News: Friday, April 21 , 2017

David Beckham ownership situation being evaluated by MLS ...
Yahoo Sports

"We are intrigued by the Miami market, but developing stadiums and developing teams and ownership groups is very complicated,” said Garber...

In a world with less public funding in large cities, it’s not just complicated. It’s really, really expensive even with a low-cost option with David Beckham and Simon Fuller to have to come into our league. It’s a half-a-billion-dollar project.

And as we’ve learned – as we’ve been growing our league carefully and in a very strategic way – is that we’d rather wait. And wait and wait on questions like this … before making a bad decision.” -DG

It doesn't look good for Beckham and Miami.

 

Ahhhh, went looking for more news on Zlatan... bumped into a screen grab of the way he landed on his leg with it all bent back...

Wish I didn't do that...

 

"Indianapolis. Former Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard has been pushing for a soccer stadium, but time has run out on Indy Eleven's efforts to obtain funding for part of the new soccer stadium expected to cost $100 million-$120 million. No soccer legislation was before the 2017 Indiana General Assembly, which is supposed to adjourn for the year on Friday."

Is it me or the General Assembly adjourning for the rest of the year at the end of April seem odd? Seven months off without voting on legislation makes me wonder how they get anything done.

 

Bastian v. 'Bastian?

 

Tim Howard issues a statement on his suspension (from Facebook so I'm copying the whole thing here):

 

It's probably a reference to the state's fiscal year, which looks to be from July 1st to June 30th.

 

With Miami dead in the water, it looks like good news for five cities to make the move. Tampa Bay looks like they will have all their ducks in line after the vote. Potential rival with Orlando looks like a natural & the biggest television market out of the teams with a bid in.

Sacramento and San Diego if approved look like they would be strong markets. Both of the stadiums and the complex that would surround them look first rate. Both being in California might hurt if MLS stays with two conferences.

Which leaves San Antonio, Phoenix, Cincinnati, Nashville & Carolina for the last two spots. Unless Detroit can somehow get their site approved which I just can't see happening.

Right now these teams seem to have the path of least resistance.

1) Tampa Bay
2) Sacramento
3) San Antonio
4) San Diego
5) Phoenix

 

Does the Tampa ownership group have 'real' money(aka a multi-billionaire)? MLS really should wait if they don't IMO.

 

And EPL I would think.

 

The owner they have sounds like a right dodgy geezer.

In 2013, the Edwards-owned Mortgage Investors was fined $7.5 million for violating the federal do not call list.

That same year, Edwards negotiated a sale of Mortgage Investors to HomeBancorp but the deal was never completed.After the failure of the deal, Mortgage Investors stopped making new home loans and laid off the majority of its staff.

In 2015, the United States Department of Justice and two mortgage brokers sued Edwards, alleging that Mortgage Investors defrauded veteran home buyers and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

- Wikipedia

 

Reminder that if the offending incident happened in an actual supporters section, MLS wouldn't hesitate to ban the person for the rest of the season.

However, since it happened in a VIP area, he gets to skate. It really makes me suspicious that the "fan" involved was probably related to a club/league official, or a deep pocketed sponsor.

 

I hope Tampa doesn't get in for no other reason than that stupid stadium design. Let's build the most seats in the corners and end zones while leaving hafl the sidelines empty on both sides!

 

Yeah, expecially if he was someone with connections or a VIP, he should be more harshly treated than just some imbicile who gets too drunk and gets carried away and starts yelling crap at an opposing player.

They should ban him for life, like the guy who called Craig Bellamy a "wee Welsh bastard"

 

It’s time for NYCFC to bench Andrea Pirlo - Fox Soccer

Some stats to think about
Pirlo - 48 shots, 10 on target, 1 goal.
McNamara - 62 shots, 33 on target, 15 goals

 

For telling someone to f**k off? I doubt it. There'd be no fans left in some sections.

 

The design is not quite that bad

One side looks full and the second side is about half full from this rendering.

https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital...k=3-TGJ-gh&c=08ce797bb0b111f4ccfb5e64e152df15

 

Indiana is a very conservative state. They think having a part-time legislature means they will get up to less mischief. And the legislators have to have day jobs.

The state constitution and statutes limit the legislature to meeting for 61 days at most each odd-numbered year and it must conclude by April 30. In even-numbered years the limit is 30 days and must end by March 15. This was all designed so they could get everything done before planting season started in the spring. The governor can call special sessions in addition to that but they don't like it.

This system is not unusual. Only 10 states have full-time legislatures. Lots of states used to only meet every other year for a few months.

 

It looks like a beautiful D2 stadium.

 

Not MLS related but it turns out the Dortmund bomber was a Russian stock market manipulator.

 

Bastian?

 

All factors being equal, these are the EXACT cities I would give priority to due to upside. Once these markets are squared away, there's probably only a couple true "must-have" markets left--everyone else is icing on the cake. I know some will have reservations about CA and TX having eight teams between them, but those two states are big-population youth soccer hotbeds that are tough to pass up.

 

I'd prefer Detroit to San Antonio. The deal sounds great for all concerned and the location seems cool.

And yes, I am looking forward to the California Cup!