Hamilton to NASL?

I'm not sure but my guess is yes.

 

Would it be OK with Canadian football lines?

 

New article on possible Bob Young Hamilton franchise :

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/908951--search-for-stadium-soccer-tenant-stretches-out

"But Ferguson said he’s confident Ticats owner Bob Young “will come through” on a soccer franchise as well as a training academy for local players."

 

The latest from Bob Young (he posts as "Caretaker") owner of the Hamilton Tigercats CFL team, on setting up a pro soccer franchise:

http://forums.cfl.ca/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=82991&p=1504315#p1504315

 

I think there will be no doubt that we will see an NASL team in Hamilton and most likely owned by CFLs Ti Cats owner Bob Young. Once involved with the NASL just a few years back got out most likely to create the synergy with his CFL Team as well as the new Stadium.
The Stadium's base of funding came from federal funds for the Pan AM 2015 soccer venue. So the field will most likley be made without permanent football lines so it can be lined for both football and soccer. The NASL 2 part season will make it financially stremlining the changed from one to the other. The NASL first part of the season is done before the CFL season begins in July. The CFL team will have training camp on a University Campus and will need to be lined for football in mid or late June for their home pre season game. So if the schedule of both teams and both leagues are done with some thought the field can be lined for soccer until near the end of June for there 2nd and home pre season game with the soccer team finishing on the road for the first half of the NASL season. Unless the NASL team plays a home friendly during the break in July the field can stay lined for football and it would only be the second half of the NASL season would the lines need to be changed between the football or soccer game.
With Young owning both teams with and both the CFL and NASL looking to be possibily working together in Ottawa as well as other possible cities in Canada with new and/or upgraded venues they will should be in sunc when it comes to scheduling each year

 

"All right, Hamilton!"

(I note with the thread's resurrection the note that the intention of a team was going to be announced in 2010 for 2013 launch. Hah.)

Also, for the benefit of all who just posit a 2014 NASL split-season as a fait accompli, please do math: While they certainly could split the season into two parts, they cannot do it and keep the exact same format as in 2013 because they will have at least three more teams in 2014.

They can have a split season in which you play everybody once in each half (a la Liga MX), which isn't optimal, but I guess could be done. But then you're looking at 20 total games for the season and that's probably not enough to cover your budget needs (three fewer home games per team than in 2013, four fewer than in 2011-2012). And if you play everybody twice in each half (the same format as this year), you're looking at 40 (in 37 weeks, with a summer break, notwithstanding what you do in a World Cup year, and with the Open Cup taking up midweek dates in May and June). That's too many games. If by some miracle Puerto Rico returns and they don't lose anybody else, that's 12 teams (22 games each half or 44 total, or 11 each half or 22 total).

You could play everybody once and some teams twice to get to 14 or 15 games in each half, but that would go against how they've been doing things and wouldn't be a terribly fair way to determine what is basically your two playoff teams.

 

I have been trying to tell that to people. You just can't make it a split season next year and

1. Have it at the right amount of games (26-32 games total, 13 to 16 home games total)

2. Have it so the Spring/Fall Champion is determined fairly.

If they want this split season format next year, they will have to get creative, otherwise this ain't gonna work.

 

They can't even do a straight round-robin (that is only 20 games).

At this point, I would even be in favor of a league cup during the season to give two teams a few extra games and the others one or two.

But playing everybody three times seems to be the logical way to do it.

But let's see how many teams they actually end up with.

 

.
This is a strange development:

Toronto FC may have a USL Pro partner in relocating Toronto Lynx

http://www.wakingthered.com/2013/8/...toronto-fc-lynx-partnership-tim-hortons-field
By Dave Rowaan  @SoccerC anada on Aug 15 2013, 1:28p

With MLS moving towards a stronger partnership with USL Pro to provide better competition for their reserves a lot of Toronto FC fans have been left wondering just what the club would do in terms of finding a location for their reserves to potentially go out on loan. As Kurt Larson wrote earlier this week TFC are clearly interested in taking advantage of this program but with no USL Pro clubs currently in Canada the options seemed limited for Toronto FC. It looks like the Toronto Lynx could be on the verge of making a big move that would allow them to fill that void though and become a potential partner for the MLS club.
In a letter to the City of Hamilton dated the 10th of July, Alain Theroux the President of the Toronto Lynx requested the city's "consideration for our application, to relocate our Soccer franchise operations into the City of Hamilton, with an ambition of making the new Soccer Stadium our home base location."

...

I don't know if Bob Young's involved with this effort, but I doubt it given that he wasn't mentioned in the article or in any of the correspondence. It appears a third party is trying to undercut any of Bob's soccer efforts in Hamilton.

