MLS sale of Chivas USA looming(?) asking price varies from one source to the next

if seattle is going to trade up it wouldn't be for hurtado, maybe perhaps Kennedy but Seattle may look over seasons if for a keeper.

 

Minimum of two. I agree with you on the phrasing that should be associated with this, but I really don't think of it as a bad thing.

I'm curious as to what level of organization they'll maintain. During the transition period, will they still have an academy? If so, the new owners would do very well to invest in the academy and have a bright, young team to build around when they come back. If it takes them 3 years to build a stadium, which I suspect is really the bare minimum, it would be an interesting idea to see them have a USL team for the year before their return in order to get the young/academy players some pro experience in preparation for the jump back into MLS. By going on hiatus from MLS, the new owners will be opening up a world of opportunity, and I hope they explore some of the more adventurous options. Lord knows this organization needs all the help it can get.

 

This is great news. Kind of feel bead for the remaining fans who have stuck it out but hopefully they'll get a brand new shiny team in a couple of years.

 

We may already have that starting upgrade with Apam but we'll have to see and how he looks in the off-season but none the less Seattle still needs more upgrading at CB depth wise.

 

There are rumors floating around that they could launch a USL Pro team next season, so you might not be far off.

But yeah.. a 2 year break pretty much means walking into the Chivas FO, handing everyone a pink slip, then telling them to apply for their positions in the new organization...

 

Couldn't disagree more. Getting away from the stink that permeates the Chivas organization is the absolute best thing the new owners could do. There's nothing left of the failed Chivas experiment other than a few hundred fans and the academy that is worth salvaging. And the benefits of starting LA2 fresh without Chivas' baggage and without having to rush into it far outweigh any downside at this point.

I'm sure they'll do something to keep the academy going in the interim (maybe a USL side or the like) and they'll get to ramp up to a real relaunch with a real brand this time.

 

So it looks like LA2 could join the league with Atlanta in 2017. That would at least keep the conferences balanced, assuming - and it seems ever more likely - both Houston and KC will be coming West next year.

 

I'm predicting 2019. The purchase isn't finalized yet, nor a stadium location. No way for 2017. Even 2018 would be pushing it, esp. if they end up at USC. Agreements have to be negotiated, demolition. All of the prep work takes time.

 

On the plus side at least there seems to be a desire to bring them back eventually. LA2 won't end up like the Fusion or Mutiny.

 

They're on basically the same timeline as Miami as far as I'm concerned.

 

Sound math, but part of me thinks that you wouldn't drop 100 mil into a project unless you had certain understandings already with the parties involved. I'm going to say 2017, just because I'm an optimist, and there is so much friggin' construction happening in DTLA, INCLUDING a massive new development at USC.

 

So I guess the only question left is will the new club officially be a continuation of Chivas USA or will they ultimately sever even the history making LA2 essentially an entirely new club as Deadspin suggests.

http://screamer.deadspin.com/report-mls-will-shut-down-chivas-usa-1640473643/+barryap

 

As a Galaxy fan, the whole "Exposition Park" thing has me like

 

This. No freaking way the sports arena or anywhere else is in ready by 2017 . That is basically a two year window for environmental, demolition, infrastructure improvements and construction. Not happening. Maybe they come back earlier if they are willing to play and upgrade Weingart etc. I see it as Atlanta and Republic 2017; LA2 and Miami 2019. Two of Minnesota, San Antonio, and Las Vegas round out expansion before a long break. MLS might find that MIA is a nut that can't be cracked, in which case one of the latter three enter in lieu

 

Why couldn't this team play at the Coliseum in the interim once they officially break ground on a stadium? (It may be obvious, but I don't know, hence the question!)

 

100% fair question. I don't know why any team starts before their stadium is ready, but if the league is behind it and USC is fine with it, then its gonna get done.

 

Nobody really knows, it's just all speculation at this point. The Coliseum, depending on the nature of USC's eventual renovation of the stadium, is fine as a one year stop gap the way the Citrus Bowl will be next year for Orlando City.

 

One plus that comes with it is that you get the double boost. You get all the hype and excitement at launch, and once that wears off and it becomes more difficult to gain attention and keep your fans excited, boom, you got a new stadium to get all excited about all over again! This can give the club a good 5 years or more before they absolutely HAVE to be competitive. So if they struggle to win in the first few years, they won't completely go in the tank.

 

USC just entered into 99 year lease for the coliseum . I can't imagine it forbids sub tenants. USC would know for sure. But even if doable, would USC and the new owner mutually agree to terms. Would the new owner want to open there temporarily even if it was 70% tarped off ? Who knows ....

 

A temporary lease could be part of the agreement for the new Stadium.

 

Having the hiatus makes perfect sense from a League and New Owner perspective. They clearly want a fresh start and they want to put some distance between themsleves and the complete mess created by the Chivas owners. I feel sorry for the current supporters but at the rate they were dwindling, even that looks to have minimal impact.

 

I thought the Coliseum pitch wasn't FIFA standard? Could have sworn it wasn't.

Dodger Stadium anyone?

 

Basically it would be like an expansion team new history new brand etc.

 

As someone who's more than a little familiar with the area when it comes to construction, it's not that bad. If they can get an EIR waiver (they can) they could essentially "renovate" the Arena into a soccer stadium. The infrastucture is already there. The sewers, water, power and gas are already sized to accomodate a stadium (as far as power, there would be excess because of the reduced cooling load). So much of this city is politics, and if there's a political will they'll get it done by 2017.

Farmers Field (MUCH bigger project) was scheduled to open 2017 before it was cancelled.

 

No, a new stadium wouldn't have to be complete by March 2017.

Just put the shovels in the ground in 2016, play the 2017 season at some 10,000 seat stadium (or something preferably within a few miles of the new stadium), and then open the new stadium in 2018.