http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/grant_wahl/06/24/mls.expansion/index.html Even I was getting worried when I had not seen a column from him in the last couple of months. God to see he is back. Now we get one a week Check out his scoops on : 1. Chivas LA 2. Second expansion city in 2005 3. Expansinon in 2006 4. Why DMB is not in Southhampton 5. MLS all star game
Best column I've read all year. Period. Makes sense for Seattle to wait for 2006. Could begin play with hometown keller in the nets. Vergara paid an extra $15 million to AEG to base the team in LA and use the HDC?? For a total of $25 million to open Chivas USA??? I take back most every bad thing I've said about him and Chivas. Viva Chivas USA!!!! (do I have to be a premium to use a sig??)
Not to sound like a snot or anything, but its too bad that that extra $15 million didn't go to MLS instead of AEG. It's not like AEG is hardup for cash or anything (I don't really know if they are really, so I could be talking out of my a$$) ... but MLS is. $15 million would cover a good part of the entire league salary. I know, I know, it is hard to begrudge AEG since they put up for the stadium and all. But it looks like AEG is doing pretty well with its MLS investment so far (selling the Rapids, getting this payment from Vergara, profiting on the HDC, getting new stadiums in Chicago and Harrison). I understand that if AEG is healthy, then the league indirectly is healthy since AEG is such a primary investor. And part of that health is the ancilliary revenue from stadiums (which doesn't go to MLS, either). But it would be nice to see more money spent directly on MLS, to raise the salary cap or give some boost to the overall marketing budget or anything that would make a direct impact on the quality of the product. Whew, $15 million is just a lot of money in an MLS context. Damn. Maybe AEG will invest this back into MLS? Maybe as part of the Harrison project? - Paul
Yes. Great article from Wahl. He provides some good insights that I haven't heard from anywhere else. I'm also glad to see this will be a weekly column.
He sure seems to get more details and numbers than any other soccer writer in the USA.. He always has details to questions we raise..
Not to mention dressing down individuals when they deserve it. ... I haven't heard a peep fro that turd Chinaglia since Grant reamed into him in a column a few months ago.
The stink from what, the decaying bodies? Hell, the Revolution have enough injured players to fill a hospital wing at present, and might be going into Saturday's match against Metro with one or no back-up keeper, and one field sub. Great stuff from Grant. The Magpie
MLS franchises have territorial rights. So, AEG technically had to forfeit it territorial rights to let Chivas USA play in LA. I don't think giving the money to MLS would have been a fair decision among these business partners. You're correct that AEG has plenty of access to capital, but if this makes them continue to look at MLS as an investment that is working, fantastic. By dropping their territorial rights, they've let the league have the best chance possible for the Chivas franchise to be successful. What more can we ask?
Great article! Could someone pm me his email address? I could not find it in the article even though he mentions dropping him a line. Andy
I don't know the Dallas market specifically, but I favor "American" style nicknames. Dallas Mustangs is preferrable, to me, over FC Dallas. DC United works because it's in the capital of the United States.
OH ARMAGEDDON! Jorge Vergara and his band of latinos will devour us all and bring into ridicule professional soccer in the United States forever and ever and ever. All will be lost! The LA Galaxy will lose fans and fold! What's that? 25 million dollars? Oh. Nevermind then.
He has left the goal multiple times before and there's been really no word if they're going to replace him or not, but there has been some speculation that they'd fill it with a younger guy like Bill Simmons for example, but that obviously isn't going to happen. I'm not sure if Wahl would be the best fit for the Globe if they are planning on filling the position but it's worth discussing if a columnist position at the Globe would be a step up from his position with SI.
Here's something small to chew on.. With AEG having had operated so many sides, they had to take on a bigger chunk in the league operating losses.. I don't see it as that big of a deal that they get a cut in the Chivas deal.. If only Rochester had management willing to consistently buck up the $$ to get things done, they'd be the 12 team.. But they suck, so oh well.
I wouldn't be too tough on AEG for taking the money. Each year the league loses money. Each year AEG pays the majority of the losses because they own the most teams, I assume. So this money will go towards softening the blow at the end of the season when AEG has to cover the losses of 5 teams. In addition this league wouldn't exist right now with out AEG. MLS needs to learn to stand on its own two feet. They will get the $10 million expansion fee and be able to put that towards operations. If MLS got random payouts from rich guys trying to get into the league, it would not learn how to operate successfully and would continue to lose money year in and out. Our soccer league would end up like the major airlines, expecting handouts at any random time.
See NASL. Relying on expansion fees is unsustainable. However, since an investor is buying a piece of the league in this case, it's not as if it makes any sense for the league to sell out for free.
Hmm, would we as Rochester want to a.) make a profit or b.) lose money. Basically what you are saying is the fact that the Rhinos can't circumvent the government by throwing money to start and continue stadium construction is their problem. As is known, throwing money at a problem is usually the best method of ownership, having raked in an exorbitant amount of money, which is what running a soccer team here in the States gets you. Again, Rochester does not need to be in any hurry to join MLS. They are making money now. Do you think they'll make more when they have to shoot 30% of sales (Actually I am not sure how this works. Is it a perentage of ticket sales?) of to MLS to help cover the losses of the 6-8 other teams that are in the red. Let me know if you ever go into business with this insight. Yeah, Rochester sucks. Guh.