Switchbacks FC gain TV deal with Fox 21 for 2018 home soccer matches https://www.csindy.com/TheWire/arch...deal-with-fox-21-for-2018-home-soccer-matches
Nashville Soccer Club may want to rethink their logo. It bears way too much resemblance to a symbol of hate (under the spoiler alert because it is offensive). Having anything remotely close to this is not OK. Offensive image (Move your mouse to reveal the content) Offensive image (open) Offensive image (close)
Well, Nashville's NHL team is the Predators after all. I hear Roy Moore is one of their biggest fans!
... and in Bundesliga 3, SV Wehen Wiesbaden defeated FSV Zwickau 2:0 away from home to move up to third on the table behind SC Paderborn 07 and 1 FC Magdeburg
A bit surprised to see Detroit make it. Four finalist cities named for next two MLS expansion teams Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner III – Co-CEO of American Financial Group and Owner, Chairman and CEO of FC Cincinnati Scott Farmer - CEO of Cintas Corporation Detroit Dan Gilbert – Owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Founder and Chairman of Quicken Loans, Inc. Tom Gores – Owner of the Detroit Pistons and Founder, Chairman and CEO of Platinum Equity Nashville John Ingram – Chairman of Ingram Industries Inc. and CEO Nashville Soccer Holdings Wilf Family – owners of the Minnesota Vikings Turner Family – Managing Partners of MarketStreet Enterprises Sacramento Kevin Nagle – Managing Partner of Sac Soccer & Entertainment Holdings and Minority Owner of the Sacramento Kings Jed York – CEO of the San Francisco Forty-Niners Mark Friedman – President of Fulcrum Property Group and Minority Owner of the Sacramento Kings, and other limited partners. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/11/29/four-finalist-cities-named-next-two-mls-expansion-teams
I too am surprised by Detroit. I'm rooting for Sacramento and Nashville. I'm soured on Cincy in Columbus out.
Detroit is seeing a renaissance of sorts, can California support 4 teams or does Sacramento quickly become Chivas 2.0? Where does Miami fit it (as if) and surprised to not see Saint Louis make the cut.
Given what Sacramento has built, I'm rooting for them. I'd be happy with Cincy but no if it costs us Columbus.
It will be Detroit and Sacramento. Sacramento is the only western city on the list, and the league would need to balance the expansion somehow, especially if Miami ever gets its act together. Cincinnati will have to wait a year or so, until expansion committee member Precourt steals the Crew for Austin. Nashville is the best prepared applicant and would be the best franchise of the pool, but it is a small market, and the MLS is all about chasing the big cities. On Detroit: No. Just no. I know the arguments for Detroit. I know there are people who, for reasons beyond comprehension, actually like Detroit. There are cities that have serious coolness factor in their favor. Detroit isn't on that list. When was the last time anybody went on a weekend getaway to Detroit? How many people go to Detroit on their honeymoons? How many families have kids just begging to go to Detroit on vacation? Frankly, more people would probably choose Baghdad over Detroit. No, no, no, no, and no. Just no.
As someone with ties to Michigan, I really wonder who the Detroit group thinks is their fanbase. The Detroit City supporters seem to be completely against the MLS bid, and that's going to hit them. Detroit also has the problem of also being an NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA town, and Denver's a great example of how well competing against a full set of established teams works. Plus, I don't know if MLS wants to push the shared stadium case when they've been insisting on soccer specific stadiums. Lastly, outside of a few businesses around Tigers Stadium and Ford Field, that part of Detroit is a serious shit hole, so another strike against the Ford Field option. The MLS 8-ball is too cloudy to predict how they're going to act, but I'd think Nashville and Sacramento are the two best choices. I think Nashville would be a great choice for getting visiting supporters to travel. Sacramento because it's the only good bid for the western conference.
What do you all think of the Rumor of USA hosting an anti-WC this summer? Rumor is Italy, Netherlands, Chile and USA so far, I would like to see at least 2 groups of 4.
Rochester Rhinos go on hiatus for the next season: http://www.rhinossoccer.com/news_article/show/861933?referrer_id=2442447 The Rochester Rhinos announced today that they will take a one-year hiatus from play in the United Soccer League (USL) during the 2018 season. This comes as the community rallied to generate increased support over the past two weeks, yet not to the extent needed.
The response locally to the possibility of the Rhinos folding had been pretty tepid from my vantage. I'm a little dismayed, having just moved here. The Rhinos wanted at least 2,500 commitments for season tickets (which may have been ambitious given their attendance this year) next year and got less than 1,000.
Ireland & New Zealand would get it to 6 (2 more playoff losing teams), Honduras got closer than we did (also lost a playoff) so that's 7, highest ranked non-WC UEFA team not already listed for 8? Canada, a couple African teams, and a wildcard from somewhere (Northern Ireland or something) for 12? It could be considered somewhat legit as a precursor for the expanded format they will be going to. And MLS can play right through it like a real WC. ;>)
From the Guardian UK's WC draw coverage: "Vladimir Putin has already spoken, particularly about the way that “friendship and fair play are eternal values”. There was no audible laughter."
Can't wait for his comments when the whole nation is banned from Winter Olympics this go round. Shouldn't have hired a faithful diary keeper to oversee your doping program to win more medals at home.
The San Francisco Deltas won the NASL in their first season, and celebrated by ceasing operations 12 days later.
I hope it scares the crap out of that cesspool of thieves. Nothing would make me happier then to take their ball away from them, set up a clear and transparent organization to run a "Universe Cup" every 4 years.
Not to mention playing matches in places where minority fans don't need to fear for their lives, playing matches in normal temperature ranges, and playing matches in places that have soccer tradition and fans.