Agreed. When I was a resident (Henderson), I could count on one hand the times in a year I would go to the Strip for entertainment. In my mind, since I'm not a gambler there was not much to draw me. However, a nice venue and MLS team would have meant 15+ more trips per year just for games, and chances are I would have found some other things there I liked, which could have turned into yet more trips to the Strip and money spent. Since that dynamic is not a hard concept, and multiply that by thousands more residents in the Metro area, you have to wonder what they are thinking by discounting it. My suspicion is that the Resorts/Casinos have everything mapped out the way they want in order keep the money flowing, and anything else not directly related is simply not part of the Plan. Edit: I also agree that traveling fans will not be more than a blip on the radar for MLS in LV. Really, how many are going to travel? 100? That's not going to mean much. And vacationers are not likely to go to a soccer game as part of their weekend. A few, maybe, but nothing that will be the difference for a franchise. Residents of the LV Metro area are the ones that matter most.
Well I'm finally able to get to this. Since my reply was removed for language (even though it was in response to a post with the exact same kind of language) here's the cliffnotes: - I was BORN AND RAISED in Vegas. I'm a native for Pete's sake. - My parents still live there, as do a handful of relatives. All soccer fans. - Played soccer at every level available to me from ages 4 to 18. - I love the Great State of Nevada and want to see good things for it. Hmm, sounds like I actually have more of a say in this.... hmmmmm..... So, let me paraphrase what you asked: "So I'd really like to know how a Hawthorne resident knows a [expletive deleted] thing about the soccer fans of the Las Vegas area." And please, PLEASE point out to me where I'm hating on Vegas. I didn't realize using rational thought in thinking away fans won't make a franchise is the same as saying "I hate Vegas."
Looks like we got ourselves a Matt and Dann pissing contest. Not sure why since both seem to be on the side of soccer in Vegas.
I agree a thousand percent. It baffles me that my words and promises of spending money in LV for soccer (a promise very easy to keep, btw) meant so little. I do, however, believe visiting fans could make a significant impact. You've got four teams in close-ish proximity with decent traveling support and another few teams that travel well in general. Plus just the face that it's VEGAS! will being out fans that might not normally go on roadies. Overall, I think the Valley will support a team. They may not match the very rosy attendance projections they're tossing out there (at least not to start) but it would do well. This region is chomping at the bit for something to rally behind and call their own. This should be it.
Saw an article in LVRJ pointing out that most stadiums have at least some public money. Only two MLS stadiums had no public money. Crew Stadium and Stub Hub Center.
How long until Miami gets put on the shelf? Sac is ready to go. It's going to be fish or cut bait for Miami soon.
I hope something happens soon. Every time there's talks of expansion, the league still mentions Miami
If Vegas has a viable plan they will get in. If Miami gets a viable plan, they will get in. Stop clouding yourselves in the illusionary fog of "24 or bust".
NYCFC doesn't have a viable stadium plan. Playing in a baseball stadium until maybe NYCFC gets a stadium isn't a plan. Miami is getting sandbagged.
Very true. People get wrapped up in whether a city deserves or has earned a team. The league is interested in Las Vegas; if they can get their stadium ducks in a row they'll get in. Simple as that.
MLS will show a ton of patience with NYCFC cuz it's New York. It's potentially going to be their marquee club and they want to get it right.
For people that don't know. The fremont st experience is not the Las Vegas strip. This particular stadium would be about 6-8 miles from the strip, just to clear that up for people that think they'd be walking from their Las Vegas strip hotel to the game. Not happening
I did specify DOWNTOWN hotel for walking distance. It's a short drive, distance wise ,from the Strip traffic on a weekend is horrendous. If I were staying on the Strip I'd consider taking public transportation.
I agree. Awesome location. Across the tracks from my fav hotel. Main Street Station. Downtown is better because everything is really close together.
Excalibur, which is about as far on the Strip you could stay is under seven miles; most wouldn't be that far away. And you *would* be easy walking-distance from Downtown hotels/casinos. Helping with the revitalization of Downtown is one of the great things about a potential stadium at this site. And oh yes, there are buses that run from Downtown to the Strip (and vice versa) all day and night.
There really is a lot of exciting things happening in Downtown right now. The stadium would be a perfect fit. Whether it's going to happen or not is another thing altogether.
Las Vegas could really work. (the tourists are probably going to watch the games, but that would be tourists from assoc football countries. Like if you go to St. Petersburg, wouldn't you want to see Zenit in action? Though the people that mainly will be showing up twice a month would be the residents. (but being in LV is extra publicity to the outside world) IMO instead of LA2 and Miami, the MLS should bring teams to LV, Sacramento and Minnesota.
Actually I think NYC will garner more international attention. But yeah I'm sure people would talk about seeing "that football team in Vegas" when they vacation/holiday Why not all of them?
Because they will stop for a few years with expanding. If I was the DON, I'd raise the cap and allow teams to have more foreign players on their team. I think the reason why they slowly add teams, is the fear that the level of play is dilluted. (But this is no problem when you bring in good foreign players from Scandinavia, Southern America etc.) I would like to see San Antonio, Miami, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Los Angeles 2.0 and Minnesota in MLS. But I am roooting for LV, Sacramento and Minnesota currently. I could imagine soccer could be the dominant sport in these 3 cities. Altough I never been to any of these cities so it's just a hunch. San Antonio seems pretty comfortable in the NASL. LA already has a team, why the need for two? Miami has already failed once.
Has anyone heard of plans for a march to the meeting on December 8th? Also, I wanted to suggest red and black as colors (for obvious reasons) and LVFC or LVSC as the classiest name choices.