Hmm. Wonder where they get the 17,000 figure from? I'm assuming the expandability factor is because one side of the stadium will initially be open. But how do you know how many seats you could get into it? On the downside, the 17,000 figure is probably indicative that the club doesn't aspire to MLS in the near future. Even so, it'll be very good for the forward development of the club in the USL. This will be only the second time in my memory (after Rochester) that an SSS was built with the fact that the old stadium was too small to meet demand as one of the reasons. They and Rochester togeteher, for as long as they're both in the league, could significantly raise the level and profile of the USL.
Photos here. Have they ever thought of doing renderings of the inside of the stadium? It looks like a YMCA from the outside.
The main concern we have here in Montreal is the the field is only 100 x 64 meters, which is too small, according to FIFA regulations, to host international level games... including the games of the U20 World Cup... Somebody missed a memo at some point, and I hope they're gonna fix this soon.
Umm, no it isn't. A field must be 70 yards wide (being an English game, all the original measurements are in English units) to host internationals. 64 meters is just big enough.
These two franchises increasingly measure themselves against each other. They are becoming the Lakers and Celtics of the USL.
And that can only be a good thing. Now that I think about it, there's a solid rivalry on the east, a solid three-way in the west. I wonder if that can be enough to stabilize things and start them going the other direction?
Might. You're right it can't hurt. I personally believe a league wtiih two dominant franchises is in much better shape than a league with one.
You're right. I double-checked and the FIFA minimum requirements are 100 X 64 m, so it's fine. BUT... the rules for the U-20 championship stipulate that the fields must be between 105 and 110 m in length and between 68 and 75 m in width, and this is where the problem lies.
Huh. Interesting. Perhaps the deal is that the field will be wider for the U-20 than for the Impact. I could especially see that happening if the stands are open on one side. (Which would also explain the expandability.) Pictures don't really look like it, though.
However, looking at the up-close version of the above picture, that dark green area is neither field nor stands, and could conceivably be used to temporarily widen the field. It wouldn't leave much room for throw-ins, it might complicate some of the views, and it would be lop-sided (there must be some room on the bottom side for benches), but it could work in a pinch, and would probably get you an extra 4 meters.
Well, we need 4 meters in width and 5 meters in length. The length is not a problem since one end is open. And the stands are 3.5 meters away from the picth, so we only need 2 meters each side, which leaves 1.5 meters of space, the minimum required being (I believe) 1 meter, it's fine. Slightly unconfortable for the players and coaches on the bench, but fine... unless of course the benches are in the stands, like in England. They should just go for 105 x 68 and build the stands around that with 3.5 meters off all around the pitch.
Ive heard than atlanta was getting one a few years back, even saw sketches but nothing has come of it yet.
Good for Canada. Not only to they have an allready solid club getting a professional stadium the national team now has a respectable place to play. Hopefully Toronto(especially) and Vancouver can get their act together. Three solid A-League franchise would help soccer in Canada a ton.
Here's a link to the Montreal Gazette article: http://www.canada.com/montreal/mont....html?id=386f49c1-64f1-4f06-ad2e-5f48e4a270f6
No. It's still in construction, and some of the fields are already completed: http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/leaguemanager/index.php?opt=gallery&cat=00001 http://www.atlantasilverbackspark.com/ They haven't started on the main stadium yet but the other fields are up and the adult leagues are using them right now.
'Phase I', or the outdoor practice/rec facilities, was completed in Summer 2004. I don't know how 'Phase II', ie the actual stadium, was coming along, but somewhere in the recesses of my mind I seem to recall ground having been broken. Here's what it was supposed to look like, as of some time in 2004: Supposed to seat 5000, I think, with little expandability, so it's a Div. I future for them, too. Definitely looks inspired by Blackbaud.