Very astute and brave post from a Sounders fan. The Galaxy have been awesome for the league and they haven't dominated as one might expect either since Beckham's arrival. If NY and LA wind up winning a few more championships than other clubs, I think the league can live with that...as long as there is still variance (LA in 2005, LA in 2011.......if that had changed to LA in 2005, NY in 2008, LA in 2011- I think in general people could live with that). We also have Cup competitions which are/can be considered championships.. This will p*ss hard-cores here off, but I don't MLS is at the stage where winning the championship is that important relative to more mature leagues (for attendance during the year). That is still more a function of the blocking/tackling of selling the sport and individual games in your market. So if it so happens that there is a more concentrated period of NY and LA championships, I don't think it kills the league either. Of course, no one wants to see 30 years of that. In the next 10-15 years, I think the benefits of having NY and LA as strong markets in the league outweigh the downsides. I wonder-truly- how long Chivas will be in LA anyway.
Since New York is such a diverse place many different countries / clubs would sell out a venue like that for a friendly. Especially Central American teams and South American teams. Also will be a good place for Gold Cup Group stage matches.
I believe the MLS signs a new TV deal in 2 years, which leads to believe that the 2nd NY team will join the league by than. Which means they would need a temporary stadium for a season or 2 while their stadium is being built. I imagine that would just be Giants stadium right? It couldnt' be a one of the baseball stadiums. Both MLS and MLB pretty much have the same schedule which would cause a scheduling nightmare if 2 teams shared a field.
If they play in Red Bull Arena, the Red Bull ownership gets to pocket rent vs. that rent going to some 3rd party.
But doesn't that defeat the purpose? Red Bull Arena is closer to NJ, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. The whole point of this Queens team is to attract fans from other parts of the city and Long Island, no?
No way. Red Bull Arena is about 1-1.5 hrs away from Brooklyn on public transit. The travel times to Flushing Meadows are about the same, although they can be slightly longer depending on location. Lower Manhattan is closer to RBA. North of Midtown, Flushing Meadows is closer. I would venture to guess that roughly 1/3 of the city is closer (on public transit) to RBA than Flushing Meadows.
How do you know how much effort they have put into each location? And we can still wager. If Red Bull NY don't exist 10 years after NY1 comes in you will tweet and email Don Garber an apology (copied to this link in BigSoccer) saying you were completely wrong about his desire to get NY1 in the league.
I don't think there is a question of NY2's potential success or of RBNY staying alive and potentially thriving. I think the real question is how long until NY3.
In the year 2092. Of course, there will be a team in Honolulu, London and in a Richard Branson-built underwater domed stadium at that time too.
You are probably right about public transportation (trains only) from lower manhattan to RBA but no other location is closer. Heck, I'm in southeastern Nassau county and the train ride is an hour from Penn station. It's probably closer to 30 minutes from any other place in manhattan though. However, there is no way that any location in brooklyn is more than 45 minutes to flushing meadows - by train, plane or automobile. I've driven that route my entire life.
Greenwood is at least and hour and 15 minutes from Flushing Meadows by subway and only 45 minutes from RBA. Midtown Brooklyn is at least 1.5 hours from Flushing Meadows by subway and only and hour and 15 minutes from RBA.
Are those snail trains??? lol You can drive it faster than that for sure, but I don't take the trains from there, so if you say it's so
Well there aren't any direct routes. The fastest way to Queens (from several places in Brooklyn) on public transit is through Manhattan IMO.
Greenwood heights ? take the G to Court house Square..its about 12-15 stops..then the 7 express to flushing meadows. No going through Manhattan . Probably take you under an hour with express, little over an hour without the 7 express