They singed their first player? Did he get too close to the grill or what? Sounds like not only do they not have a stadium, they don't appear to be close. Drove by Muni yesterday. That's a good location. Still a baseball stadium, but temporarily workable, seems like.
" ... and a separate group looking to create a soccer team in the NASL, the other professional soccer league below MLS. (The NASL group though has gone to ground a bit since Phoenix FC's recent developments.)" Interesting... didn't know there was a group trying to bring a NASL team to the Valley...
Yeah, that was talked about, too. I am not 100% sure who that group was (might have been the former Phoenix Professional Soccer, Inc. people - doubt it was Dana Gagnon, just because Dana took a hit on that Galaxy/Fire game).
Out where? If ASU baseball moves into Phoenix Muni and Peoria doesn't work out, what else is there further out from the middle? Trying hard to stay optimistic, but this wouldn't be the first group to talk a big game and fail to back it up. I can't help but think they got ahead of themselves making announcements before they even have a place to play.
You'd hope it wouldn't be a juco or high school stadium. After looking at it, Tempe Diablo actually is central to the population base (my bad, apologies). Psychically, it might turn some people north of, say, Bethany Home and west of 17 off, but East Valley folks can get there easily. Of course, we're forgetting the other key...that just identifying a place to play doesn't mean striking a deal with the place to play. I'd still rank them: 1. Muni 2. Tempe Diablo 3. HoHoKam 4. GCU 5. Peoria Sports Complex (I know, I know, GCU, but it's at least got a proper field and a little infrastructure.)
No alcohol at GCU. No go according to the owners group. Not saying it's not an option, just stating it should be at the bottom of the list.
Good point. Shame, because it's the best chance they have to play on an actual soccer field. Drove by Greyhound Park today. Still think that's the best site.
I assumed that if they played in one of the baseball stadiums, the infield would be sodded over. Would still have to deal with awkward shape of the stadium/field though. I would hate to see soccer played on a baseball infield. It would be reminiscent of watching a Raider's home game. Isn't greyhound park the future sight of sky harbor runway #4?
HA. Unlikely. You know how much that costs and the work it takes to maintain it until and after it grows (if it grows)? Please to enjoy. (Reminds me I have to re-edit that.) I think that's part of the issue, even though that's probably a ways off. Great location, city's holding onto it until the day that is needed.
If you're departing from Roosevelt & 5th Street for the game, where can you get to in 15 minutes? Muni sticks out. Diablo perhaps?
I don't count on getting most anywhere in the Valley in 15 minutes, that's a tad optimistic. But from there, yeah, Muni. On a weekend, Tempe Diablo maybe. On a weekend, I can get from my house in north Phoenix to the airport in <30 minutes, so that's probably right. People keep coming up with options, but the simple fact that there aren't any really good options - forget perfect options, there aren't any really good options - should make someone, somewhere stop and think, "Is this really a good idea?"
Tempe Diablo can be a nightmare to get to. It has the freeway on the east side and a mountain on the north. Last time I went there (spring training game during spring break) it took me close to half an hour to get from Broadway and I-10 to 48th and Alameda (stadium is on Alameda), then we still had to park and walk there. Hopefully, the team will attract enough people to where this is a problem.
Yeah, it's deceptive because you can SEE it from the highway and you think it's right there, easy peasy.
http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/o...more-stadium-details-to-azcentral-sportsodfc/ * Buying stands from a PGA event before the season. * Even though on campus, they can/will serve beer. Commence dehydrating. I can't be the only one who is very impressed by this.
You're in good company there. Buying seats from a PGA event is just inspired thinking. I really hope this works out. Looks good for now. - Mark
They appear to be doing a number of things right so far. I just hope that this continues for the next 20 to 40 years, know what I mean? Ultimately, I'd love to see a USLPro with 30 or 40 teams, organized in regional sub leagues to keep costs down. And of course, I want to see lots of sponsors, both national and local, such that the teams make money, even if not a lot. Oh, and I want better attendance and better media coverage. (And world peace, of course.) This is pie in the sky of course, and I'll need to live to 100 to see it, but that's part of my plan too. (And a vibrant, successful NASL with another 24 teams or more, and an MLS with another 30 teams, and world wide respect, and of course, soccer as one of the top sports in the USA.) In any case, what we need to get there is more owners who are dedicated, and more sponsors willing to sign-on to pay the bills. And we also need for old fart, anti-soccer media types to either retire or die. (This is in progress now!) I know this all sounds crazy, but I think that I see the very beginnings of this sort of progress now. We have some new teams sprouting up, getting some initial media splash, and the new owners appear to be more serious and better funded. And, we are seeing an increase in sponsors, both local and national. (At least, at the MLS level, and some of these new clubs have new local sponsors.) Pittsburgh just built a bitchin' new stadium!! City Islanders just signed an agreement with Market Street Sports Group. LA Blues appear to be spending more money. New FC Phoenix! New FC Sacramento (coming in 2014). Ottowa. Northern Virginia. (On the downside, PR Islanders and NYC Cosmos delaying the start of the '13 seasons.) So it's not all roses, and Northern Virginia may have some trouble with their stadium plans, but I still think that we are seeing progress. So yeah, I'm pumped about Phoenix, and I hope that they are successful, on and off the pitch for years to come. - Mark