Yes, NYCFC was announced as an expansion city and others were not. My point was that though Garber makes the announcement, he does not make the decision. It is made by the board of governors/directors based upon the recommendation of an expansion committee, just like in any sport. Context is key
Indeed, put it'd be dishonest to try and pretend like Garber wasn't pushing and it wasn't on Garber's time line.
Out of all league issues, though, expansion is the most likely of the bunch to only happen with collective ownership enthusiasm. We can't really know if Garber was out in front of the owners on the idea, but we can know that the expansion wouldn't happen unless they were thoroughly convinced. Anyway, NY2 is a somewhat special bird. The reasons behind it are about league-wide strategy, and are not the same calculations that go into most expansion choices.
Minnesota might have one of the strongest ownership groups ever. It's almost Yankees/ManCity strong. Scorps would have to upgrade their ownership significantly to beat out MNN, regardless of superior stadium situation.
Yes. Plus in Minnesota we actually have another billionaire group (Vikings) essentially fighting for MLS. Perfect situation for MLS.
Is Wilf really fighting for it, or was it just a line of goods he sold to get funding for the stadium? I got the feeling it was more the latter.
With Minn, SanAn, Sac, Indy all moving forward, I suspect that 24 is going to turn into 26 very quickly. It seems probable that by 2025, there will be 28 teams in the league.
I don't like that the Vikings will put the team in the football stadium, I dont like that Atlanta will be in the falcons stadium.
I think SA NEEDS for the number to go up soon to help them. Between them and Minn, it's Minn all the way. Since SA stadium, we've seen NYCFC, Orl, Atl, Miami move from "behind" SA to MLS team awarded. Each had no stadium or big $ investors when SA got the stadium built. SA needs something to happen investor wise fast.
I usually look at the worst possible outcome, that way I'm not too disappointed. That being sad, I could care less whether we go to MLS or not. I will support my club so long as it does not become someone's affiliate or reserve team. My gut tells me, though, that San Antonio will not be in the group of MLS "franchises" awarded by 2020. Can we join LigaMX? We used to be part of Mexico.
Indeed, but in all honesty we don't know much about the Wilf's and their passion for soccer. For all we know one of Zigi's kids may support NYRB or any other Euro club. His oldest son is at the 22 to 28 year old age and working in the Vikings front office.
Bigger numbers aren't going to help the Scorps. Their attendance is at the expansion window already. They need the ownership upgrade. But if any move happens with Zygi Wilf before that happens, it's Kobayashi Maru for the 21-24 expansion window.
If SA attendance needs to go up then Mini U needs a huge step up. If your going by attendance SA outdraws Mini U by a lot. For SA its all about ownership for Mini U its about stadium, And ownership is easier than Stadium to fix IMO.
But money talks. Just ask Orlando City. Get an investor and SA is in. That's all SA needs at this point IMO
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion...rtman-s-soccer-stadium-5582479.php?forceWeb=1 Interesting. It is from an opinion piece, but the quotes from Hartman and city leaders are interesting, to say the least.
Mayor Castro has been extremely supportive of MLS coming to San Antonio. To here Hartman tell it, MLS in San Antonio won't be possible without government assistance, so his support was going to be key. But Castro is going to leave the mayor's office to join Obama's cabinet as the new head of HUD.