Who's next?

Discussion in 'MLS: Expansion' started by Sport Billy, Jan 15, 2019.

  1. aetraxx7

    aetraxx7 Member+

    Jun 25, 2005
    Des Moines, IA
    Club:
    Des Moines Menace
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Miami is such a shit show... I get that it's a big market, but have teams ever consistently drawn well in Miami? It seems like a major money pit, even without the political shenanigans.
    Heat That's on the high end of the league. So the Heat do well, at least for now.
    Dolphins That falls into the middle of the league. That's not terrible.
    The Panthers averaged 13,262 per game last season. That's second-to-last in the league (if the Islanders were in an appropriate hockey venue, I'm sure the Panthers would be the bottom).
    Marlins Oof Dead last this year. Considering that MLB and MLS run concurrent, this is troubling. Sure, there are probably different fanbases at play, but...
     
  2. CharlottetownFC

    Sep 2, 2015
    Club:
    Charlotte

    There is a lot that goes into the failures of the Marlins to draw and a lot of it goes back to the citizens feeling fleeced over the deal that was made for that stadium to be built, it doesn't help that they have been bad lately (to my knowledge). Their drop from just around 20k per game to 10k per between 2017 and 2018 is alarming none the less, especially when baseball is considered a popular sport for the area (is it too expensive for it's core fanbase maybe?).

    The Panthers are just in a no win situation, I get wanting to have a team in Miami but it's not a city that you would even expect to buy into the sport on a consistent basis, they've spent all of 5 seasons averaging around 16k (that includes a couple at 15.8/15.9).

    I believe a venture like this would exist somewhere between the Dolphins and the Heat at the Freedom Park site, it's just getting through the politics of it all that is a mess in major cities (NYC, Miami, Chicago) and this is proof of that. The real question is what other proposals are they looking to have considered after it's been announced that the site would require expensive cleanup prior to any future development, something Inter Miami ownership has expressed they are willing to pay for.
     
  3. TuleTowner

    TuleTowner Member

    Sacramento Republic FC
    United States
    Nov 15, 2005
    Sacramento
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Who's next?

    Glory Glory Sacramento!

    After that?

    Prolly Raleigh.

    I think they want Tepper's money too badly. Phoenix will get Sacramento'd along for a while, but they'll get it.
     
    hipityhop repped this.
  4. hipityhop

    hipityhop Member

    New Mexico United
    United States
    Jan 10, 1999
    Mission TX
    Club:
    SønderjyskE
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Phoenix gets in with an indoor stadium..... next...
     
  5. DCW531

    DCW531 Member

    City SC
    Jan 31, 2017
    St. Louis, MO
    Tend to agree with TuleTowner on this one,
    Tepper' got the cash and a revenue controlled stadium. MLS could even announce him soon. Get them started in '21 with Austin if they want to keep even # coming in. Then the next couple of teams out west PHO/LV/SD?
     
  6. Red Card

    Red Card Member+

    Mar 3, 1999
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    A Carolina team next imho, Charlotte more likely than Raleigh. After that PHO/LV/SD/IND-11 fight it out for 31-32.
     
    TrueCrew, aetraxx7 and CharlottetownFC repped this.
  7. TheRealBilbo

    TheRealBilbo Member+

    Apr 5, 2016
    I wouldn’t rule out Tampa. The Rays need a new stadium, and their owners also own the Rowdies.
     
    CharlottetownFC repped this.
  8. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Does anyone think there is a legit candidate for #31-#32 outside the cities who have bid previously (Charlotte, Raleigh, Phoenix, Indy, SD, Tampa, Detroit, SA) + Vegas?

    Louisville?
     
  9. TheRealBilbo

    TheRealBilbo Member+

    Apr 5, 2016
    Depends on what you mean by legit candidates. People who would be interested in having an MLS franchise? Sure. Cities with people MLS will except a $200+ million expansion fee check from, sure. People in those cities willing to write a $200+ million expansion fee check, not so much. People in those cities willing to write a check for $200+ million, and another $250+ million check for a stadium... even less. Add lawyers reviewing contract terms and accountants scrutinizing balance sheets, and the universe is very small.

    I didn’t expect either St. Louis or Sacramento getting teams a year ago. Heck, the people that got the teams weren’t the people in those cities wanting teams a year or so ago, at least not the major money people.

    Long story short... these are all legit candidates, but I don’t see any of them, except maybe Charlotte, getting announced for a team in the next few years.
     
    jaykoz3 repped this.
  10. canammj

    canammj Member+

    Aug 25, 2004
    CHINO, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ---------------
    Not sure how or why the Panthers play in their own arena - couldn't they have played at the Heat's arena? No second tenant at either area , right ?
    Also having said that, this is a franchise that could do well elsewhere. Now with LV and SEA on board, maybe the NHL will finally consider a Canadian city to take the Panthers- Hamilton or Quebec being the obvious.

