Also it will be flat rate parking. No more driving around trying to find the lot that is 18 bucks instead of 20. The cost will be built into the ticket. Public transport would likely be a shuttle from the Casino Metrolink station. At least until they build a new extension that goes right to it.
I'm glad to hear that Collinsville is close to downtown, because the proximity issue for Frisco to Dallas is clearly an issue for them. My point of view is that, although suburbanization in North America has caused an outmigration of population from the central city, there is still a prestige to have major entertainment venues, such as stadia, downtown. Case in pointetroit. i've never been to St. Louis, but judging from the descriptions here, it sounds very similar to Detroit. The downtown is desolate in many ways, as it is very sparsely populated in comparison to 40-50 years ago, however all of the stadium projects have recently focused on moving back downtown. The Palace of Auburn Hills and Pontiac Silverdome reflect the 1980's mentality of "burbs are better". Today, it is chic to be in the central city, at least to create an impression that the city is improving . This is why I find that by MLS building stadia outside the central city they are making the same mistakes that the other sports leagues made 15-20 years ago. Why bother? Especially since soccer is in a situation where you do not have a very stable fan base yet that is willing to go wherever you put the team. I would argue that Toronto FC would not be as successful had they been located in Mississauga (a Toronto suburb of 700,000 that is devoid of character and lacks a true downtown).
Part of the reason, the main one to me, is real estate costs. At this juncture in league history, owners can't afford or don't wish to afford similar acreage at 7x the cost. That was the big hurdle here in Philadelphia, and I would argue that we have it better than most, being on all major highways and Amtrak/SEPTA already, with a town going up around the stadium in a city that may be entering a return to prominence not seen since the manufacturing bust in the 50's and 60's.
Each market has it's own unique situation in terms of stadium placement. In Portland, downtown at night is as busy with people or more than during the busiest hours of the day. Portland is a downtown city. Which is why maintaining PGE and renovating is so important. St. Louis is actually more vibrant on the east side of the river than downtown. More to do at night and such and people actually spend time in places like Brooklyn, IL and such from the St. Louis area. While a downtown stadium would be convenient there, I don't think the migration to the burbs is going to be a big deal, similar to Philly. Minneapolis (since it was brought up) would do very well with a stadium in any of the burbs that border Minneapolis directly (such as Bloomington) or St. Paul. Whenever I'm there I always feel like the burbs are very close to downtown. However, a place like Toronto, where downtown is the destination, and it's on the far side of the city limits rather than the middle (like Portland and Seattle for instance) it wouldn't make much sense to have the stadium built in the burbs at all. Vancouver is similar to Portland, Seattle and Vancouver in terms of the set up, but I think a suburban stadium would work well for them considering how amazing their transit is, and how densely populated their metro area is. Many of the burbs feel very close in. Montreal of course already has a stadium.
I don't know that I'd call it "vibrant." And while people do spend time (after midnight) in Brooklyn, they usually aren't too willing to discuss it ... especially with their wives.
I guess being a Portlander from birth kinda clouds my perceptions of those kind of areas in other places in the country. That kinda place IS portland, and it's pretty damn socially acceptable here, for and to men and women, straight and gay etc etc. We are Strip City USA! LOL. Hell, lots of guys here go with to strip clubs with their wives or girlfriends in Portland. Hell, I certainly have as have my friends, and we're not on the weird side of social Portland. But point understood.
I'm sure MANY of the Timbers Army would gladly take the lot of you to Sassy's, Mary's Club, Acropolis, Union Jacks, Devil's Point, or the wide variety of other strip clubs in town. It can actually be a tad overwhelming. Eat a steak with a vagina in your face at Acropolis, there is nothing finer.
Not really the case Marquis, The Delmar Loop, Central West End, Midtown, Washington Ave, The Landing, and Tower Grove are vibrant places in St. Louis. Downtown itself is going under a MAJOR revitalization and its way better than it was just 3 years ago, alot of progress has been made and more work is being done. I hope if/when St. Louis gets a team many of you will visit St. Louis and experence it for yourselves. anyway, The stadium site has a gorgeous view of the St. Louis Skyline, easy to access and very close to Downtown, its a great place for a stadium.
Yeah, it's been since 2005 or 6 since I was last in St. Louis. 2002 when I spent any real time there. It was a SHITHOLE downtown in 2002.
One thing is for sure, travelling fans will LOVE this aspect of Portland. Especially the steak part. Sometimes you could say "Eat a steak with raw roast beef in your face at Acropolis"
About St. Louis: I'd personally prefer a downtown stadium, but I have no problems with the Collinsville site, as long as they work something out mass transit-wise. If the team can attract enough Bosnian supporters, a gameday shuttle from my neighborhood (Bevo) might make sense...
On a side note. Since there is no MLS Primetime game on the deuce tonight, maybe check out the Seattle v. Portland game at 8:00PST on FSC. An intense rivalry between two cities with MLS ambitions, one coming next year with some of the same players, and one that is a great shot for 2011.
Fixed your post. If he does that, how's he gonna show off his talent in the field of rectovocalization?
quite frankly, canadians support soccer much better than we do. Have u seen Toronto fans? I saw a video of some crazy impact fans. I'd like to see vancuver and portland but it'll probly be NYC and montreal. Vegas can support but I doubt they'd have real supporters though. Just might add another vegas activity. There aren't many vegas locals, there could be more road fans there.
Based on a sample size of one city in their second season? I'll start with this. Go to the DC-NY game this weekend. Watch the ESC and BB/SE...
They might not be more supportive overall, but I do see Canadians as being more receptive of soccer. Of course it's unwise to view one city as representative of an entire nation, but there's no big "soccer sucks" movement in Canada. Of course, MLS is already hinting at the possibility of continuing the expansion process with the cities that don't make the 2011 cut. It wouldn't surprise me to see 20 teams by 2013.
i have family in henderson and i was talking to them a few weeks ago and i was asking what teams do the locals support: LA, San Diego, Phoenix, Utah, Denver and they said that most people in the vegas area are there because of business or retirement and you see hats and jersies from just about everywhere and there are no local faveorites. im thinking that vegas would get all those fake ' ooo lets go to a soccer game honey ' kind of fans and road fans.