Phoenix Begs for MLS Team

[FC Uptown]

"Friday, April 6, 2007
Dear MLS....

Phoenix needs a MLS team. You know, Major League Soccer, that league that signed that Beckham guy that had that movie named after him. For most of America soccer is that sport that is played when you are kid where a giant pack just runs around chasing a ball. Or when the World Cup comes on everyone decides to root for their “homeland” (see: Italy 2006).

Support for the little league that could is slowly gaining steam. This year the additions of Beckham, Blanco, Fred, Toronto FC, a new look for Colorado Rapids, and a lucrative TV deal with ABC/ESPN is moving things in the right direction for MLS.

What else could help the league? Phoenix, Arizona getting a team. You don’t need to look any further than the recent Mexico v. USA “friendly” that took place at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. A record setting 64,000 fans attended the game. Here’s the kicker, roughly 60,000 of them were Mexican national fans. Also on any given day of the week you can see countless number of Mexican League games on the Spanish speaking channels on Cox cable. ....."

More

http://sportscactus.blogspot.com/2007/04/dear-mls.html

[soco]

Some random blog is hardly Phoenix begging for a team, more like "Phoenix fan" begging for a team.

[krudmonk]

I wonder if he even knows which Fred is which.

[Old US Keeper]

Only about 40k were cheering for Mexico. The USA had about 20K fans there. FYI. ;)

[gilmoreaz]

Only about 40k were cheering for Mexico. The USA had about 20K fans there. FYI. ;)

Maybe, but 20,000 in Phoenix is still better than the crowd in Dallas for their recent USMNT game!

[FC Uptown]

Maybe, but 20,000 in Phoenix is still better than the crowd in Dallas for their recent USMNT game!

Playing Mexico is a little more intense and stirs exponentially more interest than playing the Guats, but point taken.

[xredhotslimx]

I would say Arizona in general needs a MSL team. Either Tucson or Phenoix would be a good place.

1) you know there would be a fan base there
2) Wouldnt have to worry about cold weather and maybe even play in doors
3) Only other good Arizona team is the Suns so another team would help the state
4) MLS would make money, i cant see them loosing any money
5) Arizona isnt just mexicans...A lot of other people like soccer but dont have anything to watch.
6) arizona would probably match TFC in season tickets if not more.


And honestly i am a fan wanting to watch soccer and cant drive to cli, utah or colo every game.

[Sundevil9]

I would say Arizona in general needs a MSL team. Either Tucson or Phenoix would be a good place.

1) you know there would be a fan base there

Really? Why? Not disputing the fact, but the facts are that the Suns are supported well, and the other teams have so-so support.

2) Wouldnt have to worry about cold weather and maybe even play in doors sounds expensive

3) Only other good Arizona team is the Suns so another team would help the state See above, but if they win, then the bandwagon fans/feelings would certainly help.

4) MLS would make money, i cant see them loosing any money MLS only makes money with the Galaxy (pre-Beckham), what makes Phoenix any better or more successful a market than Chicago, Dallas, or DC (for example)?

5) Arizona isnt just mexicans...A lot of other people like soccer but dont have anything to watch. Absolutely. I think it's more important to point this out. It's a poor argument to say that Hispanics translate into paying soccer fans. It's better to just count on soccer fans.

6) arizona would probably match TFC in season tickets if not more.
TFC is a huge pleasant surprise in support, I find it hard to believe that it could be repeated.


And honestly i am a fan wanting to watch soccer and cant drive to cli, utah or colo every game.

I feel for you. There are many like you in this country, but sadly I don't think they can all be reached in the next couple of waves of expansion.

[Sundevil9]

I just wanted to clarify my meaning from the post above a little more.


It's going to take a lot more than "we want a team because it'll be spiffy and cool" argument to win the day for a Phoenix/Arizona MLS bid. And not just in the argument to MLS, but in the argument to the various powers that be in AZ, and to the taxpaying public, and to the ticket buying public.

To each of those groups, you need to illustrate "What's in it for them," and to anticipate and deflect any concerns or worries that they'd have.

[gilmoreaz]

I think it's more important to point this out. It's a poor argument to say that Hispanics translate into paying soccer fans. It's better to just count on soccer fans.

Excellent Point. I tried to rep you but must spread some around first...


TFC is a huge pleasant surprise in support, I find it hard to believe that it could be repeated.

I completely disagree... The owners in Toronto are doing a great job, but they sold 14,000 Season Tickets. Yes, this would be tough and would require a hell of a marketing campaign, but it's not like they sold 50,000 tickets!

There are a few current MLS teams that should be on a plane this morning to Toronto to learn a few things about fan building this morning...

[Chowda]

Only about 40k were cheering for Mexico. The USA had about 20K fans there. FYI. ;)

That was the situation in pre-MLS Houston, too.

[Sundevil9]

There are a few current MLS teams that should be on a plane this morning to Toronto to learn a few things about fan building this morning...

Actually, I think Toronto looked at them and figured that the opposite of what they do could lead to some decent results. (specifically, New York)

[gilmoreaz]

Actually, I think Toronto looked at them and figured that the opposite of what they do could lead to some decent results. (specifically, New York)

Whatever they did, they proved it can be done and there is definitely something to learn from them.

[AndyMead]

I would say Arizona in general needs a MSL team.

You don't deserve a team until you can get the name right.

[soco]

You don't deserve a team until you can get the name right.

Mr. Garber?

[AndyMead]

Mr. Garber?

MLS <- I can't believe I actually had to point that out.

[gilmoreaz]

MLS <- I can't believe I actually had to point that out.

Here we go again...

Hey Mead, go into other forums to post your 100 comments per day, but please skip over the Phoenix forum.

You are a know it all... We all get it.
You are allegedly dialed into MLS like no other... We all get it.
You have no apparent life outside of soccer... We all get it.

You are not of the belief that we are going to succeed here in Phoenix (Per your mystery source on another thread?:confused:) so just do us all a favor and move on to pick fights with other people.

Thanks in advance for moving on!

[AndyMead]

Here we go again...

Hey Mead, go into other forums to post your 100 comments per day, but please skip over the Phoenix forum.

100 posts per day?

You are not of the belief that we are going to succeed here in Phoenix (Per your mystery source on another thread?:confused:) so just do us all a favor and move on to pick fights with other people.

Huh. If you can point to one single post on BigSoccer where I indicate that I don't think MLS can succeed in Phoenix, I'll stop posting. Frankly, I think Phoenix would make a fine MLS market.

Thanks in advance for moving on!

Thanks for being so superior. You're the coolest!

Your reading comprehension, needs work. I guess when you're practicing being cool, you miss out on education.

[gilmoreaz]

You're the coolest!

No man, you are! I can't wait to meet you someday in the near future!:eek:

[Penta_redded]

We will get a team, no matter what anybody says. Andy is a little slow, it takes time for him to understand things :D.