NFCDR: Expansion Odds

[3rd Degree]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sports/2007/sep/18/566654916.html

Not FCD specific, but this is quite good. Fits all the background noise and info I have. Very good piece on possible expansion sites.

[The Gribbler]

I've never understood why there's such a big boner to put another team in NY. Sure the market is gi-normus but that hasn't really meant much for Red Bull in terms of getting butts into seats.

[texgator]

Its hard to say when you see how poorly the MetroStars were managed up until Red Bull took over. And they are still playing on that crap field at Giants. I wouldn't discount the kind of support a well run franchise in the NYC market could warrant. I think it would be silly to say that because the one club was horribly managed MLS shouldn't look at the possibilities.

Now....personally....I think the priorities should be with expanding the geographic and demographic footprint of the league. Going to the NW and the SE, where there is no coverage, would make more sense than double dipping in any market.

[fcd_noob]

Now....personally....I think the priorities should be with expanding the geographic and demographic footprint of the league. Going to the NW and the SE, where there is no coverage, would make more sense than double dipping in any market.

Agreed.

Also, from the article:

The Las Vegas Sports and Entertainment Group has been trying to woo MLS brass for most of the year, and it's been involved in serious negotiations with several potential, and powerful, partners in recent weeks.

Am I the only one thinking of that Arli$$ episode when Vegas tries to get an (IIRC) NHL franchise? (Yeah, probably.)

[VioletCrown]

Its hard to say when you see how poorly the MetroStars were managed up until Red Bull took over. And they are still playing on that crap field at Giants. I wouldn't discount the kind of support a well run franchise in the NYC market could warrant. I think it would be silly to say that because the one club was horribly managed MLS shouldn't look at the possibilities.

Now....personally....I think the priorities should be with expanding the geographic and demographic footprint of the league. Going to the NW and the SE, where there is no coverage, would make more sense than double dipping in any market.

Except that a lot of people have a hard on for derbies.

And I have to say that the LA - Chivas games are pretty intense.

If Wilpon could get a stadium built in Queens, then I'd have to say hell, yeah. I can smell the rivalry from here. (Just don't name them Queens Rangers or NY Cosmos)

[texgator]

You're the only one that ever thinks about Arli$$ in any form....and that includes Robert Wuhl.

[soccercptn]

As a side note, with expansion being more rapid and the league not wanting to hamper the quality of play, I think that by 2009 not only are their 2 DPs per team, but 5 SIs and a significantly increased salary cap. 4 players at the max cap number, 400K, then the rest of the guys (14) on the senior average 150K, then the 10 developmental average 50K. That puts a salary cap at 1.6 + 2.1+0.5 = 4.1 cap.

[The Gribbler]

BTW, I think if we go to 18 it'll come down to Seattle vs Vegas. St Louis, NY#2, and Philly are probably locks.

[FC Dizzle]

im all for expansion. dont get me wrong. but it SEVERELY dilutes the talent and breaks up teams. expanding to 18 by 09 or 10 would be devastating to every existing team in the league. Thats why I wish that USL teams like Seattle can come up to MLS and bring their brightest talents with them, as well as pick a few existing players from MLS. i know thats not possible for other expansion sites like St. Louis, Philly, etc. but it really sucks that rapid expansion over a short period leads to the dismantling of existing MLS teams

[texgator]

im all for expansion. dont get me wrong. but it SEVERELY dilutes the talent and breaks up teams. expanding to 18 by 09 or 10 would be devastating to every existing team in the league. Thats why I wish that USL teams like Seattle can come up to MLS and bring their brightest talents with them, as well as pick a few existing players from MLS. i know thats not possible for other expansion sites like St. Louis, Philly, etc. but it really sucks that rapid expansion over a short period leads to the dismantling of existing MLS teamsI fail to see how this is any better of a solution than MLS simply plucking out the best USL talent, from across the entire league, when it needs to in order to elevate or maintain the competitive landscape. So, instead of MLS making expansion decisions based on which cities have USL teams, and at the same time bringing only the USL players from THOSE cities up to the top flight, they can just add cities wherever it's best for the future and pick players from any USL club. Doesn't that make more sense?

[FC Dizzle]

I fail to see how this is any better of a solution than MLS simply plucking out the best USL talent, from across the entire league, when it needs to in order to elevate or maintain the competitive landscape. So, instead of MLS making expansion decisions based on which cities have USL teams, and at the same time bringing only the USL players from THOSE cities up to the top flight, they can just add cities wherever it's best for the future and pick players from any USL club. Doesn't that make more sense?

ya im just trying to think of ways that mls can expand without it hurting the existing club's squads too much

[Dr. Foosball™]

I'm pulling for Philly, StL, and Vegas.

Those jackasses from Seattle don't need a MLS team, they have been talking some major smack about Dallas' fanbase and think they will all of a sudden start selling out Quest Stadium when they move up.

[Pegasus]

I've never understood why there's such a big boner to put another team in NY. Sure the market is gi-normus but that hasn't really meant much for Red Bull in terms of getting butts into seats.

It is so big and congested that NJ just across from NY is a very different market than Queens, Brooklyn or Long Island. If it is at a different location then I'm ok with it.

[texgator]

ya im just trying to think of ways that mls can expand without it hurting the existing club's squads too much

And again, I don't see how my proposal is significantly different than yours, with the added bonus of not hamstringing MLS or the new club in any way.

Even if a USL club were to be "promoted" to MLS, they would still want to go through an expansion draft. At most 3-4 players from the USL roster would move along. You have to think about all the variables. Contracts have to be redone. Roster has to fit MLS rules. IOTW, all the players that move up have to make sense in regards to salary cap, SI's, YI's, developmental vs senior roster....all that stuff that USL clubs don't have to deal with. AND, of course, they have to make sense competitively. Seeing how few players actually make the jump from USL to MLS today, I fail to see where a "promoted" USL club would want to bring more than a small handful of guys with them.