What do we make of this? Is this serious and does it have legs? http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/05/arsen...erican-sister-team-called-la-gunners-4291277/
What could be worse than a team run by Chivas in Los Angeles? How about a team run as on-the-cheap as the Rapids with a name aimed at Eurosnobs? I'm an Arsenal fan, but this is a stupid, stupid idea.
Wow, he'd have to buy the rights from Chivas one would imagine. Doubt they stick 3 teams in LA with Chivas' condition. Great news if true.
On the contrary, I think "Los Angeles Gunners" is a nicely Americanized way of naming a team. Once they slap "FC" at the end of it, then it will be trying to appeal to Eurosnobs. I'd wouldn't be surprised if the loudest complaint about the name comes from the anti-gun violence crowd (if any of this has an ounce of truth to it).
A bit more color on the topic: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/...r-stan-kroenke-to-create-mls-side-la-gunners/
Its from The Sun people. Ignore it. Hell, we don't even know for sure he bought the land for a sports purpose, much less MLS. Kroenke bought the site of what was going to be developed into a Wal-Mart. He made much of his early money in developing land around Wal-Marts and later married a Walton daughter. This could easily just be a real estate deal not related to his sports properties. This is a UK tabloid spinning a story to get hits, nothing more.
Because Kroenke is so enthusiastic about the MLS team he already has? This seems little more than an outlandish rumor to me.
Given the Bullets having to change their name a few years ago, I can't imagine this will go over well. If this were to come to fruition, one of the following would be true: 1) Kroenke buys Chivas USA 2) Kroenke buys an expansion slot 3) Kroenke moves Colorado Rapids If 2 or 3, then either Gunners would be LA3, or Chivas USA would move elsewhere. It could be a brilliant way to undercut Vergara's insistence on selling for a high price, just because the team is in LA.
It's just a rumor invented by the English press who have a basic understanding of how MLS works but know Stan Kroenke. Illogical dot connecting, nothing more. I'm not even sure they really know he already owns another team.
My immediate thought is this. Why would they let the guy own two MLS teams when they have been working like hell to get the league down to one team per owner?
They need to be the Bullets again. The worst part is that the name change wasn't even really done due to violence in Baltimore or Washington.
The article seemed to merge the city of Inglewood, CA into Los Angeles. (The Fabulous/Great Western/Fabulous Forum Presented by Chase has never been the "Los Angeles Forum" TMK). Considering this location has been considered for a new stadium in the past, the new NFL venue rumors do make some sense, but soccer I'm sure would be an afterthought...
I'm guessing those of you who think this is a great idea don't realize that the Rapids are already Arsenal's "partner club." http://www.coloradorapids.com/club/partner-clubs And you probably haven't been around to recall this:
Kroenke is one of the worst owners in MLS, and only great people like Kraft and Vergara could ever be accused of being cheaper. There is absolutely zero chance that he all of a sudden would actually care about MLS, create another team when he already owns one that is worth far less than the current MLS expansion fee, and partner them up with Arsenal when the Rapids already have a partnership* with them. *Partnership = Two preseason training sessions in England over the last 8 years. No friendlies. No loans. No cross promotion to speak of. But hey, they are letting one of their reserve team rejects train with the us during a preseason this year!
Quoting from that article: Quoting from the St. Louis Business Journal: Quoting the Metro: (Bold mine) So again, people, its the f$%#$%#$ Sun!