ok i want this to be a completely objective view. don't bring your automatic bias against houston and MLS into this. is a team in Houston good for MLS? i think yes. while i wish the SJ would have kept the Quakes and that Houston would have gotten an expansion team with Toronto, yes it is a good idea. --tons of youth players to attract --large immigrant population --great turnouts for other game there --a nice sized stadium until one is built for the team alone --(from what i can see from pics) a chance for an actual FULL SIZE field in a non-SSS --HUGE population (they are the 4th largest city in the US) --rivalry with Dallas (too bad we have to sacrifice the SJ/LA rivalry for now, which was probably a better rivalry) on problem i have with a team in houston is that they have had a team move before. the Oilers of the NFL left the city, but i have no idea why. i think that if a quality product is put on the field in houston, the fans will pack the stadium enough to compare to the attendance records of LA.
It surely would have been better if it had been an expansion for Houston with a stadium plan in place with a ground breaking date set.. But things don't always work out the best way..
i agree houston is good for the mls. It was a market we had to get into. Now Houston could turn out bad if local politicians dont get a stadium deal done rather quickly. I would hate to see this turn into san jose where a stadium deal couldnt be reached. It will create a good rivalry with FC Dallas. Though it took out the San Jose v LA rivalry. San Jose will get a new team so it will all work out in the end. Now MLS COME TO THE SOUTHEAST WE NEED A TEAM TO ROOT FOR DOWN HERE!!! (florida dosent count)
I'm a bit concerned about AEG's role in the matter. Will AEG put in the effort, and more importantly, the money, to make Houston a success? Or are they caretaker owners who plan on pinching pennies until a local buyer and stadium deal come through?
I have a feeling Garber and AEG would not even have thought about moving the team unless there was some kind of informal deal already on the table for a SSS.
The current stadium deal and other related financial matters must have been better than the former SJE arrangements. AEG must have seen the 3 year plan and decided that it was way hellofalot better than what he had at SJE.
that sure seems to be the tone. I hope its not the case. So now AEG owns Metrostars, Galaxy and Fire? I think they only want 3 teams each with their stadium
of course houston is perfect for mls because from a bussiness standpoint Houstonians have more extra cash than people do in San Jose and while the population growth is stagnant in San Jose(because of real estate), Houston's population is surging(because of cheaper housing). The Houston area population is expected to be 7 million by 2020.
Because less than 10 years after threatening to move the Oilers to Jacksonville in the late '80s, which got him some improvements to the Astrodome that he was demanding, Oilers owner Bud Adams went back to the people of Houston and demanded a new stadium, or else he would move the team to Nashville. The people of Houston, who had had had a love-hate relationship with "Bottom Line Bud" for the entire history of the team, finally got fed up with him and told him to not let the door hit him on the ass on the way out.