MLS Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

Discussion in 'Sporting Kansas City' started by NorthbankHighbury, Jan 19, 2011.

  1. Replicant

    Replicant Member

    Nov 5, 2010
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    God... that would be pretty cool. I understand some issues that would play into that, but it would mean that soccer in the U.S. has come very far...

    As far as expansion, after NY, I think they need to go back to targeting markets that don't have a lot of pro teams. I don't think MLS could've come at a better time in Seattle with the departure of the Sonics, which left a void and a lot of bitter sports fans (not everyone wants to watch the Seahawks). Portland was a good choice because theres just the Blazers. Really, I want them to start targeting the South and the South-West. The South (while not my all-time favorite region) is seriously lacking a team. The league is more stable financially now, so I don't see why we can't bring it back to Florida. I'm curious as to what cites hold the biggest untapped soccer markets.
     
  2. kcscsupporter

    kcscsupporter Member+

    Apr 17, 2002
    D17
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    i'm sure agudelo will be the starter up top with henry.
     
  3. ojsgillt

    ojsgillt Member

    Feb 27, 2001
    Lee's Summit MO
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    Nashville, and OKC please.
     
  4. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    He'll get every chance to win it at least.
     
  5. ComeOnYouWIZ!

    ComeOnYouWIZ! New Member

    Aug 12, 2010
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
  6. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    [​IMG]

    DC's new third kit.
     
  7. Felixx219

    Felixx219 BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 8, 2004
    Kansas City, MO
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]


    There is no use of talking about markets that do not have an ownership group. Fans like to focus so much on putting teams in certain markets when a solid ownership group is more important than a market is.

    I think any major metro area in the US can be a successful MLS market if they have an ownership group that has the ability to take them their.

    I think what has happened in the MLS the last few seasons have shown fans how much the ownership group matters.

    So, while location is worth consideration. It means little compar to an ownership group.

    Florida does not support pro teams well. They dont even support the NFL well. Miami and Jacksonville have been mentioned as potential relocation candidates for a long time. It is going to take a really strong ownership group to make it work down there and I just dont see it happening. The MLS needs to focus on markets that have an established ownership group ready to make things happen. They should never try to force a team into a market just because they want a team there. In fact, the MLS should not try to solicit to a certain market at all. Just let ownership groups develop and come to the league.
     
  8. Abracadabra

    Abracadabra BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 11, 2006
    Olathe, Kansas
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    Markets that contain no MLB or NFL may provide more bang for MLS' buck. Looking at my cheat sheet, prior to the last round of MLS expansion the three largest MSA's in North America that had no MLS, MLB or NFL were, ahem, Montreal, Vancouver and Portland... Ahem, excuse me I can't seem to shake this cough...

    So the largest remaining markets without MLS are Detroit, Miami, Atlanta and Phoenix (and San Francisco, if you accept, like the census bureau apparently does, that SF and SJ are distinct MSA's; for me, I would say they're covered).

    MSA's larger than 1.5 million with no MLS, MLB or NFL are:

    Sacramento 2.1 million (ready made rivalry with Quakes)
    Orlando 2.0 million
    San Antonio 2.0 million (ready made rivalry with FCD, Dynamo and Austin, below)
    Las Vegas 1.8 million (league probably won't touch this market)
    Hampton Roads 1.7 million (but not recommended, imo)
    Providence 1.6 million (ready made rivalry with Revs)
    Austin 1.6 million (as mentioned, potentially ready made rivalry with 4 Texas markets, although they won't be able to host games on Saturdays in the fall)

    Consider also that the so-called "Inland Empire" of California, while not a city most people think of, is considered at over 4 million people to be the 14th largest city in the nation by the census bureau, and it's quite a drive to any MLB stadium, in terms of time if not necessarily distance. That's bigger than both Montreal and Seattle, btw. Parenthetically, I did once hear from a business partner based in OC that the Riverside area is not an ideal place to set up an event. He didn't get very specific but what I recall him saying is that it "isn't exactly a garden spot". We did it anyway because we got an amazing deal on the venue, but it wasn't a huge hit either.
     
