Seattle has a history and was much earlier in the expansion process. Atlanta specifically built the stadium with soccer in mind....and it shows. Looks much better than I ever thought it could. Detroit would be old NASL/early MLS. A huge, cavernous cold place for a game if only 20K showed up. If there are other options, with SSS, Detroit goes down the list by some margin I would wager.
Ford field is a 65k multiuse stadium. It was built with soccer in mind. It has tons of natural light for a domed stadium. To me this is good news for the bid. Heck, they could come in before Miami now.
I just don't see it man. MLS specifically stated they want soccer specific stadiums. Like a previous poster said, this is a step backwards. MLS's response indicates that. In responding to this Detroit ammendment, they said they respect the owners but prefer soccer specific stadiums. To me, that basically says "thanks but no thanks". There has to be a reason they did this. Maybe they wanted the land all along and didn't care about the soccer aspect? And now that the land swap seems like a done deal they're basically throwing the soccer aspect under the bus? Something is weird. Either they are extremely smart and know something most of us don't , or they're basically saying, screw it. I think they got their land, and now they're saying screw it.
I think if the owners control the stadium MLS is ok with NFL stadium, as shown by Arthur Blank. And oh, if the market is big.
The argument against your point is that Mercedes Benz (Arthur Blank) stadium was built with soccer in mind. Ford Field was not. This turn of events seems crazy to me after all the back and forth with the jail site. I think we are done. Not sure why they even kept the bid in.
Then how the hell do you personally explain the letter MLS wrote to Gilbert and Gores telling them Ford Field is not suitable for the league? This is actually a huge body blow for Detroit trying to get an MLS team. They're f*#ked.
I hope they know something we don't. Can't imagine they offer Ford Field if they have been already told by the league no. Bringing the name Ford aboard MLS itself is a huge deal though, I can see Don Garber overlooking whatever issues Ford Field might have.
I am not very happy about this change in venue for the Detroit bid. I feel the lack of a SSS hurts their chances, despite the fact the ownership group now totals about $12 Billion in wealth, and brings in Ford as a sponsor. The change at this late date is confusing. I feel something else must be up...perhaps Gilbert offered up the jail site as a potential home for Amazon HQ2. Gilbert is leading a huge effort to bring Amazon to Detroit and so this land may be something offered in that plan. Perhaps if Detroit fails in the Amazon bid, the jail site would be back on the table for a SSS. All speculation here on my part.
Detroit Robo-Cops. Why would Detroit need MLS team? Aren't you guys slowly closing this city down, and the last one will turn off the light?
Ford field might not of originally been built with soccer in mind, but it was originally built as a multipurpose stadium. So that soccer could be played in the stadium. Ford Field held a couple GC matches in 2011, and there have been other soccer matches played at the field. From the TV perspective the field looks good. The field is plenty wide.
It's floating around the net. I can't link it right now but you can google it and it'll come up. it essentially says...... while we respect the ownership group in Detroit, we have not had a chance to read the amended application submitted by Detroit so it would be difficult to comment on it at this time. MLS prefers soccer specific stadiums by those applying. End of response. Basically that, not verbatim obviously, but close to that.
I think Gilbert and Gore's see the opportunity to be another Atlanta, and they don't even have to build a stadium with bringing the Ford's in. Ford Field might be able to accommodate soccer fine enough....but MBS is the most expensive stadium on earth and it literally transforms from a football stadium to a soccer stadium basically. Even all the signage and branding throughout the stadium is all digital and can be flipped over from Falcons to United. So it's not the same. Garber and Co. might just let it go though.....since they love their t.v. markets and Detroit is huge.
It's a shame they can't be called the Detroit Dynamos, but I guess Houston might have a say in that !
That's what they said but it's bullshit. You barely can see the goal, the sides and the lines of the field in soccer mode.