Retractable Dome for soccer in the desert? It may not be Phoenix...

[phxinferno]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-other/2007/may/09/566684655.html:eek:

[Palermo10]

That does seem to pose a major obstacle to Phoenix. Whereas Phoenix has a team in all of the "Big 4" as well as minor league teams, Las Vegas has....?

[soco]

If they get all the things necessary,then I could see it happening, but the article makes it seem like it's already in the bag and decided.

I would imagine that MLS is looking to go to San Jose first (even though they don't have a stadium deal done yet) and will exhaust any options with that before going to any backup locations.

Even though LV seemingly has everything (money, money, money), the one thing they seemingly don't is fans. Will people support the team? Will tourists go see a game? I think the potential ownership group is falling into the old trap of, "well, there's a strong Hispanic population, and they like soccer. I bet they'll come!" which is foolhardy at best.

It'll be interesting to see how this pans out, but I'm willing to bet they aren't as close at they would like to believe. If we got a team here in Phoenix, though, I certainly wouldn't mind having a nice regional rival in LV (and it gives me more reason to go there).

[Siff]

If we got a team here in Phoenix, though, I certainly wouldn't mind having a nice regional rival in LV (and it gives me more reason to go there).

The "Desert Derby"? The "Southwest Slugfest"?

If both teams enter the league, there would be tons of road support from Phoenix of people going to LV!

[phxinferno]

That does seem to pose a major obstacle to Phoenix. Whereas Phoenix has a team in all of the "Big 4" as well as minor league teams, Las Vegas has....?

People keep forgetting that Las Vegas has had a professional team for years...UNLV Ba$ketball...lol:D

[phxinferno]

I must say that the platitudes from Paul Caliguari and the money man, saying that the LV team would be the flagship team of the league is pretty laughable. If they want to throw around the cash to get the Zinadanes or Roldanihno (sic) at the ends of their career, they might pique some interest, but to live there...with their families or not. LV might be a nice place to visit...

I think that they are banking on soccer fans taking junkets to LV, I mean come on its a great excuse. THrow in some international matchups and bring their fans too...hey why not...:rolleyes:

[soco]

Before we have a meltdown (not that anyone was freaking out), I'd also like to point out that Las Vegas has a very small TV market in comparison to it's size. It is only ranked No. 43, with numbers comparable to Memphis, Albuquerque, and Oklahoma City (the three cities directly below them), all with about a .6% market share of the US.

The problem is that LV shares it's area with both Phoenix and Salt Lake. Nearby cities that might normally be in the LV television market instead are in the other markets, meaning that LV would have a ridiculously small market compared to everyone else.

Here's a list of all the teams currently in the MLS as well as cities in consideration:

1. New York (ranked No. 1, 6.616%)
2. LA (ranked No. 2, 5.039%)
3. Chicago (No. 3, 3.103%)
4. Philadelphia (No. 4, 2.642%)
5. San Fran/San Jose (No. 5, 2.411%)
6. Dallas-Fort Worth (No. 6, 2.136%)
7. Boston (No. 7, 2.130%)
8. Washington DC (No. 8, 2.041%)
9. Atlanta (No. 9, 1.981%)
10. Houston (No. 10, 1.780%)
11. Phoenix (No. 13, 1.549%)


Well, I could keep going, but suffice to say that Vegas is no where near these numbers. All the data is from http://www.nielsenmedia.com/nc/portal/site/Public/menuitem.55dc65b4a7d5adff3f65936147a062a0/?vgnextoid=6573d3b8b0c3d010VgnVCM100000ac0a260aRCRD#

TV isn't the only problem, though. Yes, they seemingly have I/O and a stadium "plan" but can they guarantee fans getting out there? There's an awful lot of other options for entertainment in the Vegas area, so don't count on people to go all the time, especially tourists.

That doesn't mean this is dead deal, but I'm willing to bet these are concerns that MLS has. I wouldn't rule them out, and I would love to see them get one (as long as we in Phoenix get one first) but I'd file this under the "moon in the eyes" instead of being something that is all but guaranteed.

[phxinferno]

TV isn't the only problem, though. Yes, they seemingly have I/O and a stadium "plan" but can they guarantee fans getting out there? There's an awful lot of other options for entertainment in the Vegas area, so don't count on people to go all the time, especially tourists.