  9. Replicant

    Replicant Member

    Nov 5, 2010
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    @Felix
    You missed my point. I'm well aware of the importance of solid ownership groups. I was originally going to touch on that, but I had to go. I was going to say that its too bad that some of the smaller markets don't have their own Lamar Hunt. Someone from out of state willing to bankroll a team for them. This is why a NBA team in KC probably isn't going to happen right now. No one to buy it. If someone did, they'd be more inclined to take it elsewhere. Why compete with MLB, NBA, and a very strong College Basketball market in a smaller city?

    My point being was not FORCING into markets, but rather targeting markets that may not have a bunch of pro teams already in place. I don't mean to make that the way they decide, but how to break down their choices out of the bids that are in place. I mean if there was two bids to choose from, both solid bids. I would say go into a market that is more likely to support MLS and isn't flooded with other teams. I'm well aware of all of the other issues involved, I stated that. But this is exactly what they did with the recent expansions. Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, and Montreal are all markets that can support a team, but are also not flooded with pro sports teams. They have 'em, just not like what we have here in KC. Frankly, KC is very lucky to have a MLB, NFL, and MLS team. Today, it'd be a lot harder for us the bring a franchise here. The fact that the first two are owned out of state is futher proof of that.

    That being said, I was being idealistic in a couple of points. I know the issues there, but I would still love to see the league spread out more. We've already tackled Canada, so I don't really see a point in expanding much more up there, unless theres a very solid bid. Also, while other regions may be more profitable, you also don't want to run the risk of oversaturating markets. We sadly don't have the luxury that England has where a huge chunk of population loves soccer and not having to deal with AS MUCH competition with the likes of NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL (to a certain extent).

    Yep, exactly what I was getting at.

    Hmmm.... I hadn't thought about Providence. Poor Rhode Island. Never think of them except that they're tiny and really expensive to live there.

    Yeah, Las Vegas isn't going to happen. Gambling, while a big part of soccer in other sports, is another thing in the States in MOST sports.

    While I would love to see the league expand elsewhere, Cali and Texas are probably the safest bets on that list. At least as far as finding an owner.
     
  10. Replicant

    Replicant Member

    Nov 5, 2010
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  11. NorthbankHighbury

    Jan 25, 2009
    Liberty, MO
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    Yes please.

    Not sure if I love it or hate it. It certainly is bold. DCU gear has always been strong to me ...

    It takes a bit of idealism to expand any business in my opinion. I am sure if you sat down with Garber, off the record and asked him what his dream would be for MLS its not to different from ours. The least imaginative solution would be waiting for the ownership groups, rather than seeking them out. There is plenty of cash available in this country - when MLS starts turning a profit as an entity people will start to appear.

    When I spoke of having 30 or even 40 teams I was thinking of decades in terms of time span. With careful management I see no reason the money, and the expansion cannot happen. Frankly finding ownership groups is secondary to having a solid SSS plan, DCU would not happen in 2011, nor would San Jose.

    Not so sure about that. There are over 7 million millionaires in the USA. New York, Cali and Texas have their far share but there is wealth everywhere. Convincing them that MLS is a good investment long term is the key ... it was the same pitch Hunt used on the OnGoal guys.

    Super post - good info. Albuquerque is a place I always think of as having no pro sports and with Sante Fe so close by it always felt like a prime market.
     
  12. Chairman Mau

    Chairman Mau Member

    Jul 4, 2007
    Birdland
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    American Samoa
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    If Boca Juniors is looking at FL, they should forget about Miami and expand into Palm Beach County so they can be the Boca Raton Juniors.

    p.s. Or the Big Easy since there is a delta there also.
     
