Eich Christe en a ********in hannbasket. My last ditch, post keystone comment warranted two of the best comments that i have read on here. Thnx. Kings County: Thanks for your positive but cautious tone. I know we are lightyears away from taking anything to MLS, but i was just looking for e-mail addresses to try and increase the gene pool as it were. drummer: i don't really have too many political connections, but I do occasionally meet the higher-ups while at work.. I never however thought of actually making a pitch to someone who could do anything. Perhaps as you say, I am selling myself short My only goal is to get more people exicted about MLS in ATL, then help organize that message. egh.
dude...if the US get the bid, you're high as a kite if you think they will play games in a rinky dink 20,000 SSS in Atlanta. The US will not build new stadiums for this. I belive the venues have to be at least 40,000 for WC games.
I'm a founding member of the Borough Boys. It's really hard to get people behind a cause like this. Political connections are very important, and connections to people within the soccer scene are also good to have. Basically, make connections and get into the local media as much as you can. That's my advice.
First of all, what 20,000 SSS are you talking about? There isn't one. And if Atlanta does get the WC the games would be played in the Falcons NFL stadium, even if we did have a small SSS.
dude, you can't derail decent conversation like that. He is talking about a hypothetical stadium built to bring MLS to ATL and establish Atlanta as a major world cup venue. please read drummers post.
Arthur Blank, the guy who has announced he wants an Atlanta MLS team and owns the Falcons, has persistently asked for a new stadium suitable for FIFA WC: "open air" and "natural turf". There is no reason he should want these additional expenses for soccer-friendly features except to get his MLS team. http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/05/24/story4.html?t=printable It sounds like he can't quite get the support he needs due to the economy. But If USA gets the 2022 WC, Atlanta has been picked as a venue and Mr. Blank would be able to justify the project. I recall an article to this effect but my old brain can't find it right now.
OK my bad man. I didn't mean to come off as snappy as I ended up sounding in my post. Even if Atlanta did have a SSS the WC would be played in the Falcons stadium regardless though.
In case you guys hadn't noticed, Blank only wants to use his political connections to get his team (the Falcons) a stadium. If the US is awarded the 2022 WC, you can be damn sure he'll do everything he can to get his stadium. Sure he'll have the stadium outfitted for the World Cup but what about MLS? My problem is that soccer won't be taken seriously in this city if it is going to be played in a football stadium. Atlanta is NOT like Seattle. If MLS wants Atlanta to have a team, they NEED to have a stadium built for SSS purposes. Imagine sitting in a 60 or 70 thou seat stadium watching soccer with over 60% of the seats covered in tarp. Seattle's passion for soccer has always been there as long as I can remember. Atlanta doesn't have that at all, especially for soccer. As far as I am concerned, Atlanta is as anti-soccer of a city as they come. Coverage of soccer in this city? WHAT COVERAGE? Obviously I need to write a letter to Blank, my local politician, and the Governor of Georgia about this. They know that if Atlanta gets chosen to host WC matches, it will bring in great amounts of revenue. Check out the comments in this article (ignore the article): http://www.nesn.com/2010/11/atlanta...t-on-young-explosive-thrashers-team.html?ct7l Those are comments coming from people who don't like or watch soccer. That just tells you Atlanta, in general from any fan perspective, isn't a good sports city (at least in this crap economy).
I'm actually glad we didn't get it for Atlanta's sake. Blank was ganna rape the shit out of that thing so he could get his stupid stadium for his Falcons team. An MLS team playing in it was going to be a joke. We NEED an SSS. But for America's sake, I'm ********ing pissed.
Well, I could definitely be wrong, but I think our only path now is to get rabidly and fanatically behind the NASL team and push hard until good things happen. It will be a long, rocky road with many set-backs and disappointments, but I really think we will have our team someday if we are determined and patient enough. I see no alternative besides waiting until sometime around 2025. I do not see Blank or any other "Sugar Daddy" coming to the rescue, at least until there is a sufficiently large enough "niche" built around the NASL team. I could be wrong of course, but I just don't see it.
Same here, I just don't see the physical market for it. Sure there are lots of viewers who watch international soccer leagues but will they go to the games? IMO, to legitimize MLS in Atlanta, it needs to have an SSS that rivals the best SSS's in the league. I would hate to see people say of how much a 'joke' the stadium is if it is not even up to par to some MLS stadiums. Location, IMO, will be a HUGE factor of where the team is located and how they are supported. A north metro Atlanta presence is a must.
How do you think this "new" Silverbacks team is going to fare, with Traffic footing the bill? I don't know about you, but seeing what's been going on in Miami, I'm not hopeful. I will support the team, though, and go to as many games as I can.
well I cant do it. I would come to atl for some MLS games, but not for NASL its just too far away. I will still look to work on the MLS front though....we are no worse off than we were a week ago. heres to pounding the pavement.
They still have a small budget and only 4 months to get organized. So my expectations for 2011 are zero other than play 14 home games and 14 road games and then prepare for 2012. I will not judge anything until 2012 or 2013. From what little I have heard, they are looking at relying more, but not exclusively, on young local talent that could potentially play at NASL or higher level. I was told the NCAA is allowing unpaid players to retain eligibility, but can't confirm that. This could create a lot of interest if they can find even one or two really good young players who could go to MLS or Europe but want to go to college first. I believe such players could well exist locally, but of course nothing is certain.
[/QUOTE] Location, IMO, will be a HUGE factor of where the team is located and how they are supported. A north metro Atlanta presence is a must.[/QUOTE] I think a north metro SSS location would not be in the best interest for long term growth. You would make the soccer populations of Henry, Fayette, and Rockdale Co. drive all the way across the city and make it nearly impossible for the Macon area fans. You may snicker at me for bring up Macon, but the best High School stadium i have seen was the SOCCER stadium at FPD in Macon. Soccer is very big in the privet schools down there and could be a nice bump to the attendance figures if marketed right. I think that an ITP stadium with MARTA access would be the bet for optimal attendance.
Agreed. Having MARTA access is pretty huge. As long as there is also parking for those who have to drive in from OTP.
not that it matters anymore, I am defeated, but i find all of this stadium location banter counter productive. unless we spend our time getting more people involved in the cause then we'd better get used to the New York Cosmos, the Manitoba Pizzaz and the Prince Edward Island Bryan Adamses populating our league instead of the Legion of Atlanta or whoever. As someone who does not live in ATL, maybe I am in the wrong place. That could be the problem. I just thought that it had a better chance than Raleigh or Charlotte. But perhaps I am mistaken.
As far as I am concerned, I ignore the Atlanta sports market on a whole. I really don't have time to watch nor do I really care. I would if an MLS team came here though .
