The ceremony is going to be dragged on as long as everything else i see. I guess thats just their way of doing things.
Looks like we've got the south fully locked in now and representing just as well as you can imagine; Orlando, Miami, Nashville, Atlanta. Thatll do it. I dunno, maybe Raleigh will wanna do something aggressive we havent seen yet, they might be the last ones for MLS SEC.
Miami to join the league in 2020, Nashville in 2020-2021 (whenever the stadium is complete) that leaves an open spot for 2019. It's Cincy or Detroit imo Sac's stadium wouldn't be ready by 2019. lingering feeling it will be Detroit.
Really? Judging by everyone's comments all over reddit and twitter, about 99% of the people think it'll be Cincy. As much as I want it to be Detroit, Cincy makes sense since their team is ready. Detroit doesn't have a team and would have to spool up within only 1 year.
Cincinnati makes the most sense at this point. Let them start play in 2019 to bring the league to 24 teams. Nashville & Miami start in 2020 to bring the league to 26 teams. Whatever teams are named at #27 & #28 can start in 2022.
If the league had a bid that was ready to go now, they would have made the announcement. Sac lacks the deep pockets & Cincy's stadium deal isn't finalized. Detroit is the biggest market but they lack a team, a SSS, and there is uncertainty. If Sac/Cincy get over the line by March, they are in. If not, MLS will give it to Detroit if they are convinced it will be Seattle/Atlanta v. 3.0. If they think New England v 2.0 is closer, they kick the can down the road again.
You are scared NOW because Miami got the deal done? But not before? I can see why you are 0 for 2 on predictions. Want to wager on #3?
sacramento is having financial concerns, a possibly obnoxious owner that other investors back-off with and territorial problems with SJ, but has all the other qualities ready to go- fan base, successful USL team, DT stadium location that is getting ready to construct for 20 000, average market size of just over 2 mill- close MLS rivalry- San Jose cincinatti hasnt finalized their DT stadium site, seems locked into a smaller size at 21 000 when +27 000 is warranted and is in an average market size of just over 2 mill- yet they have the financial covered and a highly successful USL team with an extra large, proven fan base- close MLS rivalry- columbus if they arent relocated detroit has very weathy investors with successful sports empires, a 65 000 seat DT stadium- but its indoors (so is vancouver and atlanta for the majority of their games)- in a city that is reinventing itself DT and a large market of over 4 mill; further, the successful semi-pro team- in the National Premier Soccer League- isnt on-board with the owners of the MLS drive- close MLS rivalries- chicago, toronto, columbus if they arent relocated there isnt one that jumps off the page as the best pick trying to repeat atlanta- goes to detroit a sure attendance success but in a smallish, not-yet-locked in stadium- cincy with a different owner- sacramento- dont know all the details, but there has to be some good reasons why investors dont want to come alongside kevin nagle- it just doesnt feel right MY GUT SAYS- detroit- my gut says the dark horse IF the MLS has researched its success potential- like they did with nobody's pick, atlanta- an indoor stadium is not a deal breaker- does any fan complain about BC Place Stadium or Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta that has its roof open for maybe 5-6 games each season and it doesnt matter anyways... and detroit's ford field could have the stadium ready for 2019- getting the management/front office team ready, getting a season ticket drive launched and beginning to sign players, while a short time-line, is not impossible IMO- the owners are already plugged in to the sports scene for corporate and media involvement- they already have an experienced staff ready to use
Its something I did not see coming. In the buildup, reading what the media had been putting out was a solid stream of optimism for both Sacramento and Cincy, and from that constant barrage of editors writing with rose colored glasses and nothing but a sea of pessimism in the Miami front, I freely admit that I was bullish that Sacramento and Cincy would be kicking a ball long before Miami ever did. I dont think it is unreasonable, given the extensive patterns over the past two years, to think that Miami was a loooooong ways off, and maybe not even viable. I guess Im happy they are, always good to get another team in the league.
1. The Miami deal has been inching towards completion pretty steadily for the last year or so. The got the land & won a NIMBY lawsuit. Not surprising at all to those who were oaying attention. Granted, 1-2 years ago, things looked grimmer. 2. What does Miami getting a team have to do with the Crew?
I was referring to the crew moving to Austin. My prediction was the crew not moving to Austin, but after Miami finally being awarded an expansion (prediction 1) and Sacramento being a slam dunk (prediction 2) , I was saying that now I’m not so sure that the crew staying in Columbus is gonna happen (because I still think Austin will kill it), but I’ve been wrong a couple times now, so as such I’m saying even though lots of indicators are Austin will shoot it down, with my luck Austin will prove me wrong and ram it through
Jeff Berding (GM, FC Cincy) said that we will have an answer on MLS expansion by the end of the month.
Frankly, I say that to maintain credibility, the league needs to add Cincy, Sac and Phoenix. Kartik Krishnayer pointed out on World Soccer Talk that TV money is crucial to MLS and with Univision being an important over the air partner, the Latino market cannot be understated or overlooked. Hence, Sacramento and PHX with their considerable Latino media markets, NOT TO MENTION existing popular teams make the most sense. All they need to do is line up the money.
No.. No, they don't. MLS could not add a single other city and "maintain credibility". Never listen to Kartik.. Or, at best, take anything he says with a gigantic grain of salt. People have been saying that MLS needs to prioritize the Hispanic market since the day it was founded. While MLS could always do a better job of appealing to that community, they aren't unique in that.. MLS just needs to do a better job of appealing to all demographics. There are enough soccer fans in this country of all ethnicities that MLS should be able to appeal to, but, for numerous reasons, it isn't appealing to yet..
It's been tried. Chivas USA. D.C. United has had players from Central and South America over the years and tried to market to those communities; particularly, when United had Raul Diaz Arce. What United found out was that Salvadorans, for example, will come out so long as the team had Diaz Arce but when he was traded the Salvadoran fan base melted away. Most recent immigrants, like Americans who have moved about for job-related reasons, retain strong bonds of loyalty to their hometown teams. It's not a good strategy per se. Rather, MLS teams would be well advised to market to all fans. United, for example, still has a "Latino" fan day each season.
Worse than that. After they traded Diaz Arce they showed up en masse when Cienfuegos or other Salvadorans came to town to cheer on the visiting team. DC finally brought Diaz Arce back, but the El Savadorans never returned.
GM trying to close the deal for the west end site. Important to note that the west end site would cost far less $ Due to th infrastructure being mostly In place already with the museum of natural history and musical hall being there Having a terrific day walking door to door in the West End, talking to hundreds of residents about @fccincinnati plans to potentially bring an MLS stadium there. Listened to & answered residents. Thanks to the community leaders who are joining me. pic.twitter.com/a5w5XI7OGF— Jeff Berding (@JeffBerding) February 10, 2018
In other news, Phoenix Rising significantly boosted their MLS bid this morning. https://t.co/NYX3T6YqlX— Joseph Lowery (@joeclowery) February 10, 2018
I find it interesting that Alex Zheng is not listed in any Forbes list of billionaires. I wonder how much he is worth?