Winter break could start from December 15th to February 15th, the season will then start in reverse and basically utilizing the same current MLS season footprint. Between Dec 15th to Feb 15th all other important sporting events such as College Bowl games and the Super Bowl would be out of the way. The current MLS season format start's the first half of they're season from late Feb and plays all through the spring, starting the second half of the MLS season with a split FIFA calendar basically would have the second half of the MLS season starting two weeks earlier around Feb 15th and the conclusion of the season would end around the end of May or early June. That's our current first half now as is, and the start of the new season could be in August and conclude in the first half of December with a mid winter break. That's the current second half of our MLS season footprint currently with (keeping in mind we currently play through the entire summer without a break that'll be the players off season). Basically it wouldn't be much different than things are currently with regards to the current MLS schedule... Garber once said this before himself! The FIFA calender will basically use the same months as the current MLS season now, but the start of the season would be flipped around or extended until August, what every way you want to look at it, it's basically all the same current months in play now with an exception of a few months in the summer...
And in other expansion related news, the meeting between MLS and Sacramento reps, Mayor Kevin Johnson and the Presidents of the Kings and RFC will go down tomorrow according to Ryan Lillis from the Sacramento Bee. He sounds like a decent source fwiw, might want to keep an eye on his timeline for more Sacramento to MLS news. 496820468163153920 is not a valid tweet id
Hold on there ... think about that. More than confirmation that the Kings are talking to SRFC, this is basically confirmation that the Kings have effectively joined this enterprise.
Based on what's been unveiled publicly, it SEEMS like this extremely tight expansion race is coming down to: 1) Sacramento 2) Las Vegas 3) Minneapolis Anxious to see what additional news comes out post All-star game.
Yeah, he's a good follow. Was one of the best when it came to the Kings' fight to stay in Sac. Last time Vivek and Kevin Johnson presented their case for a team, David Stern and the NBA BOG were in awe. I don't expect anything different tomorrow.
1. This thing doesn't look tight to me as far as the #1 spot is concerned. Municipal support, fat pockets.. Sacramento is a huge frontrunner over the others. 2. Swap Minn and LV. Despite the plans for a stadium in Clark Co., Minn. has potential investors going on. Not only that they met,(or haven't met, that may go down 2morrow as far as we could know) with MLS in Portland, while LV doesn't have any specific buyers.
-Well, Sacramento isn't that far ahead. They're in the pole position for sure, but Minneapolis and Las Vegas also have very big investors backing them as well. -Municipal support? Las Vegas city council is willing to pay 74% of the stadium costs. That's pretty massive. All that needs to be sorted out is who the principal owners will be. Again, Sacramento may be ahead but Las Vegas is not even 1/4th car length behind. -Minneapolis? Minnesota United seem all over the place regarding what their next move is. Maybe we'll find out more after the meetings tomorrow, but the fact that we don't know who they're partnering up with combined with no stadium plans made public puts them in 3rd, imo.
We should also point out United Are currently in a competing league and are likely not to be open with their bid at least until they have something concrete.
Meh. Sacramento Republic are in a different league and they've made their intentions crystal clear. Same with Orlando City before they were awarded an expansion team. Even the San Antonio scorpions were clear about wanting to move up to MLS. Aren't they in the NASL too? Time for Minnesota United to put up or shut up. No more playing around. Show your hand.
If the desire is great and the resources available i can see MLS giving all 3 cities an expansion but staggering the start dates for some to give them more time to work out any issues that need to be solved. I do agree that the most ready out of the three does seem to be sacramento.
There are cosmetic annoyances, like the clock counting backwards, but the most significant issue is free substitution, with players coming out to rest and going back in.
Come on. Sac is an affiliated MLS league not a competing league. Rumor alert. This is what I have heard from my old boss who was on the Minneapolis city council. Currently, United want to go at it alone before asking for help from their Twins and Wolves friends. United will make a pitch to build a privately funded SSS because if they don't the Vikings will be the next in line to purchase a MLS franchise. It looks like the Farmer's Market site is by far the best place to build a SSS. Why? The Twins, Wolves and the Farmer's Market are within blocks of the brand new LRT Target Station. United have the money and I am guessing the Twins Marquette bank branch will help them finance a bank deal and the Twins construction company RJM may build it. The sticking point likely will be the land. What's it worth? Environment study? Does the city need to be involved? etc. Why are the Wolves involved? Their president Chris Wright owns stock in Championship side Derby County FC. He's helping them with questions that may a rise if young Nick Rogers needs help. Rogers is smart! He's east coast but I like him. Finally, the Twins and Wolves want to make dang sure the Vikings don't receive a franchise. No love lost between the Twins/Wolves/Wild and the Vikings. Rumor alert. I talked with somebody in the Star Tribune sports department about soccer in our state. This is what he had to say, MLS will be coming to Minneapolis. Bank on it. We just don't know if it's 23, 24 or 25. It depends on MLS first choice Minnesota United FC bid. MLS knows of all the cities left open for expansion the state of Minnesota's Fortune 500 business connections are imperative to the overall growth of MLS. They would have liked to have been in our market 10 years ago but our current big four teams who have been here for over 45 years needed stadiums first. Rumor alert. United are soon to be announcing a shirt sponsor deal with a local Fortune 500 company. Target makes the most sense especially with all the Target branding they are doing with Wolves and Twins.
Pohlad Companies website An impressive list of companies. I am guessing they are worth more than 1.5 billion.
Seriously? What rapid expansion are they thinking of? Hell, what expansion are they thinking of? MLS had added exactly two teams by the time of their near collapse, Chicago and Miami. Once again proving that essentially zero knowledge of MLS is required to opine on what the league should do. ------RM