    I doubt the Marlins would ever relocate, but with the delays to Inter's stadium project, wouldn't that be funny if Marlins left and Inter took over that stadium and modified it for soccer? (Doubtful, but funny anyway)

    Can't figure the commissioners out, they may loose the project in Miami and team will simply invest all in Fort Lauderdale.
     
  11. OWN(yewu)ED

    OWN(yewu)ED Member+

    Club: Venezia F.C.
    May 26, 2006
    chico, CA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  12. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I stopped reading about it after the Overtown project fell apart. Not knowing anything about Miami though, it’s sounding more like the city government can care less if they field or have a pro soccer team in that town.

    I think they should just stay in Ft Lauderdale and call themselves the Strikers instead of Inter Miami. If that happens though will Garber rescind the or contract the franchise?
     
  13. OWN(yewu)ED

    OWN(yewu)ED Member+

    Club: Venezia F.C.
    May 26, 2006
    chico, CA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    he very well could.......Fort Lauderdale is very much not in the agreement, and it would be an attendance apocolypse again.
     
  14. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Looking at the renderings though , their temporary stadium will look pretty cool....
     
  15. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I do not think they are opposed to soccer, per se. I just think they want an open bidding process for the site (which is in the City Charter), which would result in more revenue for the city.
     
  16. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Playing revisionist history huh? The Fusion didn't have bad attendance. The issue with the Fusion was Horowitz couldn't afford to sink money into the Fusion AND make league capital calls to fund/keep MLS as a whole afloat. Just be happy Sacramento finally got their sh!t together and root for them.

    MLS and its' owners/investors want and need to be in Miami, period. Let's be honest, Portland, Sacramento, and Orlando are nice to have locations for teams but they aren't moving the needle nationally nor are they attracting the big name players like Zlatan, Beckham and Vela that move the league forward commercially. Miami does this in spades.
     
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  17. DCW531

    DCW531 Member

    City SC
    Jan 31, 2017
    St. Louis, MO
    Yes, Horowitz's money was the deciding factor in the Fusions demise, but to say their attendance wasn't bad isn't really accurate. In their four years of playing, the league was averaging about 14,000 per game. Miami's best year was about 11.2k, and worst was a little less than 8k (league worst that year).

    Yes, MLS Wants Miami. Needs Miami?, maybe for the PR that you alluded to, but keep in mind most of the the 18 other owner groups all signed up for a league without a miami franchise. A lack of Miami didn't keep the league from growing.

    We, soccer fans, know who Zlatan & Vela are, but does the rest of the country? My wife knew who Beckham was/is, but would have no clue on most if not all of the other "Star" players. Yes, those kinds of players may convert some casual fans to hardcore fans, but i doubt they bring in a lot of "new" fans. Just my opinion.
     
  18. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Do we think MLS announces expansion to 32 before or after #30 is announced?
     
  19. SteveUSSF_ref8

    SteveUSSF_ref8 Member+

    United States
    Oct 25, 2010
    Sun City, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #769 SteveUSSF_ref8, Oct 23, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2019
    I think that they wait till after the 30th club hits the field . I'm thinking perhaps in 2023 for clubs to begin play in 2026 or 2027. Additional I believe the asking price with be 300M.
     
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  20. mangerson

    mangerson Member+

    Sacramento Republic, San Jose Earthquakes
    Jan 8, 2008
    Sacramento, CA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If the league is committing resource$ to getting Miami up and running, I wonder if it's already burned through the $25M expansion fee?
     
  21. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Has Beckahm, MLS or whomever is involved really ever seen or handed over the $25 million or is it all just a promissory note?
     
  22. dspence2311

    dspence2311 Member+

    Oct 14, 2007
    I have no inside infro, but from the outside ... Why is Detroit in the conversation and not Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh seems like more of an MLS place — revitalized downtown, healthier economy, etc. Is it too close to the Ohio teams?
     
  23. Yoshou

    Yoshou Fan of the CCL Champ

    May 12, 2009
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Detroit has an ownership group, Pittsburgh doesn’t. :)
     
  24. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Detroit submitted an actual expansion bid and Pittsburgh never has.

    If Pitt (or Cle, who have been very close before) had a deep pocketed ownership group who wanted a team, they would very much be in the picture.

    Though 3 OH teams might be pushing it, I do not think MLS looks at it that was.

    But for now, neither is in the running.
     
    dspence2311 repped this.
  25. VBCity72

    VBCity72 Member+

    Aug 17, 2014
    Sunny San Diego
    Club:
    Plymouth Argyle FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    None of the other major leagues have teams in all three of the big Ohio cities either but if any league could pull it off MLS is probably the one.
     

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