We haven't commented on how much press STL and Philly are getting as they go about trying to get stadiums / clubs. Lots and lots of it! Meanwhile, all Seattle fans have to go on are some insider rumors and a few month-old articles in the Puget Sound Business Journal. http://goalseattle.blogspot.com/2007/08/roth-and-hanauer-seem-sold-on-qwest.html Oh, and emails answered from Adrian Hanauer. http://goalseattle1.proboards101.com/index.cgi?board=mls&action=display&thread=1188408858 Oh, and hints from Steve Kelley in the Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/stevekelley/2003847485_kelley22.html Hardly the same stuff of grand stadium designs, council meetings, fan rallies and the like. The Seattle bid is quite off of the press radar. I really don't know what that means for its chances. Some days I am highly optimistic bordering on certain...other days I wonder why Roth / Hanauer are not involving the press more in their efforts. Seattle Stealth FC, anyone?
I think you guys are the mysterious west coast team that Garber tabbed as number 15 in the press last week. But this article raises some discussion points
Yeah, I saw that yesterday...then fired off a quick email to Hanauer about it. Something tells me his response will be slow...and cryptic. Logic says...that if Seattle have been told they need an SSS plan, and Hanauer remains fairly confident (email response) then Seattle MLS have addressed / are addressing the issue. Why would they proceed if they knew they were not meeting expansion requirements? My reasoning for so little SSS-related news appears in my blog from yesterday: http://goalseattle.blogspot.com/2007/09/qwest-field-under-attack-on-bigsoccer.html While Roth and Hanauer have been in negotiations with MLS and First and Goal they have been very quiet in general, but certainly even more-so about long-range plans for a stadium they might own somewhere else. Makes sense. Though the league may very well be telling Roth and Hanauer to develop an "SSS" strategy, it would be counterproductive to Qwest Field negotiations to talk about that publicly. If Qwest Field is going to be a 'partner' in MLS, then certainly they need to feel as if they are the venue of choice, even longterm. Negotiations likely have taken that tone, to the benefit of MLS. That's just it, I guess. We are having to piece all of this together ourselves. We aint dumbies...but actual press confirmation of our status would be keeno.
Another piece: http://goalseattle.com/MLS/June8StarfireMLS.htm So...Roth and Hanauer, in Qwest, with the Starfire option?
My take, is that I think there is a lot going on behind the scenes involving a lot of lawyers, negotiations etc. and we probably won't hear much until there are agreements in place (or not) and things are moving forward (or not). All in all, at this stage in the game, I would not think there would be nothing much else to report until some type of agreements are in place. Could be wishful thinking on my part but it just makes logical sense.
Well in theory, MLS already broke their "no SSS" rule by awarding the Quakes a franchise before the stadium deal was done. Now before Quakes fans go off on my like some Seattle fans have, I am not saying you don't deserve or can have a MLS team, far from it. But MLS used to say its SSS or nothing. When Toronto started this year, MLS said this is the way it is from now on. When RSL started having probs (and DC and NY...) MLS made a big stink about new franchises figure out the SSS plan before a new team is awarded. So if MLS has broken the rule with the Quakes, why not Seattle. At least I hear that the Sounders have a fantastic/justplaindirtcheap deal for rent with Qwest. So its conceivable. Carry on.
i like the Seattle Stealth FC name. a team name that takes from both american and european/global tradition thanks for listing all the articles too waiting to hear some more new PR or otherwise
Here's part of the text of an email I got from Adrian Hanauer yesterday, and the question I posed to him: Do the stadium votes that have either just happened (Collinsville) or will be happening shortly (Philadelphia) have any bearing on your ability to land the MLS franchise?
To be honest I can´t really see MLS being straightfaced about SSS being needed as a must considering that Revs are not likely to get one...ever!
Or Houston.... or DC or even KC at this point in time. San Jose hasn't got things nailed down either..... though they are working on it.
He's answering emails? Curses and drat that he knows I run a website. My last two have gone unanswered.
You guys are arguing about superiority in KITSAP County? I hear banjos playing whenever I cross the county line.
That's right........... it's been illegal to date your sister in this county for over 100 years! BTW if the USL1 team moves to Kitsap Co. will they be called the Bremelos?
Representin' unincorporated kitsap county here (formerly anyhow). Lived on Perry ave for the first few years of my life, then moved to just outside the city limits along the Brownsville Hwy. When we got there it was only a 2-lane rd, no stores (save for the value giant and prairie market)....now the areas brimming with commerce.....Fred Meyers Meyers across the street, and even a casino in my old back yard (in Redwood Plaze). Oly class of 86!!!!.....anyhow...uh yeah....not a lot of news or hype lately.