I grew up in Austin and only went to San Antonio maybe 3 times as a kid. Austin will never have a basketball team, because Austin's basically adopted the spurs for lack of our own. However, I don't see that happening with Soccer, because SAFC is already in San Antonio and establishing roots with a funded academy program. the fight between the two cities will be for the smaller passionate markets along the I-35 corridor like San Marcos (College Town) and New Braunfels (German town)
================= This is one of our problems with soccer in the USA. Not everyone can be in the "First" or highest division. Our media only cares (when they even care about soccer) , what is happening in the "First/highest" division. So no matter how many divisions or teams we have below this level, they will always be "minor" league in many peoples eyes. The exception being of course the great fans of those respective teams/cities. With a country as large as the USA, we really can support more than 28-32 pro teams if that is the level MLS is reaching for. And in terms of money making, MLS has taken a lot of time, effort and money to even get to the financial status they are now. What chance do the lower levels of reaching this level of financial stability?
I believe that at this point, MLS is asking StL to get their sponsors lined up because the league is ready to move forward, but the ownership group is giving them some reasons to pause beyond what we are allowed to see publicly. Something is happening behind the scenes that is making the league pause, but we are not privy to it. The fact that StL is not a huge market does not give them the type of leeway that NYCFC and Miami received. It's understandable that the league wants to have that additional financial security and professional support in place before giving the group the green light. That said, I think it is an important part of the league's plan and not just because of the historical relevance to StL on the sport. I also think that the league is ready to go on Sac (and has been for some time), but wants to announce StL first for optics. California already has three teams. There are another three up the coast. The vast Midwest is currently short on teams with only two or three (depending on whether you're one of the people that considers Denver to be in the midwest) west of the Mississippi and another three (counting the Ohio teams) east of the Mississippi. Bringing in StL next bridges those 5-6 teams (I'm guessing some sort of historical allusion along those lines comes into play) and shores up the region a bit. A lot of focus of recent expansion was building up the South (east) with Miami, Atlanta, and Nashville all coming in around the same time. Orlando was not too much earlier. With the West Coast and Texas (now) fairly built up, putting that last necessary Midwest piece - the literal connector - in place makes sense. StL bridges both halves of the Midwest to each other, but it also bridges the Midwest to the Texas and the South. It fills the role of the missing puzzle piece.
https://www.wfae.org/post/charlotte-talks-could-charlotte-get-mls-team-after-all#stream/0 Features a writer from MLSsoccer.com (so take it with a grain of salt) who stated that anything after 28 is likely but will likely be deferred a while (within a decade). This would likely mean 30 teams, I feel like StL will be announced as 28 and then Sac will be announced as 29 (maybe at the same time). 30 will likely be Phoenix but they will be up against Vegas and two Carolina bids, as well as any potential new bids or longshots (Indy, San Diego, Det).
Shifting goalposts. The way I sees it... 28 gets in. They make lip service on stopping for now but REALLY work over the next tier of cities likely in the runup to 2026. Probably right after then you'll see another round of expansion.
With NASH & MIA coming in 2020 and Eastern by location , I would love to see 2 coming in the West in the same time, but can't see that happening. SAC could- have a team, large enough temp stadium (bigger than SJ had . Play one year unbalanced schedule again and then Austin in 2021 balances the East/West again. Bring on STL in 2022 so the stadium is done before and no temp location. I guess you could put them in the West , then who could be the balance in the east? I still like NC, but would accept Detroit if they go back to a SSS.
Is it STL ownership giving the league pause, or is it situations like Miami's on going location hunt / temp venue, Cincy's last minute architect swap, etc... causing the league to make sure everything is in order? You know STL market size is generally shown as #21, right behind SAC at 21, and before POR @ 22. I'm from STL, but have never bought into the "history" aspect of STL bid, a nice feel good story, but not an expansion driver. I do agree with you on the optics, but still think SAC announced first, followed in short order bey STL, and open up slot 30.
While not ideal, STL can play in either the east, west, or dare i say central . They could even be moved back and forth, ala chicago was, as future expansion may dicatate.
