November 2008

[napolisoccer]

http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=716

Garber speaking on expansion.
At 3:33:

"The next team will be either Philadelphia or St. Louis. That will be hopefully finalized in the next 30 to 60 to 90 days. Seattle and St. Louis or Philadelphia will play in 2009. And the next teams after that, teams 17 and 18, hopefully finalized by the end of '08. Those teams will be $40 million."

One of us is in. One of us gets screwed out of $10 mil


After to have read this article I think that the next November will be the decisive month for our hopes to see NYCFC in MLS in 2010.
I pretty trusting of Wilpon and Garber, but above all I am very happy about the attention of the supporters of this new team ( Borough Boys for example ).

[Kubah]

That's the way it looks. If things continue to develop like they have been, we should have a 50-50 chance of a NYC FC by 2010.

Actually, I wrote something about this topic earlier today on my blog (http://www.newyorkcityfc.net/2007/12/group-of-death-mls-expansion-version.html)... what a coincidence ;)

[Oasan7]

That said, a friend of mine is involved with a group that is looking to speed up the process and get things rolling in NYC by doing something pretty unique.

The group consists of the owner of a web development company, and a few other guys who have plans to start a USL1 team in the city.

Their plan is to further show Wilpon, and the powers that be in city government, that there is a passionate fan base in the city ready to support a professional soccer club.

I guess reaching those few thousand fans would be the major stumbling block...

[napolisoccer]

Oasan, I think that this is the moment to concentrate all attentions on 1 objective ( Wilpon and the 2010 season ) !!!

[Kubah]

Oasan, I think that this is the moment to concentrate all attentions on 1 objective ( Wilpon and the 2010 season ) !!!
^ THIS

Any potential ownership group should be contacting MLS and the City... not fans. There can be no franchise/websites/radio shows if you don't have a home field to play in. Besides, by the time a USL1 team is ready to play it will be 2010 and we will have our answer. Once the MLS hits 18 teams no one knows how expansion will proceed, but many feel that it will be years before they go to 20 teams+.

[NYC_COSMOS]

Oasan7 wasnt that on the NYCFC website? I think that I read something similar to that on the website. I was an ambitious project with a lot oh good rhetoric but few actions. I dont think that we need people that talk up a good game but rather movers and shakers. Sorry just my take on it. Not trying to bring anyone down.

[Oasan7]

I'm not sure who else they're affiliated with or if that was them on that website you're talkin about.

To me, I guess if NYC gets a franchise by 2010, then their whole plan would be a waste because the earliest they could start playing would be 2009, so with only one possibly season, I doubt USL1 would want them in the league.

But if NYC was somehow losing favor and not looking strong for 2010, I'd think a team playing in Icahn stadium getting sellout crowds of 5k a game with the fans backing would possibly do wonders to sway some decision makers.

Either way, I love what the Borough Boys are doing and hope the club can gather thousands of hard core fans around the city.

[Kubah]

Agreed. If NYC is not in the MLS by 2010 alternative options have to be explored.

If you want to participate let us know, so we can invite you the next Borough Boys get-together... I think we can all agree that a NYC FC needs thousands of hardcore fans.

[southpaw817]

That said, a friend of mine is involved with a group that is looking to speed up the process and get things rolling in NYC by doing something pretty unique.

The group consists of the owner of a web development company, and a few other guys who have plans to start a USL1 team in the city.

Their plan is to further show Wilpon, and the powers that be in city government, that there is a passionate fan base in the city ready to support a professional soccer club.

I guess reaching those few thousand fans would be the major stumbling block...
Well maybe we can work with these guys to help bring a team to NYC. The more help the better,we all have to sail under one flag.

[KingsCountyFC]

There are already USL teams in NY.
Granted they are in the lower divisions, but I'm not sure you can
just buy into USL1. Wouldn't you have to start from the bottom and get promoted? If that's the case, just support the local Brooklyn PDL team.

