USL-1 in Kitsap County, WA

Discussion in 'United Soccer Leagues' started by GOALSeattle, Mar 4, 2008.

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  1. the shelts

    the shelts Member+

    Jun 30, 2005
    Providence RI
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    Couverite - when the internet gets braille then maybe we will be able to get a point across to you. Until then we'll let you live in your online-fantasy soccer world.

    I'm sorry to hear you are so misunderstood all the time.

    GoalSeattle - thanks for keeping us in the loop. Good work with this.
     
  2. Couverite

    Couverite Guest

    You take ME as a supporter of this idea? :confused: I think you need Braille a bit more than me if so.

    I think this is a farce and you think it's insanity. Our point of divergence seems to be on the premise of whether Robin Waite is a very rich man and rich enough to pour money down the drain for a year.

    And there would be an upside (there is always an upside) - if he actually manages to build it, there would be a sports stadium for north Kitsap built with private funds. Maybe not a silver lining for SOCCER FANS but a couple thousand seat football/soccer/concert location that cost the municipalities in question virtually nothing is a bad thing how again?
     
  3. the shelts

    the shelts Member+

    Jun 30, 2005
    Providence RI
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    Its good to see you have now let common sense weigh in here coverite. Your prior support of this insane idea and rabble rousing of how it was going to work were stunning. I'm glad to see you've come around.

    See you still might be mis-understood, but thats maybe because you flip flop on these issues, continually changing your mind and dithering about the success/failure of this.
     
  4. Couverite

    Couverite Guest

    I know that you're a bit of a special boy, the shelts, so here are all of my relevant posts in this thread before I chastised you for setting up a strawman:


    Where's my support for this idea anywhere in the past? If David hadn't killed it, I'd show you my posts from soundercentral over a year plus ago asking tough questions of this proposal when MLS wasn't even on the table.

    Then there's this thread: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=680455 (Please pay attention to the time and date stamps)
     
  5. GOALSeattle

    GOALSeattle Member

    Oct 13, 2007
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I could care less if you don't think it can work or don't like 'the sound' of a club in Kitsap county. It couldn't matter less.

    Kitsap is just as 'good' a possible USL-1 market, as say, Victoria would be.

    Owners are what USL is looking for first, territories next. I think the league is thrilled with the possibility of USL-1 staying in Washington State, and I would imagine that since both PDX and Vancouver have MLS hopes, they'd be thrilled with having Kitsap in at least until they leave.

    As for having it 'work' long term...after being reminded of the support in Charleston and Atlanta after last weekend's matches, I don't see why Poulsbo couldn't get similar or higher crowds. The rest is how deep Waite's pockets are. I don't know that part of the equation.
     
  6. the shelts

    the shelts Member+

    Jun 30, 2005
    Providence RI
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    Couverite - you really need to make up your mind if you are on board with this ridiculous idea or are behind it. Again, I know you get grumpy because I have schooled you on this about being wishy-washy and also your earlier support.

    I'm sorry if I insulted you about being misunderstood all the time. You have thin skin and get testy so try to dig up a thread on another board from over a year ago to try and prove your case. Unfortunately you have failed yet again as this mysterious post no longer exists.

    I guess it matters not. You've probably changed your mind back and forth so many times trying to agree and suck up to whoever posted last, then when someone like me comes along and gets you straightened out you react like by pouting. I'm sorry son. Its probably too much to ask for you to re-evaluate posts and see where you have made continual errors in spelling, judgement and clear thinking and I don't want to humiliate you any more.

    Goal- many thanks for posting this. I really hope it works. I spent my teenage years in Victoria, that is a funny market. For a time it was the largest city in North America without a professional team. The problem is Victoria supports Vancouver and Seattle teams pro long before they support their own minor pro teams. I hope the Highlanders can get to USL 1 and I hope Kitsap can make this work. I must say, to be fair, you are in a far better position to judge this thing actually being in the area than I can.
     
