So sad to see Ottawans suckered in by happy talk from Don Garber. Here in St. Louis, we've seen what happens when cities believe that funding a soccer stadium will bring them a team: absolutely nothing. So before Ottawa throws away a chance at a CFL team on a promise from Don Garber that will never be fulfilled, it's time to let them know how trustworthy MLS is. Here are the email addresses for every Ottawa city councillor. Just copy and paste: Georges.Bedard@ottawa.ca, Michel.Bellemare@ottawa.ca, Rainer.Bloess@ottawa.ca, Glenn.Brooks@ottawa.ca, Rick.Chiarelli@ottawa.ca, Alex.Cullen@ottawa.ca, Diane.Deans@ottawa.ca, Steve.Desroches@ottawa.ca, Clive.Doucet@ottawa.ca, Eli.El-Chantiry@ottawa.ca, Peggy.Feltmate@ottawa.ca, Jan.Harder@ottawa.ca, Diane.Holmes@ottawa.ca, Peter.Hume@ottawa.ca, Gord.Hunter@ottawa.ca, Rob.Jellett@ottawa.ca, Kitchissippi@ottawa.ca, Jacques.Legendre@ottawa.ca, Maria.Mcrae@ottawa.ca, Bob.Monette@ottawa.ca, Shad.Qadri@ottawa.ca, Doug.Thompson@ottawa.ca, Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca Here's what I'm writing in my email, just to give you an idea what you can say: Mr. or Ms. Councillor: I understand that the city of Ottawa is currently considering whether to support a proposal for a new CFL stadium, or an MLS stadium proposed by Eugene Melnyk. In yesterday's Ottawa Sun, MLS commissioner Don Garber is quoted as saying "“It’s highly unlikely and almost inconceivable that with a stadium deal in place we would not grant an expansion team to Ottawa.” Sadly, fans here in St. Louis, Missouri, where I live, have heard such talk from the league before. In September 2007, the suburban municipality of Collinsville voted to allocate funds for an MLS stadium that would serve the St. Louis area. The potential ownership group, St. Louis Soccer United, has been working with MLS for several years now, and St. Louisans were led to believe that securing stadium funding was the final piece of the puzzle. Well, 17 months later, St. Louis still doesn't have an MLS team. The stadium site is still a horseradish field. And what league officials were saying about St. Louis then bears no relationship to what they say now. It's clear that St. Louis was used as bargaining leverage to get MLS better deals in the larger markets they actually want (in our case, Seattle and Philadelphia; in your case, cities like Miami and Portland). For you, the stakes are much higher. The CFL has placed a team in Ottawa before, and there's every reason to believe they would do so again. But as our experience in St. Louis shows, MLS is a notoriously unreliable partner. Please, for the sake of your city, vote for the solid CFL proposal and not the vague promises of a league that has no intention of delivering.
well I have to admit you have some good points. but what's Ottawa supposed to do? You have to take Garber at his word
I would say let Ottawa find out the hard way like we did. If they choose to take the risk, that's their decision. Maybe it will work out, probably it won't, but it's theirs to make.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! Wow, that's the funniest thing you've ever said on here. It's not just STL, ask any town on here and see what magical statements Garber has made. He gives these statements like the tooth fairy gives nickles....
Are you really worried about Ottawa's CFL chances or are you just trying to increase the odds of a St.Louis MLS team being awarded? hahahha.
So your argument is: "Nobody should try to get an MLS team. That's why St. Louis is trying. But you shouldn't." Seriously: What would you say if you found out a group of people from Miami were calling around St. Louis trying to spike the St. Louis bid? What kind of language do you think we'd hear from St. Louis fans then? MLS has not screwed over St. Louis. Sorry, but it's true. St. Louis fans keep repeating that they've done "everything MLS has asked of them." But all MLS has asked was to have better bids than the other cities bidding for the same expansion spot, meaning a better total package of ownership, stadium and location. Just because St. Louis had the second-best bid in the last round doesn't mean it "deserves" a spot in this round, if someone else has a better total package. Ottawa is offering a very strong ownership group with a proven pro sports ownership history. That's a big draw. MLS has hinted that they think with a second Canadian team they can get a Canadian national TV contract, which is another big plus. Add in a fully funded stadium and it's a very good bid indeed. As far as I know, none of the other candidates are known to have both a solid ownership group with pro sports experience and a brand new, fully funded soccer-specific stadium (although I haven't been following it too closely). To my mind, any city with that combination does jump to the front of the line.
That's bull, sending email to our councillors advising them to take a CFL stadium over the MLS stadium. It's one thing to pump up your own chances, it's another to try to f*ck someone elses. Don't even play that "I'm just trying to be helpful" angle.
I agree with Cville. Garber will say something in one city on his magical mystery tour, then a complete opposite on the next stop, to serve no one's purposes besides his own (and again, while it stinks, that is actually probably part of his job). With that, anyone should trust anything he says at their own peril. However, the only people who have any business corresponding with city officials about their choices are the constituents of the city itself (i.e., Ottawa residents and voters). Beyond that, it should be part of the elected officials due diligence responsibilites to figure out that their proposed business partner's public proclamations can't be trusted.
I've got no dog in this fight but I have to agree with Kibby: No matter how sincere the intentions this is disingenuous with regards to the honest fans in Ottowa. Garber may be Pinnochio, but he may be serious as there's surely more than we know. Bottom line, that's not the call for folks outside the parties involved here. If Garber fails MLS fans then call HIM out for it, but this appraoch could only hurt MLS fans in general by swaying the City council against MLS and soccer in general. If Garber's reputation is that foul then surely someone in Ottowa that is involved will let the City know.