But isn't this the problem of every other MLS side? Colorado was far from capacity tonight, the same is true in Frisco, Chicago, Columbus, and Chivas...all with SSS. If LV uses it as an ancillory product, like everything else revolves around the casinos, 10,000 would be great attendance, IF they also drop a dime at the tables or the sports book...

[soco]

The slots and tables will certainly help, but there are many places in the surrounding Vegas area to do that. It's like saying that a connecting a golf course to a Phoenix stadium would drive business (not an exact analogy, but I think you get my drift). The core people going to to the games need to be soccer people or the franchise will be ill-fated, no matter how many slots they have. I think these people would be better off focusing on making the soccer product better than trying to compete with other casinos at the same time.

[gilmoreaz]

During pre-season, Colorado and RSL played an exhibition game there. The attendance was right around 2,000. The promoters marketed the hell out of the game which was played on a Saturday night. A lot of fans from Colorado and RSL road-tripped for the game to enjoy Vegas and their rivalry.

With that said, we had 3,500 in Phoenix on a Sunday night for Columbus and FC Dallas with little if any pre-game advertising/marketing and no fans that travelled from Columbus or Dallas.

I would be surprised if MLS expanded to Vegas in the next few years... Vegas is a "Sexy" location, however the economy there and soccer viability is not what I would call attractive for MLS compared to other cities. It all changes however if they get an owner and a SSS plan as my opinion would be dead wrong!

I love the fact that cities are popping up and trying to get into MLS. It is great for the league that cities are demonstrating interest! It defintely would create a fantastic rivalry should Phoenix and Vegas gain teams.

[fc koshigaya]

The slots and tables will certainly help, but there are many places in the surrounding Vegas area to do that. It's like saying that connecting THE GREAT ALASKAN BUSH COMPANY to a Phoenix stadium would drive business

Fixed your analogy :p

[soco]

Fixed your analogy :p

...

But...but...that has nothing to do with Phoenix, does it? ;)

[Palermo10]

Think about this:


If it's such a lucrative place for sports like they are trying to say it is, why didn't the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL put a team there?

They obviously had to have thought about it, and they decided against it.

I know you may want to say "Well Columbus..." yeah but Columbus is in Ohio, a densely populated state, and people in Columbus love sports (Big 10 central). Vegas just doesn't have that proven track record.

[phxinferno]

Think about this:


If it's such a lucrative place for sports like they are trying to say it is, why didn't the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL put a team there?

They obviously had to have thought about it, and they decided against it.

I know you may want to say "Well Columbus..." yeah but Columbus is in Ohio, a densely populated state, and people in Columbus love sports (Big 10 central). Vegas just doesn't have that proven track record.


The big four are absent because of the gambling equation and they don't even want the sniff of their league in any kind of scandal...

[flippin269]

Think about this:


If it's such a lucrative place for sports like they are trying to say it is, why didn't the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL put a team there?

They obviously had to have thought about it, and they decided against it.



The NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL have all had active talks recently on being the first league to have a professional franchise there via expansion or current team moving there. It's not like it's never going to happen; the NBA All-Star Game was supposed to be a sign that Vegas could one day have a team.

MLS now probably is at the forefront in being the first league now that money may not be an issue. I agree with the other posters though; how big and supportive will the fanbase be? Will it be another Toronto, or another Kansas City?

[Sundevil9]

The NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL have all had active talks recently on being the first league to have a professional franchise there via expansion or current team moving there. It's not like it's never going to happen; the NBA All-Star Game was supposed to be a sign that Vegas could one day have a team.

MLS now probably is at the forefront in being the first league now that money may not be an issue. I agree with the other posters though; how big and supportive will the fanbase be? Will it be another Toronto, or another Kansas City?


There have been talks with all leagues, but that's the leagues doing due diligence and listening to what Vegas is offering, it's not like the leagues are actively looking to put a team there.

The mayor wants to bring a pro-sports team to Vegas, MLS is his last hope.

[Net_Minder]

Me thinks Oscar Goodman should just focus on just getting the NFL (Raiders) if he wants to go as far as building a retractable roof stadium in Vegas.

[Freddy Garcia Lives]

If it meant the Las Vegas Bowl and possibly the MWC basketball tourney gets off UNLV property, it's a bonus.