Would USL-1 be a better fit to start?

[FandesRens]

With Lansdowne very much near being a reality, anyone here thinks that having a USL-1 franchise for a few seasons would be a good move to eventually get to MLS?

[DavidP]

With Lansdowne very much near being a reality, anyone here thinks that having a USL-1 franchise for a few seasons would be a good move to eventually get to MLS?

USL is not a good test to see if a town is ready for MLS (case in point: Toronto). However, if people really support a USL side (as in Montreal, Portland, & Vancouver), they would more than likely support MLS. I imagine that one would have to market a USL squad as if it were MLS (i.e., spend money, put ads in the paper/radio/TV, sell team stuff in places other than the team souvie stand at the stadium, etc.), in order to get the word out. We in Atlanta found out what happens if there's no marketing or advertising; the team eventually dies. You just have to hope that the bulk of the soccer fanbase doesn't have a "when MLS gets here, then I'll show up" mentality. If that's the case, the USL squad is going to be in for a hard ride.

[Ottawa MLS Fan]

I like the idea of USL-1 as a way into MLS in theory, but there are a number of practical problems.

First, I have seen no indication that anyone is interested in paying the USL expansion fee to run a team as a minor tenant at Lansdowne. Melnyk could obviously afford to, but I really can't see his ego letting him accept soccer at a lower level than he planned for, under the control of the Lansdowne Live group.

Secondly, even if we had a successful USL-1 team for a few years, and people start to say "Ottawa, yeah, that's a real soccer town", I don't see any route into MLS from there:
- we wouldn't have any obvious prospective owner wanting to pay whatever MLS might be asking for a franchise by then
- if Melnyk couldn't make the numbers work in a shared stadium, why would anyone else be able to
- why would Ottawa even be on the MLS radar without Melnyk's money and the soccer specific stadium?

If we build a stadium at Lansdowne, I don't see that there will ever be MLS in Ottawa, unless we build the stadium ourselves, like the FC Berlin fans:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/fp/Fans+help+rebuild+soccer+stadium/1603526/story.html

And unfortunately, we would need much more than 5M euros.

[DavidP]

I like the idea of USL-1 as a way into MLS in theory, but there are a number of practical problems.

First, I have seen no indication that anyone is interested in paying the USL expansion fee to run a team as a minor tenant at Lansdowne. Melnyk could obviously afford to, but I really can't see his ego letting him accept soccer at a lower level than he planned for, under the control of the Lansdowne Live group.

Secondly, even if we had a successful USL-1 team for a few years, and people start to say "Ottawa, yeah, that's a real soccer town", I don't see any route into MLS from there:
- we wouldn't have any obvious prospective owner wanting to pay whatever MLS might be asking for a franchise by then
- if Melnyk couldn't make the numbers work in a shared stadium, why would anyone else be able to
- why would Ottawa even be on the MLS radar without Melnyk's money and the soccer specific stadium?

If we build a stadium at Lansdowne, I don't see that there will ever be MLS in Ottawa, unless we build the stadium ourselves, like the FC Berlin fans:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/fp/Fans+help+rebuild+soccer+stadium/1603526/story.html

And unfortunately, we would need much more than 5M euros.

Not if it was just bleachers and port-a-johns :D. But that would really suck.

Atlanta's 3-4000 seat all-seater with port-a-johns ran about $20 million IIRC.

[ortawa]

its an interesting topic - I think Ottawa would support an USL team. Do people here think Ottawa would regularly draw 5000?

[sportie1]

in a proper grass, no track 5 000-7 000 stadium-- YES; at lansdowne with 25 000-
30 000-- NO

[Ottawa MLS Fan]

in a proper grass, no track 5 000-7 000 stadium-- YES; at lansdowne with 25 000-
30 000-- NO

I completely agree. If you are going to draw a significant crowd to professional soccer in Ottawa, you need to make it an event, and nothing kills the atmosphere like a nearly empty stadium, or having to sit on bleachers around a park.

But how do we get a good stadium of that size? Melnyk could probably build a good 5,000 seat stadium and buy a USL-1 team for the price of an MLS team, assuming the city would donate the land. He may even be able to design the stadium so that it could be expanded to 25,000 for MLS in the future.

