Ive heard grumblings about it, but have not heard anything for awhile. Didn't Kaval mention it awhile back that they want a team here and to play in PayPal Park? Id love to see it happen.
Never believe anything Kaval says. He’s a walking public relations robot that will say anything regardless if it’s true or not. He says what he thinks you want to hear.
https://equalizersoccer.com/2023/01...ansion-team-boston-to-join-later-each-at-50m/ Reporting by the Wall Street Journal released today confirmed that the Bay Area had locked down its spot in the 2024 NWSL season with a record breaking $50 million franchise fee to the league. Additionally Boston has locked down their entry into the league, however, their launch date has not been confirmed past the fact that it will not be in the 2024 season.
Hmmmm... Will believe it when I see it, but we've burned before. So I am cautiously optimistic that we will see a women's team in the Bay Area. Having said that, will support them if it happens!!
Still shocked at the franchise fee. Does league revenue even come close to warranting such a valuation??
I guess yes: This February, the Washington Spirit were valued at $35 million in Michele Kang’s takeover; shortly afterward, Gotham FC raised money at what Sportico first reported as a $40 million valuation from new owners including Kevin Durant, Sue Bird and Eli Manning.
Thrilled to see this, and the high valuation, as it suggests the women may finally be taken seriously. Only fifty years after Title IX!
Unfortunately yes, we had to see WUSA disappear first and that makes this rise from the ashes all the more remarkable.
I don't know if they would go the "whatever" stadium route like the Gold Pride did (CSU East Bay after Castro Valley High School). That said PPP wasn't around at the time, but Buck Shaw was. Maybe SCU was not interested in partnering.
Judging by where they were posing, I’m pretty sure that PayPal Park was always in the cards. After a decade, first-division women's pro soccer is returning to the San Francisco Bay Area, according to a report. @nwsltothebay #nwsltothebay #bayareafutbol https://t.co/yjqh2j0ERz— Douglas Zimmerman (@zimpix) January 27, 2023 GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
FCGP played at Buck Shaw one year, then CSU East Bay one year, where they won the championship and promptly folded. The stated reason for leaving Buck Shaw was that the Earthquakes had full scheduling priority, so they were left with leftover available dates for home games. The NWSL is past the state of finding random crappy college stadiums--10 of the 12 current teams play in MLS or USL SSS venues. The other two are Seattle in the NFL stadium and San Diego in the brand-new SDSU football stadium. This expansion bid wouldn't get approved if they weren't able to use PayPal Park.
Would the new NWSL team also have problem with the Quakes having full scheduling priority again? Also, wonder if doubleheader would be possible? Now we may get into controversy if the NWSL plays first.
Doubleheaders with the Quakes would be a great idea. Both squads could benefit from the cross-marketing.
Perhaps, but I think the ownership of the previous club was pretty naive, while this new group should have eyes wide open as well as plenty of examples from other cities of how MLS/NWSL scheduling can be handled. The new Apple-influenced MLS scheduling that puts almost everything in a fixed Saturday night slot probably will help, just by keeping things very predictable. The wild card is Quakes II. Three home teams on that grass could be too much, so I wonder if this will be a motivation to move Q2 games elsewhere.
MLS games are pretty much all at the same time on the same day now under this 10 year Apple deal, so at least the Quakes schedule would be very easy to work around.
https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2023...MgyWtftEFZHNrBZELE-dDZ7Ar_LvaqkMKx0J9hW2M4eCI National Women’s Soccer League Tuesday announced it has awarded expansion rights for its 14th team to an investment group representing the Bay Area in California. The new club will begin play in 2024. The new Bay Area club’s majority investor is Sixth Street, a leading global investment firm.
I wonder if I can get an invitation to try out if they host an open tryout. I'm soccer fit still, I don't smoke anymore and I would 1000% cut back on drinking. I want to be the first person in SJ NWSL history with a red card and the first one released during the regular season then my face can be in the SSV museum forever.