  13. Chairman Mau

    Chairman Mau Member

    Jul 4, 2007
    Birdland
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    American Samoa
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    [​IMG]


    new DCU kits just leaked!
     
  14. SamPierron

    SamPierron BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 30, 1998
    Kansas City
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    Ready for your mind to be blown? Foxboro is closer to Providence than it is to Boston.

    San Antonio and Austin are an hour and a half apart without traffic. (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA) Still, if anyone could ever share a team... it might be those two markets.

    Hampton Roads is a terrible idea, agreed. Bad demos for the league. Vegas is too itinerant, plus the water will all dry up soon enough. Orlando is also too itinerant. Sacto, though, intrigues me.

    I will also say that I think the Bay Area could support a second team in SF; indeed, it might be an irresistible synergy.
     
  15. jtreg

    jtreg Member

    Aug 16, 2010
    State of denial
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    Very much agreed. I know that community, and STATE, would support a MLS team. ABQ has the Isotopes (minor league baseball) and UNM, other than that, nothing really, but it is a very strong soccer state. Unfortunately, I can't see this happening unless MLS does indeed expand to the 30+ teams.
     
  16. Abracadabra

    Abracadabra BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 11, 2006
    Olathe, Kansas
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    I know; I actually had a "hmm" moment yesterday and checked that. My guess is that the placement of Gillette less than 20 miles from Providence probably wasn't entirely coincidental. Still, that's a HUGE market, and putting a team in Providence might be the one thing that could ever persuade Kraft to get a soccer stadium rolling or sell the team to someone who will.

    Yikes, you mean like put it in San Marcos? In my observation, compromises like that...yikes, if you need to gamble you'll get better odds on the Don't Pass line. If each market is perfectly capable of supporting a club, why not let them do it?

    This surprises me a little. No underlying community there, eh? I would have guessed the league could make a better go of it there than any of Jacksonville, Tampa or Miami. So you're saying there may not be an adequate market in Florida?

    Are you saying that 3 teams in that close proximity might work, or are you saying either Bay Area 2 or Sacramento but not both?

    I keep wondering why they can't retrofit Kezer Stadium, or at least wheedle the local government to bulldoze it and build from scratch on the site.
     
  17. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    Kraft would have to give up territorial rights and I don't see that happening...
     
  18. NorthbankHighbury

    Jan 25, 2009
    Liberty, MO
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    .... are those real?

    Honest question.
     
  19. Abracadabra

    Abracadabra BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 11, 2006
    Olathe, Kansas
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    They are real. The reason all this Cosmos nonsense is floating around the toilet bowl is because the Red Bulls territorial exclusivity agreement is about to expire, which makes one wonder when the Revs territorial rights expire. Surely it's not an eternal thing.
     
  20. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    I think Kraft's (and everyone but Red Bulls) may be eternal, but I don't know the full workings. I know Chivas had to pay LA a pretty penny to get into the LA market.
     
  21. Felixx219

    Felixx219 BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 8, 2004
    Kansas City, MO
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    Apparently there is going to be a major announcement by the league at 9AM tomorrow morning. Any predictions? Cosmos? New TV deal? Another expansion team?
     
  22. cjgwizard

    cjgwizard Member

    Apr 25, 2006
    LSP, section 129
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    Would love it to be the full schedule release....
     
  23. Felixx219

    Felixx219 BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 8, 2004
    Kansas City, MO
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    I dont think they would do a press conference for the schedule. they usually just do a press release for that.
     
  24. ojsgillt

    ojsgillt Member

    Feb 27, 2001
    Lee's Summit MO
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    Most likely a TV deal. Or the release of the ESPN national broadcasts, or all the national broadcasts. Though there has been a lot of movement on the Cosmo front lately.
     
  25. Abracadabra

    Abracadabra BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 11, 2006
    Olathe, Kansas
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

    The only Cosmos related thing I can see the league really firing up the PR machine for would be announcing that Beckham has purchased the Cosmos TM and they will be team #20.
     

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