Crew SC partner with USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds for 2016

Not been an area of strength for us. Let's hope this works better than the previous ones.

 

It has to work better. Closer than Austin, a team we have a history of working with... Do they wear the traditional Pittsburgh colors?

 

Austin says they will be back in 2017 but I saw a Twitter post asking if the Riverhounds can survive the Crew SC affiliation curse. Just the sort of thing we need saddled on our back, lol. We just need to do our own franchise but maybe put it in Newark or some other regional city. The Grove City Crew?

 

Hell, whichever town offers us any money to build like a 3000 seat stadium / practice facility can be the host of the USL team. That size would host the team and also double as the main team practice facility, and maybe have a 10 field complex or something, perhaps with an indoor field and a turf field for us to train on.

 

I think this is probably the best choice we have had in minor league affiliates based on location and stability of the team. Plus I love Pittsburgh.

 

I like this choice.... I would prefer our own team, and wish MLS would mandate it, but....

 

I agree. The Crew need to take the best steps in building the infrastructure of the club. The academy (I am worried about it but that's a different thread) and our lack of making the most out of the USL partnerships is concerning. I have no problem with Precourt not spending the big dollars on a DP but would like to see investment in these areas. I also understand he has had to make other investment in stadium, locker room, and training upgrades so it not like he isn't doing anything.

With all that said Pittsburgh is probably the best choice if we don't have our own team.

 

If memory serves, wasn't our old pal Ricky I the coach there at some point?

 

I don't mind baseball/AHL hockey style affiliations (independent ownership/business ops, major league teams runs sports ops - Houston is going this route with the RGV Toros), but this ECHL (third-tier hockey) style mix of fully independent teams taking on a few assigned players doesn't work for a top farm league.

 

Don't know how to quote my own tweets from my phone but Precourt did say the long term plan is Crew 2 but investing in Academy and 1st now.

Our Academy doesn't have enough prospects to warrant our own team at this point.

 

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...LS-team-Columbus-Crew-SC/stories/201512160158

"Crew SC sporting director and head coach Gregg Berhalter's style and philosophy are similar to ours, so I believe our partnership will be very fruitful on a number of fronts," Riverhounds head coach Mark Steffens said in a release. "This is a great opportunity for our entire club to learn from Columbus both on and off the field, to help to develop young loanees into well-rounded professionals and men of integrity and to strengthen our roster for another USL playoff push in 2016."

 

Hounds aren't exactly stable. They had to seek a major investor to stay solvent a little over a year ago. The $ helped but I'm not sure they are doing great financially. Their stadium is in an awesome locations. If you haven't been - you now have a reason too.

But I love Pittsburgh too and really hope this works out for a least a few years.

What would be cool is if they host a USOC game against and MLS side, and Crew don;t play same time, our fans make the trip to support Hounds - especially if it is against DC or Philly.

 

Great news. Their stadium is an awesome location and will be fun to tailgate.

 

For anyone who cares that's my account. Was hoping he would open up more.

 

The Stadium caused them to file for bankruptcy protection.

 

They were good questions.

 

Oops. Better enjoy it extra more better then.

 

Holy crap! You're Anthony Precourt!