In the soccer confidential I have just received from Soccer America, Tim Leiweke (president of Anschutz Entertainment Group) is quoted as saying: "Within the next 365 days, the league [MLS] will announce that it will be adding two more teams." And "Then we will add two more down the road." A team in Philadelphia would make for a big rivalry with DC United. I think the four teams will come from: 1. Seattle 2. Philadelphia 3. Portland 4. San Diego
I hope it is not philly b/c I live 30 min from philly. I would hate to stop being a DC fan for something that petty.
Why would you stop being a DC fan? In the highly unlikely event of MLS coming to Buffalo, I would still support United. Its not like anyone is forcing you to change clubs.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/digest.htm At the above link, MLS spokesman Trey Fitz-Gerald says the teams won't likely play until '04 or '05 (he was speaking in response to Leiweke's statements). Mark
I dont want to have to make the choice, I have always been a home team fan since I was a wee lad. I would almost feel like I am cheating or something.
Re: Re: DC United - New rivals? Thanks for the link Mark. Maybe the extra year would give DC United more room for making the team stronger. Although I suppose during the expansion draft DC United will lose a player or two. Big Head Ed, maybe the extra year will make you an eternal fan of DC United. Let's hope DC United wins MLS Cup 2003!
I've heard nothing about Portland getting a team. There's a stadium and a plastic field that also houses AAA baseball. Some Portland folks are trying desperately to get the Expos but I don't think they'll pull it off. At any rate they seem to have no interest in some sort of soccer package. Seattle is a better bet.
Ed, Ed, Ed... Be happy that it would only take 30 minutes to watch United win instead of our normal 2 hour drive. There would be no way I could switch allegiances, Philly will have enough fans without us, but the crowd will be like Hispanic Heritage Night when DC plays the Atoms in Philadelphia. It will feel like a road game for the Philly scum. You will have spent 3 years supporting United before Philly even lines up. Besides Seattle, Rochester, Portland and Oklahoma City have groups actively seeking a franchise. Repeat after me I, state your full name, will never love anyone but United. I'm Black and Red til I die. Besides, what Waffle House would you stop at on the way home from Philly?
I would expect, based on past support for Nat's games (Men/Women), that Portland could support a MLS franchise.
This is a tough issue for me. While I have developed a solid allegiance to DC United, I would have to champion a Baltimore club were we to get one. I am a Baltimore booster above all else, so I'm afraid I must face the music. My hope is that Baltimore will get an A-League club some day that will be a feeder to United. That way I can keep track of our youth team for you all, and still be true to the Black shirt.
Well since both Philadelphia and Baltimore are both within the DC United 'Footprint', I don't think they'll get a team. I feel confident that Stephen Zack can successfully lobby against them for years! If they launched another club in DC, say DC Soccer Club or Athletic Club DC, it would be an interesting business. I would definitely stay true to the Black and RED but if my neighborhood switched over to the new club, my kids might be influenced by their peers rather than parents. We could see the start of a rivalry such as that between Arsenal and Hotsp*rs! Or even something rising to the level of Hamburg SV and FC St. Pauli! Then a mere bauble like the Atlantic Cup would not even begin to measure the rivlary and hatred...Heck, during the derby games, there could be fighting up and down Pennsylvania avenue with N. Capitol Street being the divide - a NW/SW vs. NE/SE... Nasty business really...
I'm of cut of the other cloth. Once I back a team, for whatever reason than I am married to them for life. That is how, living in the Baltimore suburbs, I am a DC United, NY Islanders, Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Miami Dolphins fan. Each team that I root for has a bit of a story behind it. The one constant is that once I become a fan, it would take a miracle, good or bad one, to get me to change. I understand your way Lowecifer but as Frankie said, I have to do it my way.
The teams I picked cause of the big school that can act like and out let to these teams. 1. Indiana 2. North Carolina Dook( thats not an error ) UNC 3.Conn. for UCONN 4.Seattle For history up there. 5.Arizona could be better than there Football team and close to Mexico.
I doubt Philadelphia will get a team. MLS has been pretty clear that they want to expand into cities that have or will have their own soccer stadiums one day. That's unlikely to happen in Philadelphia. Now, if people are willing to cross the river into NJ.... I think there's a better shot at a stadium, but who would want to go?
