Panic FC says New Orleans for expansion

[pething101]

Originally posted by Sachin
Are there any investors?

Can't have expansion w/o investors.

Sachin

The most important question.

[panicfc]

Originally posted by Sachin
Are there any investors?

Can't have expansion w/o investors.

Sachin

I did mention POWERBALL in my first post.

Potential investors: Al Copeland? - Copelands Restaurants - formerly of Popeyes Fried Chicken Money

Some lawyers - always have lawyers with money.

Doctors - have money.

[Barbara]

If Al Copeland is involved, you know the food in the stadium is gonna be yummy though the decor will be hella-tacky.

And if NOLA gets an MLS team, I'd seriously consider moving back there.

But damn, Panic, it's awfully freakin' hot.






Isn't Tad Gormley where the Beatles played in the early 60's?

[panicfc]

Originally posted by BarbDett
If Al Copeland is involved, you know the food in the stadium is gonna be yummy though the decor will be hella-tacky.

And if NOLA gets an MLS team, I'd seriously consider moving back there.

But damn, Panic, it's awfully freakin' hot.

Isn't Tad Gormley where the Beatles played in the early 60's?

It's like Africa hot - but that's home field cookin' literally.

Beatles did play Tad Gormley - I was but a wee lad.

Copeland's Onion Mum...yummy.

Popeyes chicken, fried Shrimp, crawfish pies, jambalaya, biscuits, sno-balls, smoothies, daiquiris, and people paint their faces in New Orleans for funerals so soccer games should be easy.

Jason Kreis scores a goal, and then runs over to the crowd and throws beads to the lucky ladies who are willing to show their talents...

Doubloons in the crowd .... this could be huge.

[pething101]

Originally posted by panicfc


I did mention POWERBALL in my first post.



Good luck with that.

Would be nice to see you work magic in MLS like D3.

[panicfc]

Originally posted by pething101


Good luck with that.

Would be nice to see you work magic in MLS like D3.

I'd love to have the opportunity.

[DavidP]

Originally posted by panicfc


It's like Africa hot - but that's home field cookin' literally.

Beatles did play Tad Gormley - I was but a wee lad.

Copeland's Onion Mum...yummy.

Popeyes chicken, fried Shrimp, crawfish pies, jambalaya, biscuits, sno-balls, smoothies, daiquiris, and people paint their faces in New Orleans for funerals so soccer games should be easy.

Jason Kreis scores a goal, and then runs over to the crowd and throws beads to the lucky ladies who are willing to show their talents...

Doubloons in the crowd .... this could be huge.

Don't forget popcorn shrimp po-boys (used to get 'em at Popeye's)!!! I lived in NO for a year in 1991

[panicfc]

Originally posted by DavidP


Don't forget popcorn shrimp po-boys (used to get 'em at Popeye's)!!! I lived in NO for a year in 1991

I'm missing my popcorn shrimp.

Saw the Saints beat Tampa on tv - felt like home.

[Laramie4OKC]

It this the stadium that use to be New Orleans City Park Stadium?

http://www.yatcom.com/gamblers/tadgormleystadium.jpg

If it is, it's going to need so work and some structual reinforcements if they haven't already done so.

This facility has good potential for hosting MLS.

Will New Orleans be able to support NFL, NBA and NHL?

[panicfc]

Originally posted by Laramie4OKC
It this the stadium that use to be New Orleans City Park Stadium?

http://www.yatcom.com/gamblers/tadgormleystadium.jpg

If it is, it's going to need so work and some structual reinforcements if they haven't already done so.

This facility has good potential for hosting MLS.

Will New Orleans be able to support NFL, NBA and NHL?

That would be it.

It would need some enhancements:
1) Suites
2) New Press box
3) New Locker rooms - well modernized ones.
4) More concession stands
5) Roof over the seating area.

That's got to be a few million.

Will NO support the NFL - yes.

NBA - probably not

NHL ? The ECHL team is on haitus, the hornets took all the dates.

MLS - cheap tickets, Latin flavor, Summer adventure. Plus if they fix up the stadium right, and hire a great GM with local ties they could do very well.

[pething101]

Originally posted by panicfc


MLS - cheap tickets, Latin flavor, Summer adventure. Plus if they fix up the stadium right, and hire a great GM with local ties they could do very well.

