OK, maybe it's just my pipe(-induced) dream... If Club America does end up pouring money into the Quakes franchise but leaves things alone as far as colors and name, I don't see a need for another NorCal franchise. But if we get a similar situation to what Chivas is proposing to do with its MLS franchise (i.e. a complete makeover and "America-nization") then perhaps a second franchise in Northern California might be worth looking at, if only to be a natural rival to the new CA-North and the Galaxy. The problem of course would be finding the right investment. Obviously San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento would be possible locations for a second NorCal team. Despite San Jose's attendance fluctuations, I think the region might be able to support another team.
Why? San Jose averaged 11,000 people this year. What makes you think that there are enough people to support two teams?
Nah, not to me. If Club America buys a team, and wants to rename it, then they should join the league the same year Chivas do, as Club America in Houston, not San Jose. But if Club America insist on a California team, then AEG should pack up the Quakes and move them, whole, to Houston under their ownership. Let Club America have San Jose. Of course I prefer the Quakes stay in San Jose and remain the Quakes.
Well the new "Club America" would, in its attempt to draw a Mexican-American crowd, alienate some people if it tinkered too much with the franchise. This has been made abundantly clear on the San Jose board. Quakes fans have generally said that CA would be welcome if they didn't mess around too much with the existing product. San Jose's location has drawn primarily families in the South Bay, with only sparse attendance from around San Francisco proper or areas north. I think there could be better attendance if another franchise (not aimed solely at drawing in one segment of the population) were located in SF proper, or possibly in Sacramento (technically a different market altogether 2 hours away from San Jose).
Well, since so few people attend Quakes games now, how many people, relative to the market size, could they alienate? And, that is assuming, as you apparently do, that A) CA will market only to Mexican-Americans (as opposed to, say, making the CA brand more Anglo-friendly so as to increase their fan base, which would be the smart business thing to do), and B) non-Mexican-Americans will instantly reject anything CA does that does not maintain a status quo of a team that has seen consistently bad attendance, even in championship and post-championship years. I would hope that the people of the Bay Area aren't that close-minded, and that they would appreciate the local presence of Major League Soccer, something that many soccer fans in many other large markets cannot. And, pardon me for not being able to avoid being just a bit incensed by those "fans" who are throwing their cyber-temper tantrums about the soon-to-be AmeriQuakes. I mean, if that's the extent of your loyalty to your team, then CA is absloutely doing the right thing by wiping the slate clean and starting from scratch. Maybe the trees need to be shaken of you people, in an attempt to attract those who don't go into a snit so easily when things don't go your way.
I'm not concerned... As much as I feel that the MLS is a league to develop US players, the thought of Club America taking over San Jose doesn't concern me too much. As long as the rules remain the same and they have to work within them then it's a non-issue. What really excites me, though, is that the articles have tied America's investment to someone (AEG?) buying and redeveloping Spartan Stadium. Teams are transitory things. Players change. The team can move. But stadiums are brick and morter, they're not going anywhere. They give your league real long-term strength. Build 10 more HDC's and you know that even if the entire MLS goes belly-up that there will be soccer teams playing in those stadiums the next year.
An MLS franchise in Sac'to would excel. Seriously. Little man's complex... Of course, SSS and an investor would help.
A few questions for all you expansion/stadium gurus: What are the prospects for a new stadium for the Quakes, rather than just redeveloping Spartan? Are there any web sites that track this? It seems to me that the most promising strategy for a new stadium would be another MLS/collegiate joint venture, like the HDC. Santa Clara and Stanford both have good programs and big budgets--and I suppose I shouldn't ignore SJSU. Anyone know how the money flows on the HDC deal?
Not far enough north I've spent a lot of time in the Sonoma/Santa Rosa area, and compared to the Northern Virginia/Maryland area my question has always been "where are all the soccer fields?" I'm not convinced Northern California is much of a hot bed for soccer. Might explain some of the attendance issues. Certainly explains the lack of media coverage. Why not aim further north...Portland or Seattle? Just a thought.
Re: Not far enough north You'd like that, wouldn't you. So you've spent a lot of time in the Sonoma/Santa Rosa area, huh? Well, then you should know that there is very little of anything in the north bay besides wine and patagonia fleece. Near my family's house in the East Bay, there are 3 fields (one within walking distance, and that doesn't include high schools or community colleges). I pick up my niece from school and literally 60-70%% of the kids are wearing soccer jerseys. Mostly the team who they play for LaMorinda. But I spied one 9 year old wearing a Roma jersey, and one wearing a Chelsea jersey. A big problem with everyone's attitude towards SJ is that it somehow equals the whole Bay Area. It doesn't. San Jose is a pain to get to for lots of people, and they haven't quite gotten the community outreach thing down either (by what I can tell). Plus, they play in probably the worst stadium in the whole MLS. I say another team in the Bay Area would be fantastic. Have them redevelop Kezar Stadium, and put a team right in the middle of SF. San Francisco has very little love for San Jose.
Well I'm entirely opposed to seeing CA or Chivas get into the MLS. They are not interested in improving the league, instead, their proposed changes/interests will weaken the MLS so that their home league does not face potential danger in losing sponsorship from American corporations pouring into their league and clubs. I know this point of view is not necessarily politically correct, but you must also consider it.
