At the end of the day, we're staying, with local ownership, and an investor who's worth about $2.7 B. Austin gets... Anthony Precourt. Austin is in for the world's harshest cold shower when they find out who they've hitched their wagon to.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Precourt sells a hefty chunk of Austin before they even kick a ball in anger...
I wouldnt be surprised to see Precourt use the threat of possibly selling to the San Antonio group to get some of his leverage in Austin back. I cant wait till the paper work is signed and can be done with him.
This was obviously the best solution to everything and one that the threat of leaving basically got MLS the best of both worlds. What was amazing was the people who were so sure it couldn't happen... that is to by fiat give Precourt a team in Austin. MLS makes it's own rules, and its clear they want to get into Austin. As I have expressed before, Austin is one of the few major US cities with no top tier professional sports. Its a blue ocean. Columbus gets what they deserve and what MLS has been asking and searching for... committed local ownership with a new stadium. Precourt and MLS get their team in Austin. If the new ownership group hadn't stepped up, the Crew would have been moved. In the end from the business side MLS wins big here. Now they quickly launch the idea that they will expand by one more team by 2021 and watch Detroit, St. Loiuse, Phoenix, and Sacramento compete to get that spot. Congrats Crew fans. May the ghost of Frankie Hejduk ride on forever!
He should try just winning games. Thanks for the info though, didn't know the Ohio layout. Cindy V Crew games gonna be an instant Derby.
Might be interesting, now, to see Berhalter go to the Nats and then GBS take the coaching gig in a triumphant return to Columbus.
Sorry. you were the person in the other thread that mentioned the good news first, so you drew the short straw.
My thread got stolen from me and the title changed to one I don't like. Yet, here I am just taking the abuse, and providing the world with ultra valuable content...
1. Isn’t Haslam a crook? Or is that his brother? Are we allowed to be nervous about that? 2. Interesting that it is an NFL guy stepping up. I’d be curious if he and Kraft talked, or he and Kroenke, etc. Every league makes its own rules.
Why worry about his crookedness. He can have fun talks with Montreal's owner about such things, I'm sure.
I have my doubts that Austin will go through. The statements made yestarday about Austin 2021 may simply have been a way of saving face until the sale goes through. Precourt will still have to get the franchise up and running on its own merits. Will MLS require that he bring in more investors, similar to what they are requiring of Sacramento? Will they require firm commitments for sponsorships? Will the stadium deal even hold up to pressure? Does Precourt even want to go through, now that his team is being taken away?
I say he sells his share to SSE and they get the Scorpions up and running in San An. Simplest solution that makes everyone happy.
The nice thing about yesterday is that it completely divorced the future of the Crew from Austin's future as an MLS team. The Crew are saved. They will start planning their new stadium. The Crew's future is so bright, they'll have to wear shades. At this point, whatever happens Austin is up to Austin and Precourt. Sacramento is being required to have the money to pay the expansion fee and start a team. Precourt already owns a team. He'll only need an investor of he can't afford to do that himself. Fortunately, there is an Austin expansion thread that would be a great place to follow Precourt's travails.
Just FYI for anyone not aware, this billboard is along I-71 between Columbus and Cincinnati. Can’t drive between the two cities without seeing it. Thus the name of the rivalry.