TDIF: MLS, Kraft Planning To Sell/Relocate Revolution after 2013?

Check out this article on The Drug Is Football:

Dumbest thing I have ever seen...

So dumb, on so many levels I hardly know where to start.

I think someone is pulling TDIF's leg on this one.

This letter was sent around to more than just TDIF. When i read it I thought it was straight up bologna. Almost like the dude picked 5 random Big Soccer posts and slapped them together. It's not outside the realm of possibilities, I guess, but it's really just someone's conjecture based on very few facts.

It's not outside the realm of possibility, but then again, neither is my winning Powerball.

Among the problems with this scenario:

1. The year before their TV contract is up, MLS is going to hatch a plan to move a team from the #7 TV market in the country, to the #26 market? They're already missing nine of the top 20 television markets in the country. I call BS.

2. You work for Kraft Sports and you're worried about your job... so you leak a rumor that the team is moving? What's THAT going to do for ticket sales?

3. So... Bob Kraft doesn't want to spend any more money on the Revs, but he's so concerned about his image as their owner -- that he'll sell them to a group from freakin' Baltimore?

4. D.C. United wouldn't object to the league putting a team in Baltimore? Really? I'm not buying that... at all.

5. Moving the team to Baltimore is supposed to "put pressure" on local officials to help the Krafts get a stadium built for a team they no longer own? So, the fans who have stopped going to Revs games will suddenly start calling Joe Curtatone's office demanding that Brickbottom Stadium for a team that no longer exists? And how would Curtatone then turn to the people of Somerville and say, "I know there's no more team per say, but but if you can't trust the guy who just pulled the rug out from under his own fans, who can you trust?"

...and so on and so forth. I could go on. Jesus, I'd be far more likely to believe the Revs were moving to Queens than Baltimore.

I think the Kraft being worried about mending fences with the Italian Soccer Federation was the funniest part of that story.

NY fan hear but sew this on the MLS news page anyway i dont think its true becuse it does not come from a MLS news site it is off of a blog. that side the way Kraft treets NE soccer anything could happen. but untel this is on some thing like SBI it is all BS.

Hopefully this is true

Because going to one or two games a year would be so much better than going to a dozen or so games a year.

What worries me about this is that the article is attributed to Evan Whitney, by all accounts he is a very smart guy and not one that I expect could be easily taken for a ride. Also not sure Brian would risk the credibility of his site on an email with spoofed headers.

Not trying to be snarky, but what part of that e-mail comes across as credible?

I think the first four points in the email, basically everything that doesn't involve Baltimore, are believable. (#2 might be overinflated - it's hard to think AC Milan was more than irritated, but I bet they were still underwhelmed by Foxborough.) Kraft getting frustrated, MLS get frustrated, the FO throwing crap doubleheaders to see what sticks, the Revs cutting salary for next year, that all sounds viable to me.

But I agree that the Baltimore-leverage plan sounds far-fetched. That seems like it would hurt MLS more than help. If it'd been another city where they could tap deep public support, like the Cascadian teams, that'd be one thing. But Baltimore just seems like a drain on DC.

Did the Cleveland Browns fans think the team would move to Baltimore?
Did Baltimore Colts fans think they would pack up in the middle of the night and move to Indy?
Did Minnesota North Stars fans think they would move to Dallas?

The story might not be true but to just toss it aside is a mistake at this point.

Any reasoning that relies on the argument that Bob Kraft cares about angering the Azzuri is one I will have no business believing.

Good reporting by TDIF, but I see wishful thinking from the 'source'

Because not having an embarrassment to the sport is better than having an embarrassment to the sport.

They need to cut the life-support. This team is dead.

awwwwww it's cute how angry this makes you

I was one of a number of people the original email was sent to, and admittedly, it is hard to take at face value without some measure of skepticism. That is why myself and a number of other people have been doing due diligence in getting some measure of corroboration by communicating with any number of respected figures tied to MLS. It remains a work in progress and will continue to be as long as the claims are proven to be unfounded... which is something I welcome.

That being said, believe that a good bit of the "information" contained in the TDIF post is plausible, mainly because the action and/or inaction of the Krafts and the Revolution have it allowed it to be considered as such. I also feel the source to be solid no matter the fact that he/she choses to remain anonymous; I'm willing to stake my reputation on this.

I can both appreciate and respect that any number of fans, supporters and others are or will be highly critical of the TDID piece: personally, I respect that and expect nothing less. It's tantamount to yelling "Fire" in a crowded theatre when people can't see the flames. That being said, I and a number of others think we smell smoke... and that's enough to get us moving.

It's up to the Krafts and/or the Revolution to respond or not and their actions will determine whether what is contained in posting is proven to be bunk, or not.

They are anonymous in the #7 market. I'm sure the ratings numbers here are brutally bad. I doubt it would affect the deal much.

Right, because ticket sales plummeting is really something this organization should be worried about.

Also, you are drawing a conclusion that this "leak" would correlate to lower ticket sales. That's based on almost zero evidence.

Yeah, how exactly is that far fetched? You're reaching.

Why would they? Regional rivalries help markets much more than they ever detract.

Regardless of whether fan pressure is real or not, how does this even matter? Clearly Kraft must know that the team will never sell in Foxboro. So, if they cannot get an urban stadium, then what is the point?

If you could go on and on, please do so. I'd love to hear the litany of other skewed reasonings you have conjured up.

What's up with the personal attack, mod?

Well, I'm offended