Scorpions owner Gordon Hartman said interest from potential investors has increased significantly since mayor, MLS got involved.— Dan McCarney (@danmccarneyNBA) February 25, 2014 "I’m talking with people who can...make this work. There is enormous interest in looking at how all the parts, pieces can come together."— Dan McCarney (@danmccarneyNBA) February 25, 2014
Cornfield agreed that Scorpions are probably looking at a minimum $100 million between expansion fee, stadium expansion, increased costs.— Dan McCarney (@danmccarneyNBA) February 25, 2014
Franchise fee and stadium costs, while very important, isn't the real reason MLS wants someone with deep pockets. Its basically a requirement to be on the Board of Governors.
Attendance looked really good but then the stream went out. Lame. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sa-scorpions
Scorpions supporter's groups presenting their case... pic.twitter.com/8DPiGwBvOm— On The Pitch TV (@OnThePitchTV1) March 2, 2014
So there was THIS today.... "Expanding in Texas is likely to happen." - Don Garber #mls— Herb Scribner ⚽️ (@hscribnerSND) March 4, 2014
True but San Antonio is much further along with an actual facility. But Austin is a hot real estate market currently so a Downtown SSS could come together quickly for all we know. Will be interesting to see how this possible race plays out... At this point, it doesn't matter what city gets the nod, I'm all for a Texas Triangle.
Garber is a politician He never says when expansion will occur until the day he announces it to the public.
I don't expect Garber or MLS to do the "right" thing and award "promotion" to San Antonio. San Antonio makes soccer sense, while Austin might make "hipster" sense for MLS. What do we expect from a commissioner who when asked about expansion in Cleveland told the Cleveland "locals" to support Columbus?
community push needed for MLS... http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-it-will-take-join-mls-ranks-has-be-community
Keep putting it in as many places as you can. Because it's highly unlikely that anyone interested in getting San Antonio to MLS reads mlssoccer.com.
In context: "No one is stepping up to actually get a team for Cleveland. So, be realistic." What do we expect from a commissioner who gets asked about expansion to every city in the country, seemingly? That he'd be honest? God forbid.
I have no problem with him being honest, IMHO I just think it shows his lack of understanding of grassroots soccer and "support your local." Actually, he probably understands a bit, he just doesn't care.
Look, I get where you are coming from...you want an MLS team. It's emotional, but don't be that guy. I gurantee Don understands the imprtance of grassroots 100%, don't mythologize that he doesn't, or just gets a bit and doesn't care. He also gets that you need to have other important elements in order to have the greatest shot at long term success and stability. I am rooting for SA. Having a bit of info on the Clevland situation from 2003, and what we have seen since, it is pretty damn clear that there is virtually nothing in place in Clevland....there is jack and shit, and virtually no grass seed to even get those grass roots. Hence...root for the Crew. If SA has the money, support, and can get the stadium up to spec they will get in...just like Orlando, very grass roots, and like Philly with the SOB forcing the issue...very grass roots again. Good luck moving forward.
I would also add that Garber's priority is growing support for the teams within MLS, so of course he's going to tell Clevelanders to support the Crew. It also isn't like you can't grow grassroots support in one city from support for a team in another city.. Didn't the guys that formed SoB start out at DCU fans?
You do understand that while he is the league's commissioner, he is not the league's God, right? It's not as if Garber decrees from upon high that this city shall have a team bestowed upon it while another city shall lie fallow. He is the figurehead, the mouthpiece, the public face. Yes he is involved in the process, but so are an army of suits ranging from the various owners to accountants to lawyers to public relations personnel to media advisers. The reality is, it doesn't matter what he does or does not understand about grassroots soccer. What matters is how the suits involved interpret each market's data, which includes grassroots efforts among other things like market size, growth, capital, etc.
Garber's main job is to execute. And he does it better than any leader of a pro* sports league in the US. *Some of those college conference commissioners could teach Silver and Bettman and the rest a thing or two about monetizing fan interest.
If all the dominoes lined up in Clevland they would be in just like anyone else, and a rival to Columbus would be something the league would love. It's just not there....and there are other options of course. SA and the Minny group that wants to try and build a stadium are on my hot list. MLS rolled the dice with big money NYFC and glity Miami...let's work on markets that can possibly bring more sunstance again. Of course we want that big money guy in LA also.
Come on guy ... you're better than that. You know better than that too. The only think the stadium is not up to spec on ... is dependent on getting an MLS franchise. However, it is literally sitting in waiting. See NYCFC ....