MLS in Buffalo/Rochester?

Discussion in 'MLS: Expansion' started by Wearsider, Sep 18, 2024.

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  1. Wearsider

    Wearsider Member

    Sunderland
    England
    Jan 2, 2019
    Is this a potential location for an upcoming MLS team?

    The two cities have a combined population of around half a million, it's far enough away from New York and Boston to be considered its own catchment area, you can get from one city to the other in about an hour also.

    Upstate United incoming? What am I missing?
     
  2. Sport Billy

    Sport Billy Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 25, 2006
    It would be 4 teams very very close.
    Not impossible, but when MLS has coverage gaps in this country, it is highly unlikely.
     
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  3. Sport Billy

    Sport Billy Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 25, 2006
    Replying further - MLS is a group of whores. If someone was willing to give enough money, they would put a 3rd team in NYC.
     
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  4. Wearsider

    Wearsider Member

    Sunderland
    England
    Jan 2, 2019
    Looking at the geography only, these appear to be the obvious soccer "dry spots" in the mainland US:

    [​IMG]

    Area 1
    Looks to me like New Orleans, Mobile and Jackson are the only big urban centres far enough away from the likes of Houston, Dallas, Nashville and Atlanta to command it's own team. Not overly convinced.

    Area 2
    Probably the most viable, there's a big stretch of border between LA and Austin, with the likes of Phoenix, Tucson and Albuquerque being prime candidates.

    Area 3
    Boise and Billings aren't the biggest of cities, and they're quite far away from each other, so you couldn't really consider putting a team between them to pull in both catchment areas. This is a non-starter imo.
     
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  5. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    About 20 years ago, Rochester was very very close, but soccer there within the past 5 years died a slow death and there is no chance that MLS will try again. Buffalo is too close to Toronto and that also is a non-starter.
     
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  6. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ???? Close how? Close as in MLS took notice and actually did some due diligence and discovered that the Rhinos were a house of cards built on monopoly money?
     
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  7. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Down the Byline: #TBT The Rochester Wizards

    after the 2004 season, Lamar Hunt put the Kansas City Wizards up for sale. Throughout the coming 2005 season, rumors surfaced about potential locations the Wizards were set to be moved to. From Tulsa, to San Antonio, to New York, to yes, Rochester. Rochester was arguably the favorite to land the Wizards after Rochester had failed in their bid to get an expansion team in 2005 when MLS added Chivas USA and Real Sale Lake. Rochester was drawing pretty much the same if not more than KC was at Arrowhead. According to one of the team's original owners Steve Donner, the deal to move the Wizards to Rochester was pretty much a done deal, "we had an agreement pretty much done in principle with Kansas City to move the Wizards here."
    One of the things that apparently held up the deal was that while the Hunts were going to pay the annual league expenses, in exchange they wanted equity in the Rochester stadium.
     
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  8. Eleven Bravo

    Eleven Bravo Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Jul 3, 2004
    SC
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think New Orleans would make for a great USL Championship market… maybe down, they could contend for MLS, especially since it has the sort of culture that would stand out in the league. You could still count Birmingham, Alabama too, but again, probably more of a USL Championship team (Legion).

    Phoenix (and Las Vegas) should be strong contenders for MLS. Albuquerque and El Paso are USL Championship markets.

    Boise and a Montana team (Billings, Bozeman, Missoula) probably should try to get into USL League One and maybe try to advance up the ranks. Omaha is probably good where they’re at.

    I’d add that Oklahoma City would be a good market. At least for USL Championship. But MLS probably needs to look at expanding in the Midwest (Indianapolis, Detroit, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Rochester, Buffalo, etc).

    San Antonio and Sacramento should still be in play. Baltimore could be a sneaky addition.
     
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  9. EPJr

    EPJr Member+

    Los Angeles FC
    United States
    Mar 21, 2009
    Richmond VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    and why not? cities that size around the whole have more than two teams. Chicago needs another team too.
     
  10. xtomx

    xtomx Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Chicago needs an MLS Team first! ;)
     

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