With the 2014 NWSL season almost upon us, I would like to take a small look into the not distant future of NWSL expansion. Personally, I would like to see 14 clubs by the end of the decade. Looking for slow grow for stability, rather than a huge jump forward to 16 to 18 clubs.
I want like to see initial grow in the Southwest, so perhaps clubs in area's under serviced by MLS. #1 Southern California (Orange County) #2 Las Vegas or San Diego #3 Phoenix
I think 16 clubs is ultimately the end-game. 8 clubs in each conference. Sorta like a slightly reduced MLS, in Quantity of teams. This is a great idea to start this thread. Currently, NWSL is in 9 markets. Let's say they decide to expand to 7 more (American) markets. I think you need to add at least 2 in California, for reducing travel costs on road trips to Cali. So let's say Orange County, and Bay Area or San Diego. Salt Lake is a fantastic market for women's soccer. Just look at the attendance BYU has for their women's soccer games (4,000+ for a college match). If the Salt Lake franchise can establish a great relationship with BYU's soccer program, then $$$$. BYU-TV could even be the exclusive television provider of the Salt Lake's (women) games, available on DirecTV. One more franchise in Texas to join Houston (preferably Dallas). That's 4 franchises so far (2 Cali, Salt Lake, Dallas). Now we expand over to the Southeast, and gobble up Atlanta (great stadium), & either Carolina or Florida. Add Philadelphia in the east (preferably Philly's MLS ownership and stadium). If Red Bull or Toronto ever want to come in, then you can't turn them down. Same for Vancouver. Eastern Conference Boston Breakers Sky Blue FC Washington Spirit WNY Flash Philadelphia (great soccer stadium if this franchise is MLS owned) Atlanta (great soccer stadium at Kennesaw Stadium) Florida "or" Carolina franchise (to join Atlanta in the southeast) Chicago Red Stars Western Conference Portland Thorns Seattle Reign California Franchise #1 California Franchise #2 Real Salt Lake Women Houston Dash FC Dallas FC Kansas City
What about putting a club in San Francisco proper. They could play at Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park. I believe it's current capacity is just under 10K. Maybe call them the San Francisco Sea Lions.
I like the Sea Lions. Maybe an ocean green color (as one of their colors). Aqua green perhaps (but more green than blue within the Aqua color). In fact, their colors can be aqua green and dark teal (with a bit of shiny metallic silver).
Dallas definitely, though I have no idea how successful it'd be... And then San Diego, so I could watch the Dallas NWSL team at least once a season...
I believe the MLS will be watching closely how the Thorns and Dash do in attendance for the season. If the Dash proved they can make it profitable, and the Thorns increase their attendance over last year, as well as how the other teams do in attendance, then it wouldn't be surprising to see more MLS clubs submitting for franchises. They may even partner up or buy-out some or all of the existing franchises eventually.
I wonder if New York City FC will look to have a women's team soon. I mean their sister team Manchester City Women FC and Melbourne City Women FC have seen strong investment in recent seasons with quality players brougth in. It would make sense to have a team for NYC FC as well ?
It would take something of some sort happening with Sky Blue, which already technically has the NJ/NY metro covered. They would need to be okay with another team in their domain, okay with being co-owned, or okay with moving.
The quickest way for them to get a team, since San Jose and Salt Lake in the West will most likely get an expansion team if they want one, might be to take over the Sky Blue team. With three years in a row of lowest attendance in the league, the league may be looking for a change. The way things have been handled, such as the late start in selling season tickets and the failure to hire a new coach so far, makes me wonder who is actually running the team.
I think NYCFC, if interested, is waiting for their stadium situation to be resolved. Sure they could have their NWSL team play in Icahn Stadium short term, but there's no real benefit to having a NWSL side for MLS teams if they have to rent out somebody else's stadium.
Tricky situation. Should the Redbulls decide to renew their interest, especially if they could get full control. NYCFC would be out of luck. Timing could be everything in the case.
Well, might suck for NYCFC, but will be good for the NWSL to have two MLS teams fighting over a franchise.
At least we would be able to learn whether there is really a market in the northeastern part of of the country for women's professional soccer. If an MLS team can not increase the numbers to make it profitable, not sure anyone can.
FWIW - FC Dallas had a team in WPSL for a year and I believe still has its ECNL teams; there have been other WPSL teams in the Dallas area as well. They certainly would be a great rival for the Dash if they joined. Denver has had a history of participation in the W-League, with the Colorado Rapids having a team from 1996-2013 (though I think their W-League participation began in 2003). In 2014, the Colorado Storm essentially replaced them, though this was alongside the existence of the Colorado Rush, who has started in the Denver area in 2010. (There's also the Colorado Pride, playing out of Colorado Springs from 1994, also joining the W-League in 2014.) I don't see Denver happening, though, before SLC happens considering that SLC has been interested longer and seems to have a better organization than the Rapids do (though with Plush being a Rapids alum, who knows?)
We will have to wait and see, but I do think they stand a better chance then those MLS teams in the northeast for expansion through the expansion route in future.
Yeah, considering NWSL is already northeast-heavy I think it'll be very hard for MLS teams in that area to edge their way in. Montral is the only MLS team without an existing NWSL team truly near, though you might include Philly and Toronto in that group if you say they're "far enough" from SB and WNY, respectively.
Now 20. Soon to be 28 MLS teams On Saturday, the Major League Soccer Board of Governors met and delivered some big news. The league announced their support for future expansion to 28 clubs. With three expansion teams, Atlanta, Minnesota, and Los Angeles, already set to join the league in the next three years and Miami inching closer everyday, the league will have four spots left to fill. Conversations are apparently already underway in multiple markets with potential owners. "There is no shortage of demand for MLS expansion teams, and we believe the opportunity exists to grow beyond our current plans," said Don Garber. "During the next few months, we will evaluate the possibility of growing the league to 28 teams and establish a process and timeline should we decide on further expansion." *** While the above pertains to the MLS, it will most likely have an impact on the NWSL. Many of the new teams could be seeking NWSL expansion teams. Sacramento and San Antonio bring to mind a couple that are strong candidates for a team, have already expressed and interest in the NWSL. I wonder seeing this going on with the MLS expansion, we may see the NWSL get more aggressive during the same time span.
Surprised nobody posted this (unless I missed it somewhere): 674033804827213826 is not a valid tweet id
It is starting to get very interesting. I hope we start to see early announcements as to who the next two teams will be in 2017. I think it is clear with the earlier announcement about more MLS teams getting involved with women's soccer and now their announcement of expanding to 28 teams, has the NWSL feeling ambitious as well.