[southpaw817]

There are already USL teams in NY.
Granted they are in the lower divisions, but I'm not sure you can
just buy into USL1. Wouldn't you have to start from the bottom and get promoted? If that's the case, just support the local Brooklyn PDL team.
And we will be trying to drum up support at BK Knights and LI Rough Riders games next year, as well as at other NY soccer leagues.

[Michael K.]

There are already USL teams in NY.
Granted they are in the lower divisions, but I'm not sure you can
just buy into USL1. Wouldn't you have to start from the bottom and get promoted?

You can just buy into any level, including MLS, if you're offering the right package. There's no traditional promotion anywhere in the US league system (and so I can't justify calling it a pyramid.)

[MasterShake29]

You can just buy into any level, including MLS, if you're offering the right package. There's no traditional promotion anywhere in the US league system (and so I can't justify calling it a pyramid.)

Right. The promotion/relegation that happens in USL is based purely on finances of the teams involved.

[KingsCountyFC]

Still makes more sense to wait on the MLS option then go full
throttle for a USL1 team.

[Metrogo]

How many people went to centaurs games at downing stadium. I'm guessing a couple hundred friends and family.

And why would someone invest money in a team and hope that they would be forced to compete with a top division team in a tenuous football market. doesn't make any sense at all to me.

[Oasan7]

It wouldn't be a money making venture. It would be a non-profit deal, the main goal would be to bring together soccer fans in NY and show that NYC deserves a team in MLS, not to make money of a NY USL1 team.

But the only way to bring together soccer fans in NYC would be to create a major campaign that would take a lot of work by a lot of people.

It's a major mountain to climb...

[Metrogo]

It wouldn't be a money making venture. It would be a non-profit deal, the main goal would be to bring together soccer fans in NY and show that NYC deserves a team in MLS, not to make money of a NY USL1 team.

But the only way to bring together soccer fans in NYC would be to create a major campaign that would take a lot of work by a lot of people.

It's a major mountain to climb...

So someone is willing to start a not-for-profit soccer team that will compete in the lower division that, if the plan works out, attract enough fans so that Fred Wilpon will notice that there is a market for professional soccer in ny and then the not-for-profit will go out of business?

What a plan!!!

[KingsCountyFC]

It wouldn't be a money making venture. It would be a non-profit deal, the main goal would be to bring together soccer fans in NY and show that NYC deserves a team in MLS, not to make money of a NY USL1 team.

But the only way to bring together soccer fans in NYC would be to create a major campaign that would take a lot of work by a lot of people.

It's a major mountain to climb...

by the time you do all this, it might be too late for us as an MLS team.
I think we should focus on getting an MLS team first, and if that fails, take the route of an USL1 team.

[MasterShake29]

by the time you do all this, it might be too late for us as an MLS team.
I think we should focus on getting an MLS team first, and if that fails, take the route of an USL1 team.

New York City will never get a USL-1 team for the same reason that Philadelphia doesn't have one and never will.

No owner will want to take the chance of investing in a USL-1 team, only to have a MLS team come in and make his investment meaningless.

The only way it happens is for an owner to make a deal with MLS that he gets rights to the market, so that if MLS wants to come in, either he is involved in the ownership group or is compensated somehow. And that's extremely unlikely.

[QueensNick]

New York City will never get a USL-1 team for the same reason that Philadelphia doesn't have one and never will.

No owner will want to take the chance of investing in a USL-1 team, only to have a MLS team come in and make his investment meaningless.

The only way it happens is for an owner to make a deal with MLS that he gets rights to the market, so that if MLS wants to come in, either he is involved in the ownership group or is compensated somehow. And that's extremely unlikely.


I agree - while starting a smaller club in the lower divisions might work in other countries, I think in the U.S it wont. The MLS wont grow from the USL, we need to start at the top! The USL is very respectable, but i think it needs the MLS to grow bigger. If the MLS gets bigger I think the USL will feed off of that. MLS clubs will be looking for a Farm system, if you will, and will turn the the USL