People really need to stop putting words in other peoples' mouths. Merritt Paulson never mentioned Sacramento, Louisville, or Atlanta.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
BIG NEWS DROP in the past hour! https://equalizersoccer.com/2019/10/17/2020-nwsl-expansion-sacramento-republic-advanced-discussions/ Sac in the end stages of finalizing an NWSL team for 2020! ATL and LOU still in play for 2021
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.
I wonder how @McSkillz does feel right now, since she unrelentlessly campaigned for a NWSL team in California more or less since I know her. Of course, despite being in CAL, Sacramento is not exactly her area...
Apparently FCCincy also eyeing 2021 https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019...sted-nwsl-expansion-sacramento-could-join-too
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?
Louisville in for 2021. Expect an announcement next week. https://theathletic.com/1306750/201.../?amp=undefined#click=https://t.co/1shWMLoy9d Sacramento gets the MLS team announced tomorrow. Does their NWSL get announced at the same time or later on. Before Louisville's announcement? Here's their twitter page which appears to have been created recently: https://twitter.com/NWSLLouisville
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]
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.
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.
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.
Some tweets paired with the MLS announcement coming today are saying the NWSL expansion team for Sacramento will be announced today as well.
Haven't heard that Amanda Duffy is there for the announcement. Didn't happen! Possibly it is to come later on in the day?
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.
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.