In other words, Atlanta fans show up consistently at or somewhat above average for every season they'd had a pro team to support. That would suggest maybe a 5k-8k range in the NWSL environment.
The chance of something big going on behind the curtains when we don't even officially have a commissioner seems VERY low to me. I do like the sound of this, and it sounds fairly reasonable. Although saying "the Atlanta group" at this point is rather nebulous... The expected NASL/NWSL announcement from back in April never happened and NASL is a very precarious league at the moment. I wouldn't mind if ATLUTD came into the picture, though, but I haven't heard any news on interest there either.
Add Nashville to the growing list of cities that are mentioning/did mention the possibility of adding NWSL in to their expansion/stadium proposal as part of their MLS efforts: http://www.tennessean.com/story/spo...s-expansion-bid-good-growth-soccer/791639001/
My sources in the league say there are no current expansion plans at least for 2018. Instead, there is pressure on the least successful franchises attendance and venue - wise to find better business models.
Oh yeah, that's all been established in other threads. There was no time table suggested with the Nashville article there - and, if the subtext of my commentary wasn't clear, I don't put much faith in this lip service or any other name-dropping of NWSL by expansion groups.
Nashville, along with Minnesota, Sacramento, Cincinnati, Detroit..... I think these potential MLS expansion teams through the NWSL in there to better their chances. Any of them seem like 5-7 years away for an NWSL expansion team.
And LAFC too. Yeah, that was my point with Their goals #s 1, 2, and 3 are just to get the MLS team. (Minn and LAFC have already done so.) Any mention of NWSL from ANY of these teams has, to me, always sounded just like lip service, either as PR or as a way to make their stadium deal sound like it'd be less of a $$$ drain because it COULD be used for a second soccer team. "Hey, we're a good choice because we'd POTENTIALLY add an NWSL team in the future! What, are we making moves toward it right now? Haha, you must be joking!" If an interested group actually came out with a two-fold approach right off the bat (like the ATL NASL/NWSL bid) or at least honestly integrated WoSo into their efforts after name-dropping NWSL, I'd be happier. But every one of those other groups listed above just seem like dishonest opportunists to me. I think we'd see an NWSL team associated with LAG, SJE, or RSL before any of those expansion groups.
RSL's owner, Dell Loy Hansen, is holding a press conference tomorrow with Utah's Governor, Gary Herbert. The main rumor about the press conference is to announce a NWSL team, but I'd assume NWSL leadership would be in attendance for that. The governor isn't usually involved for the regular RSL announcements, so this should be interesting. 930925427794706432 is not a valid tweet id https://www.rslsoapbox.com/2017/11/15/16658560/rsl-announcement-potential-nwsl-team
That's pretty much what I've heard. The main bit of speculation is that they've bought FCKC. I'd hate to see KC move, but it isn't working in that market.
Dang. I never like to see teams move markets. But if it means we get Sydney Leroux, then I can support the move (assuming Orlando does make some big moves to get her.).
Here's another report, this one from fourfourtwo.com: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/feat...-fc-kansas-city-nwsl-relocation-news-analysis
Aside from SKC taking over the team, I think this is probably the best possible outcome for FCKC - soon to be the Salt Lake Queens? That said, I'm a little worried as to what the now-pattern of previous-expansion-interest-taking-over-small-teams is gonna do to growth. It's good for stabilizing what we have, but I'd like to see the league actually grow teams again. Not to mention that a spate of relocations make put a big damper on any new expansion interest. (I don't know for sure, but I would think a league with some question marks but no relocations is more attractive than a league with lots of relocations.)
If residents are up in arms over a high school having the mascot of Phoenix (they claim the plural sounds like penis ), I can only imagine how they would react to a team called the Queens. RSL will probably use a name to tie in the whole royal theme, but I hope they’re a little more creative.
Not exactly, but how else do you field a new team in Salt Lake? See: https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/11/16/real-salt-lake-field-nwsl-team-starting-2018 https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/#nwsl-heads-to-rio-tinto-real-salt-lake-enters-the-league-for-2018
so maybe NWSL is covering in case whatever ownership group doesn't come through to buy FCKC? Seems like there's a small chance FCKC will still be around for 2018.
The NWSL is in discussions with FCKC and saying the'll provide more information about FCKC's future as soon as they can. Makes me think, with the RSL press conference and releases having gone forward without anything settled with FCKC, that RSL and the NWSL are ready to go ahead with a Salt Lake team no matter what. But, a reasonable guess is that discussions for RSL's taking over FCKC are underway, but it isn't a done deal yet. From a player's legal rights perspective, the players' contracts are with the League, not with the individual teams. So, assuming a deal gets done between the RSL and FCKC management groups, the League simply can assign the FCKC players to RSL. (I think.)
Well, this is an interesting epilogue to the FCKC saga: Baer wants to get back into the league at some point. http://www.mnsportsbizblog.com/2017/12/baer-remains-interested-bringing-nwsl-minnesota-someday/ Considering there was also a separate MN-based group mentioned in terms of purchasing FCKC from Baer, you have to think that NWSL to MN will probably happen... eventually. Unless NWSL really goes hardcore into the teams-must-be-paired-with-a-men's-side thing.
Hahahahahahahaha Hohohohohohohoho Yeah, never gonna happen. No way in hell the league ever allows him to be part of an ownership group again.
Nope. If Minnesota lands an NWSL team, it'll be owned by Minnesota United. Baer is done with any involvement with the NWSL.
Shockingly, it seems that the ATL group isn't dead yet: Also got a survey today on Atlanta NWSL which is project from the same group. I assume this is them & not a 3rd party since they have my email but can’t 100% confirm at this time. But in total this may show activity but like everyone else waiting to see what happens with NASL pic.twitter.com/irvQNMrzRj— Chris Kivlehan (@kivlehan) December 10, 2017 ...but I'd still bet it's pretty dead.
Looking at the new edition of the NWSL almanac, here are the leaders in some stat categories for the first 5 years of the NWSL. Goals: Kerr 43 Assists: Holiday, Nairn, Ohara 18 Fouls: Zerboni 179 Yellow Cards: Fishlock 15 Games: Nairn 108 Minutes: Taylor 9450 GK Goals against average: Franch 0.83 Saves: Barnhardt 372