A TFC-affiliated USL-Pro team in Hamilton seems doomed for a number of reasons. 1) It would undermine any efforts for the Ontario-based D3 semi-pro development league that the CSA's Easton report says it should follow, 2) It would bring a challenge from the CSL, who are being de-sanctioned on the premise that the OSA is going to be in charge of D3 soccer in the province, 3) the team wouldn't be able to play regular season games against a potential regional rival in Ottawa, 4) USL-Pro in not the most professional of leagues, with several teams regularly drawing below 1,000 spectators, 5) I think Hamilton fans would resent being a minor-league affiliate of a Toronto team, 6) Being an affiliate, I doubt this team would be allowed to play for the Voyageurs Cup against NASL and MLS teams, 7) The Toronto Lynx have never amounted to anything.

Here's hoping this does not come to pass, and Bob opts to place a team in the NASL instead!

 

Why does this smell like Oklahoma City...

 

This is a ridicolous idea for TFC to place their USL Pro tier 3 team in that large stadium. For one who in Hamilton would go out and support TFCs minor league team and if they did USL pro is 1 to 2 thousand draw.

If Bob Young does apply for an NASL team and shoot for a 10K crowd would be bold but not out of the question. Tim Hortons is built with two levels on each side so even if the lower half of the levels were crowded and dignitaries have the Suites still it would make for a decent atmosphere.
Portland Thorns have had crowds at about 11K and it was still a great atmosphere

 

If he's been sitting on the fence about starting a team then this will surely force his hand. Could very well turn into another OKC

 

Just finished reading this article about USL PRO. Yeah, it sounds like OKC all over again. NASL trying to get things lined up, then out of nowhere here comes the USL PRO. Now, please do not take my next statement as me saying I think the NASL is the savior of soccer or anything like. But these blatant, half formulated attempts by the USL to get into NASL markets first will not only wreak havoc on the 'pyramid,' but will cause all kinds of struggle on the NASL side. Nothing good is going to come out of what USL is trying to do. Need we look further then Phoenix and Tampa Bay to see what their short sightedness is doing? Simply letting an ownership group have a city, throw a logo on a jersey, and play at HS field isn't going to work. And I was hoping Sacramento and the MLS partnership would be the start of a so called 'USL PRO 2.0.' Looks like I was wrong

 

When Downs was around, 2 markets he mentioned a lot were Phoenix and Sacremento. I wonder if it was the same ownership groups that eventually went to USL Pro.

 

Hey maybe NASL should just wait for the new USLPRO teams to fail and then jump in with different ownership groups (if available)

I mean how much longer can LA and Phoenix last? (Then again there is Edmonton).

 

Three problem is you poison the market

 

Not sure how seriously the Ticats commitment to pro soccer should be taken. The stadium funding is tied into hosting soccer at the 2015 PanAm Games and is already in place so if they were serious about the NASL I think there would have been an announcement by now along the lines of what happened in Ottawa. The CSA appear to be backing the USL Pro bid by the Lynx despite vocally expressing opposition to Canadian entry into the USSF's D3 in the not too distant past, so my guess would be that USL Pro is seen as the only viable way to get pro soccer into that stadium as part of the legacy of the PanAm Games.

 

According to Steven Sandor Hamilton is still a possibility for getting an NASL franchise :

https://twitter.com/the11ca/status/382917771647938560

 

Our own @SoccerPrime did not agree on twitter.

 

I think there is still time for Hamilton and the caretaker to place a NASL franchise into Hamilton. Braley and the Argos are currently on a fast track with several municipalities to the North of Toronto proper for a stadium that will be built for CFL and Soccer. TFC may see that area as a better one than Hamilton.
A lot is still unfolding so it is anyones guess how this will play out.
Rogers with the new Sportsnet 360 is looking for Canadian leagues, teams, and amatuer sports programing so if Edmonton and Ottawa could be joined by Calgary and Hamilton we could see an NASL game of the week with Canadian teams.
Right now Bell and its networks CTV, TSN, RDS have gotten the rights for 2015 WWC as well as the 2018 and 2022 mens WC. If Rogers wants a part of this in the future starting with NASL teams giving more pro soccer in Canada airtime could help.
Again a lot still is unfolding but it is becoming very much news worthy and the CSA needs all it can get

 

1) During the stadium construction negotiations, Bob held a letter from NASL saying he had secured some kind of territorial right over Hamilton, and was all but awarded a franchise. That was a while ago, but still post-sale of the Railhawks. Could mean that some fences were mended.
2) Different commissioner since the sale of the Railhawks.
3) TFC and MLS wanting to be in Hamilton is not terribly relevant. The CSA's agreement is another story. Letting USL set up in Canada, against the recommendation of the Easton Report, would be opening a can of worms. I doubt they would fight to preserve a USL-Pro team against an NASL team.
4) Bob has the ear of Hamilton city council, and an exclusivity agreement to bring pro soccer to Hamilton. Last I heard it was extended, though I'm not sure how long.
5) I must be misunderstanding you, because your strike 3 makes no sense. There is a Bob Young and he is in Hamilton. It's like saying "Without food, water, and electricity, there is no NASL in Hamilton anyways. Strike 3".

I'm not saying its going to happen, but if Bob wants an NASL team in Hamilton, I think he'll get it.