Downtown Detroit MLS Stadium Site Moves Forward

Discussion in 'Detroit' started by Kavok, Jul 31, 2017.

  1. Kavok

    Kavok New Member

    Roma
    United States
    May 18, 2017
    The Detroit downtown stadium site appears to be a go, should MLS grant Detroit a franchise. Some minor details still to be worked out, but the major decision has been made by Wayne County.

    Gilbert and Gores (billionaire owners of the Cavs and Pistons) have proposed a $1billion privately financed development project including a MLS stadium (should a franchise be awarded) along with three other multistory residential/commercial towers on a failed downtown jail site.

    There is still a small window of time for the county to back out, but at this point it appears to be close to a done deal with a few minor details to be worked out.

    http://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...ail-proposal-but-not-done-deal-yet/524955001/
     
  2. Blong

    Blong Member+

    Oct 29, 2002
    Midwest, the real one.
    Uh huh.

    McKinney appeared to be a go. Then Murphy's Law.

    I am optimistic, but this needs to be presented before County Commission and Building Authority, survive any zoning or environmental impact issues, obtain modification to federal funding, withstand legal objections by Walsh Construction, neighborhood groups, Crazy Hat Ladies, etc. Minnesota's stadium was delayed a year due to an errant conjunction.

    Take a breath and enjoy the ride. Things are looking better, but don't count your chickens before you lead your horse to water.
     
  3. Kavok

    Kavok New Member

    Roma
    United States
    May 18, 2017
    As someone who has followed this project closely, it appears almost certain that Dan Gilbert will get this land for a development project now. Whether or not that development project includes a MLS stadium still remains to be seen, but the city, county, and Gilbert himself all have too much to lose for this project not to happen.

    Some key items for those not as familiar:
    1- In the media PR, Wayne County (Warren Evans) and the City of Detroit are deliberately appearing very cautious about the project because they don't want to be seen publicly as "giving in to billionaires". There is some public pushback given how some public money went to cover a portion of the new Red Wings Arena, and they don't want to appear to be repeating that with MLS. That said, behind closed doors both the City and County want the soccer project to happen. And if the development is privately financed, most of the public wants it to happen too.

    2- NIMBY is much less an issue here for two key reasons. First, the alternative is having a jail in the backyard. So Soccer stadium wins. Second, the neighboring property owners are mainly either Dan Gilbert or City/County property. Thus the NIMBY fight is far less likely.

    3- Dan Gilbert stands to have a huge financial gain should the property get redeveloped, soccer stadium or not. For that reason, he will make a deal to ensure it happens, even if it costs him more.

    The development will happen. The big question is whether it will include a soccer stadium or not, and that part is up to MLS.
     
    msilverstein47, Tobias C and Footsatt repped this.
  4. RedRover

    RedRover BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 15, 2007
    This is nice. :D

    Considering how Detroit is still a large U.S. metropolitan area with a reputation of being a great sports town, as well as being situated within driving distance of three existing MLS cities - Chicago, Columbus, Toronto - It's hard not to believe Garber and company would pass on the Motor City, given these developments.
     
    Tobias C and Footsatt repped this.
  5. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think MLS wants the bigger cities more (Miami, Detroit) than the smaller ones (Cincy, Sac). However, giving the smaller city the franchise becomes more palatable if you hook a big fish first.

    If this goes through, I think Detroit & Cincy get 25 & 26 while Sac snags Miami's spot.
     
  6. NaBUru38

    NaBUru38 Member+

    Mar 8, 2016
    Las Canteras, Uruguay
    Club:
    Club Nacional de Football
    The problem with big cities is that most of them also have professional baseball teams.

    The lack of a baseball team is a big advantage for Las Vegas, San Antonio and Sacramento, Charlotte, Indianapolis and Nashville.
     
  7. RedRover

    RedRover BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 15, 2007
    Then the likes of Philadelphia and Los Angeles shouldn't have gotten teams now, would they?
     
  8. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm pretty sure EACH of those markets does in fact have a baseball team............They might be not be in MLB, but they do have pro baseball teams in each of those markets.
     
  9. The Franchise

    The Franchise Member+

    Nov 13, 2014
    Bakersfield, CA
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    For the very large cities, there are enough investors, fans, and sponsors for all the big leagues to be present. If a sport isn't present somewhere, it's an aberration. These are cities like Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, and maybe Phoenix or Minnesota on the lower end.

    Then there's a middle range, where a city can support multiple top level pro teams, but not one from every league. This is why Denver teams struggle; places like Cleveland or Kansas City or Portland aren't trying to support every league.

