i can't see the league getting past 14-16 teams ever. there just aren't enough stars in the allocated pool. ny can't use red bulls because of the adidas clothing deal, so for some reason sbfu seems like a partnership made in heaven. unless, they come up with a timber/thorn deal.
Oh I agree, but WPS_Movement inspires some lofty ideas. I don't even think they'll get to 14 survivors, I'd bet on 12 being the right number. First NWSL will have to get to 10 and show they can come close to breaking even.
It'll most definitely be a Timber/Thorn deal. They won't be called the "New York Red Bulls", or even "Lady Red Bull FC". And they certainly won't be called the "New York Red Pandas". But... "Metropolitan FC", could be the name, or "Metro FC" for short. I'm just not digging "New York FC", or "Big Apple FC". Metro FC sounds better. It has a big city (big market) soccer feel to it.
There are at least four MLS groups who are already seriously interested, or moderately intrigued. This includes Toronto, Vancouver, New York, and Real Salt Lake. Not to mention, FC Indiana, Connecticut, Ottawa, and at least one or two California franchises depending on how that gets sorted out. Colorado is an option as well. Not sure on Philadelphia. I wouldn't be shocked to see them back at some point (with Paul Riley as coach). This league would get a serious shot in the arm, by obtaining Paul Riley and Charlie Naimo. The right # of teams each year is: 2013: 8 2014: 10 2015 or 2016: 12 2017: 14 2018 or 2019: 16 2020 and beyond (MLS like in total # of teams)
The Whitecaps came out recently (just earlier this week, I think) saying that they haven't had any talks with NWSL whatsoever so far, discrediting Wahl's tweet about that. And where in the world have you heard about RSL?
Of course Vancouver is going to deny it. Do you always believe the big time coaching candidate, when he says, "no I'm not interested in taking that new job", and then three days later, it's announced he signed a deal to be the new coach of that team. Happens all the time. http://www.realsaltlake.com/news/2013/04/salt-lake-united-womens-team-become-real-salt-lake-women
Occasionally true, but more often than not they mean what they say, and the Whitecaps' previous treatment of the women's team does not inspire confidence. That article mentions NWSL absolutely nowhere. In fact, one of their mission statements is to be a competitive amateur team, there are no statements suggesting they ever want to go professional. And besides, the women's team is a separate organization from the MLS team; it's more comparable to the DCU Women or Sounders Women, not the Timbers/Thorns combined ownership.
So, the NWSL's commission is lying instead of throwing bones out there. WPS is on point that coaches play the game all time. Les Miles muscled LSU into a big raise by talking to Arkansas, and Oregon coached jumped to the NFL with a week after saying he was Oregon for life. A Nike rep just acted like she didn't know anything about the league other than "we just gave them uniforms, so i have nothing else to say", but Nike is the biggest financial contributor to USSoccer. the commissioner job is to throw you bones and get you interested but not completely give away who is interested until the agreements are signed. the interested parties will stay in denial mode until after the season has concluded and they can see what value does the product offer their organization. based on commissioner bones, you know someone is canada is interested, the ny red bulls are semi, pali/strikers need a running mate, uconn is interested and several others, but none of the them have come forward during the beginning of this season. now, why would they do it know? so, Beau and Jeff K can have their premature stories. Come on.
...okay, first, you need to really pay more attention to your spelling and grammar; you're normally good about it but this post is whack. Second, I never denied Bailey's statement about Canadian interest. As far as we know, Toronto is still in the running, as are original bids that didn't pass muster. All I was criticizing was the possibility of the Whitecaps buying in, the only evidence for their expansion it being a tweet from Wahl. Your comparison to Nike is baseless b/c Nike never flat-out denied anything, btw.
actually, i'm running out the door, as i type, so it's not that important. it's just a message board, so carry on.
Moreover, Salt Lake is geographically unsuitable for the way travel works in this league without some kind of a partner team, and it's not obvious where one could go that would be close enough (it's a stretch, but Denver or Vegas might conceivably be within reach). It's an eleven hour drive to Portland.
Somebody needs to talk to BYU. They already sponsor a Men's PDL team instead of a college team. They could sponsor a NWSL team and have a ready market for BYUTV, which is always looking for sports to fill its programming. It would benefit BYU and the league.
The distance from Salt Lake to Denver is about 7.5 hours. It's the same exact distance from Chicago to Kansas City, and both of them are in the league now.
Geographic partners: Toronto - Ottawa - Montreal Toronto - WNY Connecticut - Boston Victoria - Vancouver Vancouver - Seattle - Portland Los Angeles - San Franciso Los Angeles - San Diego Salt Lake City - Denver Denver - Kansas City Atlanta - Jacksonville Atlanta - Charlotte Charlotte - Washington DC Washington DC - Cary NC, or Greensboro Philadelphia - Washington DC Jacksonville - Orlando Orlando - Miami New York - Sky Blue New York - Boston Lots of geographic options.
very similar to Kansas City to Chicago (Google says 7 hours 44 minutes). Kansas City to Denver (Google says 8 hours 23 minutes). Difference of 39 minutes. Kansas City is almost in the dead middle of Chicago and Denver, in terms of travelling time. So if the league approved Chicago with Kansas City, based on geography. Then they shouldn't turn down Kansas City with Denver, based on geography. That extra 39 minutes should not make a difference.
Yeah, but the mountains are a bit of an obstacle. It's going to be much more of a drive, and I doubt they can afford to fly to their partner city.
Toronto is all but a done deal at this point. It's just a matter of bringing them in with another expansion team in the same year.
Well if you and all the other websites stating Toronto is interesting in having a NWSL team then they are a lock to join next year. It all depends on the other team whether it be New York or a team in Texas. I can't for see the NWSL ever overlooking a strong ownership group like Rogers Communication and the 10's of billions of revenue they produce every year with their cable and wireless communication networks. Some of the key attractions that Toronto would bring. 1) Major League Soccer ownership with all the trimmings. 2) BMO field, modern grass pitch. (seats 20,000 with a base of 16,000 season ticket holders) 3) Would synergize with the men's club and can do cross promotions and with 16,000 season ticket holders, many of those would convert over to the women's game since the CWNT is very popular in Canada, they sold out the US-Canada friendly in under one hour. 4) Because its Rogers Communications and their ownership of their cable properties, the Toronto Women's club would automatically include a TV rights package with one or two networks in Canada, which would be a huge plus since it would grow the game and more then likely be shown on the TSN network in Canada which is in every house in Canada. Since TSN is also not geo blocked, people in the United States can watch games though they would be after the matches are played. 5) Hopefully Toronto will not include their TV rights deal as their home revenue source and allow the league to split that revenue up with all the teams and a revenue sharing deal could be hammered out that will allow bigger, wealthier clubs to share revenue with the weaker clubs and allow the cap to grow larger so the NWSL can attract players and keep players full time playing. A hopeful, wishful fantasy, but never less I am optimistic.
I read an article that said BMO was keen to sponsor a Canadian NWSL team as they currently sponsor the Canadian MLS teams.
Well, two of the three Canadian MLS teams - Toronto and Montreal, not Vancouver. And sponsorship isn't ownership... Though I'm sure having a sponsor lined up beforehand will be that much more incentive for an ownership group to buy in to NWSL. =-)