View Full Version : Garber ignores Cleveland when discussing expansion
Big-Time Crew Fan
10 Apr 2006, 07:08 PM
Twenty questions with Commissioner Garber
http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20060410&content_id=55957&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp
Fact 1 - Garber does not mention Cleveland when discussing potential MLS expansion cities.
Fact 2 - Garber does mention these cities: Philadelphia, St. Louis, Atlanta, Cary-Raleigh-Durham, Orlando, Miami, Phoenix, Detroit, Seattle-Tacoma, Portland, Milwaukee, Hartford, San Diego, Rochester, and Southern Orange County.
What's up with that?
nick
10 Apr 2006, 07:56 PM
Twenty questions with Commissioner Garber
http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20060410&content_id=55957&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp
Fact 1 - Garber does not mention Cleveland when discussing potential MLS expansion cities.
Fact 2 - Garber does mention these cities: Philadelphia, St. Louis, Atlanta, Cary-Raleigh-Durham, Orlando, Miami, Phoenix, Detroit, Seattle-Tacoma, Portland, Milwaukee, Hartford, San Diego, Rochester, and Southern Orange County.
What's up with that?
I'm wondering if the Cleveland bid collapsed completely over some issue we have not heard about. Interestingly, Garber laid out the groundwork that a second 2007 city would be announced in the next 60 days and that city was from the midwest.
The two cities that jumped out on this discussion were Cleveland and St. Louis. Then came several reports from multiple sources about how Cleveland had finally put a package together and that an announcement was coming seeming to confirm Garber's initial announcement.
Now this. WOW.
ClevelandMark
10 Apr 2006, 10:07 PM
Weird. Just plain weird. :confused: He mentions cities like Detroit where there are have not really been any plans. He mentions what Wilt is attempting in Milwaukee. He mentions the intrigue about the Atlanta market. Yet, Garber is completely silent about Cleveland.
I would think that if the bid collasped that the PD or Beacon would have picked up on it as a newsworthy piece.
Rahbiefowlah
10 Apr 2006, 10:33 PM
Archer, come in here and give everyone some wisdom on posturing and golden silence.
Coach Dad
11 Apr 2006, 06:20 AM
I'm optimistic enough to go with the theory that no mention of Cleveland is a good thing. Garber is setting us up for a surprise, that cheeky bastard.
Driving past the proposed site on my commute has definately shoved me into the "Oh Yeah It's Gonna Happen" camp, even if I logically should only be in the "It Would Be Really Cool If It Happened" camp.
ClevelandMark
11 Apr 2006, 08:09 AM
Cleveland is not big enough for more than one cheeky bastard, and we already wasted that designation on Drew Carey.
TheOtherBastard
11 Apr 2006, 08:52 AM
Ah, the joys of being a fan of MLS in Cleveland.
Why do you hate us, god?
Dave Brull
11 Apr 2006, 09:23 AM
If I had to take a wild, sweeping guess at the reason for Cleveland's omission as a 2007 expansion city, I would say it is because from all indications, Cleveland knows it won't be ready by 2007 and I believe Paul Garafolo has stated that 2008 would be a more realistic target. So perhaps it will be St. Louis (I have no idea where they would play) then Cleveland and Milwaukee in 2008.
Also, didn't Garber give that 60 day BS at least six weeks ago?
Joe Stoker
11 Apr 2006, 09:37 AM
Ah, the joys of being a fan of MLS in Cleveland.
Why do you hate us, god?
God might not have that much to do with it. The guy I'm holding accountable is the Gabby character with the Satanic goatee. The guy to whom 60-90 days is as a thousand years.
TheOtherBastard
11 Apr 2006, 09:43 AM
God might not have that much to do with it. The guy I'm holding accountable is the Gabby character with the Satanic goatee. The guy to whom 60-90 days is as a thousand years.
Maybe we all misheard him. Did he say midwest or midwestern hemispehere?
SoccerPrime
11 Apr 2006, 10:37 AM
Funny that you mention that...
League nearing choice on expansion team
The Salt Lake Tribune - http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_3697022
Major League Soccer will decide "within the next 60 days" whether Cleveland or St. Louis will be granted an expansion team for 2008, commissioner Don Garber said after the second annual Real Salt Lake kickoff luncheon Monday.
Ruud Boy
11 Apr 2006, 10:46 AM
Imagine that. BSers overreacting to somthing Garber said. Never happend before.
SoccerPrime
11 Apr 2006, 10:50 AM
:rolleyes:
Another article, a little different take:
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635198644,00.html
Where are you in the expansion process?
Expansion is going well. There's more interest in investors getting involved with the league than (at) any other time in the history of the league. We're fielding multiple offers from different cities. Toronto will come in 2007. There are two cities vying in 2008; Cleveland and St. Louis being those two cities. We're looking to get back in the Bay Area; there are a number of people interested in that market. Philadelphia has two interested parties in that city. (We'll) have 13 teams in '07, a Midwestern team in '08.
Coach Dad
11 Apr 2006, 11:18 AM
Announcing "competition" from St.Louis also puts pressure on the local governments here to get the deal done.
TheOtherBastard
11 Apr 2006, 12:00 PM
Is it so wrong for us to wonder why he didn't mention Cleveland in his Q&A? Especially when so many other sources point to us being so close.
yure323
11 Apr 2006, 12:32 PM
Maybe he got questions like "What about Detroit,St.Louis,Hartford, Southern Orange County..." , and there was no "What about Cleveland?"
Green and BLue
11 Apr 2006, 06:12 PM
Ah, the joys of being a fan of MLS in Cleveland.
Why do you hate us, god?
*rolls eyes*
Try being jerked around for nearly a decade (we've been "on the radar" since 97!) and get back to me.
TheOtherBastard
11 Apr 2006, 07:18 PM
*rolls eyes*
Try being jerked around for nearly a decade (we've been "on the radar" since 97!) and get back to me.
At least you've been "on the radar"! </sarcasm>
No, just kidding. :rolleyes:
I realize we've only come around lately, but its still been annoying to come so close several times only to realize we were never all that close to begin with. Really, just let us live in peace!
Joe Stoker
12 Apr 2006, 08:49 AM
If it weren't so pathetically sad, the arrogance of MLS in "jerking around" Seattle, San Diego, San Antonio, Rochester... and is it premature to add Cleveland?... is almost humorous. Who do they think they are, Major League Baseball?;)
Just like the Expos mess, it's the fans that get strung along, time & time again. Nice, the way they treat you, eh?
Actually, I think if Paul G & 'Stein Jr. thought for one moment that they were being strung along by some Soccer Son of Sam, they might retaliate with guns blazing (Think League One America v.2)! There now appears to be a bit too much at stake locally just to politely turn the other cheek if so scorned. Cleveland has the ammo and apparently the chutzpah that most of the others don't. Got the feeling that Gabby better play nice.
Big-Time Crew Fan
12 Apr 2006, 06:21 PM
FWIW, Peter Wilt says elsewhere on BS:
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In his Q&A yesterday, Don included Milwaukee and spoke favorably of our efforts. From what i know, Milwaukee is ahead of St. Louis and behind Cleveland, but we're all really in the same boat - get a stadium and we have a team.
peter
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http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294716&page=18