Review: MLS New Stadium Watch 2016 Edition

Discussion in 'MLS: General' started by flippin269, Feb 3, 2016.

  1. flippin269

    flippin269 Member+

    Aug 3, 2003
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Billionaire Kroenke's Rams Give Cities Lesson in Stadium Finance
    Bloomberg

    Had me thinking: "How many new stadiums can MLS fans expect to see in the next 10 years or so?"
    If MLS has it's way, it looks like it will be at least 12

    Atlanta (NFL/MLS stadium shared) (2017)
    DC United (2018)
    LAFC (2018)
    Miami (2018)
    Minnesota (likely temporary home to start, then their own stadium in 2018)
    New England (?)
    NYC FC (?)
    Orlando City (2017)
    MLS expansion team 25
    MLS expansion team 26
    MLS expansion team 27
    MLS expansion team 28


    (?) = solid stadium location and plans not announced or known, but negotiations reported to be ongoing.
    - Only 4 of the teams mentioned are currently playing in MLS.
    - 2 new stadiums expected for 2017, and 4 new stadiums to expected to open in 2018

    In comparison, the amount of possible new stadiums for the other four major American leagues:
    NFL = 5-6
    NBA = 3-4
    MLB = 3-4
    NHL = 4-5
     
  2. hot potato

    hot potato Member+

    Feb 21, 2014
    Club:
    Vancouver Whitecaps
    amazing times for soccer in NA- even in my older years and after the old NASL folded in 1984, i never would have thought/dreamed that it could ever happen at the scale it is/will be by 2022 IMO

    28 teams: 3 SoccerSuitableStadium- seattle, vancouver, atlanta; NE and NYCFC in no mans land and who knows what is going to happen; 19 with SoccerSpecificStadium- Portland, RSL, Houston, Dallas, LAFC, LA Galaxy, Minnesota, DC, Miami, Orlando, TO, Montreal, Red Bull NY, Colorado, Chicago, Columbus, Philadelphia, SKC, SJ; 4 new franchises and we can guess that all will have SoccerSpecificStadium
     
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  3. flippin269

    flippin269 Member+

    Aug 3, 2003
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    When you think about it, NHL has 30 teams at the moment, and the NBA has 30 as well. 10 stadiums host both sports, and one NBA arena has two teams. So, 20 NHL-first arenas basically and 19 NBA-primary. MLS might very well surpass both leagues as primary tenants to sports-specific stadiums within a decade. Mind-boggling to think that as of 1998, the amount of MLS stadiums was 0.
     
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  4. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It looks like Atlanta will be homeless for the first 3 months of the season.
     
  5. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Seattle will be staying at Centurylink (or whatever it will be called by then) until at least 2025.
     
  6. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo

    If San Antonio gets one of the expansion slots they will still be at Toyota Field. Although it will get enough upgrading that you might still consider it a "new" stadium.
     
  7. Tigereye

    Tigereye Member+

    (ಠ_ಠ)┌∩┐
    Aug 19, 2005
    (ಠ_ಠ)┌∩┐
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    If Sacramento Republic gets in, they'll have a new venue at the rail yards.

    [​IMG]
     
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  8. matbluvenger

    matbluvenger Member+

    Reno 1868
    United States
    Aug 2, 2010
    Reno, NV
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Nice! I'm glad this thread is up. Having a one-stop shop for stadium news and discussion is awesome.

    @Tigereye if that rendering ends up being even close to the final product... *droooool*

    I'm really rooting for Sacramento.
     
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  9. flippin269

    flippin269 Member+

    Aug 3, 2003
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Interesting MLS stadium article today:
    When it comes to stadiums, professional soccer is lots cheaper than football
    St. Louis Dispatch

    From the article:
    STADIUM PROJECTS ACROSS THE MLS
    • Los Angeles Football Club

    Los Angeles FC Stadium, Los Angeles

    Opening in 2018, 22,000 seats

    $ 250 million, 100 percent private funding

    • D.C. United

    D.C. United Stadium, District of Columbia

    Opening date to be determined, 20,000 seats

    $300 million, 50 percent private; 50 percent public funding

    • Orlando City Soccer Club

    Orlando City SC Stadium, Orlando, Fla.

