Next Cities In MLS?

[Rochester]

I want to see Portland and Houston. If the Quakes move to Houston then expand to Rochester, and if they aren't interested, settle for Toronto.

Rochester is very interested. I am not sure where Sounderfan got that, Im sure he wasn't making it up but streched. I know Frank DuRoss wants MLS very badly. I have heard him say it.

[sounderfan]

Rochester is very interested. I am not sure where Sounderfan got that, Im sure he wasn't making it up but streched. I know Frank DuRoss wants MLS very badly. I have heard him say it.

Don Garber said on ESPN that Rochester are not convinced that they want to join MLS. He said it on July 27th. Basically he said "they must decide as an organization if they want MLS."

Garber's response came after a question was posted as to why Rochester isn't mentioned as an expansion candidate.

Perharps Garber is sending a "message" about how he'd like the new stadium to be finished for (MLS) soccer?

[puffinz]

Hmmm.... even though I live in Philadelphia and would find a team here interesting. There is a lot of competition here for sports. Lets see, there's the Phantoms, Flyers, Phillies, 76ers, Eagles, Barrage (outdoor Lacrosse), Wings (indoor Lacrosse), Kixx (indoor soccer), Soul (Arena Football), Wilmington Blue Rocks (minor league baseball), and Camden Riversharks (minor league baseball). Those were just the professional sports.

I think San Antonio would be a good choice from a marketing perspective, but I don't know if they would want to play in the Alamo Dome or the Alamo Stadium.

I do believe the MLS should start a system of relegation and promotion. Then teams like Rochester, Montreal, or Milwaukee wouldn't have to wait for the "Gods" to deem them worthy.

One of those teams would make sense. A Florida location could be interesting as well.

[deeplennon]

1. Seattle has NOT been "promised" an MLS in the next round, as an earlier poster stated.

Sorry I was exageratting based on what the MLS said at the time SLC was awarded a franchise, now it looks like Seattle is just top of the list (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sounders/2002243080_sounders16.html). Though that point looks to be mute without a willing investor.

[deeplennon]

If the MetroStars can play in Giants Stadium, or the Fire can play in Soldier Field, why would Houston be any less deserving?

You're right, they're not, but I believe it'd be bad for the game.

Only one team in the MLS averaged over 20,000 fans a game last year and that team was the LA Galaxy with 23,809 a game playing in a stadium that holds 27,000. You'd have to be naive to think that that's only a coincidence.

Reliant stadium holds 69,000. So an expansion Houston MLS franchise would likely only fill a quarter of those seats. I can tell you from much experience at Qwest field that the atmosphere in a stadium that's 3/4's empty is very depressing, it also looks incredibly awful on TV. I believe that the MLS can't afford to have too many more perpetually empty stadiums if they hope to expand the popularity of the league.

[PaintYourFace]

st.louis hott bed!!!

[Palermo10]

Yeah honestly... Busch, Scott Gallagher, they have some big clubs in the area...

but KC and Chicago would be battling for fans...

[metrostars1969]

Another team in NY at this time would kill off the Metrostars. If it was a reincarnation of the Cosmos it would only take 2 years for the Metros to pack up the moving trucks.

[Mountainia]

St. Louis used to support soccer back in the day. So did Seattle.

Houston, Tampa, Rochester, Philadelphia, and Atlanta all seem like good candidates for varying reasons.

[prymetyme]

what I think MLS should do is stick to larger cities until they grow in fan support. Its safe to say that everyone here wants the MLS to survive and hope that one day it can become just as large or even larger then European or South American or any great soccer countrys program. Once they get support then they can go to other cities like Rodchester, but I think NYC or Austin and not to put a lot of teams in a small area so that means no more for SoCal. But maybe one on the Northern Pacific Coast. Seattle, Vancouver?
Atlanta would also be a good choice also.

[Rochester]

what I think MLS should do is stick to larger cities until they grow in fan support. Its safe to say that everyone here wants the MLS to survive and hope that one day it can become just as large or even larger then European or South American or any great soccer countrys program. Once they get support then they can go to other cities like Rodchester, but I think NYC or Austin and not to put a lot of teams in a small area so that means no more for SoCal. But maybe one on the Northern Pacific Coast. Seattle, Vancouver?
Atlanta would also be a good choice also.
How can you say that? Large cities with MLS teams already have money problems. Give the cities that deserve an MLS team a chance. Rochester doesn't need MLS, MLS needs Rochester. Rochester could easily get 15,000 fans per game at PaeTec Park.