I Big Head Ed, will never love any futball team but the United(for MLS). I am Black and Red (white and blue too) till the day I die. Thanks Bryan I needed that!!!!!
Given the last three seasons, the rival should actually be the A League. Maybe we would actually post a winning record... maybe.
Oh yeah, the fans are here, just like in DC. But unlike DC no out of town (or in town) rich guy has ever stepped up to get a franchise and MLS has never seen that Portland is worth having a franchise like Dallas. So I'd bet that Paul Allen will finally be induced to have a franchise in Seattle. If so than a whole bunch of the crowd there will be from Portland. You'll see me on your TV's screaming like crazy for DCU for once instead of the other way around! BTW- if Paul Allen does indeed step up to the plate then we should all feel much better for the future of MLS. Not so much because he makes Anschultz look like, well, you or me, but because he wouldn't agree to the franchise without a pretty good guess that the team would make money. Either that or he's turned into soccer fanatic and he's willing to pour millions into the sport. I'm easy either way.
As for supporting a Philly team, well I dang sure hope you would! You obviously like soccer and MLS, and you live RIGHT THERE! You are what MLS needs supporting Philly if they ever got a team. Yeah, root for DC United when we come to town once a year if you want, and still come onto these boards and keep us company, but that would be a team that I'd hope you'd make yours. I'm kinda like Shawn, I pick a team and stick with it (and btw, nice to see another Dolphin fan like Hamlin and me). As for Philly getting a team, well MLS is bending over backward to figure out a way to get a workable solution in the 4th biggest market in the US. It would also be very convenient for DC, NY, NE and CB. That keeps costs down, and allows the fervent fans to go to away games. Plus, Philly, Boston and New York seem to have a universal rivalry in almost every sport, so I'm sure they would add passion to the sport. But, there is no decent stadium solution. Lurie just want's a tennant in his stadium, and it's not the type of stadium MLS wants. No other good fits exist. Building is very difficult and quite expensive. Also, there has been interest, but no firm ownership committments. Comcast has been approached, but they're not really interested in losing money on soccer. Too bad really, because if they bought in, I'm sure we'd see better coverage of United, the Philly team, and the Metros as part of Comcast's mid-Atlantic/Northeast cluster. No, putting the team in Jersey would guarantee disaster. It's a perception thing, but Philadelphians don't want to go there, and wouldn't totally consider it "their" team. It's gotta be in Philly and on public transportation. If it is, it'll do quite well, and help MLS market to the networks instantly. -Tron
If Philly got a team, I would have to support them. If you live in Philly, or anywhere around it, you support them and not anyone else. It's the way us Philly fans are. Ask anyone around and they'll tell you. It would be great for rivalries...both D.C and the metros would have some big away travelers for both and I can guarantee you that Philly would have a good hardcore following.
And I'm sure you speak for all Philly fans...now go eat a cheesecake, fatso (bet you did'nt know that Philly people are the fattest people in the U.S.....man, that's fat if you're talking about Americans!?!?!?!) I have some family in the Delaware Valley Region (even spent a couple years living around there...Action News...best news program around...period...Cicilly Tynan...what a hottee!!!) If I was still living around there (now in Boston from Madrid), I would surely watch a Philly team. But whenever DC rolls into town...I have to root for them...once a fan, always a fan.... Its like my situation here in Boston...the Revs are like my adopted team...but DC will always be the really one ...in good times and bad... p.s. If Philly can find a way for a women's soccer team to play there....surely they can find a way for a men's team too.
Philadelphia I grew up here, but never got the whole support everything Philly bug. I like the Phils, 76ers and Flyers, but never really got into the Iggles. I couldn't not like another MLS team. I feel too strongly about United. What used to be a 5 hour drive from NC to support them and is now a 2 hour drive, will still be fine with me. I, in some weird way, feel like a part of the club. This was the first year I got partial season tickets, first year in the Nest, first year on BigSoccer, and that has strengthened an already strong emotional bond to the club. I guess those of us who remain United fans in the Philadelphia area will eventually met with a reception that will make us feel like Cowboy fans in the 700 level, but that is fine with me. When I am looked at like an ********************* for wearing a United jersey, it will mean that soccer has another strong foothold in this country.