I know we are all excited about the potential for an MLS franchise in the South, but I am worried that this organization will only be concerned with getting a team in Atlanta. Can we form some kind of mission statement to clearly define the group's goals. Otherwise visitors will have to read every thread out here to figure out what we are about.
Suffice to say, though, I don't think we will be satisfied if only St. Louis or Miami or both get teams.
I agree that this does not seem to be much of a brotherhood for southern soccer but rather an Atlanta or bust forum. I also agree that St Louis or Miami would not satisfy the populace but lets be real Miami is not really a southern city and I don't even know how St Louis got thrown into the mix, Missouri isn't a southern state by a long shot. I just don't want this to be an Atlanta only thing, the recent Birmingham talk is exciting to me (though probably far-fetched) and I would love a team in the Magic City. So for this to truly follow it's name people need to get off of their Atlanta high horse and open up to the possibility of team elsewhere in the true south. I was at the Trinidad and Tobago v USA WCQ in Nashville not too long ago and while it's further than I would like to drive on a semi-regular basis I would still make the trek as much as possible to support the only southern MLS team. People need to open up a little...So lets get a southern team be it Atlanta, Birmingham, or Nashville, we should support them all and get the region a team.
We could just lobby for multiple southern teams. Why stop at just one? And if Atlanta did just happen to be the first southern city to get a team, we could still support efforts to get more southern teams (especially since it would create better rivalries).
Exactly, we could do that but most of the posts on here are centered around Atlanta instead of every other southern city's efforts to nab a team. I don't care which city gets the team or the first team hopefully, but I do want everyone to support the entire south as we try to get at least one team, no matter which city gets the initial franchise.
I responded to you about the same thing in another thread, but let me say something here as well. This definitely grew out of the Atlanta supporters' section so I don't think it's unreasonable to expect some bias toward Atlanta.
I agree. As the Brotherhood we should focus on strengthing the southern soccer fan base as a whole and not just focus on Atlanta. However, Atlanta is the primary target right now for an expansion team in the south, and if Atlanta is awarded the team, BOSS should then carry its support towards Atlanta...as well as, supporting other southern teams in the league. which brings up a good point...what are we going to define as the south? technically, you could include Texas, Florida, Virginia, Missouri, and some other states, but i think BOSS should define its territory as followed: *Blue indicates definate BOSS territory (all of MS, GA, SC, NC, TN...everything north of Orlando and Tampa Bay in Florida) *Purple indicates possible BOSS territory (East TX, LA, Arkansas, Southern Missouri, some of Kentucky, and from Richmond south of Virginia.)
looking at that map i believe in the US Soccer section of the site I hope to include at least links to the official pages of all the teams in the south
I know you did and expect that as I will beat this like a dead horse until this becomes truly what it's name implies or simply an Atlanta group. I however do find the bias unreasonable since as you say this "grew". If it has grown out of something into something else then it should stand as a new entity not simply something focused on the old version. If you want this to be Atlanta-centric that is fine I'm all for an Atlanta team (as well as Birmingham, Nashville, etc, etc.) but you shouldn't say this is for the south when you mean it's for an Atlanta team only. That's all I'm saying, if it's for the south talk about the south as a whole and not just Atlanta, if it's for Atlanta then don't call it B.O.S.S.
dude, it's for the entire south...just Atlanta is the most likely and lately only option for the south so that's where you feel this bias. And of course, people from Atlanta are going to favor Atlanta, but this is a SOUTHERN fan group and should be handled as such. The "mission" is to put the south on the map in soccer.
I have no problem with anything you have said Eleven Bravo, well except that Atlanta has been the only option lately. I found out about B.O.S.S. on MLS Rumors from an article about the new links of MLS to Birmingham, as someone posted that if we supported a team in the south to come here and join. I followed the post and find it is Atlanta centered and don't get me wrong I would rather there be a team in Atlanta than some other southern cities, but at the same time I support them all and if Birmingham lands a team first I'll continue to support other efforts to find more southern cities franchises. All I'm saying is this should be more rounded. I don't want to think I'm in a group supporting all of the south when it is really only Atlanta. It's semantics for me. I will make the trek to either Atlanta or Birmingham as I am about the same distance from both and will attempt to travel to any other southern city should they get a team first, but I want everyone to see that as the mission. To support any southern city not just the ATL, that's all I'm saying and I think I have gotten my point across so this will most likely be my last post on the issue.
well i feel the same way as you do...i'd gladly support a team in Birmingham, Nashville, Charlotte, so long as it is in the [true] south. but anyways, different topic...our mission should be summed up with this phrase: "Through Brotherhood, We Will Support Southern Soccer."
And let the bickering begin. Guys, it has been less than a week! Seriously? Yes, this is a southern supporter's group. And our goal is to bring MLS to the South. But guess what? It was started by Atlantans because Atlanta is the only southern city seriously in the mix for an expansion team. Next time Garber makes a statement on Birmingham, Chattanooga, or Charlotte we will support that too. But right now, we have our eggs in the Atlanta basket because its the only basket we have. So let's dispense with the "high horse" rhetoric, step back and be realistic. We are currently pushing for MLS expansion to Atlanta. There is no need to divide and weaken our efforts by pushing for these other cities too especially when there is no substantiated evidence that anything is in the works. And, no, MLSRumors is not a credible source.
I couldn't care less about the rest of the south. I just want MLS where I live -- Atlanta. If you all want to reach out and travel to a USMNT match in Birmingham or Nashville, cool, but I know what my concern is.
True this. We support Southern Soccer, but the fact is Atlanta has the best chance at a MLS team here in the south due to its huge market. Outside of Atlanta, (being a non-homer here) I think Charlotte has the best chance for an MLS team due to the rapid growth and diversity in NC. My thing? I just want soccer down here, I don't care where it is at, I just want it.
MLS-rumors was merely the messenger that put things together for an easy to re-post message to show that Birmingham is trying to make a push. All of the facts stated in the story are true. There is a group out there trying to bring pro soccer to the Magic City. Larry Langford has pushed through funding for a new stadium at the BJCC and is prepared to give the ownership of the stadium and the naming rights to an MLS franchise. You are correct MLS-rumors is not credible in and of itself, but this story has credence so next time you want to bash a post why don't you look into what you have to say a little bit instead of making an ass of yourself simply because you are one of the high horsers I was refering to.
You clearly have taken something personal...please don't. Like I said, when Garber mentions Birmingham in his State-of-the-League Address, we will get behind the effort. Hasn't happened though.
I think we, the members of this group, need to engage in serious discussion about this. I'm getting different vibes from different people reading these comments. Personally, I'm not quite sure what to think about this. To be completely honest, hypothetically, if Birmingham were to get a team and Atlanta was left out, I would be a little disappointed, although I could see myself supporting that team.
If Birmingham were to get a team and Atlanta wouldn't: I would question the mental stability of Garber, and everyone who put a dollar into the investment, but I would support the hell out of them because they would be the only professional team in the state [Alabama football might be bigger than some pro teams though], and if they failed we would never hear the end of it or get another chance. I can understand why Atlanta would be pissed though. Let's be realistic. If Montreal gets in that's 19 teams. MLS only has so many expansion slots, so every team that gets given to a Rochester / Ottawa / Birmingham is a team that isn't going to go to Atlanta / Charlotte / Memphis / Nashville. there aren't going to be enough seats on the carousel for everyone, and for Atlanta, the capitol of the South to get left out for Birmingham would be immensely hurtful to their pride.
