FC Barcelona making bid to bring MLS back to Miami I'll avoid any comments about Canadian expansion prospects as a result of such an announcement. I want avoid being "Archered" by anyone up north (I'm too close to the border.... I envision Mountie Elite Forces performing a black ops kidnapping while I'm sleeping).
Barca to launch MLS franchise bid If Barca want to put money into MLS, who am I to say no? Bit more from the Miami Herald: FC Barcelona will bid for Miami MLS team
Arthur Blank submitted his application yesterday for a franchise in Atlanta, I assume that Vancouver and Montreal have thiers submitted. I'm not sure where other cities stand. I would have liked to see a submission by the group in St. Louis as we could stand to have more midwest clubs and St. Louis is long know for its soccer tradition. What I do not want to see is FC Barcelona USA. The Goats are a retarded enough idea let alone having another. I did watch Jesse March on FFF the other night and there was discussion about rebranding the Goats. I'm not sure what exactly was said as I missed that part of the conversation but I saw the tease before commerical break.
Miami already had a team and it folded. I think that since Miami already had an opportunity to have a MLS franchise, they shouldn't get another. They didn't even support them, if rememember correctly, they were at the bottom in attendendence with Tampa (and we all know what happened to them, too.) There are plenty of other cities trying to get a MLS franchise. I think St. Louis deserves a team and probably another Canadian team.
Rule #1 of MLS business practice: thou shalt not apply logic to business decisions, lest we piss off someone with a big purse.
Funny thing about that... I remember reading somewhere that Randy Lerner wanted to put an MLS team in Cleveland and told Garber, "If you let me play in Browns Stadium, I'll write you a check today." and Garber said no.
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think the Fusion really even technically playerd in Miami outside of a double header or two played in the Orange Bowl. So they never really got a chance to tap into the larger population. However on a per capita basis they were still probably better attendance wise than NY.
So far the question is which of the following two cities would you like to see in? Portland Miami Ottawa Montreal Vancouver St. Louis Atlanta Looks like NYC is not putting a bid in, I’m not crying over the news.
You're probably right about the per capita over NY, but my personal opinion is that Miami typically don't support their pro sports teams. Marlins games are practically empty. The Dolphins don't sell out their games if they aren't winning. Heck, I remember years ago, the Dolphins didn't sellout a playoff game (and I'm a huge Dolphins fan and that piss me off.) I just think there are better options than giving Miami another team. But if Barca throws a lot of money for a team in Miami, the MLS needs to really consider the fan base and a new stadium to make to decision.
StL & Atlanta. Arthur Blank is a good owner and seems serious about the investment. Montreal isn't going anywhere and can be added later. Vancouver would be a good spot but has no viable stadium option. Portland, nothing stands out to me, Ottawa same as Vancouver and Miami has tried and failed. The assessment about the lazy fans in southern Florida is correct. NYC should never be considered. They can't even get fans to the first team they have ie LA/Goats.
I'm rooting for St. Louis solely based on it's proximity to Columbus! If they get a team it's one more easy road trip every season.
The only thing I have against Atlanta is that Blank has put out no information about stadium plans yet. If he has just been keeping things under raps that’s fine and I’ll be interested to see his plan but until then I’m somewhat dubious. My hope has been for St. Louis and Portland then three or four teams in the south the next couple of rounds.
I'd put Portland, St. Louis, and Atlanta as my top three, in no particular order. How about the one of those three that don't get and expansion team gets a rebranded Chivas.
Portland if only for the selfish reason that it's looking more and more like I'm relocating come summer and that puts a team 2 hours away from me rather than 4 in Seattle.
I vote for Portland, St. Louis, Atlanta, Miami, Las Vegas, NY #2, Dayton, Schenectady, Albuquerque, Youngstown, Wheeling, Oklahoma City, Odessa TX, Intercourse PA, Fairbanks, Honolulu, Pago Pago (American Samoa), Clintonville, Grand Junction CO, all before I would vote for Vancouver, Montreal, or Ottawa.
You forgot Hell, PA. That could be a great Derby; Hell V. Intercourse. Wonder what you would call the trophy?
Atlanta fans are just as bad as Miami fans, so I see no reason to consider either. St. Louis & Portland would be fine with me.
Growing up in Eastern PA, there are a lot of interesting towns all in the same area: Intercourse Paradise Blue Ball Bird-in-Hand
Portland, Vancouver. Northwest FTW. The threesome of Portland, Seattle and Vancouver would be crazy for the rivalry, although it will certainly take alot from USL in the region. Portland has some crazy ass fans in the Timbers Army, and PGE would certainly be a cool rennovation to a SSS if they get the franchise, it is very metro located, is set in the ground, sort of like the plans for Huntington Park.
While I have to agree about the fans in Atlanta, the league needs a southern presence. I live in Tennessee and it's pretty hard to be an MLS fan, much less a Crew fan, down here.