[Scarecrow]

How can you say that? Large cities with MLS teams already have money problems. Give the cities that deserve an MLS team a chance. Rochester doesn't need MLS, MLS needs Rochester. Rochester could easily get 15,000 fans per game at PaeTec Park.
Rhinos had 11,000+ at the US Open Cup game last night and lost 5-4 on PKS after a 1-1 game.

I say bring them into MLS as is. No need to worry about an expansion draft, etc...

[floridasoccernews]

Disney Orlando should bring a MLS team to Wide World of Sports.

Facilities are there and disney could afford to lose money on the team if necessary.

Also if the BUCS owner is such a soccer fan ....MAN U ...why not MLS in Tampa....

Neither will happen because both are greedy and it is all about the $$$$

[Scarecrow]

Disney Orlando should bring a MLS team to Wide World of Sports.

Facilities are there and disney could afford to lose money on the team if necessary.

Also if the BUCS owner is such a soccer fan ....MAN U ...why not MLS in Tampa....

Neither will happen because both are greedy and it is all about the $$$$


Glazer went into debt for the game in England, too bad he couldn't have taken a couple mil and invested in MLS as well. Bring back the Rowdies.

[prymetyme]

that is true about rodchester but my main point was that they should stick to where they can get fan support and rodchester might be that place. I just the MLS should be as careful as they can so we wont see them dissapear because theres nothing else i want then a league like the premiership or bundesliga in the USA.

[Rochester]

that is true about rodchester but my main point was that they should stick to where they can get fan support and rodchester might be that place. I just the MLS should be as careful as they can so we wont see them dissapear because theres nothing else i want then a league like the premiership or bundesliga in the USA.
Sir you are spelling my city wrong. It is Rochester. Rochester is an MLS city no matter how big it is. Our city and people support the Rhinos with heart and soul. The MLS will not be the Premiership or Bundesliga anytime soon. Not in our lifetime at least, but we can always dream.

[Black and White]

How can you say that? Large cities with MLS teams already have money problems. Give the cities that deserve an MLS team a chance. Rochester doesn't need MLS, MLS needs Rochester. Rochester could easily get 15,000 fans per game at PaeTec Park.
You are too funny MLS does not or will not ever need Rochester.

[BulaJacket]

NYC

Bring back the Cosmos already!
Thats very naive of you to say. If you knew anything about the Metrostars you'd know that its a predominantly New Jersey team and has very little to do with NY other than its name. New York is one of the biggest soccer cities in the USA, and we dont even have a team to call our own. The NHL and NBA have teams in both NJ and NY, why cant the MLS??? New Yorkers/Long Islanders dont feel like making the trip all the way out to the Meadowlands just to see a crappy NJ team consistantly lose. And now that the Metrostars are building a stadium in Harrison it will no longer be "a hop skip and a jump" (not like it ever was).
I could go on and on, but would rather save the energy...
So, yes, I do think NYC is a strong contender for another MLS team

BRING BACK THE COSMOS! (http://www.soccernova.com/html/activism/cosmos_campaign/cosmos_campaign.htm)
New Yorkers have no reason to go see the Metros play! They stink! The organization stinks! The atmosphere stinks! The stadium stinks! The trip to Giants Stadium stinks! The trip to Harrison will be even stinkier!
So you won't support a local MLS team, one that is in NJ, but you're for the Cosmos, who played most of it's life in NJ.
Oh, ok, gotcha. :confused::rolleyes:

[BulaJacket]

PS, I'm pretty much for the Cosmos, but not supporting the Metros "because they're in NJ" (@ the same stadium that the Cosmos played in for the majority of the time) is incredibly stupid. New Yorkers have a reason to see the Metros play - if they want soccer to succeed in America. And there is more reason to see the Metros with Lalas at the helm there, as he already seems to be helping turn the Metros' image around. Hopefully a NYC Cosmos team helps both at the gate and in the eye of the general public, so support both the Cosmos campaign if you want, but especially the soccer team that is ALREADY LOCAL there.

[WALDO]

There was talk here in Toronto about us getting an MLS expansion team. It only makes sense, Toronto is the 5th biggest city in North America (Mexico City #1). Toronto definitely has the population as the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) exceeds 5 million. Toronto also has a huge ethnic community and I think an MLS team would draw well here. Hopefully the MLS comes through and brings an expansion team this way.My aunt and uncle tell me, Toronto is not really like Canada. They live in Kingston, ON. Like you said they have a huge ethnic community and our more like New York City. It would be neat though, to see a team play in Montreal. I imagine the MLS could attract some french players to play in Montreal. Bien Venue(Welcome) or however you spell it.