Re: 4 Rumored Cities It will be exciting times for the NASL when actual ownership groups are attached to any of these markets. You know, folks with money. So far David Downs and the NASL have proven very good at naming markets that MLS is not in. Anyone can do that. Finding local owners(even for current NASL clubs Atlanta, Minnesota, and Carolina) has proven more difficult. Also I wonder about San Diego as a D2 or even a MLS market with the Xolos.
Re: 4 Rumored Cities I think the rise of the Xolos actually helps as there is an instant rival. But I agree about the MLS part though. Building the Chargers a new stadium is proving difficult let a lone a SSS that could accommodate an MLS squad. I think if they (more than likely the Flash group) go for something like the Scorpions stadium It could happen.
Re: 4 Rumored Cities They'd rarely (if ever) play. (They still haven't exactly funded or gotten the building permit for that and the groundbreaking last week was ceremonial. These things are much, much harder than they appear.)
Re: 4 Rumored Cities I'm confused as to how anyone takes anything on SB Nation seriously. It's a site that asks you if you want to write when you sign up and doesn't ask you to show that you know what you're talking about or that you have the ability to write. It's the equivalent of a drunken fan ranting with a keyboard.
Re: 4 Rumored Cities They have played Chivas USA and the Flash this year and previously have played the Flash and Boca. Obviously they are exhibition matches but I have no doubt something could be arranged if the want was there.
Re: 4 Rumored Cities And the Beatles once played the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Once they reached a certain point, though, they didn't have to do that. Xolos will likely reach the point that the Flash and Boca (should they survive) would be annoyances more than anything else. And they'll send their U23s to play them.
Re: 4 Rumored Cities I'm still waiting for the Tulsa Roughnecks to return to NASL... if I had the money for a NASL team, I would definitely take a close look at Tulsa. No major league sports to contend with and a good sized metro area. Even though it has been close to 30 years since the Tulsa Roughnecks last played at Skelly Stadium, I bet there is a still an opportunity to take advanatage of Roughnecks nostalgia. A refurbished Drillers Stadium would make a great soccer venue... Ideally, it would be great to see Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Austin in NASL -- I'm sure San Antonio would like that as well. As of right now, it is all wishful thinking...
Re: 4 Rumored Cities Can you send me the lotto numbers next? I understand you have worked on getting a team somewhere but have you lived in SD? Have you followed the Xolos and their attempts to tap into the SD market? The Xolos want a decent pro team in SD as it will directly help them gain more fans in SD and California.
The guy in Australia rolls his eyes at me. Oy. Let's say I have a very close connection to Xolos and leave it at that. Meanwhile you think New Orleans/Albuquerque and El Paso are one basic area.
Re: The guy in Australia rolls his eyes at me. Oy. Do we still need "travel partners" at the 2nd division level? Nothing lowers the level of play than trying to play 2 games in 3 days, and with all the financial requirements, it seems that one game a week should be enough.
Re: The guy in Australia rolls his eyes at me. Oy. Is about cutting cost, I am sure NASL likes and wants to keep the "one game a week" schedule, but if the league goes years losing money and not getting fan attention then they will look at ways to save money and 3 games per trip could be one of way. Hopefully it does not get to that. PS; Even in MLS last year we had Portland and 3 days later Seattle on one road trip. This year we have RedBulls on a Wednesday and then Toronto on the following Saturday, 3 days apart.
Re: The guy in Australia rolls his eyes at me. Oy. yeah, I remember back in the days of the USISL Select league, when travel partners were huge. Now MLS teams probably have discounted flights, plus Red Bull and Toronto are probably just a short flight for Chicago anyway. Seattle/Portland/Vancouver - yeah that would make sense, but at that level, a Wednesday MLS game can still generate enough attendance to make it work. Season tickets, sponsors, maybe even having a TV game. At the NASL level, a Wednesday night game is probably less than half of a weekend game, and probably lower. Meaning - if I have team X play me at their place on a Wednesday, then when they want to play me on a Wednesday at my place - I'm going to lose my shirt. Back to Kenn's point - El Paso and New Orleans are not travel partners, New Orleans and San Antonio or Austin or Atlanta make more sense. But the added costs of hotels may negate that benefit a good bit.
Re: The guy in Australia rolls his eyes at me. Oy. New Orleans to San Antonio is approximately 550 miles and 9 hour drive. New Orleans to Austin is approximately 500 miles and 8+ hour drive. New Orleans to Atlanta is approximately 475 miles and 7.5 hour drive. How do those make sense? You may want to brush up on geography, and the entire point of travelling partners, if you're going to continue to post this nonsense. To put it in better context, Seattle to Portland is 175 miles and maybe 3 hours. Vancouver is even closer to Seattle.
Re: The guy in Australia rolls his eyes at me. Oy. I'm sorry, I was posting in regards to the "new orleans - El Paso" travel partner stuff. Mapquest, how far is that? My take- we don't need travel partners at this level. By the way, those were "travel partners" back in the 90's.
Make believe expansion That is actually not bad. For the FIRE 3 closest games (and what we usually travel to) Columbus 356 miles 6 hours KC 510 miles 8.5 Hours Toronto 521 miles 9 hours
Re: 4 Rumored Cities How exactly do you think having a good NASL (or MLS) team in SD would help the Xolos gain fans in SD? A good team will rally soccer fans in the area to their banner; the Xolos are trying to get SD soccer fans to rally to theirs.
Re: 4 Rumored Cities +1 Any team in San Diego (which should be after we get new more central clubs in NASL) would gain there own fans, not from others. Anyway I think a San Diego team would be great but (and dont kill me CUSA fans) I think Chivas USA will eventually move there. Come on. MLS is growing and Chivas is not gaining in attendance and out of all the clubs in MLS that are not gaining in attendance I think Chivas is the more stable to move. Move to San Diego, make a partnership with San Diego Flash and done. Hmmm, Chivas San Diego FC. Chivas Guadlaljara: All Mexican team Chivas San Diego: All American team Of course though, it is all dreams.
Re: 4 Rumored Cities http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Soccer_attendance I assume you also want the following teams to move Chicago FIRE New England Revolution FC Dallas Columbus crew San Jose (well they are getting a new stadium). They all have worst attendance than Chivas. Plus Chivas will move, closer to LA but they will stay in the LA area. PS I am not a Chivas fan