Atlanta remains serious candidate for expansion [Mobile]

View Full Version : Atlanta remains serious candidate for expansion

Pages : [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

BigKahuna

06 Oct 2006, 06:10 PM

From:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=419851

5. What is the status of expansion?

COMMISSIONER ANSWER: We received many questions about expansion so we decided to answer all of them with a status update on a market-by-market basis. I will tell everyone that the interest in MLS expansion is at an all-time high. This is very different from even just a few years ago when we had to solicit potential expansion markets and owners. MLS President Mark Abbott leads our expansion efforts and discussions. The list is in alphabetical order:

ATLANTA – We’ve had recent discussions with two different potential ownership groups and we plan to spend more time focusing on this key Southeast market. . We would like to have a presence south of Washington, D.C. and Atlanta has many of the attributes we look for in a new market. Unfortunately, at this time, Atlanta does not have an appropriate facility for an MLS team. The stadium that was home to the WUSA’s Atlanta Beat, Herndon Stadium, is too small and does not have the modern amenities needed for an MLS team. We are interested to see how the Honduras versus Guatemala match does next Tuesday in Atlanta. Two FC Dallas players – Ramon Nunez and Carlos Ruiz – will be playing against each other for their respective national teams.

BigKahuna

06 Oct 2006, 06:12 PM

DavidP

08 Oct 2006, 05:57 PM

Looks like good news...we absolutely MUST demonstrate our ability to support a team and we have the chance next week. Everybody that can be there, come to Herndon Stadium on Tuesday the 10th for Honduras vs. Guatemala:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=419790

There might be 15,000+ show up for a game like that (but on a Tuesday?), seeing that it's two Central American teams playing in an Hispanic hotbed, but wouldn't a Saturday night "home" game for an MLS team like DC, Dallas, or Houston be a better indicator? Atlanta got 9,000 for USA-China in 1977, and about that many for Ft. Lauderdale Strikers-Blackpool in 1978 (I attended both games, BTW), but the Chiefs (who, as it turns out, drew as well then as some of the "real" numbers from MLS now. Hmmmmm... :D ) couldn't get near that number (granted, they sucked, at a time when every team in town except the Flames (and they were barely great) was living in Suckville). I won't be able to go, but I hope it is a good draw.

MPoole

09 Oct 2006, 11:22 AM

We’ve had recent discussions with two different potential ownership groups and we plan to spend more time focusing on this key Southeast market.

Two? I didn't know we had two ownership groups! I knew about Hardball Capital, but who is the other one? I hope that it is someone serious, we could be the next expansion team if Garber is looking at the turnout for the Guatemala Honduras game!

...maybe Turner or Bernie Marcus (Home Depot Founder, also the main source for funding [$300 million] the GA Aquarium) got bored again...:)

BigKahuna

09 Oct 2006, 12:34 PM

Two? I didn't know we had two ownership groups! I knew about Hardball Capital, but who is the other one? I hope that it is someone serious, we could be the next expansion team if Garber is looking at the turnout for the Guatemala Honduras game!

...maybe Turner or Bernie Marcus (Home Depot Founder, also the main source for funding [$300 million] the GA Aquarium) got bored again...:)

I'm curious about that as well....I highly doubt they have talked to the Silverbacks, so who could it be?

Either way, its important to get out to that game on Tuesday. Hopefully I'll get there and get turned away, but it is on a Tuesday so I'm bringing anyone that I can find....bums on Courtland included.

MPoole

09 Oct 2006, 01:12 PM

does anyone know what time and how much the tickets will be?

BigKahuna

09 Oct 2006, 08:34 PM

does anyone know what time and how much the tickets will be?

7:30 p.m. and I've heard $20 at the gate.....not sure about the price though.

Eleven Bravo

10 Oct 2006, 12:37 PM

bring the American/MLS flags. unfortunately, i won't be able to make the drive for a tuesday game.

SoccerPrime

26 Oct 2006, 09:14 AM

Anyone got any good photos of Herndon Stadium?

Possibly from the friendly or from the WUSA days?

Thanks

BigKahuna

26 Oct 2006, 10:37 AM

Anyone got any good photos of Herndon Stadium?

Possibly from the friendly or from the WUSA days?

Thanks

Here are some photos from the recent Honduras-Guatemala match:

http://digital-diva.smugmug.com/gallery/1992711/1/101740082

BigKahuna

26 Oct 2006, 10:40 AM

Two? I didn't know we had two ownership groups! I knew about Hardball Capital, but who is the other one? I hope that it is someone serious, we could be the next expansion team if Garber is looking at the turnout for the Guatemala Honduras game!

...maybe Turner or Bernie Marcus (Home Depot Founder, also the main source for funding [$300 million] the GA Aquarium) got bored again...:)

You know..the second ownership group could very well be one of these hispanic business owners. I'm not sure who, but one of them was pretty much responsible for bringing the Honduras-Guatemala game to Atlanta so they could be one of the two that Garber was talking about.

abw

26 Oct 2006, 10:44 AM

Anyone got any good photos of Herndon Stadium?

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/georgia/atlanta_herndon.jpg

http://amywalsh.com/www/images/hernon.jpg

Eleven Bravo

27 Oct 2006, 11:35 AM

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/georgia/atlanta_herndon.jpg

http://amywalsh.com/www/images/hernon.jpg

those photos seem like Herndon would be PERFECT for MLS...at least for a few years.

edit-to add, i think smaller is better for the first few years. I think establishing an exciting crowd in the early years is absolutely essential. otherwise, people are going to get a bad taste in their mouth from the get go.

SoccerPrime

27 Oct 2006, 12:44 PM

hasselbrad

27 Oct 2006, 12:49 PM

abw

27 Oct 2006, 02:13 PM

You asked if I'd been to Herndon the other night. It was actually DeKalb Memorial. Been quite a while.

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/georgia/atlanta_dekalb.jpg

SoccerPrime

27 Oct 2006, 02:25 PM

Herndon is downtown, much better choice.

G Enriquez

27 Oct 2006, 04:04 PM

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/georgia/atlanta_herndon.jpg

http://amywalsh.com/www/images/hernon.jpg

That's a great little stadium.
Looks very intimate.

BigKahuna

27 Oct 2006, 05:43 PM

Atlanta MLS fanatics are so lucky.

Imagine a updated Herndon stadium for a MLS team. Right next to the Georgia Dome and Philips Arena next to downtown.

Dream come true. Perfect spot. What a lucky combo of factors. Now you just need to solidify the ownership team.

Aside from the surrounding...shall we say....low income neighborhood, it is nearly perfect. A block away from MARTA's Vine City Station and only five minutes from the highway...I wonder if it is being considered.

The only thing is that it is a relatively narrow field. They would need to remove the first 10 rows on one side to make it a full sized pitch and gentrify the neighborhood a bit....then it really would be perfect.

oldie

29 Oct 2006, 12:12 AM

Herndon Stadium - Morris Brown College
643 MLK Drive NW
Atlanta, GA 30314

Capacity: 15,011
Field size: 68 x 110, natural grass

If two more yards can be added to the width of the field it would probably be acceptable. Does anyone know if beer sales are allowed at this venue? That would almost be a necessity.