I personally think that the issue for San Antonio is not Austin so much as MLS being cool on the market in general. If they were a Cincy in the lower levels I think they could certainly be in contention to get a team, but they don't have the demographics MLS wants to make a faith-based bet like they did in Austin or Nashville. People talk about San Antonio having a larger population than Austin, but I don't think many realize that Austin not only has much higher income, it also actually has a slightly larger employed workforce. San Antonio's population advantage is really built around the fact that it has a LOT more children per household. In terms of disposable income, Austin has a big advantage over San Antonio and MLS knows that. That said, San Antonio with a good ownership and stadium situation is still a solid place to put a MLS team. I don't think it's out of the question that something could come together. We know San Antonians have a lot of pride and will support their teams. The city is also growing very fast and is starting to do a bit better at attracting higher-income jobs to the economy. An advantage it does have over Austin is a much lower cost of living and a substantially-less congested roadway system. The idea that Austin should block San Antonio or vise-versa was always absurd to me. These are two fairly different cities with minimal to no overlap in terms of sphere of influence.
But Carolyn Kindle Betz has said she walks away if not team 28. I know some disagree with that but that is my take. It also is the take of a columnist in Saint Louis Ben Fredrickson. We shall see if she means it or not.
You keep saying this, but ... How is this supposed to force MLS's hand? They've survived 20+ years without St. Louis and they already have the midwest fairly well covered. St. Louis is just a nice to have for MLS. The only people she's "hurting" by walking away if she's not 28 is the people of St. Louis.
----------I sure hope we don't go 3 or 4 divisions ! I was always in love with single table, but that shipped sailed a while ago, so i am learning to live with 2 conferences and I hope it stays that way even up to a total of 32 teams (16/16) ---- Another crazy thought, since MLS is now going to single elimination playoff rounds, why not just invite all 32 to the playoffs and do a straight up single knock out with all ? Makes the MLS Cup a little more meaningful (which the league I am sure would love), but I think it hurts the Shield (which the fans started) and the much older and more traditional USOC. I think all the way back to the beginning of the league and would have loved to have been at the table when the decision was made to create a "3rd trophy" instead of lets go traditional regular season champion for the Shield and the USOC for the true national championship, like most of the rest of the world. As the league gets bigger, finding it harder to balance all of these.
I guess you could say Saint Louis has survived without MLS as well correct? It would be nice to have a MLS team. Will the city go bust if there is not a MLS team? No. However I don't think she wants to be Sacremento. She doesn't want to be "begging" MLS for a franchise. Either they want Saint Louis or they don't. Either way is fine. Saint Louis has a viable ownership group. They are paying for the stadium. No public money. Owners with about 15 billion in net worth.There is no reason not to pick Saint Louis. The league has said since 2006 they want a franchise in Saint Louis. If they pick Sacremento then that isn't true is it? That means for the past thirteen years MLS has been telling Saint Louis what it wants to hear. Just have Garber come out and say Saint Louis is a nice to have, not a must have. So far he has said they would like to have. Which is it? Just have Garber call a press conference and be honest.
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis...uis-mls-dream-team-came-together-and-why.html Here is my documentation to prove I am not lying. There is a possibility that she walks away. Now I didn't put that that it is possible. My mistake. Can you acknowledge that there is a possibility? Now it was my mistake in not putting possibly walking away. Was that really worth a yellow card? Who do I appeal that to? At least acknowledging I made a mistake should be worth something. How would you interpret this? I would be happy to look at your documentation to disprove this. With all due respect I would ask that you apologize for calling me a liar(or saying I lied which is the same thing). I have not called you a liar.
That's not going to happen either. You can't purposely attempt to misconstrue the truth, come back and say it was a mistake when you are caught and expect an apology for admittedly being obstinate.
Not correct. It's dying and needs a shot in the arm that will bring a young group of people back into the city.
Your link doesn't work without an account But she never says anything about 28 or walking This is your final warning. Stop intentionally posting false information.
I don't have an account I don't have an account it works perfectly for me. Carolyn Kindle Betz of Enterprise Holdings says she doesn't know how Major League Soccer would say no to the #MLS4THELOU ownership group's bid for a team. If they do? "It might be one of those things where it's just kind of time to say, 'You know what? I don't think this is a good partnership.'" Maybe you could google the above paragraph. I look forward to your response I am not intentionally posting false information.
Every expansion candidate says that, tho.. That doesn't mean MLS won't go with someone else, it also doesn't mean they walk away.. You just need to let this discussion point go.
That's not going to happen either. It's his Titanic life jacket, and he knows there are not enough life boats. His hope is sinking fast, so the panic is settling in, because he knows his discussion points will eventually drown.