Is this a new announcement from Club America?

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by pbsharp, Nov 14, 2003.

  1. pbsharp

    pbsharp Member

    Mar 19, 2002
    Troy, MI
    I saw this at ESPN Deportes:

    http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/story?id=196544

    BabbleFish Translation:
    (clip…)
    In San José or in Houston

    They announce franchise of the America in the MLS for '04

    MEXICO (Notimex).- The president of the club America, Javier Pérez Teuffer, reported that from the next year they will have a franchise in U.S. older League (MLS), in the cities of San José, California, or Houston, Texas.

    The executive reported the previous thing in the installations of Coapa, where he added that only they lack details to close the negotiations, and that the Aguilas have a franchise in the neighboring north country.

    Pérez Teuffer, who complies four years as president of the club America, he mentioned that now it has greater knowledge of the club, and in this time acquired more experience al front of the Aguilas.
    (…clip)

    Is this just advance posturing or something more tangible?

    Do all Mexican clubs operate this way (announcements before finalized deals)?

    Is this a new team in Houston or are they thinking of moving SJ to Houston?

    Are the Texans involved with any move to Houston?

    Paul.
     
  2. uclacarlos

    uclacarlos Member+

    Aug 10, 2003
    east coast
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Note to self: My future ability to earn a living as a translator is highly probable...
     
  3. Sachin

    Sachin New Member

    Jan 14, 2000
    La Norte
    Club:
    DC United
    Addendum to note to uclacarlos: Better marry a rich woman if you think people will pay for translation :D

    Sachin
     
  4. uclacarlos

    uclacarlos Member+

    Aug 10, 2003
    east coast
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    post-script to addendum to note-to-self:

    wha'eva, o.k.?! ;)

    W/ what we've seen on BS w/ the hack translations of Chivas statements, it shows the future is bright.
     
  5. pbsharp

    pbsharp Member

    Mar 19, 2002
    Troy, MI
    I understand that BabbleFish is not the end all, be all for translation. But would you care to shed some light on this 'news' story for those who do not speak Spanish?

    Paul.
     
  6. Rocket

    Rocket Member

    Aug 29, 1999
    Chicago
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Re: Is this a new announcement from Club America?

    According to Chris Bergin at USSoccerUK, the word out of MLS HQ is that MLS will expand by 2 teams in 2004: Rochester and Chivas USA in San Diego.

    Thus, should Club America choose Houston over San Jose, I expect we may see the Earthquakes moved from San Jose to Houston this off-season.
     
  7. cleazer

    cleazer Member+

    May 6, 2003
    Toledo, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So thats the latest rumor we're starting? San Jose moving to Houston? They're going to have to change the name.

    Seems like it would be a positive move. Houston had a decent turnout for the USMNT, and with the America name attached, they ought to be able to draw a portion of the Hispanic community.
     
  8. Rocket

    Rocket Member

    Aug 29, 1999
    Chicago
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    While most of us would certainly like to see the Earthquakes stay in San Jose, AEG has been putting out the word for some time now that one of it's main goals to sell off several of its teams.

    Thus, if Club America indicates it wants to buy the Earthquakes from AEG and move them to Houston, my guess is that it would be quite likely that MLS would approve such a move.
     
  9. efren95

    efren95 Member

    Apr 20, 2000
    Republic of Texas
    Re: Re: Is this a new announcement from Club America?

    BS fellows:

    I'm leaving to work. This is, I hope, a better translation of the same article published by EFE news agency today:

    America-USA, here we come…

    According to this article published today in El Universal, this is what’s going on with America Club.

    Mexican football club America is very close to obtain a franchise with Major League Soccer in the U.S. for 2004 season, according to Javier Perez Teuffer, president.

    “It’s a project that, little by little, is becoming a reality… the intention is to be there in 2004,” said Perez at the club headquarters in the Mexican capital.

    Perez said negotiations with MLS are advanced and there are only details to be completed to assure a franchise in the U.S.

    San Jose, in California and Houston in Texas are the main candidates to host the team beginning in 2004, even though Chicago and L.A. were also mentioned.
     
  10. Liverpool_SC

    Liverpool_SC Member

    Jun 28, 2002
    Upstate, SC
    A couple points:

    I think it would look bad if San Jose wins the championship and loses the team. It looks bush league (like the CFL did when it expanded to the US then contracted almost immediately - even though one of the expansion franchises won the Grey Cup). Granted this position is not logical, as any town that has a twice champion team in four years and decreases attendance (while most teams are consolidating or even growing during the same time period) doesn't deserve to keep the team. But I bet there would be even more sourness in San Jose if the team leaves, than there was in Miami/Tampa Bay when they were contracted.

    Second, wouldn't Vergera be pretty steamed if he puts money in for Chivas and gets "stuck" with San Diego (if he really wants Houston/LA/Chicago) while America gets a great deal with a much larger market? Not that I particularly care. Perhaps if Vergera has been waffling/stalling it is exactly what he deserves. All the same, I hope that CA pays a decent franchise fee or Vergera may get sour grapes and intentionally hijack his own team (esp if he doesn't put that much money into it and it doesn't start off that well).

    Third - I know that Chivas USA or whatever they will be called is not going to appeal to every Mexican fan in the US. But if You get the CA and Chivas thing going at roughly the same time - would it water down the impact that Chivas USA would have had on its own or intensify it (CA vs "contraAmerica" fans). I suppose that more Mexicans might cheer for Chivas USA out of sheer hate for CA if America had a strongly branded US team too.

    Fourth - would America re-brand the team and make a big deal out of the US team as a sister club of CA or would it be more like Chivas and Saprissa? Would America try to put any Mexican players on the Quakes or would they simply look for the best players? I know that they have always signed foreigners, but if it is a sister club - you would think that they would want to have a modicum of cultural identity between the two clubs (style of play, some latin influence relative to other MLS teams, etc) even if it wasn't out and out nationalistic/ethnically-based as the Chivas model is.

    Club America is much more pragmatic and commercialistic than Chivas. But I am somewhat curious about what they think they are getting out of moving into MLS. What is the incentive for buying an existing franchise if they are going to move it to another place? Is it the desire to have an established pool of players? If so, how are they going to put their stamp on the team? Perhaps a Mexican coach (when/if Yallop goes to Canada)? There has to be more to it.
     

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