11/16/05 -- MLS targets city for move of franchise

[anderson]

Bernardo Fallas on the story:

MLS targets city for move of franchise (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/soc/3464340)

AEG president Tim Leiweke said Tuesday that the company is in the process of finalizing a move to Houston following months of evaluation and negotiations.

"We're really overwhelmed by the support and excitement we've gotten from our various options on facilities and of potential partners on an ownership group. In particular, (Houston)'s a great soccer market," said Leiweke.

...

Leiweke declined to discuss other potential cities. He also refused to identify potential partners but said they are from Houston. He also denied any involvement by Club América in the latest negotiations.

"That doesn't rule out the possibility of a Mexican premier league team having an affiliation or an ownership piece of the new Houston franchise," he said. "Right now, when we refer to partners, it is not Club América."

...

"We wouldn't have made this announcement at this point if we didn't think it was more than likely that Houston was the right place to go," Leiweke said.

That's all Tim Leiwecke, so make of it what you will.

Also, Glenn Davis has an audio blurb:

Houston may still be in hunt for an MLS team (http://www.chron.com/content/news/mm/05/11/15/davis.ram)

[BringBackTheBlizzard]

Not looking good for the San Jose Earthquakes:-

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/16/SPG8JFP53L1.DTL

"We stepped in three years ago and took over the team when it was operated by the league, and we've been trying to find the right buyer and the right place for the team since then,'' Leiweke said.

He said the chances that the team will operate in San Jose next season under AEG's ownership are "zero,'' and he said he didn't anticipate an offer from anybody that would keep the team there.

[Goodsport]

Not looking good for the San Jose Earthquakes:-

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/16/SPG8JFP53L1.DTL

Maybe, maybe not:

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/13178864.htm

While the SF Chronicle claims that the Earthquakes are as good as gone, the SJ Mercury News article states that the team may be gone. Considering that Dylan Hernandez is the beat writer for the Quakes and is generally the closest journalist to any Quakes situation, I'd bet that his article is more accurate.

Also, considering the fact that Houston Sports Authority CEO Oliver Luck stated in a recent Houston Chronicle article that he hadn't spoken with AEG since "late September/early October", Leiweke's claims of having dealt with Houston recently seem dubious at best.

One way or another, we'll find out within a month.


-G

[BringBackTheBlizzard]

Hope it works out for you, Goodsport.

[Goodsport]

Hope it works out for you, Goodsport.

Me too. ;)

Thanks for the support. :)


-G

[fireman451]

I know I've dogged your comments in the past Goodsport but I hope you guys find some way to keep the team. As much as I would like to see Houston get a club, I didn't want them to get one at the expense of SJ.

When I lived in Houston (for 29 years) I felt the anger, the pain and the hate when the Oilers left town for Tennessee - freak'n Tennessee?! Now the Oillers never won anything important since the first AFL Championship in 1960 and they tore our hearts out every dang playoff year (HELLO BUFFALO), but it hurt horribly when our guys left town. I didn't follow the Oilers to TN and I moved to Chicago shortly after Oilers left and way before the Texans came aboard so I don't support them either. If you're not leaving the Northern California area anytime soon, if your club moves I hope you get your "Texans" per se.

Seriously, good luck.


GO FIRE, GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!

[Goodsport]

I know I've dogged your comments in the past Goodsport but I hope you guys find some way to keep the team. As much as I would like to see Houston get a club, I didn't want them to get one at the expense of SJ.

When I lived in Houston (for 29 years) I felt the anger, the pain and the hate when the Oilers left town for Tennessee - freak'n Tennessee?! Now the Oillers never won anything important since the first AFL Championship in 1960 and they tore our hearts out every dang playoff year (HELLO BUFFALO), but it hurt horribly when our guys left town. I didn't follow the Oilers to TN and I moved to Chicago shortly after Oilers left and way before the Texans came aboard so I don't support them either. If you're not leaving the Northern California area anytime soon, if your club moves I hope you get your "Texans" per se.

Seriously, good luck.


GO FIRE, GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks fireman451. :)


-G

[zcgf02]

I am really conflicted about this. I grew up in the Bay Area, and went to Earthquakes' games in the 70s. I think Northern California should have an MLS team.

But... I currently live in Houston and I think this would be a great market for an MLS team.

I don't want SJ to lose the 'Quakes. But if the team does move, I promise Houston would be a great home for a team.

I know this will be cold comfort to 'Quakes fans, but maybe if this does happen you can see some silver lining.

[anderson]

While the SF Chronicle claims that the Earthquakes are as good as gone, the SJ Mercury News article states that the team may be gone. Considering that Dylan Hernandez is the beat writer for the Quakes and is generally the closest journalist to any Quakes situation, I'd bet that his article is more accurate.And the Houston Chronicle article by Bernardo Fallas also states that "the approval in no way means a move to another city must or will occur" and that "there have been negotiations with a San Jose-based group". As Garber stated in Monday's Rumbo article, "anything is possible".

I'd also just add that Oliver Luck's role is sort of like that of a faciliator, not a principal, in any negotiations. He wouldn't be negotiating with AEG.

[uclacarlos]

Sorry for being out of the loop, but what does this refer to:
from the LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-mls16nov16,1,6051219.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-soccer)
"What we like about Houston is twofold," Leiweke added. "One, the temporary situation there [a new 12,000-seat stadium] is better than anything we've seen in San Jose. Two, a permanent solution is on the table.
What is this 12K stadium?

