The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Quakes are more likely to end up in San Antonio than in Houston in 2005: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2004/08/21/SPG618C04I1.DTL
There's also a piece in today's Chron - in the Local & State Section, of all places: San Antonio's soccer dreams
Just got back from Portland, Oregon. Been out of the Houston loop (no pun intended) all week... Coworker of mine said she heard a news blurb on the radio last week (not any sports channel, she was pretty sure) briefly describing "somebody buying that team in California and moving them to Houston" (her words, more or less). She said she only paid attention to it because she knows of my interest in the sport, and I was wondering if there hasn't been any other developments/rumors being made/continued. Sounded to me like a rehash of the latest with CA, while a brief Internet search did not bring back anything more definite than has already been put forth here. At the very least, it was an honorable mention on mainstream radio.
This article and column from today's Chron are also linked over in the MLS N&A daily news thread, but just in case: San Antonio mulls building soccer stadium U.S. men next face two qualifying tests, Glenn Davis
According to the San Antonio paper, they say AEG is going to sell the Quakes to a local investment group and not to Club America. Thus no Houston MLS team...
The Univision site had a report stating that MLS turned down America's offer, but that the sides are still negotiating. What that may mean for either the Quakes or Houston getting a team all still remains to be seen.
If CA really wants a team and isn't just jacking MLS around, and if someone in San Jose steps up and gets the Quakes, let CA buy the Revs and move them to Houston or give them an expansion team for 2006, along with Rochester.
The fact that their President flew to NY to make an offer to MLS that was rejected strikes me as odd. You don't ever send your chief executive to make an offer unless you know it's going to be accepted. That's why they pay corporate lawyers and other assorted minions - so the big guy doesn't fly across the continent and get embarrassed by a rejection. Some of these guys are more hands on than others, but it still seems strange that their lawyers would allow their boss to make an offer in person until the material terms have been agreed upon. Then again, maybe Mrs. El Presidente really did just want to do some shopping and catch a show.
Oh well...I wonder what will be next year's MLS-to-Houston rumor http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/soccer/9728510.htm
Ouch...haven't heard from CA officials since your trip there TWO weeks ago and the original deadline was last Friday. Sending Oliver Luck to Mexico City to negotiate a pro soccer deal with the biggest club in North America is like getting Willie Nelson to do your taxes. This man needs help amigos. Sloppy seconds from San Jose. Thanks but no thanks. Viva Mr. Armonpour!!! (farsi sp?)
Timing is everything, as they say. Glenn puts his fork in it in today's Chron: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2810280
AEG in town on Thrusday to look at Robertson Glenn had some expansion observations on today's show. He reported that AEG execs and Alexi Lalas were in Houston this past Thursday to look at Robertson Stadium. He also added a few interesting thoughts: Amanpour -- suggests the possibility - and only a possibility - that Amanpour is really just after some free publicity Club America -- thinks they're serious after all San Antonio -- can't imagine how anyone would think that SA is a better option than Houston (duh) Timing to Houston -- doesn't want a move to Houston now because there wouldn't be enough time to do things right You can listen to the show at the KPFT archives. The expansion segment is about halfway in.