So, I'm not sure I'd use the word "encouraging" yet, but this is the first non-depressing news I've heard in a while. http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2009/02/11/1105039/garber-barcamiami-team-would-start-in-2010 Is anybody hearing anything else about this potential partner? I'm desperate for anything like real news at this point.
I'd say it is encouraging. As long as the league is still having meetings with the proposed ownership group, there's always a chance. Nevertheless, it's clear that while St. Louis was once regarded as the frontrunner for the next team, right now it's on the outside looking in.
lol Same article was brought up in the STL thread on the general Expansion board. Seconded (though maybe 'apathetic unless' instead of 'desperate for'). I'm not going to get my hopes again unless someone tells me this extra investor is real and has LOTS of $$$.
back to depressing: http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/fr...expansion-bid-in-ottawa-is-getting-confident/
I actually feel that Garber is feeding the same positive vibes to Ottawa that we have received for years. Now, if Ottawa DOES getting a team simply for having a stadium, I will be super-pissed. Like never watching MLS again pissed, which I have never stated before. However, if MLS gives Ottawa a team maybe I don't want to support them anyways. Sometimes Garber starts making the USL1 more attractive on his own.
Garber quickly backed off of that. According to Ives: 12:37pm- Garber poured some cold water on the buzz out of Ottawa that its bid is now a front-runner in the expansion race. He clarified that the Ottawa bid will have a "good chance" of being chosen if a good stadium project is approved.
The thing is even IF St.Louis gets an MLS team are the non St.Louis games really worth watching anyway? I've tried to watch MLS on ESPN and FSC and the only games I've ever watched were the Beckham Galaxy games and some of those were good but a lot weren't that good and now you probably can't even do that anymore! LOL The only other good game I can recall is when NYRB had both Angel and Altidore and I don't even recall who they played but that was a very good game. MLS is just not fun to watch and you find yourself changing the channel after a few minutes. It looks like they may screw St.Louis over and that's just sickening after all we've done and how long we've waited.
Considering I've been watching MLS on TV for the last 13 years and St. Louis hasn't had a team, I'd say "yes", there might just be a few games worth watching throughout the season. It's all a matter of personal preference. I have little to no interest in watching a couple of EPL or Serie A or La Liga teams play when I have no idea who most of the players are, nor do I have any personal interest in the teams or the league. You seem to feel the same way about MLS. Just don't assume everybody else feels the same.
I have to agree with RFR here - as much as it pains me - I watch 2-3 MLS games per year. I watch 60+ European games. Without a St. Louis team the MLS is nothing to me. I feel no real connection to any of the teams and it is a far less exciting game to watch, IMO.
I have to say, It does help having a team in MLS. I had nearly no interest in MLS and lots in FMF. Now I'm all Houston and don't watch much of other leagues anymore. As far as Europe goes, I like Hull but I like to see most promoted teams stay up, Hull, Indios, Stoke, ect. I watch Fulam only cause of Dempsey, Bayern cause of Donavan, Everton cause of Howard. Though I never followed them before, after watching these teams for these reasons, I know the players more now. Thus, I have a greater interest in Europe. Though I'm all Orange! Good Luck StL. I hope Miami doesn't get in!
Totally. As far as televised soccer product goes, there are many better options than MLS. If I had a skin in the game, I'd feel differently. But I can't make myself care about any of these teams.
Do you think we'll hear any news regarding expansion by first kick time? Portland and Vancouver seem to me ahead of the other bids. Portland depends on Portland city vote, and if that date is confirmed, I think Portland is more than a shoe in and an annoucement is high likely. Vancouver has a different situation, more difficult I think than Portland ... and having things in line by March 19th seems tough. As the league really wants to have 2 new teams in 2011, it would not be strange having only 1 annoucement (Portland) and the other delayed maybe to the All Star Game. If neither of these 2 bids was "ready" by March, given (always imho) the willingness of the league to expand, the chances of StL 2011 would be much more.
I don't see anything changing with the Vancouver bid before that announcement - it's going to come down to how bad MLS wants Vancouver compared to the holes in that bid.
ok fine ... but do you think having a delay in the annoucement of the second franchise (supposing Portland in) would be a good or bad news for other bids and specifically StL?
At this point, I think all delays are good for Portland and St. Louis. Obviously a Portland announcement hurts because it takes up a spot. But I would think a delay AFTER a Portland announcement would be good for StL and I think it would be a very bad sign for Vancouver. (it would show that MLS was waiting for someone else other than Vancouver).
I agree, specially to the second part of your post. Given Portland in (which is not 100% sure right now) ... As far as I know, Vancouver has no votes pending within next weeks, so why wait further to choose them if not because MLS, despite wants it so bad, thinks their plan has issues bigger than the others? Hate to say that, but StL could be the fall-back option after Vancouver in MLS mind?!
I don't watch much right now, either, but I would watch religiously if a televised game involved division/conference rivals of a St. Louis team. I'm a Rangers fan, and I'll watch Celtic games just to root against them. I'm an Arsenal fan, and I'll watch games involving the teams ahead of them in the tables just to root against those teams. It would be the same for me if I cared about who was on top in MLS. On the expansion news front, though...is it safe to say at this point, especially with recent negative news for Miami, that no one has any idea what the crap is going on?
Hang in there boys and girls..Still pulling for you to get your team ..are any of you people heading to Chicago for the US game in June ?
I'd like to if I can make it. I'm kind of disappointed they're playing it at Soldier's Field and not Toyota Park though.
WHY?? Soldier's field is more people, more exitement, and more fans for soccer. It helps soccer to have higher attendace not lower.
I'm planning to go. I think if USSF was really after a cash grab they would have put the Mexico game there; I don't have a problem with this- I went to the US v.Brazil game there, and the US v. England game a few years ago, and the atmosphere was good. Admittedly this one will be harder to sell out than either of those.