Future of the Silverbacks

Discussion in 'Atlanta NASL' started by TerminusFooty, Sep 13, 2013.

  1. ATLfirefan

    ATLfirefan Member

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Jul 8, 2005
    Norcross, GA
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    OK, you are totally right in that we want the Silverbacks to stay. I know I do. Right now, I'm battling my love for the Silverbacks vs. my desire to see the best soccer possible in Atlanta. I'm both loyal to my Atlanta teams, but also to growing soccer in the U.S.

    It's a tough situation to be in for me. But I guess my point is, I'd like to see a more proximate city purchase the NASL franchise rights the Silverbacks might forfeit when the MLS team comes to town.
     
  2. jspech

    jspech Member

    Dec 12, 2013
    Sadly, I have a feeling the Silverbacks has moved, to Miami as in FC.
     
  3. panicfc

    panicfc Member+

    Dec 22, 2000
    In my chair, typing
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    what gives you that impression?
     
  4. Prosoccercdn

    Prosoccercdn Member+

    Aug 6, 2011
    Club:
    FC Edmonton
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Miami FC is a completely new expansion club and has nothing to do with Atlanta Silverbacks.
    Won't be surprised to see Atlanta move to another city though.
     
  5. RutgerATL

    RutgerATL Member

    Nov 10, 2009
    Decatur, GA
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The team will not move unless it is to a suburb of Atlanta. There is nothing to move. The team has no assets that are worth anything to a owner in another city. I think all the player contracts are one year deals and I bet most of the front office staff would not move to another city. The brand would be virtually meaningless in another city. Any new owner group could just as easily just start a new team from the ground up in another city.

    My thoughts for the future; team could find a new owner willing to go up against MLS (not likely), new owner could continue team but move down to NPSL or USL (possible), team just folds like so many other minor league teams have done in the past (most likely).
     
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  6. Prosoccercdn

    Prosoccercdn Member+

    Aug 6, 2011
    Club:
    FC Edmonton
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    If the club can be bought for a price that makes it more advantageous then paying the 3 Million fee for an expansion team it may be sold and moved.
     
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  7. TheLincolnKing

    Dec 15, 2011
    ATL
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There is a significant group of fans that wants to see the Silverbacks continue at Silverbacks Park as an NPSL club, maintaining their 20 year history with numerous close road trip possibilities and a low cost organizational arrangement. It would just be like the Reserves were the whole club and the reserves absorbs the historical records etc. I would rather see them continue in NASL obviously, but would take NPSL gladly over extinction. Then Boris can have his model of adult Leagues and an NPSL team the stadium, etc. basically all of it for a low cost, although in a different form, the fans do keep our club and the slight possible faint hope of a future reinvestment/rebuild.
     
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  8. panicfc

    panicfc Member+

    Dec 22, 2000
    In my chair, typing
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    So can the SB's survive in the NASL with the pun in the room (gorilla)?

    Playing at SB Park is not a winning answer for them. Needs to be bigger, and from what I have heard from locals - they don't like the location very much.

    Is Kennesaw the answer - probably not. They have football playing there, and it probably isn't as inexpensive as people would think.

    So where do you go?

    Seems the only answer is relocate.
     
  9. The One X

    The One X Member+

    Sep 9, 2014
    Indiana
    Club:
    Indy Eleven
    It is pretty simple, the Silverbacks are not going to survive as an NASL team in Atlanta once the new MLS Atlanta team starts up. There is no way around it. I personally would hold nothing against you for switching your allegiance. From my vantage point the owner of the Silverbacks didn't seem to be interested in giving Atlanta fans the best soccer possible, so consider yourself lucky that you are getting an MLS team.
     
  10. wellington

    wellington Member

    Jun 4, 1999
    Charlotte, NC
    Club:
    Charlotte
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    They are moving somewhere... Birmingham? New Orleans?
     
  11. annapolis

    annapolis Member

    Jul 3, 2001
    Not so sure myself. Silverbacks have a history (near sell outs the last couple years). New team is doing everything they can wrong. Playing in an NFL stadium. Absurd name. Seems like with the right owner they might have a shot.
     
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  12. MUTINYFAN

    MUTINYFAN Member

    Apr 18, 1999
    Orlando
    The name is not absurd but its not the greatest either.
     
  13. Cyclonis

    Cyclonis Forza Juve

    Jul 12, 2007
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Don't give up hope! Before, I would have said that a MLS team in Atlanta would have surely killed off the Silverbacks, but now I not so certain. MLS has been making lots of mistakes lately.
     
  14. brentgoulet

    brentgoulet Member+

    Oct 12, 2005
    PuertoPlata, DomRep
    618619989038383105 is not a valid tweet id
     
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  15. The One X

    The One X Member+

    Sep 9, 2014
    Indiana
    Club:
    Indy Eleven
    I have been happy with the response to the name of the MLS Atlanta team. Glad to see people are tired of copying other teams.
     
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  16. SoccerPrime

    SoccerPrime Moderator
    Staff Member

    All of them
    Apr 14, 2003
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
     
  17. Bisquick_in_da_MGM

    Jul 26, 2013
    Club:
    Atlanta
    Move to Birmingham!!!
     
  18. brentgoulet

    brentgoulet Member+

    Oct 12, 2005
    PuertoPlata, DomRep
    Any investors with deep pockets over there ?
     
  19. The One X

    The One X Member+

    Sep 9, 2014
    Indiana
    Club:
    Indy Eleven
    Birmingham isn't exactly small, it is actually about the perfect size for a D2 league, so I would think there would be at least a few people with the money to. Bigger question is if there would be any interest. If the NASL footed the bill to move the team there, get stadium, etc. I am sure you would be more likely to find some interest.
     
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  20. Bisquick_in_da_MGM

    Jul 26, 2013
    Club:
    Atlanta
    They could use Legion Field to start. It's where the USWNT played when they were in Birmingham. UAB is building a new soccer stadium or they could play at the Hoover Met. There are lots of stadiums.
     
  21. panicfc

    panicfc Member+

    Dec 22, 2000
    In my chair, typing
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Hoover Met would be perfect.
    Legion - too massive for a crowd of 10,000 or so.
     
  22. brentgoulet

    brentgoulet Member+

    Oct 12, 2005
    PuertoPlata, DomRep
    Based on the most recent information we have, the Silverbacks ran at an operating loss of $2.5M last year (per Sulaiman Folarin)
     
  23. Bisquick_in_da_MGM

    Jul 26, 2013
    Club:
    Atlanta
    Birmingham is having an announcement at 4:00. Is Birmingham getting a pro team?
     
  24. SoccerPrime

    SoccerPrime Moderator
    Staff Member

    All of them
    Apr 14, 2003
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not sure there's anything there about the NASL Silverbacks.
     

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