There is a big announce according to this article. http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/detroit/index.ssf/2013/09/mls_detroit_group_hints_at_big.html
Except there is no mention of USLPro. It also mentions 2015. The USL rarely uses the year and a half lead time for expansion clubs. Any clubs announced now would usually debut 2014.
Yeah, because who needs time to add stability to new franchise when you're the USL Pro, the highest level of soccer in the US outside of MLS, and the gateway to getting there!
"I made a whole story out of someone's Facebook post and my j-school instructors could not be more proud."
Hey, you need to wipe your chin. I think you have some sarcasm that's dripping down ;-) And yeah, why would USL EVER have a team get their affairs in order before making grand pronouncements about 12K seat temporary stadia, or "next stop, MLS!"
Posting this in the Detroit-specific thread; seperate of the Wishful Thinking thread. Duggan Targets Detroit For USL PRO Michigan Bucks owner aiming for new franchise in 2015 Tuesday, April 1, 2014 http://www.uslpdl.com/home/798793.html Duggan targets USL PRO for Detroit in 2015 (this article may be identicle to the USL article above) http://www.buckssoccer.com/home/798788.html Replay: Chat with Michigan Bucks owner Dan Duggan Dan answered fans' questions April 29, 2014 http://live.freep.com/Event/Chat_with_Michigan_Bucks_owner_Dann_Duggan
Michigan Bucks owner Dan Duggan at World Cup: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...ip-helps-net-minor-league-soccer-team-Detroit
I'm not clear why he has to go to Brazil to negotiate for a team in a US-based league. You don't hope to start until April 2015 anyway. Everybody in American soccer will be back stateside in a month. You want to go to the World Cup, go to the World Cup, that's fine. But having meetings with people you could have meetings with in Tampa or New York in Rio or Natal only makes some sense if you are going to claim it as a business expense.
True in the sense that the distance is quite... distant. But Duggan has attended numerous MLS, USL, and USSF events over the years. Certainly is an "in-the-loop" guy. (I would ask that you hold off from calling it a tax-dodge without more solid info.)
Don't understand the Michigan Bucks getting a look for USL Pro, with Detroit City FC drawing much better crowds than them.
L10, there was a bit of speculation on this point in the "rumors and wishful thinking" thread, including some fans potential thoughts that DCFC somehow "earned the claiming rights" to the downtown area, and anything else would be poaching. I would say to re-read the "Replay: Chat with Michigan Bucks owner Dan Duggan" I previously posted here; Dan says that he has kept Detroit City in the loop at each step, and would welcome another team playing in a downtown 5K stadium (keeping field integrity). He also mentions that the PDL-NPSL season is only a couple months long, and a pro season would be longer. (The PDL did announce a second fall season since then.) Now returning to the latest article: "Most of the land runs along the proposed M-1 rail route off Woodward, but he also said a stadium could be built on the riverfront, the abandoned Wayne County jail site or Belle Isle." I have been following plans for mass transit in Detroit area; I'm still not convinced that it will work, but making a stadium part of M-1 rail would help in getting people there other than by auto. Belle Isle would be interesting; still playing that one in my head. (And hasn't the jail site been rejected once?) And Roger Faulkner has an opposite view that a USL team has no bearing on getting an MLS team. In one respect, it's good to have a "loyal opposition" opinion, but the fact is that most of the recent MLS expansions have come up from the lower-division ranks.
Duncan went to watch the World Cup because he is a soccer fan. Also, if he manages to find some crazy rich soccer-mad Brazilian willing to invest then it will be a bonus. Its really nothing more than that.
Shared in another forum but it sounds like the USL execs haven't written off the potential franchise: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/articl...er-entrepreneur-aims-for-pro-team-deal-by-aug. Now looking at August, but admits he won't make an announcement without legitimate steps toward securing a stadium and team. Here's hoping!
The best kind... Moved out a local tribe, killed the local animal life for hides, cut down the trees and strip-mined what was left.