For the sake of consolidating discussion in order to keep Dills from pulling his hair out, I figured it was about time for this thread. U2 seems to be edging closer and closer towards reality. Let the song title puns begin! http://www.mcall.com/sports/columnists/mc-ppl-park-feature-0703-20150706-story.html
I still haven't found what I'm looking for.............. Isn't this just like having a team in Harrisburg? Of course the Union actually owning this team and operating it should be a huge advantage in terms of player development. I'm remaining skeptical until this is a reality, and the Union utilize it correctly.
Having a dedicated #2 team that we can actually control would be pretty cool. But, knowing the Union, all we'd end with is a .... wait for it ....
The First Time I read about a possible Union-owned USL Pro team, I thought it would be the Sweetest Thing. However, I fear that the promise of a one would be Even Better than the Real Thing. I Will Follow the goings-on of this lower-division team both Night and Day, but if it's located in the Lehigh Valley, I hope both teams will train together at their "the state-of-the-art practice field".
The good folks of the Lehigh Valley should understand that When Sak Comes to Town, your soccer team ends up really Bad. Most Philly soccer fans will feel Numb at this news of Sak's latest Mysterious Ways. Meanwhile, M'Bohli's transfer has hit another snag but it's OK, Sak says, (Sugar) Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car.
The Lehigh Valley is just about the dumbest place the Union could put their USL team. Yeah the Bethlehem Steel thing sounds cool sounds cool but it is too far away to get the full player development benefit. I suspect fan support could be tough too. Newark or Lancaster makes a lot more sense as does playing DHs with the first team like NYRB and Montreal do.
Not trying to be antagonistic here, but I am curious... How is a place like Lancaster or Newark (NOT in Pennsylvania, btw) any more advantageous when compared to the Lehigh Valley? The soccer vibe in the Valley is on the upswing, for sure. It will never be perfect, but location-wise, it makes more sense than taking them to BFE nowhere. Fan support for USL Pro ebbs and flows based on the club and organization. I have been to many a Charleston Battery match and they ran a damn fine operation. Still do. Many other franchises? Not so much. Just my $0.02.
Nick was quoted as saying a big problem with Harrisburg is that it is too far away from Chester for the 1st team and USL Pro team to train together. The teams were supposed to try it this year and it apparently didn't work out. Bethlehem are pretty far away as well. I am also unaware of any ready made stadium or partnership in the Bethlehem area. To me Newark makes the most sense. UofD has an up and coming D1 soccer program, a nice soccer specific stadium, reasonable parking at the sports complex and easy I95 access. It is also close enough to Chester to co-train. I'm not sure why being in PA is so important when Chester is essentially on the border with Delaware and just across the bridge from NJ. I mentioned Lancaster because HCI did their pre-season games there. The Lancaster/York area has also produced quite a few US youth players in recent times. It would be nice to see the Union expand into the area and steal that talent away from PA Classics. Lancaster's big drawback is that it is only a little closer to Chester than Bethlehem. Co-training would be a challenge.
I disagree. It does nothing to expand the footprint of the fan base. Half the people who sit around me at games are from Delaware because the stadium is essentially on the PA-DE border. Heck, it's probably easier to get to Chester from Wilmington than it is from Center City. It makes more sense to me to put the affiliate either over the bridge in Jersey or in the northern or western Philly suburbs, close enough to train with the big team, but far enough away to expand the footprint to new/casual fans for whom the trek to Chester isn't worth the effort. There are several small colleges with satisfactory facilities in those areas that should be sufficient for their needs.
The only partnership Sak had up there was to ride the SteelStacks coattails on the World Cup watch parties. The real reason he wants the first and second team to train together is that he doesn't have to pay for two entire coaching staffs. Still amazed the club isn't sponsored by Summer's Eve because Nick is straight up douche.
Best case scenario is the team is located in Chester. Any owned and operated team is good but for full benefits the closer the better IMO. Fan support is a non-issue as far as I'm concerned, the U2 team should be about development.
I hope they build a new stadium where the streets have no name, right between the discoteque and the Elevation Burger. And if you don't like it, well, we'll do it with or without you. Stay (faraway, so close!) tuned for more details.
In short, standards an practices in the trademark world would likely not allow that... Not without the band receiving what I would gather as being gross compensation for use of their brand. If we know investment is involved, we know Sak would be far, far removed from it.
And would be far more representative, perhaps, of the level of investment by the current ownership group...
I think I'd drive to northern PA for minor league soccer as much as I've gone up for minor league baseball. Or never.
I went to every Reserve League game that was played at Chester Park. Everyone goofed on the whole Chester Park thing, but it was a good time. 100% certain I would not drive up to Lehigh Valley or out to Lancaster for a USL game. Maybe once per year. Closer to home, say within a 20-25 minute drive, I'd go to every one. The team will draw more fans closer to Chester than they ever will elsewhere. However, fans should be way down the priority list. Development of players must be number one.