I cannot think of anyone that would want a GM job like that.

[panicfc]

Originally posted by pething101


I cannot think of anyone that would want a GM job like that.

It would be difficult, but I would volunteer - for a large sum of money of course.

[hio1515]

When did they get rid of the turf in Tad Gormely?

[panicfc]

Originally posted by hio1515
When did they get rid of the turf in Tad Gormely?

I think 1999-2000

[Barbara]

Originally posted by panicfc


That would be it.

It would need some enhancements:
1) Suites
2) New Press box
3) New Locker rooms - well modernized ones.
4) More concession stands
5) Roof over the seating area.

That's got to be a few million.



You don't need all of that - especially not right at first. Have you been to RFK lately?

[panicfc]

Originally posted by BarbDett



You don't need all of that - especially not right at first. Have you been to RFK lately?

No, but I want to do it right and the place needs some TLC to make it right.

[The Magpie]

Thought this article would be of interest:

MONEY

Soccer stadium planned near I-510, Chef Project may lure professional team

Real estate writer

05/26/2001
The Times-Picayune, p.01
Copyright 2001, The Times-Picayune. All rights reserved.

The New Orleans Business and Industrial District will take out an option to buy 12 acres of land along Interstate I-510 in hopes of developing a $5 million minor-league soccer stadium.

The district's board of commissioners voted Friday to buy the tract just southwest of the intersection of Interstate 510 and Chef Menteur Highway for $690,000 from a private owner, George Maynard. The district took the action after hearing a presentation by former New Orleans Storm soccer coach Danny Rebusk and Dave Askinia, an official with the United Soccer Leagues, or USL.


Rebusk hopes to put together a partnership to bring a soccer franchise to New Orleans. The franchise would be for USL's A League, just below the level of major-league soccer.

USL's A League fields 21 teams and is the soccer equivalent of Triple A baseball, a primer for major-league soccer in which American teams can compete with soccer teams across the globe. USL A League teams generate between $500,000 and $1 million in annual revenue, Askinia said.

Askinia told commissioners that from what he had seen from the proposal by Rebusk, along with the business district's willingness to issue bonds to finance the project, the soccer league would grant a franchise to New Orleans if the partnership owning the franchise meets the league's requirements.

Askinia said the USL had just "been drawn into the process last month" for a USL franchise anchoring a new stadium. "We've seen the site, and we're satisfied it's very viable to plan for a stadium here. The numbers will work."

As the deal is structured, the district's option to buy Maynard's land for $690,000 expires in three months from the date it is executed. Eugene Green, president of the New Orleans Business and Industrial District, said that within that time a feasibility study of the stadium will be done, and the district will solicit proposals from qualified soccer stadium operators and grant the project to the best respondent. By July, a NOBID board meeting will be held to approve the issuance of $6 million in bonds to buy the land and build the stadium. NOBID has bonding authority, but the issue would have to be approved by the Louisiana Bond Commission in August. If it is approved, NOBID would buy the land, build the stadium and lease it to the selected operator. The soccer stadium operator's lease payments to the district would pay for the bond issue and no public money would be used to back the bonds, Green said.

The Storm, known as the Riverboat Gamblers until 1998, was a member of the USL until owner Rob Couhig dropped the franchise before the beginning of the 2000 season. The Storm and Gamblers played in Pan American Stadium and Tad Gormley Stadium from 1993 to 1997 and at Zephyr Field in 1998 and 1999. During its last two years, the team's attendance averaged between 1,800 and 2,000 people per game.

Rebusk said the lack of a soccer-specific stadium in New Orleans was one reason the Storm is no more. He believes a new stadium would draw between 2,200 and 2,500 fans during its inaugural year. Soccer has taken on immense popularity, with some local high school championship games drawing several thousand. The new soccer stadium also could fill a need for many local schools, Rebusk said.

Copyright © 2000 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[panicfc]

That's a dated article, and it was finally approved this September.

Funny they mispelled Danny Rebuck and Dave Askinas.

[hio1515]

You mean the city is going to actually do something to improve itself. Wow, This is amazing.

[profiled]

Originally posted by Dr. Wankler


But the thought of fans pelting Tony Meola with sucked crawfish heads is helping to bring me around to the idea.

Better eat them up quick or fat tony will eat the place dry.