Ownership Group Interested in Atlanta

[BigKahuna]

http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2006/07/31/story1.html?page=1&b=1154318400^1321995

[BigKahuna]

This is just a more in-depth article about the intereted group...here are some interesting excerpts:


A group of local businessmen, including a prominent real estate developer, is working to score a Major League Soccer team for Atlanta.

The Atlanta bid is being led by Chris Schoen, president of prominent developer Barry Real Estate Companies Inc., and local attorney Jason Freier.

An Atlanta team could mean a kick for the hospitality industry and the metro area's reputation as a tourist destination.

"Soccer is one of the top sports worldwide and its popularity continues to grow," said Spurgeon Richardson, president of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. It fits in with the fact that we are a growing international market."

League officials visited Atlanta in February. Freier recently met with Major League Soccer President Mark Abbott, according to the league.

"We're as well set up as possible for this to work," Freier said.

"I have very little doubt we have the elements to put together an appropriate ownership group."

That's one of top criteria Major League Soccer looks for when it decides to award a franchise: passionate owners with the financial wherewithal to bring a team to the market, said Dan Courtemanche, a spokesman for the league.

Another requirement is a great fan base for a team and Courtemanche said execs believe Atlanta would be a "tremendous Major League Soccer market."

In addition to a growing overall population, Atlanta's has one of the fastest-growing Hispanic populations in the country -- a major fan base for soccer.

All parties agree a major key to winning a team will be finding a way to build a 20,000- to 25,000-seat stadium in metro Atlanta.

It costs $30 million to buy an expansion team, $2 million annually for players' salaries and another $85 million to $150 million to build a stadium.

Freier and Jerkunica said their groups are not in talks about bringing any Major League Soccer team to the Silverbacks' stadium.

If a Major League Soccer plan does come together, it is sure to include sponsorships from local companies.

The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD), for example, has naming rights to the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, where the Los Angeles Galaxy and Club Deportivo Chivas USA play, and also sponsors the Mexican national team when it plays in the United States.

"It's a good way to reach out to families and adults who play," said Hugh Miskel, director of event marketing for Home Depot.

It costs $30 million to buy an expansion team, $2 million annually for players' salaries and another $85 million to $150 million to build a stadium.

Schoen and Freier are assembling an ownership team but say they have not committed to a site for the 20,000- to 25,000-seat stadium required by the league.

[Eleven Bravo]

Sounds like these guys are really interested in bringing a team together.

Question is what happens to the Re/Max if they build another SSS? What i would like to see is the guys from the Silverbacks and these potential sponsors start talking.

[BigKahuna]

Sounds like these guys are really interested in bringing a team together.

Question is what happens to the Re/Max if they build another SSS? What i would like to see is the guys from the Silverbacks and these potential sponsors start talking.

My guess is that the Silverbacks will go on as planned. An MLS team might really hurt the Silverbacks' fan base, though, so I would expect their priorities to shift to their women's and youth teams. They've put in too uch money and effort to close shop now.

[Eleven Bravo]

My guess is that the Silverbacks will go on as planned. An MLS team might really hurt the Silverbacks' fan base, though, so I would expect their priorities to shift to their women's and youth teams. They've put in too uch money and effort to close shop now.

one thing i would like to see is the Silverbacks adopt the MLS team and then have a PDL feeder team and a USL team as sort of a reserves team. But, if they build a new stadium than re-max really needs to make sure it doesn't expands its capacity because it would just be a waste of money.

[Calexico77]

It would be an awful awful shame for anyone to bulldoze in and place in MLS team on top of the Silverbacks. If anything, I'd pray that they push the Silverback's stadiums plans forward. They seem to be close to setting up an actual "CLUB" with open facilities, academies, etc. That should be encouraged at all costs.

Normally, I'd say that Atlanta should stay in the USL, because they represent a strong USL tent-pole in a league that has a high turnover. That's what I always say about Montreal, Rochester, Charleston. . . But IF there is a MLS team in Atlanta, it should be the Backs. . .

[BigKahuna]

It would be an awful awful shame for anyone to bulldoze in and place in MLS team on top of the Silverbacks. If anything, I'd pray that they push the Silverback's stadiums plans forward. They seem to be close to setting up an actual "CLUB" with open facilities, academies, etc. That should be encouraged at all costs.

Normally, I'd say that Atlanta should stay in the USL, because they represent a strong USL tent-pole in a league that has a high turnover. That's what I always say about Montreal, Rochester, Charleston. . . But IF there is a MLS team in Atlanta, it should be the Backs. . .

All I want is an MLS team. If it is the Backs, I'm happy. But I'd gladly sacrifice them for a MLS team.

[Michael CM1]

It would be an awful awful shame for anyone to bulldoze in and place in MLS team on top of the Silverbacks. If anything, I'd pray that they push the Silverback's stadiums plans forward. They seem to be close to setting up an actual "CLUB" with open facilities, academies, etc. That should be encouraged at all costs.

Normally, I'd say that Atlanta should stay in the USL, because they represent a strong USL tent-pole in a league that has a high turnover. That's what I always say about Montreal, Rochester, Charleston. . . But IF there is a MLS team in Atlanta, it should be the Backs. . .

I know you mean well but that's really easy to say with TWO MLS teams in your own town and the three highest-paid players in the league. :)

If MLS and the USL were like the AFL and NFL, I could agree with you. Since they obviously aren't (take a quick look at where national team talent comes from), I want an MLS team. I think the Silverbacks are doing very well, and the ownership group seems like a great bunch of committed guys. The thing is about 5 years ago the team was "A League Atlanta" because the previous owners decided to not go to an away game to save money.

[DavidP]

I know you mean well but that's really easy to say with TWO MLS teams in your own town and the three highest-paid players in the league. :)

If MLS and the USL were like the AFL and NFL, I could agree with you. Since they obviously aren't (take a quick look at where national team talent comes from), I want an MLS team. I think the Silverbacks are doing very well, and the ownership group seems like a great bunch of committed guys. The thing is about 5 years ago the team was "A League Atlanta" because the previous owners decided to not go to an away game to save money.

Yep, I remember those days well. "Team; Soccer; One Each" as I called them. The fact that this team is in its twelfth season is a miracle in itself.