Well, something like this was always the most plausible outcome. Hopefully that $3 mil can get a new park on the SW side. Good guess on the venue change for the therapitic facility. IDK if it will be unanimous, but I think this is gonna pass. Now, IDK if NWSL to Columbus is a done deal. And are they still seeking $25 mil from the County?
Any update on this? This morning Bill Demora was on WLW and let me say... what a douchebag. The conversation started with him talking about how he had a bookie at 5 years old and then shifted into women's sports. His comments were that he 'is not opposed to the general concept of women playing sports' and he attends all of the Ohio State women's sporting events but does not want to give money to rich people. IMO, women's Athletics should be more than a vague concept and if a relatively minor amount like $25M gives a good facility and ties the team to a city (cough Modell) then it is a good thing. He also went on to say that soccer, like the Crew, is not well supported and the Haslams are milking us for everything they can take.
The press conference was Hardin being pissed at the Mayor for offering up McCoy park, but it’s part of the bid and they would have to resubmit if they take it away. They’re allowing ownership to keep the park under the condition that they put together a plan with the city to build another park that fulfills the original purpose that land was going to serve. Ownership also has to pay $3 million to help bring this plan to life. They also have to keep some area of McCoy park open to the public. Failure to do so will result in the city’s offer being rescinded.
Hardin was so pissed at Ginther I went and checked to see if he was running for Mayor. Vote was supposed to be at 5pm.
And it's still less of a shitshow than what's in Texas. I guess everything really is bigger in Texas.
Probably not the good look gi ther was hoping. His administration looks like they undercut the legislative body, gave into billionaires, and didnt get this through as easily as they probably promised to HSG/NRI.
The NWSL team is coming to town under a cloud of controversy. The MLS team has declined greatly and is flipping schedules. I hope both teams can succeed independently of each other ... in Columbus. Without anymore not-voted-on taxpayer or ticket buyers' assistance. And ownerships resist the temptation to move games to the Brook Park dome in a few years. I am skeptical of it all working out like that in Columbus long-term. Very skeptical.
Hate to be a skeptic, but who would like to bet me that the needed funds to create the council’s McCoy Park vision was $3 million? $3 million that the council didn’t have hence both the uncompleted project and the request to ownership to donate said amount.
To those in here who feel these political machinations will result in in this team "coming to town under a cloud of controversy," I highly doubt it. Assuming for a moment that we're actually granted a franchise, the tempest in a teapot regarding McCoy Park is likely something that very few potential fans will even be aware happened. Remember Bill Bush's bitching and op-ed style "reporting" about the new Crew stadium and training ground deal? Those of us in here, do, because we're profoundly unusual people. But no one with a life does.
Granted: I only watch 2 of the 3 major local TV stations, but they've (WCMH & WSYX/WTTE) have both covered this saga in it's entirety - bad details and all. I'm 96% convinced that there are more than 100 people in this city who think that the training facility at McCoy Park is getting built no matter what, regardless of the NWSL's expansion decision. I'm also 99% convinced that there are more than 10,000 people in this city who think the 2% tax will be paid by every citizen, not just the ticket buyers at SMG. The media has been fast & loose with the details on this in order to maximize outrage. The Haslam/Nationwide PR Machine was caught with it's pants down here, and got rightfully spanked. This, kids, is what happens when you don't control the narrative. It's also going to be interesting to see how this affects the relationship between HSG and the politicians of Columbus, not to mention Mayor Suburbs' future. All of that said I agree that there isn't a ince cube's chance in hell of this clouding the arrival of an NWSL team. It's over and done now and by the time the announcement is made (wait, wasn't it supposed to be around Tax Day, cooinciding with the Nationwide 100th?) this will be long forgotten by the ticket buying public. If Columbus wins this franchise it'll be welcomed with open arms by all but a handful of NIMBYs in southwest Columbus. I look forward to buying The Rooster a beverage at the opening match of Columbus Crewzers FC.
Rooster said they wanted an announcement last saturday (which sounds like BS). Ive heard other days too. I was in the nationwide building thursday of last week (two days after their birthday), and it didnt seem like anything really happened. Ill be in tomorrow and will see what is up.
If he just paid a little more attention and used a little more logic, he could be a step above the liberal, local politics TMZ reporter that he is. And he could also be a little nicer to people generally.