Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team Listening to KHTK 1140, as I usually do while driving, and Grant Napear, the show host, did a news update with CBS of Sacramento. The guy with CBS said a group of investors want to build a stadium in Oak Grove, just outside Sacramento, and bring an expansion team in. Have no more news as I just walked through the door, but figure a few of you would be interested. Pretty decent youth soccer culture in Sac. it'd only compete with the NBA kings, who might move, might not, and the AAA baseball club.
Elk Grove is to Sacramento what Gilroy is to San Jose. So outside the main market and pretty darn suburban. Then you got the heat. 100+ in July and August. MLS would be smart to stay coastal in California if they maintain the Spring-Fall calendar. Let Sac join the PDL and make the PDL have some good divisions: Sac, Fresno, Orange County, LA, Ventura, BYU, Victoria, Vancouver, Tacoma, Abbotsford, Kitsap, North Sound.
Re: Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team The group is lead by Fabian Núñez, who is a former California Assembly Speaker and currently sits on the board of the USSF.
Re: Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team In spite of a lot of talk about selectivity in expansion and NYC from Don Garber and the MLS Board, there is no way this many savvy business people walk away from the following, which has become the criteria for entering the MLS Chaebol: (1) Financially committed ownership group able to sustain a quarter of a billion or more in operating losses before approaching pro forma break even; (2) A stadium solution that allows the team to capture maximum revenue; and, (3) A viable fan base that will put the franchise in a positive and sustainable situation. This formula virtually guarantees a team that will not be a financial ship's anchor on the league financially, bring in a nice expansion fee, and expand the league's footprint. There are many altruistic and legitimate reasons not to expand (dilution of talent, difficult owners...) However, I subscribe to the freakonomics of it all-- that the money ultimately dictates the direction the river flows. Good luck to Sacramento if you can pull off the three above. If not, support the Earthquakes.
I wouldn't mind Sacramento, especially if they have their shit together. I don't see why they couldn't match the success of RSL in the stands. But...I kind of feel like MLS needs to use the rest of its expansion to improve the national footprint and absorb some bigger TV markets (places like Detroit, Miami, Phoenix, Atlanta, Twin Cities, etc.) to make the next big step in the progression of the league.
When I saw this today, I was amazed as there has never really been much interest in a franchise in Northern CAL other than in San Jose. San Francisco , contrary to popular belief , has never been close to owning a team or has ever been considered, for that matter. I think SF would be a better choice than Sacto but regardless, it would be kind of cool to have another team up in Norcal...
Re: Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team Wow, it only took three posts. Could we go one thread about MLS expansion WITHOUT some one spouting off that Chivas needs to relocate/rebrand, it's old. I'd really like to hear your thoughts as to why you think it's necessary, because I'm pretty sure your reasons have nothing to with fact or reality.
Re: Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team Because your owner doesn't give two shits about your team.
Re: Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team I remember when Major Indoor Soccer League commissioner Earl Foreman said the exact same thing about the outdoor North American Soccer league..... ........man I'm getting old!
Re: Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team Winner. Whether or not you disagree about the club moving out of LA, the ownership group they do have is doing little for the club.
Re: Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team There is a better discussion on the daily news thread today. Basically there is no proof these guys have deep pockets. The proposed location itself speaks to that. And chivas is not leaving so-cal. No way. They are actively looking at locations. Sacramento is a good market for soccer. But we are looking at long term-- after Orlando, NYC 2 and perhaps others unless a Larry Ellison type guy steps up.
Re: Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team I used to defend KC's existence back in its darkest days when many were dictating the absolute need for it to relocate. I would do the same for practically every other team. But not Chivas USA. It doesn't need to change anything to continue existing. It is not the life or death situation that DC is in. But if it intends to be more than a place-holder team, it needs some major changes, and one of those changes is most definitely a move away from the Home Depot Center. The argument shouldn't be about whether it needs moving and rebranding, but in where it should move and how much change it needs in branding and ownership/management.
Re: Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team Coming from the guy whose team is still wearing diapers. Chivas USA is fine. Are they operating at a optimum level? No. But, you can go across every sports league in the entire world and all of them have multiple teams where the owners do just enough to get by or sometimes less. It's how life works. There will never, ever be an MLS where all teams operate like a Seattle does as much as a lot of people on BS think that's how it should be. That's not how sports work and thats not how life in general works. If you do not have money invested in Chivas or you are not a fan of Chivas then what Chivas does or doesnt do isnt any of your damn business. All of you constantly talking about them moving or rebranding are being nosy little bitches. Why the hell are you so worried about what Chivas does? You are no different than the nosy all ladies at work that gossip about other people at the water cooler. Mind your own damn business and worry about what your team is doing.
Re: Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team Well said. I don't understand when people get offended when they hear others say "Chivas USA should be rebranded" or "they should move" when it's obvious that they are looking to move from Home Depot Center, and it's obvious that anyone who invests in something wants it to make profit. Chivas USA has a name that allows them to play anywhere in USA. If they want to represent LA, then represent LA by at least acknowledging them. When they do decide to move, San Antonio, San Diego, Vegas, and Sacramento could and should all be highly considered for that rebrand opportunity if they come up with stadium proposals and the Los Angeles area doesn't come up with one to at least counter.
Re: Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team The Chivas USA brand is not accepted by Mexican fans who support the Club Deportivo Guadalajara Chivas or the other clubs in the Mexican Football League. The club should and could just be Club Deportivo Los Angeles with the same colors but they need to drop the goats name. The Chivas name is divisive.
Re: Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team Exactly. Elk Grove is at the southern edge of the Sacramento Region with literally nothing to the west or east of town and 30 miles (or so) down to Stockton. The Sacramento Region could support MLS quite easily with the right ownership/leadership and stadium. The stadium would have to be located in downtown Sacramento, West Sac or even Davis (Davis could pick up fans from Solano County as well as the Sacramento Region).
Re: Just Heard Sacramento Want An MLS Team I just don't get all the hatred for CUSA. I agree with everyone who thinks they have a dopey marketing strategy. However, the LA Clippers of MLS are doing alright; their attendance is somewhat lower middle end, but so what? If I were going to worry about failing franchises (and for the record, I am NOT worried, even a little), then Columbus or DC United seem more obvious candidates right now. And so would San Jose, except their stadium might be just about ready to almost get started in the next 60-90 days.