[smokarz]

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/ore...630.xml&coll=7

I don't understand why MLS doesn't have any saying against potential new franchises building stadiums in the suburbubs.

This might seems like an interest of conflict with the new owners. It make absolute sense as to why they would want to put a stadium in the suburbs so they can develop the land, build new homes and office/retail/shopping centers etc.

Are they really interested in MLS? Do they really want to attract fans, grow the sports?

Afterall, many stadiums in the suburbs have shown us that their primary gate attendance have been the suburbans moms and kids.

What about attracting the hardcore soccer fan, the true lover of the sport?
I can't imagine most of these fans are middle/upper class families living comfortably in the surbs. They are primarily hardworking immigrants living/working in the center of the cities.

And by putting the game away from their reach, you're not growing the sport, instead you are killing it.

So here's to MLS, bring the games DOWNTOWN.

[Beau Dure]

Originally Posted by smokarz

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/ore...630.xml&coll=7

I don't understand why MLS doesn't have any saying against potential new franchises building stadiums in the suburbubs.

This might seems like an interest of conflict with the new owners. It make absolute sense as to why they would want to put a stadium in the suburbs so they can develop the land, build new homes and office/retail/shopping centers etc.

Are they really interested in MLS? Do they really want to attract fans, grow the sports?

Afterall, many stadiums in the suburbs have shown us that their primary gate attendance have been the suburbans moms and kids.

What about attracting the hardcore soccer fan, the true lover of the sport?
I can't imagine most of these fans are middle/upper class families living comfortably in the surbs. They are primarily hardworking immigrants living/working in the center of the cities.

And by putting the game away from their reach, you're not growing the sport, instead you are killing it.

So here's to MLS, bring the games DOWNTOWN.

$$$$$$$$

[Sandon Mibut]

They're building an MLS stadium in Yugoslavia?

[superdave]

To the OP...land in the suburbs is far cheaper. That's what makes them suburbs.

MLS doesn't have the clout to get a city to give it the requisite space in the city. Further, for whatever reason, the new stadia want/need to have a couple dozen youth soccer fields attached, which are flatly not financially feasible in a city core.

[sch2383]

Originally Posted by Beau Dure

$$$$$$$$

Let me 2nd that. Do you know how hard it is for any of the leagues with 10 times the resources of MLS to get a stadium in the city? Ideally, everybody would be downtown, but that just isn't an option.

[Sandon Mibut]

Is Hillsboro west of the city? The reason I ask is the last time I was in Portland I drove down to the ocean and on my drive out, about 20 minutes or so outside the city there was a small stadium on the south side of the highway that seemed like it would be easily expandible to be an SSS. I couldn't tell if it was a HS stadium or minor league baseball or what but I remember thinking it would be easily converted to an SSS - yes, I think about these things when I'm driving! - and easy to get to from the highway.

I wonder if that's the same place they mentioned in the article.

[Roehl Sybing]

Originally Posted by smokarz

What about attracting the hardcore soccer fan, the true lover of the sport?

The "true lover of the sport" should be motivated enough on his own to go wherever the games are.

Saying they need to be catered to is one of the biggest contradictions in this conversation.

[Frankie Boy]

Originally Posted by Sandon Mibut

Is Hillsboro west of the city? The reason I ask is the last time I was in Portland I drove down to the ocean and on my drive out, about 20 minutes or so outside the city there was a small stadium on the south side of the highway that seemed like it would be easily expandible to be an SSS. I couldn't tell if it was a HS stadium or minor league baseball or what but I remember thinking it would be easily converted to an SSS - yes, I think about these things when I'm driving! - and easy to get to from the highway.

I wonder if that's the same place they mentioned in the article.

Hillsboro built that stadium 5-6 years ago..nice field for high school, but has turf...

Also-Portland is not that big a place-you can get from east Portland to Hillsboro in less than 1/2 hour. I suspect they would locate the stadium near the light rail, which goes to Hillsboro also.

This is less of an issue than in bigger markets like LA or Dallas...

[smokarz]

Guys, I agree with your responses so far, that is it financially challenging to put a stadium exactly in downtown. And i understand that.

But my point is, try to put stadium as close to the center of city (if not in the city) as possible where you have a very strong population that support soccer.

I can see that LA and TFC are doing well. And i hope Houston will get theirs soon, because i think their stadkium location is very promising.

[blackjack]

Originally Posted by Roehl Sybing

The "true lover of the sport" should be motivated enough on his own to go wherever the games are.

Saying they need to be catered to is one of the biggest contradictions in this conversation.

I'm a college student with no car. If there was a team in Madison, if the stadium wasn't within walking distance of campus or on a bus line I would not be able to get to games. If they built it downtown, I'd be at every match.