Actually I don't think anything short of having an MLS team in SD would keep anyone else out. Currently I believe the distance limit is 75 miles from the training ground of an MLS team that they have exclusive rights. San Diego falls outside that limit from all MLS teams and in theory should be open to anyone.
USL Pro/MLS teams would operate by the MLS marketing area rule not the Homegrown Player development player acquisition rule. Different rules. In the past we have heard that San Jose and NY/Metros have tried to block potential new MLS clubs or affiliates within the 75 miles but has this been confirmed by MLS? I remember an interview with Garth where he talked about the development areas that HQ assigns to MLS clubs. That was whole states or cities (depending on population). So I guess that is confirmed (if someone can find the article). Still have we ever heard definitive news from MLS on either subject?
Not sure we have. Could be there aren't any actual exclusivity rules as this whole affiliate thing is still quite new. They could still be working the details out. It probably comes down to what makes the most sense for the league. Ans placing MLS affiliates in unused primary or larger secondary markets is good for business they'll allow it. That said if it came down to a competition between RSL and one of the LA teams to place an affiliate in SD I'd wager what's left of my hair that the Galaxy in particular would win out. Though that's all conjecture. All we've seen that's remotely concrete is the 75 mile thing. One thing MLS has to consider with SD in particular though is that if they block RSL and no one else has any other plans to place a team or any part of their development scheme in SD... the Xolos have and will continue to do so. Xolos already have two training centers in the greater San Diego area in Chula Vista and Temecula. And they've made it clear they will continue to mine the area and points north and east with no regard for USSF or MLS. So unless MLS wants to give up all the potential players in the area...
That's an easy one...there is little payback to having a local academy (which would be surprisingly expensive to operate). The amount of prospective talent coming out of the state is minimal, and those that they do find can be shuttled down to the residency program. There is a huge benefit to having a feeder team in SD. The ability to develop young players is huge. The ability to build a brand in that area is maybe even bigger. It could lead to recruiting young talent from the greater San Diego area. It could lead to selling merchandise in a large market (million-plus). With the mandate from the league to build/acquire a USL connection, there is also talk that 2014 may be the last year of the reserve league, and the 30-man roster. In order to develop young talent, this will be a crucial element for the team and the league. Last I heard they were looking at two potential sites.
Yeah, cost-benefit analysis makes a local academy less attractive when the one in AZ is functioning so well and the SLC local pool is so comparatively small.
Sure, along with Joey Worthen (29 first team minutes in 2006), Sergio Flores (who helped us reveal the inaugural jersey!), and Adam Acosta (aka Jared Borghetti).
Another big deal about having an academy here is that you can't play outdoor year-round. I remember that our teams would play very well in tournaments from August up to about mid-November, but anything outside that we never did very well. The transition to outdoor took a while after playing indoor for 4-5 months.
Surprised no one has come up with any Real San Diego logos and such yet. I tried but my Photoshop skills are less than rudimentary. But it seems easy if they want to do it on the cheap. Simply close the L on the RSL logo and add San Diego in place of Salt Lake on the wordmark logo.
San Diego has a team in the NSPL. With Eric Wynalda as an Advisor. http://sandiegoflashsoccer.com/intern-search/
Yes we're well aware of that. but what does that have to do with this? I go to Flash games on occasion, but they're nothing to write home about. That said thre better organized than some of their peers thanks to Wynalda and Warren Barton.
Only if Clent Alexander sold them the club. And they're actually one of two NPSL sides in San Diego. The Flash have a crosstown rival that were named San Diego Boca FC until last season. And they've been rebranded San Diego iCon FC for 2014 under new ownership. The Flash play in North County at Del Norte High School and iCon have moved around, originally having played at Balboa Stadium near downtown, then a high school whose name escapes me, and reportedly they're moving to Torero Stadium for 2014.
My guess is that a theoretical RSL San Diego team would be completely separate from any existing club.
That would be my guess as well. As much as I like the Flash and Clent's enthusiasm (don't really know much about iCon beyond the tidbits we've seen so far including the plagiarism), I just don't see much benefit in partnering with them unless RSL wants the Flash name (which admittedly does have a little history in USL). Seems far more likely RSL will simply create RSD. Though if they do go the team creation route I hope they don't do it with a simple Chivas brand extension but that they create something related but obviously unique (ie: something that could stand alone even if RSL eventually sold them or the like).
Prepare yourself for RSL San Diego or Real San Diego. What do you think they will do? Remember they want to extend the brand.
If I had to guess, they'll do Real San Diego. Close enough that they can use it as a brand extension. different enough that it's obvious San Diego's team and its own organization. Kinda like what Man City is doing in NYC.
If they choose something like this, does that mean they'd wear the victory "we can't win gold" uniforms as a primary?
Actually, I kind of hope one of the assistant coaches they've brought in is meant to move over there in 2015 (when I assume they'll start playing). I think immersing a coach in the RSL system for a year with the full team would be a huge step in setting that system up in San Diego.
Maybe this is also a way to keep Javi involved when he's done playing. Have him coach the USL or academy team.