[truthandlife]

Sorry for being out of the loop, but what does this refer to:
from the LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-mls16nov16,1,6051219.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-soccer)

What is this 12K stadium?

http://www.cfisd.net/bond/esc/ESC%20site%20plan.jpg

http://www.cfisd.net/bond/esc/esc1.jpg

General Information, Description, and Amenities

The Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center ( Berry Center) is funded by the 2001 Bond Referendum. This project was one of the nine schools and five support facilities, included in this bond referendum. Voters demonstrated their significant endorsement of the bond package that the community-led bond steering committee recommended by passing the bond election in December 2001.

The Berry Center will relieve the demands for facilities for district-wide staff development for teachers; graduation exercises; extra and co-curricular activities, performances and competitions (choir, band, drama, UIL competitions, athletic events); and catering and banquets for honors, awards, and celebrations, as well as address community needs for meetings, events, and receptions. The Berry Center is available for non-district events, subject to policies and guidelines for use of this facility.

Amenities include a 16,000 square-foot staff development/conference center, which can be partitioned into 17 rooms; 456-seat auditorium; multi-purpose arena designed for 9,500 maximum capacity with 8,300 fixed seats; floor banquet seating and catering facilities to accommodate the preparation and serving of 1,000 meals; complete loading dock, backstage marshalry, star and support dressing areas; 4,000 space parking area, and administrative office space.



Location

The 65-acre site that is also home to the district’s second athletic stadium is located at Barker Cypress and West Road. As a result of combining both facilities on the same site, the district realized approximately $3.2 million net savings by sharing the parking lots.



Construction Status

These facilities, with a projected cost of $72.9 million, are currently in the construction phase. PBK Architects, Inc. along with their design consultant, HOK Sport Venue presented the final design to the Board in June 2003. The district received construction proposals for the facilities in February 2004, and groundbreaking ceremonies were conducted in June of 2004. The project is scheduled to be completed in March 2006 in time to hold commencement exercises in May for the graduating Class of 2006.



General Manager

Beth Wade assumed responsibilities as the general manager in May 2005. If you are interested in scheduling an event, please contact Beth Wade at 281-807-8948.

[Blu N Houston]

It's a sweet looking stadium, minutes away from my home. Hope everthing falls into place. :p

[truthandlife]

Exciting time for the Houston soccer community. It is too bad for the San Jose if this happens because it is awful to see your favorite team leave from one city to another. I remember when the Oilers left and to see how the Titans were so gleeful on getting through the playoffs. I was sickened. Houston still has not recovered from that. We do have a pretty good stadium out of it though.

[Blu N Houston]

Exciting time for the Houston soccer community. It is too bad for the San Jose if this happens because it is awful to see your favorite team leave from one city to another. I remember when the Oilers left and to see how the Titans were so gleeful on getting through the playoffs. I was sickened. Houston still has not recovered from that. We do have a pretty good stadium out of it though.
Stadiums! If it wasn't for Bud leaving we would have never bowed down to the Astros or Rockets. IT did hurt like hell, but we got over it. Just like SJ will as well.

[fireman451]

Holy moley! I didn't know that Cy-Fair stadium was so close to my old home. When I lived in Houston, me and the family (wife and two kiddos) lived in Copperfield, right off Longenbaugh and Queenston Blvd. Bike riding distance from our front yard or about 3 minutes by car.

[cristoforo7]

It's interesting that AEG would consider arranging for a Major League Soccer team to play its home games starting in April 2006 in a high school stadium that is "scheduled to be completed in March 2006", even if it will only be a one season, temporary home.

With the complexities of a major construction project like this, there is a very substantial risk that the stadium will not be completed by April 2006 or even May 2006.

[Aljarov]

It's interesting that AEG would consider arranging for a Major League Soccer team to play its home games starting in April 2006 in a high school stadium that is "scheduled to be completed in March 2006", even if it will only be a one season, temporary home.

With the complexities of a major construction project like this, there is a very substantial risk that the stadium will not be completed by April 2006 or even May 2006.


They could always start on the road or something.

I've still got my fingers crossed for the Quakes. Come on some rich silicone Valley guy ...Save The Quakes!

[Andy_B]

It's interesting that AEG would consider arranging for a Major League Soccer team to play its home games starting in April 2006 in a high school stadium that is "scheduled to be completed in March 2006", even if it will only be a one season, temporary home.

With the complexities of a major construction project like this, there is a very substantial risk that the stadium will not be completed by April 2006 or even May 2006.

Both the Crew and Gals had this problem as well and worked through it with starting a bunch of games away.

Its not ideal but it can be done if their are the usual delays.


Two, a permanent solution is on the table.

Is this just AEG rhetoric or does anyone have any specific knowledge of a permanent solution?


Andy

[cristoforo7]

Yes, starting with a couple of months of away games can be done, but could really damage the marketing end of things. If the team loses a bunch of those road games, ticket sales could head south [no pun intended] rapidly (especially for a new team in its first season).

[anderson]

Is this just AEG rhetoric or does anyone have any specific knowledge of a permanent solution?They're probably referring to the Houston Independent School District's Delmar complex (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5166030&postcount=2). HISD is building its new HQ at the complex and intends to redevelop the main stadium there. Oliver Luck obtained a resolution from the HISD Board of Trustees early this year approving the concept of a redevelopment of Delmar stadium in cooperation with an MLS team. AEG reportedly later met with HISD officials to discuss the project. I haven't seen any more recent updates.

Also, some of this morning's news reports refer to the "Del Mar" stadium in downtown Houston. The Delmar complex isn't downtown, but is located at a very convenient spot at the intersection of Loop 610 and Hwy. 290.