I think USL-1 would draw well in Ottawa under those circumstances, if Melnyk isn't completely set on soccer at the higher level.

[ortawa]

I completely agree. If you are going to draw a significant crowd to professional soccer in Ottawa, you need to make it an event, and nothing kills the atmosphere like a nearly empty stadium, or having to sit on bleachers around a park.

But how do we get a good stadium of that size? Melnyk could probably build a good 5,000 seat stadium and buy a USL-1 team for the price of an MLS team, assuming the city would donate the land. He may even be able to design the stadium so that it could be expanded to 25,000 for MLS in the future.

I think USL-1 would draw well in Ottawa under those circumstances, if Melnyk isn't completely set on soccer at the higher level.

I dont think thats an a option, I think Lansdowne would be the only shot. Hopefully, soccer will be considered in the redesign

[Clonester]

I completely agree. If you are going to draw a significant crowd to professional soccer in Ottawa, you need to make it an event, and nothing kills the atmosphere like a nearly empty stadium, or having to sit on bleachers around a park.



Exactly. Unless this happens, and that would take great management and marketing (think Ottawa 67's), then I don't think USL-1 would work.

[WhiteStar Warriors]

After Tampa and New York, Ottawa might be the next expansion team in USL:

Holt would not comment on the financial state of the league, but did confirm that the league is still actively seeking expansion markets and that Ottawa is on a list of 15 potential cities.

[ortawa]

I completely agree. If you are going to draw a significant crowd to professional soccer in Ottawa, you need to make it an event, and nothing kills the atmosphere like a nearly empty stadium, or having to sit on bleachers around a park.

But how do we get a good stadium of that size? Melnyk could probably build a good 5,000 seat stadium and buy a USL-1 team for the price of an MLS team, assuming the city would donate the land. He may even be able to design the stadium so that it could be expanded to 25,000 for MLS in the future.

I think USL-1 would draw well in Ottawa under those circumstances, if Melnyk isn't completely set on soccer at the higher level.

what about the baseball stadium - USL has worked incredibly well in Portland and Puerto Rico, not to mention Rochester back in its heyday.

I dont think its in anybodies interest to try soccer at Lansdowne. It will only have one shot to be done right and it has no long term chance of success in that venue.

[Ottawa MLS Fan]

what about the baseball stadium - USL has worked incredibly well in Portland and Puerto Rico, not to mention Rochester back in its heyday.

I dont think its in anybodies interest to try soccer at Lansdowne. It will only have one shot to be done right and it has no long term chance of success in that venue.

I'm not sure if there is enough room at the baseball stadium, and parking was always a problem for the Lynx after they redeveloped part of the original parking lot. Still, it would be worth a look if the other big issue was resolved. And that issue is still ownership. The franchise fee may be less than $1M, but that's well outside of my league. And I haven't heard anyone express an interest in owning a USL-1 team here.

My money is still on Melnyk and MLS. I know he hasn't given up the fight.

[VioletCrown]

Well, someone from Ottawa (presumably from the Fury) was at the USL1 meeting (http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/380020.html) this week, and is looking toward having a USL1 team next year or in '11.

[Ottawa MLS Fan]

Well, someone from Ottawa (presumably from the Fury) was at the USL1 meeting (http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/380020.html) this week, and is looking toward having a USL1 team next year or in '11.

Yes, the Fury have applied for a franchise, intending to play at a revitilized Lansdowne Park, assuming that the redevelopment is approved. The renovations are scheduled to be complete in 2013 and a team would not start playing before then.

[Sport Billy]

http://ow.ly/B1zI

What this means, exactly, is difficult to know at this point. The turnaround time for starting up the new league is short, and the TOA clubs will need get themselves together quickly. We should also find out fairly quickly just how serious claims on both sides (from USL of expansion to Baltimore, Detroit, Ottawa, and Edmonton and from the TOA of other interested parties) are.

[Ottawa MLS Fan]

Interesting times ahead, that's for sure!

Which league do you join if you are a potential expansion team? I guess Ottawa have the luxury of waiting until the dust settles before they make their decision, as their stadium won't be available for three years or so.