2 new 2005 franchises, less than a month away...SWEET For the record...I'm saying it's the San Diego Goats (I think Houston would be a better growth market) and the Rochester Rhinos (Philadelphia needs a team..too bad Lurie doesn't want to play). The expansion news will have a "bucket-of-Gatorade-over-the-head" shock effect on the big media outlets. Surprise! Whether or not they care to acknowledge it at press or air time will be the key. But the fact that this league is moving forward cannot be ignored. The news, coming right at the Cup like this, may make a splash--I'm not betting all of Viagra's billions on it.
please, for an ignorant neophyte like myself, tell me how and/or where you got this information that makes you so sure of this.
Tranquilo Amigo. Let me 'splain, Are you referring to my prediction that the franchises will go to SD and Rochester?...It's my guess, and nothing more, for the record. If you are referring to my thoughts on the media... the ESPNs, baby Foxes, sports magazines, and most newspapers are all believing that soccer is dying here (see the media coverage of WUSA). I'm saying that expansion will, for most of the media, come as a surpise, and we may see them start to pay more attention. But I'm not counting on it. Got it?
I choose to believe whatever I want to believe. I just get the feeling Garber is going to give Vergas whatever he wants. I hope to God Garber proves me wrong.
ARTHUR: Now stand aside, worthy adversary. BLACK KNIGHT: 'Tis but a scratch. ARTHUR: A scratch? Your arm's off! BLACK KNIGHT: No, it isn't. ARTHUR: Well, what's that, then? BLACK KNIGHT: I've had worse. ARTHUR: You liar! BLACK KNIGHT: Come on, you pansy! This is BigSoccer in a nutshell.
2004 or 2005? What's the time frame for this? I don't want to sit through another season with the same ten lousy clubs.
No disrespect, but your first mistake is assuming Garber calls all the shots. Hint: Someone else made the expansion timeline announcement first.
I thought the betting was on San Diego and Cleveland not San Diego and Rochester. The bigger issue is a start date of 04 or 05 for the new clubs.
The news is that 2005 will see expansion come. I think that 2004 is too soon, myself. Take your time, do it right.
Again,Galperin, my Guadalajara friend tells me Garbr is coming up with a good compromise. MLS will be better for it, and VERGA-VIAGRA WILL BE HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME... WAIT AND SEE...
that has been the word on the street. apparently there is an investor lined up in Cleveland who is also willing to put up an SSS. I guess that wouldn't hurt his chances, eh?
I never said you couldn't choose to believe whatever you want. Instead, I just asked why you made that choice, when, on its face, there seems to be a more obvious one. So of course you can choose to believe what you want. I just hope you'll choose to enlighten me why.
Re: Re: Re: News On Chivas My gut feeling about all of the information that leaks out of the Vergara camp that has caused concern, is that they have nothing to do with negotiating with MLS, but rather with Vegara's & MLS's negotiating with the City of San Diego to play in Qualcom. If the City perceives that MLS and Chivas don't have any other alternatives, then they would have leverage when negotiating the tennant agreement. If the City, who is eager to fill dates in Qualcom, realizes that this potential tennant of 15-20 dates, is exploring other options (ala playing in the HDC, buying the Galaxy, playing in Houston or Chicago, ect...) then they would be forced to put a better offer on the table. This has been my gut feeling. No need for MLS to make official comments from the Commissioner's office about un-offical rumors that may in fact benefit the stadium negotiation.
Well, at least you admit it. Most people who think that about Vergara try to insist that there's some logic or reason behind it.
Re: Re: Re: Re: News On Chivas Exactly. These are characteristic shenanigans that Vergara has pulled w/ all other teams he's bought or sought to buy.
Best explanation I've heard since this crap with Chivas started. Makes a lot of sense to wheel and deal SD by playing them off of other cities.
Re: Re: Re: Re: News On Chivas Of course any stadium deal gets muddied by politics. The San Diego Chargers have a sweet (corrupt??) deal with the city. If the piece of crap Chargers don't sell out the stadium, the City of San Diego buys the remaining seats. It costs the city millions of dollars every year to pay off the Chargers to stay in San Diego, and people are sick of it. Can you imagine the weekly attendance threads for MLS if they got a similar deal (not that they will). "Attendance = 10,000, but tickets sold = 35,000". People of San Diego also feel like they've been screwed by the San Diego Padres, so it will be difficult to get a good stadium deal. City Council has been corrupt for too long, and there's just not votes in the socer fans (hispanic or not).
What is the Cleveland market like? Is it a big soccer town? I personally have no idea. I am surprised no one in St. Louis has ever proposed a stadium. So many good players have come out of that area. Is the Chivas team still going to be called the cheesey and amateurish Chivas USA??? That, is a joke. Chivas de San Diego or San Diego Chivas SC is fine with me. As for Rochester, I've said this a couple of times. I think they would be the ideal team to play in MLS. The problem though, is that their owner seems to be small time. Horowitz couldn't handle it in Miami, and look what happened. I say, wait a couple of more years, maybe Rochester's finances will improve, and they will be in MLS. Also, another thing that bothers me greatly is the whole 'Ragin' thing. Please, please take that out of your name. I know a hundred Rochester fans are going to rush the boards now, but it is PURE CHEESE, and would be worse then any MLS name. Also, your symbol is horrendous, so cartoonish it is sickening. Get a shield with a stylized Rhino on it, similar to the Red Devils on the shield of Man U.
For what it's worth, nobody bothered to show up for Boca Juniors vs. Celtic during the summer ChampionsWorld Tour.
We are in the Republic of Texas and, as far as we can see, there isn't anything wrong with Rochester. I've been there. Beautiful city. Incredible people. Soccer "aficionados" as few in the U.S. Rhino is cartoonish, allright, but what's wrong with offering a smiling face to all kids in the city? Rochester is a credible market for MLS. Go, Raging Rhinos. You've got our vote...
Yeah the Boca Jrs v Celtic turnout was piss poor. They did change the teams fairly last minute. I believe it was to be AC Milan v. Celtic originally. Nontheless, Boca v. Celtic should have drew a 25-30K atleast. I believe it drew about half that. On the flip side, Cleveland has been home to a fairly successful indoor franchise for 20-25 years (The Force and the Crunch). My friend from Cleveland Hts informs me that the Force played in front of sold out crowds 17-20K for many years in the height of the MISL in the mid to late 80's.
That honestly means nothing to me. I wouldn't go either. I heard that the owner is thinking about a downtown stadium. Is that the right option? Should it be based in the suburbs?