I sent them an email letting them know why St. Louis doesn't have a francise yet - lack of deep pocket investors, something Ottawa doesn't have to worry about.
I love how the St. Louis people completely fail to see the irony in getting all in a huff and telling Ottawa not to take Garber at his word, because of some things that he allegedly said that happened not to come true, when he said them based on taking Cooper at HIS word. But, Garber is the bad guy, even though he isn't the one actually making the decisions here. Hell hath no stupidity like a St. Louis fan supposedly scorned.
Portland is still farting around with their stadium ideas, and their Mayor could and likely would resign any day now. If Sam Adams resigns, that's one less vote for a Portland stadium on Portland City Council. And remember, Portland still hasn't decided where to move the Beavers. They can't play at PGE long term with the soccer team. There's ideas and fantasies, but nothing concrete. Ottawa and Vancouver: 1. Both have strong Ownership groups in Melnyk and Kerfoot with no questions re financing, a problem St. Louis still has 2. Proposals for stadiums that the MLS has looked upon favourably
Maybe Ottawa, Portland, Miami and Vancouver fans should pen a letter to Collinsville city managers encouraging them to spend that stadium funding on other projects since Garber is such a liar. I think it would be the conscientious thing to do.
It would have no effect. Besides, the way most of you have portrayed the Collinsville stadium and it's distance from St. Louis, you would probably send your letters to Chicago by mistake.
Wow and the STL fans complained when some Miami fans called them "haters" for not supporting the future team. You stay classy STL fans! You are clearly above it all.
As I posted on another thread, I'm sorry, but I'm just not seeing any enthusiasm from the fanbase. I'm sure there are a lot of great sports fans up in Ottawa, but I'm not seeing any excitement for a team on these forums. Unless Melnyk is buying most of the tickets, I think it's a disaster waiting to happen. As for St. Louis, we did have the best bid 11 months ago. Garber and the MLS chose to put off naming number 17 until the fall. Other bids came along. But he made statements in the interim to the effect of St. Louis would get a team at some point and that St. Louis was either a frontrunner or a leading candidate. Now he's making very similar statements up in Ottawa. I tell you what, if he makes those same statements to Ottawa for three years and you still don't get a team, then you can come back and lecture us on how we should feel about Garber and the MLS. Until then, you haven't been there.
Come on now, don't discount Ottawa based on activity on an internet forum! I think the bulk of supporters will be families with children. We aren't known for our passion here in Ottawa but given the right circumstances we'll do just fine.
I really hope Ottawa does not get a franchise. Personally I do not think they will be nearly as successful as Toronto or Seattle, and anything less will hinder any future expansion into Canada. While I hope Ottawa does succeed, I think they will have better chances once a greater Canadian presence is in the league. If Ottawa fails, it is unlikely to see MLS to expand into Canada (Montreal or Vancouver) for quite some time. Although I am a newb on these forums, Garbers language towards Ottawa getting a bid seems stronger than when they guaranteed St. Louis a franchise, and I really do not see why Garber has such a hard on for Ottawa. For the rest of Canada's sake, I hope he is talking out of his ass again MLS should expand by 4 teams in 2011, rather than 2. The amount of passion I see on these forums from the cities that want a team far outweigh the possible watering down of the talent pool, and I really do not see Portland, St.Louis, Miami, or Vancouver being anything but successful.
Again, internet forums are not a good indicator of fan support in a city! I'm going to use the Senators as an example but I do understand that comparing any other sport to hockey in a canadian market is unfair but I will anyway. This year and the last half of last season have been the worst in franchise history. We have had a terribly under performing team. We are the 3rd worst team in the league. Keep in mind this is not because we have a lack of experience or skill on our team it's because the players are under performing and for the first time in ten years we are going to miss the playoffs. Despite this the sens are enjoying crowds of 18 500 a game. This might not be the most fair comparison but my point is that there are some passionate die hard fans in this city despite a large number of forum nerds amassing here. Also keep in mind MLS and the Sens group have done their homework and would not be considering this if they didn't have sufficient proof that the franchise would succeed.
Wow really, I mean really. Look the simple fact is St. Louis is close very close, but still needs a little more ooooomph to their bid. Frankly I think if this recession (or it may look and smell like a recession just don't call it that) had not come then St. Louis would probably already be in. Garber is being prudent here and making sure that who ever comes in is not only able but is willing to potentially lose their shirt for a couple years. Seattle was told when we built Qwest get that done and we will expand to Seattle. Fact of the matter is that we are just now launching. Many people here myself included had given up hope, especially when Chivas and Real were announced. I understand you are hurt as a fan, that you feel you are getting a raw deal. But to attempt to sabotage another cities chances at a team is madness. The only way Garber can screw St. Louis at this point is to accept a bid that is inferior to what St. Louis is offering, and to claim that St. Louis is still underfunded. At that point you know he has it in for you. But until then I suggest you not attempt this lunacy again.
I'm really excited about the potential of MLS in Ottawa! I admit I might be in the minority. I've never found Ottawa to be a very good sports town. But MLS would do a lot better with families than CFL. So there's a large potential fanbase. But it's the hardcore fan that supports through the good and bad and that may be what Ottawa lacks. But you never know. I haven't heard anyone opposed to soccer while I've heard many people who don't want anymore CFL here.
MOD NOTE: Sorry I didn't notice this thread earlier. This thread serves no purpose for anyone. THREAD CLOSED.