Re: Re: Not far enough north I'm with you!! Kezar is crap though...Negoscoe is better, just doze the frat houses and put up some end bleachers! -I do agree about the part of SJ not the most convieient location for the rest of the Bay Area, and frankly, for me, my heart is not 100% behind a team that does not represent my community...yah, flame away. SF Seals Rule OK!
I disagree. By buying a franchise, they are taking on the debt of all the other teams. They won't want to lose tens of millions of dollars yearly so as to protect a cash flow of tens of millions of dollars. If it were hundreds of millions, then it would be a different story. I see it as a way of leveraging their bets in the US vs. Mex. soccer arena. By buying an MLS franchise, they stand to gain if US soccer develops and beats Mexico over and over and over and over again. If and when we lose to Mexican soccer, they stand to gain. For instance, say that in WC 2006 US faces Mexico again. If Mexico wins, Televisa will win big time. If the US wins, Televisa gains a bit (mainly b/c of SUM and the fact that it will bring in more fans into MLS). Televisa doesn't want to lose money. If MLS succeeds, and USMNT succeeds, then Televisa will make money b/c it will be invested in MLS and SUM, which sells the t.v. to US based stations.
      Just as San Francisco is a pain to get to for lots of people in the Bay Area, as is Oakland. With a whole body of water smack dab in the geographical middle of the Bay Area, the only true "centrally-located" Bay Area location is Treasure Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay.       In reality, it's not that the city of San Jose is any more difficult to get to than San Francisco or Oakland is (that's really dependent on where you're coming from)... it's just that stadiums such as SBC Park and the Network Associates Coliseum were built with great nearby accesibility in mind while Spartan Stadium wasn't (SBC Park is next to the highway, extended the CalTrains line to end about two blocks away from the stadium, and introduced ferry service in the Bay... while the NAC is next to both the highway and a BART station). Even Candlestick Park has some accessibilty, being right off the highway and having Muni bus service from SF.       That's why if the Earthquakes' I/O (whether that'll still be AEG, or if it'll be Club America, Bayer Leverkusen, a local investor or another U.S. based investor - all of which are currently rumored to be interested in the Quakes) is willing to build a new SSS in the South Bay, that either the old trainyard next to the HP Pavilion or the old Del Monte cannery plant area would be an ideal location: either choice is near a highway, a train station, local bus routes and a future light-rail station, as well as being near the San Jose's downtown.       And San Jose has very little love for San Francisco, which made them even happier when the U.S. Census Bureau officially redesignated the "San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose" region as the "San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland" region about a year ago.       Really, though, an MLS expansion team in San Francisco would be cool and would definitely create a true derby with the San Jose Earthquakes! -G
I'd love to see a Sacramento team. "America Sacramento" has a wonderfully assonant ring to it, in fact. But I live in SF, and I say "QUIT TRYING TO *#*#*#*# WITH OUR TEAM." I preferred the name Clash, but the (blue) Quakes performance and MLS in general have been more than worth every drop of gas I've burnt getting down to Spartan. At this point I'm not appreciating tongue in cheek proposals for something like Kezar or Negoesco. Said venues' prospects for hosting any kind of professional sports event can be summed up in two words: "IM *#*#*#*#ING POSSIBLE." Speaking from experience, I'd rather watch a game at Spartan than Arrowhead, the Cotton Bowl, Invesco, Gillette, Soldier, RFK or the Meadowlands -that's for damn sure. Spartan needs a facelift and a bigger pitch, but the location has proven itself. Quitcher-Bitchen and start dragging folks to games! THE central location of the Bay Area - geographically, demographically, hell throw in all the transit and the internet superhighway - is essentially where the Oakland Colesium is already located. Try getting people there. People lets remember our united front. We want what we had last year, with improved investment, and we want the opportunity to sell tickets without that huge bloody sword hovering over Spartan.
P.S. sorry for being a little touchy, Quakes-myopic, and assuming that, at this point, all MLS fans have an interest in stabilizing this market.
Absolutely, 100%. Sorry, I wasn't trying to rip on SJ. It's just that people who aren't really familiar with the Bay area think it's all really quick and accessible to get from Richmond to Palo Alto. People think that 'hey! San Jose's close to San Francisco! Why doesn't everyone in San Francisco go to Quake games!?" It's the same nonsense as the "LA has a zillion people in it! And a lot of them are Mexican! Why don't they go to the HDC for every game! Must be cuz people from LA suck!" HDC is at the far south end of a verrrrrry large (geographically speaking) area with pretty *#*#*#*#*#*# traffic during the week. However, AEG seems very happy with their arrangement with the Cal State system re: CSU Dominguez Hills and the HDC (used to be the Olympic Velodrome). I'm hoping they can come to a similar conclusion with the Quakes. SJ property is too expensive, I'd love to see you guys in a nice new version of Spartan Stadium. Then I can stop feeling bad for you, and go back to hating you. Plus, I agree with everything UCLACarlos said earlier. If the MLS can survive contraction (which they seem to have done swimmingly), they can survive expansion.