http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/me...complex_ksu.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab Kennesaw State University Foundation will seek initial approval today for a new soccer stadium and sporting complex that could also house the Atlanta Beat women’s professional soccer team.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 Interesting news. Thanks for the link. Does anyone know where the Beat hope to play next season?
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 @kool-aide: This is what I found a while ago. Interesting new article 'bout the new stadium idea, though.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 Yikes. KSU is about 20 miles north of Atlanta, iirc. I was under the impression the owner was going to have a stadium built for the team, not latch on to another stadium. KSU is just so far out.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 From my earlier post, quoting the article when they made the name announcement: Now we know what they meant by joint-venture.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 I just Googlemapped for both the Soccerplex and KSU. If you picked up the former map and superimposed it on the latter with DC and Atlanta in the same position, the Soccerplex and KSU would also be in almost exactly the same location. But KSU is on Chastain Road, so that's a good omen, right?
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 I'll just assume they think they'll pick up more suburbanites this way. Eh. I'll keep the negative thoughts to myself on this one.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 Not to totally threadjack, but tonight was my first time at the MD SoccerPlex...that's some rough stuff. It's like in the middle of a suburban neighborhood. Once you're there it's a fantastic little stadium, good place to see a match...but it's gotta be hard for you guys to get people out. Hopefully United gets a stadium soon.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 Apparently we're doing all right with getting people there - at least the Marta match was a near-sellout. But, yeah, it's a pain in the butt to get to. We need a soccer-specific stadium that's subway-accessible.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 I've played at the MD Soccerplex -- it is a weird, weird location. Bonnie Lass, although I want the big downtown SSS too, I think what the Beat are doing is practical. I'd be more upset if Blank's MLS expansion team ended up there (which was a possibility). I didn't want a Pizza Hut Park. 1) They are sharing their stadium -- and costs 2) They are targeting surbanites, and families, I suspect. It is certainly a different target market than MLS is now. 3) Although the stadium is out there, it will be easy to get to
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 That is no fun So it is ok for WPS to be way the heck out but not MLS? Sharing stadium costs is one thing but focused marketing to kids/families is NOT a long term winner for a WPS team--that has been proven. Nor is it likely to get a diverse crowd. And building far away makes me cringe.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 I've only been to the Plex once, when the Riverhounds (then A-League) were drawn against DCU for the USOC. I carpooled with a few front office friends. Great facility, but weirdly isolated. I looked it up again, thinking I'd go watch Freedom v. StLA, and it seemed to be accesible only by MARC train, and even then with a heavy walk. KSU sounds like a similar bummer. But then I don't know ATL too well. Only Griffin.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 Ok. I've got no idea why it failed. I have no idea if it were the economy, lack of sponsors, ticket sales, etc...
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 Yeah, Kennesaw is pretty much suburban hell with a dose of redneck thrown in for good measure.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 Kennesaw and Germantown are identical in so many ways -- if you know one, you know the other.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 Bonnie is correct that I was refering to WUSA but there are other examples of failed businesses that tried to survive primarily by marketing to kids/families that might buy something once at the expense of building a diverse client base of people that repeatedly spend money on their product.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 Ok -- I thought that you were trying to compare MLS and WPS...
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 I'm not sure that the failure of the WUSA proved anything other than that you should have a realistic budget and stick to it. They could have tripled their attendance, and it still wouldn't have been enough.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 If the Beat shares a facility with KSU, they will not be allowed to sell beer at the games (Georgia Board of Regents policy). Beer sales are a good revenue generator, and make the game more appealing to adult fans. I think this is a mistake.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 And you know this how? There's more to Kennesaw than Dent "Wildman" Myers. If you don't know who I'm talking about, yourl statement has no merit whatsoever.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 I used bing for actual driving directions. From the Kennesaw location to downtown ATL is about 25.2 mi/26 min whereas from the Soccerplex in Boyds, MD to downtown DC is 31.2 mi, 46 min. Kennesaw has potential to be closer to population centers though. I know nothing about the area, but I hope it isn't as strangely located as the SoccerPlex. Since it is basically KSU and right off 75, it's hard to imagine it is. The SoccerPlex is a nice place, but it suffers from being in Maryland. Therefore, it is in an unplanned, random, remote location that is barely accessible. For the attendance the league wants, it hasn't mattered as much where the stadiums are though.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 The difference seems to be that Kennesaw is right on a major highway that goes straight into Atlanta, while the Soccerplex is a few miles off of 270, and 270 stops well before DC.
Re: Atlanta named expansion franchise for 2010 This point might actually be a bigger problem in developing a good (returning) fanbase than location. Sure I know you don't have to drink to have fun but beer sales and the ability to tailgate do matter to fans and add to the fan experience. iirc, in Year 1 of the Courage, you couldn't get beer at Fetzer. Made a big difference in atmosphere/fan experience when you could get beer at SAS (which is now called something else but I can't be bothered to remember what).