Fans are separated b/c of hooliganism. Up to now, in soccer in the USA , that has not been a problem , and hopefully never will be.
Seriously, the US is so huge that fans aren't going to bother travelling to road games (the few dozen crazy MLS fans that do are pioneers in this country). The LA Galaxy and San Jose rivalry is considered a regional rivalry, yet the teams are spaced about 500 miles apart. That's half a days worth of driving one way. The Galaxy and New England Revolution are on opposite ends of the country, which is over 2500 miles apart. That's a 5 day drive, or a really long plane ride. American sports even make schedules to make sure teams don't have long plane rides.
Distance is a major if not the biggest factor, but another one to be considered is the fact that soccer for all intent is still in its infancy or junior years. W/ maturity of the game and increasing numbers of fans , eventually another dimention will be reached. ( not the sci-fi type). I was going to bring up the example of Brazil as large country (without Alaska the USA is smaller than Brazil) but quickly realized that the soccer culture of both countries are more than miles apart, which would render any comparision innapropriate.
Good point on Brazil, but in Brazil, traditionally, the leagues were state based, not national (though there is a national league today). So the real rivilaries were between teams not far away from each other, or even in the same city..
Re: Soccer stadiums I lost contact w/ this thread for some odd reason, but to catch up , first of all let's change the title to " Soccer Stadiums " in recognition that this is BigSoccer and Soccer in the USA. The point about Brazil's early leagues ,state oriented, that led to local derbys and rivalries are well taken and may reflect a lack of equality on the USA soccer spectrum. I would rather take the approach to express that there is a difference in roots to present day professional clubs. Those in the USA started as pro whereas in Brazil they started as amateour clubs. I know about rivalries between amateour clubs in the USA that go back decades. HS soccer rivalries in my area surpass even most fans memories. http://www.masslive.com/varsity/boyssoccer/ My point is , just because pro soccer in the US is in its infancy , soccer rivalries are no less important here than anywhere else in the world where a pro league has been established for many years. It just has a different flavor.
You think Chivas will survive that long to benefit from a possible second deck? And besides, if the Galaxy were to expand it would probably be the grassy knoll area behind the goal opposite the restaurant end, because I don't think you can but a second deck above the press boxes and luxery suites.
Ah... yes they can, remember the sky is the limit and as long as the money is there anything is possible. But I doubt that will ever happen. I like the way HDC is now small but quaint.
DC United may not be "the Chelsea" of the MLS, but they definitely are the dominate force in MLS (4 Titles in 9 years with a 5th on the way) As for the lack of Soccer Specific Stadiums in America, any expansion plans for the MLS require the team to have a SSS. So as the league becomes more successful, we'll see more SSS. I'd say every team in the league (Including the Revs) will have an SSS within 10 years. As badly run as the old NASL was I loved going to the games, we used to go watch the Maryland Bays play, one thing that made it really surreal was the fact that two of our coaches played on the team (Darrell Gee was one, and the other I can't remember his name) We also had a keeper-coach who had played for the Diplomats before ruining his knees playing indoor pro-soccer.
That does bring memories back. I too , went to San Diego Stadium and watched the NASL' Sockers play there, without football lines on the pitch.
Apparently, San Jose will try build a new stadium for the Earthquakes. City officials leaning in that direction.
MLS is working hard to produce soccer specific stadiums in the US.By having our own stadiums, it will show the American people that do not follow soccer that soccer is a major sport and is here to stay in this country and compete with the nba nfl and mlb.
Actually it's SJSU and the Quakes owner who have been negotiating. The city has minimal involvement and it won't be a public complex.