    Opening in 2017, 25,500 seats

    $ 115 million, 100 percent private funding

    • San Jose Earthquakes

    Avaya Stadium, San Jose, Calif.

    Opened in 2015, 18,000 seats

    $ 100 million, 100 percent private funding

    • Montreal Impact

    Saputo Stadium, Montreal, Quebec

    Renovation opened in 2012, 20,081 seats

    $ 50 million, Privately financed with investment from the province of Quebec

    • Houston Dynamo

    BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas

    Opened in 2012, 22,000 seats

    $ 95 million; Privately financed with publicly purchased land

    • Vancouver Whitecaps FC

    BC Place, Vancouver, BC

    Renovation opened in 2011, 21,000 seats

    $ 514 million; Financial details unavailable from MLS

    • Portland Timbers

    Providence Park, Portland, Ore.

    Renovation opened in 2011, 20,323 seats

    $ 31 million, listed by MLS as a "public/private partnership"

    • Sporting Kansas City

    Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.

    Opened in 2011, 18,467 seats

    $ 200 million, listed by the MLS as a "public/private partnership" with multiple government entities

    • Philadelphia Union

    Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Penn.

    Opened in 2010, 18,500 seats

    $ 120 million, listed by the MLS as a "public/private partnership" with multiple government entities

    • New York Red Bulls

    Red Bull Arena, Harrison N.J.

    Opened in 2010, 25,000 seats

    $ 250 million, listed by the MLS as a "public/private partnership" with multiple government entities

    • Real Salt Lake

    Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah

    Opened in 2008, 20,000 seats

    $ 115 million, 62 percent private; 38 percent public funding

    • Toronto FC

    BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario

    Opened in 2007, 30,000 seats

    $ 72 million, 29 percent private; 71 percent public funding

    • Colorado Rapids

    Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.

    Opened in 2007, 18,500 seats

    $ 84 million, 25 percent private; 75 public funding

    • Chicago Fire

    Toyota Park, Bridgeview Ill.

    Opened in 2006, 20,000 seats

    $ 102 million, 100 percent public funding

    • FC Dallas

    Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

    Opened in 2005, 21,193 seats

    $ 80 million; 31 percent private; 69 percent public funding

    • Los Angeles Galaxy

    StubHub Center, Carson, Calif.

    Opened in 2003, 27,000 seats

    $ 95 million, 100 percent private funding

    • Columbus Crew

    Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

    Opened in 1999, 20,145 seats

    $ 34 million, 100 percent private funding
     
  10. Guil_

    Guil_ New Member

    Nov 20, 2015
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Anyone know what MLS stadiums are expandable ?
    And what capacity ?
     
  11. hot potato

    hot potato Member+

    Feb 21, 2014
    Club:
    Vancouver Whitecaps
    seattle, vancouver, NE, NYCFC, atlanta all play/will play in large stadiums; TFC is expanding from 21 000 to 30 000 and portland is getting ready to do a modest expansion of a few thousand

    some stadiums that are at full capacity- RSL, SKC, SJ- might need to do some expanding if they have possibility to do so

    most others rarely reach capacity- LAG, montreal, dallas, columbus, colorado, chicago, philadelphia, houston, RBNY

    building/will be building stadiums- NYCFC, Orlando, DC, LA 2, MUFC, probably Miami
     
  12. Daniel from Montréal

    Aug 4, 2000
    Montréal
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Montreal has the Big O next door for big games and early season. Capacity is 61k.
     
  13. flippin269

    flippin269 Member+

    Aug 3, 2003
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Revolt repped this.
  14. matbluvenger

    matbluvenger Member+

    Reno 1868
    United States
    Aug 2, 2010
    Reno, NV
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  15. flippin269

    flippin269 Member+

    Aug 3, 2003
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Man that would suck if that happened to Minnesota
     
  16. Darkwing McQuack

    Darkwing McQuack BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 11, 2011
    Morrisville, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Most likely will. For MLS stadiums the end product rarely looks like the concept art.
     
