American expansion possibilities

Discussion in 'NWSL Expansion' started by WPS_Movement, Dec 28, 2012.

  1. AndyMead

    AndyMead Homo Sapien

    Nov 2, 1999
    Seat 12A
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    People really need to stop putting words in other peoples' mouths.

    Merritt Paulson never mentioned Sacramento, Louisville, or Atlanta.
     
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  2. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    #1278 SiberianThunderT, Sep 24, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2019
    Yes, that article exists. It has for a while. (I commented on said article multiple times the day it came out, and when it was updated.) You'll note it never links Paulson's comments to any teams specifically - it only mentions SAC/LOU/ATL are the ones Paulson hinted at based on a separate "reliable source". And the comment about a second 2020 teams is immediately after it says plans are fluid and change often - i.e. the comment suggesting (not saying, suggesting) that a second 2020 team relates to relocation (and it only gives Sky Blue as an example - basically admitting it's open speculation) is itself up in the air. There's also no evidence at all that the 2020 relocation hint was something Paulson said - notably, it wasn't anywhere in the Twitter thread where Paulson's "interview" was reported, and IMO it's more likely something that came from either the "reliable source" or from Lauletta's own speculation. Until and unless that comment is attached to a name we recognize or at least to another news source, I don't think it's worth much.
     
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  3. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...from-americas-biggest-cities?CMP=share_btn_tw

    Why is women's soccer staying away from America's biggest cities?

    Barring a robust legal challenge from an investor wanting to challenge Sky Blue’s rights to New York City, it’s also doubtful whether NWSL has any interest in adding a team in New York City – or even the northeast. One investor, keen on launching a team in nearby Connecticut, planned for a start-up to play at Dillon Stadium in Hartford, a venue that has hosted concerts by the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys and Kiss in the 1960s and 70s, as well as rugby and women’s soccer internationals more recently. The investor shelved its plans, believing the NWSL was more interested in new teams in the midwest and south than the northeast.
     
  4. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    What that saying about assuming malice when it's just error/circumstance?

    Considering the fact that LAFC is still being talked about - from both sides - after years of being in the picture, I don't think NWSL is doing anything intentional to "stay away from" the major metro areas. LAFC is just dragging their feet, IMO. Similar story with NJ having rights to the NYC area and not selling out when they should have. And, of course, the lack of people present at NWSL HQ itself doesn't help at all. It took nearly two decades for MLS to find a way to let NY2 and LA2 (twice) to happen. IDK what it will take to get those two metro areas served properly, but I don't think there's any preferential treatment going on to other areas of the country.
     
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  5. AndyMead

    AndyMead Homo Sapien

    Nov 2, 1999
    Seat 12A
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    The league doesn't put teams in cities. Show me an LA or NY investor with a viable stadium that wants to own a team, then get back to me.
     
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  6. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    I mean, yeah to ^ . It's something I always try to bite people on, both on Twitter and EQZ. I think the article was more suggesting that NWSL is overlooking big-city bids in favor of other expansion interest - i.e. not that it's not "creating" teams - which (as I tried stating above) is a poor take on the situation.
     
  7. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
  8. toad455

    toad455 Member+

    Nov 28, 2005
    Big news for the league if all three come on board.
     
  9. WoSoFan

    WoSoFan Member

    Dec 23, 2017
    #1285 WoSoFan, Oct 18, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2019
    Atlanta would be huge. However, I would caution that I don't think they are looking at this in any small way. I think they are focused on what Portland is doing and whether they can get the same kind of numbers or better. They went way beyond their expectations with the men's team, and they may feel that Portland's numbers are not out of reach for them. Let's hope they still continue to feel strong about it because that would be a huge get.
     
  10. blissett

    blissett Member+

    Aug 20, 2011
    Italy
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
  11. WoSoFan

    WoSoFan Member

    Dec 23, 2017
    Looks like Louisville City FC is in, according to sources, with a 2021 timeline for them.
     
  12. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
  13. toad455

    toad455 Member+

    Nov 28, 2005
    If interest and ownership groups are there, the league will allow expansion. They won't deny any group with deep pockets an expansion team. Maybe Cincinnati gets in for 2022?
     
  14. toad455

    toad455 Member+

    Nov 28, 2005
  15. toad455

    toad455 Member+

    Nov 28, 2005
    If Lyon gets an expansion team instead of a current team, do they join in 2020 with Sacramento? Does Cincinnati wait until 2022? Is Los Angeles still in the mix? Could we get to 16 teams by 2022?

    2020: Sacramento & Miami(Lyon) [11 teams]
    2021: Louisville, Cincinnati & Atlanta [14 teams]
    2022: Los Angeles & Hartford [16 teams]
     
  16. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    The recent reports about Lyon have made it pretty clear that they're buying a team, not expanding one from scratch.
    Not to mention that seven expansions in three years would be absolutely destructive. (Also, Hartford seems dead in the water, and LA keeps waffling)
    I already posted The Athletic link in the Louisville thread.
    Also, don't trust that Twitter account for anything official - or the "NWSL2Cincy" or "NWSL2Louisville" accounts. They're all clearly fan accounts.
     
  17. WoSoFan

    WoSoFan Member

    Dec 23, 2017
    That would be ambitious and unrealistic. It is going to be quite a feat just to handle 3 expansion teams in two years, but having it take place 3 years in a row would be crazy. I do think they will try to ad two expansion teams at a time though, to avoid the scheduling nightmare it creates with an odd number of teams. Also, one or even two years before the next expansion cycle might be saner, though the temptation of having a couple more teams in place before the next WWC may be two tempting not to take.

    With respect to your list of who it might be, one expansion team in 2020, Sacramento, then Louisville and Atlanta in 2021(?). Move Cincnnati(?) in with LAFC(?) for the next cycle, whenever that might be.
     
  18. toad455

    toad455 Member+

    Nov 28, 2005
    I agree that adding 5 over the next three years is more realistic. Especially if four of those five are MLS-owned teams. They can settle in with 14 teams for the 2023 World Cup year. If there's still interest after the 2023 WWC, then expand in 2024.
     
  19. toad455

    toad455 Member+

    Nov 28, 2005
    Some tweets paired with the MLS announcement coming today are saying the NWSL expansion team for Sacramento will be announced today as well.
     
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  20. toad455

    toad455 Member+

    Nov 28, 2005
    Louisville announcement scheduled for noon local time tomorrow.
     
  21. WoSoFan

    WoSoFan Member

    Dec 23, 2017
    #1297 WoSoFan, Oct 21, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2019
    Haven't heard that Amanda Duffy is there for the announcement.

    Didn't happen!

    Possibly it is to come later on in the day?
     
  22. toad455

    toad455 Member+

    Nov 28, 2005
    Who knows now. Those tweets were likely pure speculation by some "experts".
     
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  23. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Considering it was already advertised that she would be in Louisville tomorrow, I'm not surprised at all that she wasn't in Sac today - and not surprised SacNWSL wasn't announced. Someone asked about Sac in the Louisville thread, and as I said there, I think that Louisville just had been in talks for much longer, so they've gotten their ducks in a row. Not only did Sac likely start discussions later, but rushing to get ready in time for next season probably means things are flying by last-minute in several aspects of preparations.
     
  24. WoSoFan

    WoSoFan Member

    Dec 23, 2017
    I think also that it didn't need to be tied in to the MLS announcement on the same day. The NWSL announcement needs its own special day.
     

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