MLS Expansion

[MT mojo]

I put my vote in for Detroit. We could put some good use to the old Lions Stadium. They obviosly didn't.

Ummmmm......yeah......welcome to the BS boards. MLS doesn't like the fact of playing in 80,000 seat stadiums. And chances are, they don't like 80,000 seat INDOOR stadiums even more.

[blake17]

Atlanta is a big soccer city and there is no MLS team in at least 4+ hours from there. Atlanta should get a team.

[picaraza]

Rochester and Philadelphia.

Instant rivalries in the northeast.

[Flyin Ryan]

There should be a team in Raleigh-Durham. Soccer is huge here.

[rymannryan]

Atlanta is a big soccer city and there is no MLS team in at least 10+ hours from there. Atlanta should get a team.


Fixed your post.

[savier]

Rochester and Philadelphia.

Instant rivalries in the northeast.

If we are looking for instant rivalries, why not go with Portland and Seattle? We have been rivals for thirty years.

[Sinter]

Seattle and Philly... Seattle cause the owner is already there basically... and kasey keller would come home to play for a team in seattle... and philly because after two western expansions this season we need at least 1 eastern team for next expansion. Philly also gets a rival going with the metros, and possibly dallas if we keep the two conferences and dallas moves to the east (either they or kansas city will, and dallas makes more sense... just look at football.)

[Football Ronin]

I would move KC, since I believe KC is east of Dallas, into the east. That would give the MLS the following look for the 2005 season.

East
Chicago
Columbus
DC
Kansas City
NE
NY/NJ

West
Colorado
Dallas
LA-Chivas
LA-Galaxy
Salt Lake City
San Jose

[Crewfansince96]

I put my vote in for Detroit. We could put some good use to the old Lions Stadium. They obviosly didn't.

How about detroit with a team that plays in a renovated for soccer, OLD TIGER STADIUM! Now that would be something. :cool:

[NickyViola]

How about detroit with a team that plays in a renovated for soccer, OLD TIGER STADIUM! Now that would be something. :cool:

A lot of diehard, lifelong Tigers fans wouldn't go to south Detroit to watch the Tigers play. Can't imagine an expansion team moving in there, even if they were to uncondemn (decondemn?) it.
I have a seat!

Nick

[jarblanto]

there is no way slc deserves a team. what a joke.

how about we adopt a promotion-relegation system and let the best soccer teams join the mls. wow, what a bizarre concept: promotion-relegation. the world might actually think we're a real soccer nation. at least promote teams for a couple of years so we can get 18 teams in the league. you know, spread the wealth a bit. then in a couple of years add relegation.

of course this idea contradicts the US and MLS philosophy of money, power, and ownership.

[Crewfansince96]

"of course this idea contradicts the US and MLS philosophy of money, power, and ownership."

which is exactly why that is not going to happen anytime soon!

"you know, spread the wealth a bit. then in a couple of years add relegation."

What wealth?

[jarblanto]

"which is exactly why that is not going to happen anytime soon!"

yeah, especially when the fan base just accepts what is offered and doesnt demand better from ownership. we can always do better. the fan base just isnt smart enough to figure it out yet. i mean slc gets a team. too bad for mls.

"What wealth?"

uh, just a couple of billionaires, thats all. oh, lots of players. uh, maybe some coaches. uh, dozens and dozens of cities. um, lots of major multinational kit/equipment suppliers. hmm, tons of multinational kit sponsors. oops we dont have real kit sponsorship yet.

sorry mate, just venting.

[Crewfansince96]

"which is exactly why that is not going to happen anytime soon!"

yeah, especially when the fan base just accepts what is offered and doesnt demand better from ownership. we can always do better. the fan base just isnt smart enough to figure it out yet. i mean slc gets a team. too bad for mls.

"What wealth?"

uh, just a couple of billionaires, thats all. oh, lots of players. uh, maybe some coaches. uh, dozens and dozens of cities. um, lots of major multinational kit/equipment suppliers. hmm, tons of multinational kit sponsors. oops we dont have real kit sponsorship yet.

sorry mate, just venting.

Hey, I would love to have a promotion/relegation system in this country, I just don't see it happening in my lifetime that's all.

Things will change over time I am sure, once so more owners see MLS as a viable investment things will change.

[Boz]

Putting a team in Salt Lake is a joke? You are horribly uneducated about the popularity of soccer with the youth in SLC. We have a HUGE population of youth and teens that play soccer and view it religously. I myself played soccer for 6 years in the SLC soccer leagues and am not a big fan. It is something that just comes naturally while growing up in the SL valley. Womens soccer is huge here, as well as mens soccer. We also have a gigantic hispanic population here that eats, sleeps and craps soccer. You are misinformed my friend. The SLC FC will not only thrive here, but create an enormous BOOM! of soccer interest. Please respond if you know better than someone who lives here pal. SLCBOZ


there is no way slc deserves a team. what a joke.

how about we adopt a promotion-relegation system and let the best soccer teams join the mls. wow, what a bizarre concept: promotion-relegation. the world might actually think we're a real soccer nation. at least promote teams for a couple of years so we can get 18 teams in the league. you know, spread the wealth a bit. then in a couple of years add relegation.

of course this idea contradicts the US and MLS philosophy of money, power, and ownership.

[Foots]

I would move KC, since I believe KC is east of Dallas, into the east. That would give the MLS the following look for the 2005 season.

East
Chicago
Columbus
DC
Kansas City
NE
NY/NJ

West
Colorado
Dallas
LA-Chivas
LA-Galaxy
Salt Lake City
San Jose


I would move Dallas to the East to intensify the rivalry with Chicago even more.

[dienasty]

Atlanta definitely

lots of money here, lots of hispanics, atlanta is growing very quickly and the hispanic population is pretty much humongous. lots of youth soccer as well. there could be a good rivalry with the A-league team the Silverbacks. Really the Silverbacks could just join the MLS to make things simple

[dienasty]

whoever said something about promotion ang relegation is dreaming. sorry, its just not the good ol american way. maybe in 30 years when im commisioner but for now no way. plus theres not enough money in it right now.

[Mr McG]

Putting a team in Salt Lake is a joke? You are horribly uneducated about the popularity of soccer with the youth in SLC. We have a HUGE population of youth and teens that play soccer and view it religously.

But that is true of at least 90% of metro areas in the country. The point that's been noted in the media and these boards is that that in and of itself does not translate into a successful franchise.

We also have a gigantic hispanic population here that eats, sleeps and craps soccer.

Again, this fact has been shown to be largely irrelevant in other markets, e.g. LA.

As has been said before, no city is more deserving or not based on how popular the sport is with the kids or the size of the non-native residents. These factors are important, sure; they provide existing marketing channels. But the economics and social factors necessary to get a new franchise to succeed are sufficiently complex to make it difficult to predict whether SLC is a better bet than, say, Portland.

I for one would prefer to see an expansion franchise prosper in SLC or wherever, rather than push for a franchise somewhere else because it is perceived as a "good soccer town."

[urtel]

Rochester reprazent!

I went to the Rhinos-Impact game last week and Frontier Field was just short of a sell-out.

With the Salt Lake City deal, did Garber throw a dart at a map?