MLS to Vegas....problematic?

Just because gambling is legal in Vegas is no reason to keep teams out of there. Bookies are everywhere and the thought that there is no gambling on the Yankees in New York or the Bears iN Chicago or all other examples is just nuts. If they have the money and build a stadium then I say yes.

 

The only problem is that my wife would probably have an issue with me wanting to go see LV vs. the Rapids when I'm a fan of neither team.

 

Yeah, I don't understand why geography automatically removes the possibility of conflict of interest or gambling issues. There have been point fixing scandals at mutliple NCAA schools all over the country....not just UNLV. The amount of money placed on MLS matches in a given weekend is so tiny it isn't even close to worth the potential criminal charges for fixing games. It'd be like risking Federal prison to fix your friend's Super Bowl pool.

 

But if you buy the season tickets then she has to let you go.

 

Las Vegas would be nice. Lots of wealthy people, lots of prespective owners with lots of money as well. Seeing stories like this and expansion in San Diego makes me very happy. These are groups asking MLS to give them a franchise or at least are looking into it. That means MLS is succeeding.

 

If the owners are willing to have a SSS built and are comitted to the long term success of MLS then I dont see why not. I also love the idea that no other pro sports team is already in the city so if MLS gets in first we can hopefully grab the enitial fan base and create life long fans before or if ever another sports team comes to town. The organization might have to be a little more watchful of its players but I dont think the gambling would create major concerns for a MLS franchise.

 

LasVegas has some problems. A lot of the population works evenings at casinos.Even with a retractable roof it doesn't solve problem as day games don't draw and Vegas has never shown it will support a sports team in the numbers MLS needs.

 

Retractable roof?!?!? Holy shit.

Man, those'll be the only preseason club friendlies international stars BEG to go to.

If they can afford the stadium, that place should be a gold mine. It should be the most used professional soccer field in the US. Imagine every January inviting a team from the leagues that are off for a friendly tournament...Ajax, Dynamo Kiev, CSKA Moscow, Borussia Dortmund.

 

Retractable roof covers the heat issue. It is up to the owners to get fans there but 2 hours in a stadium that is attached to a casino?? I think it could work.

 

Every place has some problems. The thing about Vegas is that the tourism trade is their 24/7/365 and is very international. That doesn't even get into the fact that every team would likely have traveling support. That wouldn't sell out the place, but it is an angle other MLS cities really don't have.

And the corporate sales could be through the roof, especially if Beckham is still around and/or some comparably marketed player is in the league if/when Vegas gets a team.

Of course people will bitch that X number of seats are filled by people who were comped tickets, but that's another issue.

 

If being attached to a casino works for the Connecticut Sun (WNBA), then why not for MLS?

If they can solve the being in the middle of a desert issue, then why not? The EPL advertises betting on the very game your watching, so somehow I think MLS could survive.

 

Pablo Mastroeni is a legend for the USMNT, and um... Herculez Gomez is on the nats radar.

Beckerman, BECKERMAN!!!... c'mon!! Beckerman is sooooo going to be on the USMNT. And then there's Ugo.

Catch my drift?

 

Seriously, they'll probably comp tickets to high rollers. It'll get more away support than any matches except the LA derbies. And LV is so huge now that while many people work at night, all the people that teach their kids and clean their teeth and manage the grocery stores they shop at will be a big enough fan base.

Further...UNLV packs 'em in when the team is good.

EDIT: Monster beat me to many of my points. I hate it when work interferes with posting.

 

Oooooh. I met Beckerman's brother and parents when he was a kid and I was reffing wrestling. We need to catch up.

 

The only problem I see is that it hasn't happened sooner. I think someone on the other LV thread said it perfectly. Best venue for MLS Cup EVER!!

 

You should have reffed the Sala v Beckerman bout a few months ago.

 

Just don't tell Pacman.

 

I cant see visitors to LV attending MLS games. Sure, the away MLS fans would be more inclined to go on a road trip to Vegas, so that gets a few per game.

I don't know much about the LV population's interest in Soccer. That would be key if I were the prospective owner. Why not try a few exhibition games? (Has this happened already?)

 

*dances* Oh man if this comes true I'll buy season tickets for the team until the day I freaking die! My god think of the rivalry and atmosphere of matches! LV vs LAG, LV vs CUSA, LV vs RSL. All teams with a fanbase 4-6 hours away by road, and cheap flights to boot.

Whoever does this needs to get a good number of casino owners to support the project. Get them behind the team and the government here will bend over backwards to make it happen.

 

[tangent]

His brother was amazing. He was a two-time All-American at Nebraska and was one of the most talented kids I have ever seen in high school (and I covered PA wrestling for a while so I think I have a good basis of comparison). Todd was unreal.

I never saw Kyle wrestle, but people I knew and trusted said if he had decided to commit to wrestling instead of soccer, he might have been better than Todd because of his mean streak. [/tangent]