  7. DavidP

    DavidP Member

    Mar 21, 1999
    Powder Springs, GA
    Pardon my ignorance, but wouldn't Bremerton have been a better location for the team?
     
  8. SounderMan

    SounderMan Member

    Nov 8, 2006
    Lacey WA
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'll be surprised if it ever happens and REALLY surprised if they lasted more than a season. Gas prices are going up and with that so will ferry fares. The Narrows Bride toll will increase by a dollar each way in just about one year since the thing was finished. For someone taking the bridge that's 8 bucks in tolls, 6 bucks or more in the gas to get to the stadium, 10 bucks to park. Having it cost 2X more to GET TO THE GAME than to get in, will be the death of a franchise in Kitsap. Ferry tolls for cars would be $12 or more. I doubt that the Kitsap County residents will show up in numbers sufficient to make it worth while. Port Angeles and Sequim are an hours drive at best. It would take some really successful marketing to pull this off. I don't see it.
     
  9. the shelts

    the shelts Member+

    Jun 30, 2005
    Providence RI
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    Thats a good point about the toll on the bridge and gas SounderMan. I also doubt the catchment area is sufficiently populated to support a USL team
     
  10. GOALSeattle

    GOALSeattle Member

    Oct 13, 2007
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Works both ways. The gas $$$, ferry $$$ and ticket $$$ for West Sounders to get to a match in Seattle could also keep a few more at home.

    There's nothing wrong with being skeptical, as this would indeed be the area's first 'high level' sports franchise.

    Having lived here for over two decades I am not as concerned about raw numbers. We are a growing place. I'd be more concerned about the actual % of sports and soccer fans that would be consistent repeat customers over the long haul.

    As for business sponsorship, that's where this club could really make some inroads. Local business people really seem to be willing to support Kitsap sports.

    http://www.kitsapbusinessjournal.com/

    Sure, it's basebol, but the Jackets have many sponsors.

    http://kitsapbluejackets.com/
     
  11. SounderMan

    SounderMan Member

    Nov 8, 2006
    Lacey WA
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The difference is that Seattle MLS isn't banking on Kitsap residents to make or break their bottomline. The majority of Western Washington residents are on the I-5 corridor between Everett and Centralia. In addition, West Sounders are used to driving to one of the ferry docks (Bremerton or Bainbridge) and WALKING on. They do it for M's and Seahawks already. The trek from Coleman docks is nothing compared to the walk from Bremerton or Bainbridge to Poulsbo.
     
  12. GOALSeattle

    GOALSeattle Member

    Oct 13, 2007
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And, KFC would not be 'banking' on King County residents to come over, either. Jefferson for sure, Pierce maybe.
     
  13. SounderMan

    SounderMan Member

    Nov 8, 2006
    Lacey WA
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There lies the problem. Pierce County is a good hour and tolls away. Jefferson County................ ya kiddin me? USL 1 would be much better off on the east side of Puget Sound. Everett...... Tacoma even Mt. Vernon. I do like the idea of KFC Extra Crispies though....... :D
     
  14. GOALSeattle

    GOALSeattle Member

    Oct 13, 2007
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Why talk about where it would be 'better off?' That has nothing to do with where the current owner wants to take (them).

    He wants to bring semi-pro soccer to his home area. I have not heard of one single rich person wanting to keep the current Sounders alive in USL-1 in Puget Sound South, Central, North or East.

    All current Sounders USL-1 owners are not following to MLS except Hanauer. The others are letting the club die. Only Waite has a vision to continue on.

    That's all it takes at this level. Clubs can survive decades-long with marginal support of 3k or even less. The bar is so low that I see no reason why Kitsap wouldn't work as long as Waite wanted it to.

    He's no spring chicken, though, and to get more investors to carry on at some point the club would have to be established and coming very close to breaking even.
     
  15. GOALSeattle

    GOALSeattle Member

    Oct 13, 2007
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    7-14-08:

    http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jul/14/pro-soccer-plan-for-poulsbo-nixed/

    A plan to relocate a professional soccer team to Poulsbo is over, but the squad is still destined for Kitsap County.

