Fair enough. I don't play attention to baseball at all, so I didn't realize there were a number of players from there. That still seems to be a somewhat small list though.
Yeah, the academies are the key. DLH is a meddling mess of an owner, but his huge investments in ground-up talent developments are visionary and may be something we laud for decades.
Which is why DLH should hold out for something of equal value if we are going to loose any of our territory in Phoenix, including our international spot that got traded to Colorado.
MLS has let RSL suck it on the lost international slot for 12 years, I don't think they give a flip about what we want for losing the AZ academy territory. Besides, DLH and MLS would get $150 million from Phoenix investors, last thing they care about are the 3 players we got out of the state.
Considering that the academy seems to be a business priority in DLH's vision of the organization, I think he will be a bulldog in negotiating with the league on this aspect.
I'm sure he will at least require compensation for all he's spent on RSL-AZ. Probably with interest. And get youth development rights for other areas, like Nevada, Wyoming, maybe something further afield.
Does the franchise fee get split directly between the clubs or does it go into the First National Bank of Garberbux to be distributed as Big Daddy Don sees fit? $150 million split 24 ways turn out to be (mathmagically) 6.25 million per club which isn't a small amount, but if it goes into the the First National Bank of Garberbux, RSL may only see 300k of TAM or some other pittance. So, if DLH has the ability, hold up allowing Phoenix into the league until RSL gets something worthwhile in return.
I'm sure DLH will gladly take the money, but he is a very savvy businessman, so I definitely expect him to get as many concessions as possible.
Sorry for the large amounts of snark in this thread. I just feel the brain trust doesn't see the AZ territory as that important. I also think with the Herriman project, RSL will do far more (successful) in-state and non-claimed territory recruiting.
This is probably true (maybe), but why pass up a chance to get something worthwhile in return (like our international slot from Colorado)? Even if we think the Herriman project is the way of the future, we don't want to help out othger teams by giving up anything that could be used against us in the future.
RSL could sign Messi and win Champions League and MLS still won't give back that slot. Damn you Pastorino!
Speaking of future of RSL Academy...they did a big tour for team execs and media today. A few choice pics - which in concept look pretty cool (even if it is still a big bunch of dirt fields and mostly unenclosed spaces). Zions Bank Real Academy new home for Real Salt Lake development pyramid https://t.co/XFNjDfg1oF #RSL #RealMonarchs pic.twitter.com/nv5n3wwBrf— Carla Swensen-Haslam (@CarlitaS07) May 24, 2017 July's @ManUtd visit may be the first of many Euro powers that check out the new @RealSaltLake training facility https://t.co/d76omS0qG0 pic.twitter.com/xOV2ZGZfCB— Salt Lake Tribune Sports (@sltribsports) May 25, 2017 Zions Bank Real Academy Photo Gallery: https://t.co/hYGHHu0Gaw pic.twitter.com/l54ANqjq62— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) May 25, 2017
Still don't get how SI's Grant Wahl always has RSL near the bottom of the "ambition ratings" he coughs up. Some bias or something.
He moved us up this year. We were #17 in 2016, and all the way up to #12 in 2017. He says: "Confession: I ranked RSL too low last year. It’s a tough call. Based on people I talk to, this is one of the cheapest teams in the league on a day-to-day basis. And yet the infrastructure investment is truly impressive, headed by a new $50 million training facility that’s set to open later this year and a nine-year-old, $110 million stadium (built with a public/private partnership) that has served the club well. The youth academy has always been strong, and Designated Player spending has also increased this season, led by the signing (and transfer fee) of playmaker Albert Rusnak."
Agreed...he's basically overweighting on DPs and salaries. Academy, long-term investment - not so ambitious. It's like saying hunters are better than ranchers or farmers.