Cut the LA metro are population in half. What number do you get. Add up the entire San Diego area population. What number do you get. There's your answer.
I've been beating the drum for quite a while that it is dangerous to go head-to-head against MLB, esp in smaller markets. LA (and NYC) are probably the exceptions, though, due to the sheer number of people in the respective areas. Regarding game overlap, scheduling logistics is not that big of a deal
How many people walk up to Yankee's stadium? How many walk to Dodger's stadium? There's been discussion of developing the area around Dodger's for other stadia for a while, but I just don't see it happening. Regarding the head-to-head nature of the relationship, I couldn't say. Both teams have good attendance, etc.
Vergara had much more pressure on him because his team was paying rent and was losing money. Estimates just in this thread pegged the losses at $5 million to $10 million a year. On the other hand, Kraft makes money on the Revolution. Of course, he makes very little but its still better than losing money every year.
I think you and I are on the same page. I was thinking more of the realities of Chavez Ravine on a game day. Lots of people think LA fans are just late - no, there's actually an hour-long line to get into the parking lot.
What I really want to know? When did the buy out idea gain traction with the majority of owners? What were the initial votes and thoughts? Is this MLS fund money the owners agreed to give up? Was it unanimous? I guess even the most frugal/cheap MLS owners...Krafts/Hauptman....figure a larger expansion fee from a new team owner will cover it, but I'm still real curious. Will it be a full expansion fee anyway? Hmmm. Great day. Can we all focus on mocking the Kraft's now?
Yeah if a stadium was built next to Dodger Stadium, scheduling wouldn't be a big issue. MLB schedule comes out pretty well in advance and MLS could schedule around it like they do with the Sounders/Mariners. Houston people, do the Astros and Dynamo ever play at the same time? And if a stadium is built in DS parking lot, Guggenheim will be involved. I can't see them not using that huge piece of property they own for themselves. Parking structures are inevitable in Chavez Ravine. Piggyback Yard east of Union Station would be an obviously great location, but no idea who owns that property.
Wasn't Columbus sold for $60 million? Chivas USA may only be worth $64 million, but a Major League Soccer club in LA is worth much, much more.
It reminds me of one of those awkward retirement ceremonies were people are trying to think up praise for the retiree. Once they're out the door the real story will be told.
Seattle too, but that's due in part to the Chivas-level amount of mismanagement of the Mariners' front office (in addition to losing for the better part of 13 years, they've managed to alienate their season ticket base as well as casual sports fans to boot by coming out against the Sonics coming back to town).
The one scary thing from that conference call is the Don's admission that the league continues to court foreign clubs as owners. Despite all the evidence demonstrating that local, committed ownership is the most successful for the league.
A couple year ago at MLS Cup I was actually in my car headed to Dodger's Stadium to shoot Tommy with the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy. I think Tommy wasn't feeling well and they called it off. Of course the courts have gotten involved with the Dodgers - and who owns them. They've got their own problems.
I think the Vergaras really are held in good esteem in MLS. I really do think it's the Cues who aren't welcome. Vergara has been a huge advocate for MLS (and SUM) within Mexico. Pissing of Vergara would be very spiteful as SUM's biggest money makers have been their various Mexican soccer properties - InterLiga, the Mexican National Team friendlies in the U.S.
Ridge Mahoney from Soccer America with a couple of interesting tweets Source says MLS paid $25 million for chivas USA, same figure it offered when Vergara bought out former partner Antonio Cue.— Ridge Mahoney (@ridgemax) February 20, 2014 According to source LA group offered Vergara $70 million last year for chivas USA and was turned down.— Ridge Mahoney (@ridgemax) February 20, 2014 So, MLS could make a decent profit on this.. And Vergara is an idiot.
MLS got a bargain. Vergara's an idiot. He might still be ahead all things figured, but he could have been much, much more ahead.
Sold at a loss!!! He must've been desperate to get out or he figures that he wasn't going to burn the bridges he made during his time in the league with the other owners.
Vergara is a very good business man. Terrible owner. I would be surprised about that. Unless Vergara got to keep his share of SUM.
One last thought about the poison of Vergara from me. The guy went out and registered the names Los Angeles FC and Los Angeles SC recently - not because he wanted to rebrand his team that way but because he wanted control of those names after he sold his team to MLS so he could hold any new owner up for ransom if they wanted to use those.