    The former part-owner of the Seattle Sounders, who has been trying to move the team to Kitsap, said the plan to build a Poulsbo stadium didn't pan out.

    But Robin Waite, the owner of Inovest Properties, said that the next proposed location is "definitely in Kitsap."
     
  16. VioletCrown

    VioletCrown Member+

    FC Dallas
    United States
    Aug 30, 2000
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Austin Aztex
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm a little sad and a little relieved. Poulsbo is a damn cute town, and I would be totally into making a trip up to watch the Aztex play Poulsbo Olympic (I made that name up).

    I appreciate Waite's determination, and here's hoping he can manage something around Bremerton that works for him and a team. While I know it's hard to let things go (see: Favre, Brett) I do wonder if it's time. I keep thinking that he should just hook up with the Tacoma Tide and see about moving them up to USL-1.

    And thanks for keeping us informed, GS.
     
  17. edwardgr

    edwardgr Moderator
    Staff Member

    Mar 6, 2006
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Perhaps something near the fairgrounds? Or maybe try and convince Olympic CC that a partnership would be a good idea? Another crazy thought is the old Kmart/Albertson/Lowes complex on Wheaton. Access is easy for most of Kitsap and it is just a big ugly nothing and has been for years. A new 6k stadium could really redevelop that area nicely.
     
  18. KnucklesBuchanan

    Jul 12, 2007
    Section 149
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    I'm guessing he's re-exploring his Bremerton attempt. With the real estate market being the way it is, the city might be a little more amenable.
     
  19. GOALSeattle

    GOALSeattle Member

    Oct 13, 2007
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Bremerton High School's 'stadium' has a pretty nice grass pitch, but everything else about it needs ficing.

    At one point it could hold up to 3,000 fans. There is room to expand it, and I guess they could use Oympic College parking. I know Waite already was in talks with OC about the other site.
     
  20. GOALSeattle

    GOALSeattle Member

    Oct 13, 2007
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ...current Sounders minority owner Robin Waite has first dibs on the team, and Jennings says Waite wants to move the team not south but west – across the Sound to Bremerton.

    “What we have that Bremerton doesn’t have is we have a brand,” Jennings said. “It’s not that strong right now, but we have a good staff and at least we have the infrastructure where it’s a big jump but it’s not an impossible jump. We’ve done some television, we’ve done better ticketing, we’ve done some things where we’re capable of (jumping to the first division).


    read the whole thing here:
    http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/soccer/story/417119.html
     
  21. VioletCrown

    VioletCrown Member+

    FC Dallas
    United States
    Aug 30, 2000
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Austin Aztex
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  22. GOALSeattle

    GOALSeattle Member

    Oct 13, 2007
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    No government action needed. Just a school board meeting after a public one.
     
  23. VioletCrown

    VioletCrown Member+

    FC Dallas
    United States
    Aug 30, 2000
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Austin Aztex
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I guess I wasn't really entirely paying attention. I had a mistaken impression that the stadium isn't quite up to USL-1 standards. But now that I think about it, it has more seats than the Atlanta stadium. Austin and Miami will be in rented football stadiums with bleacher seating. So as long as Bremerton is up for it, sounds cool.
     
  24. GOALSeattle

    GOALSeattle Member

    Oct 13, 2007
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/aug/15/pro-soccer-team-eyeing-bremerton-as-new-home/

    Krista Carlson, spokeswoman for the district, said officials are waiting for details from Waite.

    "It has to be good match for our community," Carlson said. "It can't do anything that will cause an extra burden on taxpayers. We have to make sure it doesn't impair our ability to operate our district."

    Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman said an issue the club owner and district will have to discuss is parking in the residential neighborhood where the stadium is located.

    "That's one issue that has to be resolved," Bozeman said. "It's early in process and there are a lot of details to be determined before we get too excited. We don't want to get out of front of ourselves on this issue."

    Waite said the location of the stadium near Olympic College would solve the parking problem, as the soccer games would not conflict with college events.
     

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