    Then there are small cities that need the right circumstances to have two teams, and with a bad situation have none at all. Like New Orleans, Austin, or Jacksonville.

    For MLB, the last category doesn't work at all; their economic requirements are much higher than other leagues. In the middle category, baseball makes it difficult for other sports (and vice versa).

    Interestingly, one can argue that New York and Los Angeles are so big they can support even more teams than they currently have, but the leagues choose to have fewer to maximize their national coverage.
     
  10. NaBUru38

    NaBUru38 Member+

    Mar 8, 2016
    Las Canteras, Uruguay
    Club:
    Club Nacional de Football
    I said it's an advantage, not decisive.

    Correct, but it's not the same.
     
  11. NaBUru38

    NaBUru38 Member+

    Mar 8, 2016
    Las Canteras, Uruguay
    Club:
    Club Nacional de Football
    Agree. London has five Premier League teams and Madrid has four Primera División teams.

    Nobody blinks an eye in Europe, but it would be unthinkable in North America.
     
  12. RedRover

    RedRover BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 15, 2007
    Doesn't matter. MLS will expand wherever Don Garber thinks is the best fro the league.
     
  13. Zoidberg

    Zoidberg Member+

    Jun 23, 2006
    ....or the owners will tell Don what to think.;)
     
  14. The Franchise

    The Franchise Member+

    Nov 13, 2014
    Bakersfield, CA
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You seem to think he's Commissioner Garber, chief employee of Major League Soccer, not the immortal God-Emperor Don, ruler of American pro soccer.
     
    Len, jaykoz3, song219 and 1 other person repped this.
  15. Zoidberg

    Zoidberg Member+

    Jun 23, 2006
    I think he is an employee. A high profile, high ranking one, but an employee.

    Thankless job in the public domain...but the pay is good.
     
    jaykoz3 repped this.
  16. RedRover

    RedRover BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 15, 2007
    RaisedEverywhere repped this.
  17. RaisedEverywhere

    Mexico
    Aug 9, 2017
    Detroit
    That article implies that Wayne county extended the deadline for a decision to December 1 because they are still considering the Walsh proposal. Am I reading that right? If I am, that seems like it is not good for the Dan Gilbert proposal.
    I mean, if they were leaning towards the Gilbert proposal, why even extend to give the Walsh proposal a closer look?
     
  18. Blong

    Blong Member+

    Oct 29, 2002
    Midwest, the real one.
    I don't think they ever had a deadline. Even if those working on it "decide" something, they still have to present for approval before some different commissions.
     
  19. Footsatt

    Footsatt Member+

    Apr 8, 2008
    Michigan
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't think it's just because they are considering the Walsh proposal... it's because they are considering both. I think the extension is a good sign, because the Walsh proposal is not very complicated like the MLS Detroit one is. If the county was going to side with Walsh they would of done it months ago.
     
  20. Footsatt

    Footsatt Member+

    Apr 8, 2008
    Michigan
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    More news...

    ""A Wayne County Commission committee voted to move forward to a Thursday full commission vote on a proposal for the Wayne County Land Bank to acquire a foreclosed lot at 5430 Riopelle, which is adjacent to the county's juvenile and family court buildings, near a new jail complex site proposed by Rock Ventures.

    Cheryl V. Jordan, the Land Bank's executive director, said the plan is to convert the space into a county-owned parking lot for use with the justice complex, should the new jail development be approved.""


    This implies the county is making plans for the new site of the jail project proposed by Rock. Does anybody know how the vote turned out last Thursday?
     
    SoccerPrime and RaisedEverywhere repped this.
  21. SoccerPrime

    SoccerPrime Moderator
    Staff Member

    All of them
    Apr 14, 2003
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The only thing that might gum this up is the Federal loan/money used to start the failed jail site.
     
  22. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2017/11/02/detroit-mls-bid-ford-field/823112001/

     
    Footsatt repped this.
  23. RaisedEverywhere

    Mexico
    Aug 9, 2017
    Detroit
    Just saw this. This sucks. I'm pretty sure this means we won't be getting an MLS team.
    My main question is "Why"? Knowing full well the league pretty much demands a SSS for an expansion team, why would the expansion group switch to Ford Field? Is it because their hands were tied and this was a last ditch effort or do they know something we don't? (Doubtful)
     
  24. thekorean

    thekorean Member

    Jan 10, 2017
    Club:
    New York City FC
    I read that story as Fords wanting Ford Field as permanent home for the team.
     

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