  17. flippin269

    flippin269 Member+

    Aug 3, 2003
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Timbers mulling Providence Park expansion
    KGW

    It's reported here that expansion could happen within 2 years. As early as 2018.
     
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  18. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #18 xbhaskarx, Mar 8, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2016
    That's great news but I hope they don't do a complete teardown in Portland, the current stadium has history and atmosphere and a certain character and classiness that only comes with age. It's basically the American soccer version of Fenway Park or Wrigley Field. We don't have a lot of old history around MLS, let's keep what little we do have.

    Chances are we'll never have another MLS stadium where we can say "here's an artist's illustration, circa 1926."

    [​IMG]


    That said, remove the half-roof and add an entire second level to the east side
    [​IMG]
    what would that add, maybe 7-8k?

    And maybe they could reach some agreement with the MAC to cram more seats in the south end, maybe even go vertical along the building, or perhaps some on top of the building like the seats on top of the Green Monster at Fenway?
     
  19. flippin269

    flippin269 Member+

    Aug 3, 2003
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It sounds like from the plans, they might add a 2nd tier to the side posted here with as many as 10,000 seats, and 2,000 on the South Side (The side where the scoreboard and athletics building is). Could become a 33,000-seat stadium with that mindset.

    If they do this and it happened in 2018, the following teams have a 30,000+ average possibility that year:
    Seattle
    Portland
    Atlanta (Already have 30,000 season ticket deposits)
    NYCFC
    Toronto

    MLS might be able to compete with Liga MX with average attendance, as well as become a top-five average attendance soccer league in the world within 2-3 years.
     
  20. GunnerJacket

    GunnerJacket Moderator
    Staff Member

    Sep 18, 2003
    Gainesville, GA
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    I'm going to guess the site for Providence Park will limit capacity to somewhere around 27k. By the time you factor in space for the structure itself, plus the stairs, restrooms, concessions, etc. for attendees you're looking at a very, very tight footprint. Even if they get a "full" second tier on the east side it would be pretty shallow or else have to go without plumbing. So maybe 3-4k there and 1-2k on the south and that puts you at about 27k. If they were to build anything more they'd surely like to concentrate on more lucrative seating options, which won't do much for capacity.

    Otherwise their next plan will have to be purchasing properties across from 20th avenue with an eye toward something on the west side.
     
  21. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Do you means which ones are expandable today or ones have local permission to build additional capacity?

    "Due to consistently high attendance and ticket sales, the Philadelphia Union have expressed interest in expanding the capacity of the stadium as early as 2014. The planned expansion would occur in three phases, initially to 20,000, then to 27,000, and finally to approximately 30,000." :giggle:

    http://articles.philly.com/2011-06-07/news/29629437_1_nick-sakiewicz-jeff-l-hote-ppl-park

    Chicago Fire have permission to expand Toyota Park to accommodate 30,000 :whistling:
     
  22. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Providence Park is the Fenway of MLS.
     
  23. Tigereye

    Tigereye Member+

    (ಠ_ಠ)┌∩┐
    Aug 19, 2005
    (ಠ_ಠ)┌∩┐
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    It's been previously noted by architects that BBVACS is expandable to 30,000.

    As to how & where, it's never been stated but there is ample room behind both end line stands and no roof on the north end.
     
  24. matbluvenger

    matbluvenger Member+

    Reno 1868
    United States
    Aug 2, 2010
    Reno, NV
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    First they need to work on consistently filling the capacity they have now.
     
  25. flippin269

    flippin269 Member+

    Aug 3, 2003
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think BBVA is built to where they can improve on a LOT of things if they want to and when the time's right. I'm also curious as to how they'd build, though my assumption is that the side closest to downtown wouldn't be touch, and most expansion would likely be on the opposite side facing the East End.
     
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