Panic FC says New Orleans for expansion

Don't forget popcorn shrimp po-boys (used to get 'em at Popeye's)!!! I lived in NO for a year in 1991

 

New Orleans City Park?

It this the stadium that use to be New Orleans City Park Stadium?



If it is, it's going to need so work and some structual reinforcements if they haven't already done so.

This facility has good potential for hosting MLS.

Will New Orleans be able to support NFL, NBA and NHL?

 

Re: Re: New Orleans City Park?

I cannot think of anyone that would want a GM job like that.

 

When did they get rid of the turf in Tad Gormely?

 

Re: Re: New Orleans City Park?

You don't need all of that - especially not right at first. Have you been to RFK lately?

 

Thought this article would be of interest:

MONEY

Soccer stadium planned near I-510, Chef Project may lure professional team

Real estate writer

05/26/2001
The Times-Picayune, p.01
Copyright 2001, The Times-Picayune. All rights reserved.

The New Orleans Business and Industrial District will take out an option to buy 12 acres of land along Interstate I-510 in hopes of developing a $5 million minor-league soccer stadium.

The district's board of commissioners voted Friday to buy the tract just southwest of the intersection of Interstate 510 and Chef Menteur Highway for $690,000 from a private owner, George Maynard. The district took the action after hearing a presentation by former New Orleans Storm soccer coach Danny Rebusk and Dave Askinia, an official with the United Soccer Leagues, or USL.


Rebusk hopes to put together a partnership to bring a soccer franchise to New Orleans. The franchise would be for USL's A League, just below the level of major-league soccer.

USL's A League fields 21 teams and is the soccer equivalent of Triple A baseball, a primer for major-league soccer in which American teams can compete with soccer teams across the globe. USL A League teams generate between $500,000 and $1 million in annual revenue, Askinia said.

Askinia told commissioners that from what he had seen from the proposal by Rebusk, along with the business district's willingness to issue bonds to finance the project, the soccer league would grant a franchise to New Orleans if the partnership owning the franchise meets the league's requirements.

Askinia said the USL had just "been drawn into the process last month" for a USL franchise anchoring a new stadium. "We've seen the site, and we're satisfied it's very viable to plan for a stadium here. The numbers will work."

As the deal is structured, the district's option to buy Maynard's land for $690,000 expires in three months from the date it is executed. Eugene Green, president of the New Orleans Business and Industrial District, said that within that time a feasibility study of the stadium will be done, and the district will solicit proposals from qualified soccer stadium operators and grant the project to the best respondent. By July, a NOBID board meeting will be held to approve the issuance of $6 million in bonds to buy the land and build the stadium. NOBID has bonding authority, but the issue would have to be approved by the Louisiana Bond Commission in August. If it is approved, NOBID would buy the land, build the stadium and lease it to the selected operator. The soccer stadium operator's lease payments to the district would pay for the bond issue and no public money would be used to back the bonds, Green said.

The Storm, known as the Riverboat Gamblers until 1998, was a member of the USL until owner Rob Couhig dropped the franchise before the beginning of the 2000 season. The Storm and Gamblers played in Pan American Stadium and Tad Gormley Stadium from 1993 to 1997 and at Zephyr Field in 1998 and 1999. During its last two years, the team's attendance averaged between 1,800 and 2,000 people per game.

Rebusk said the lack of a soccer-specific stadium in New Orleans was one reason the Storm is no more. He believes a new stadium would draw between 2,200 and 2,500 fans during its inaugural year. Soccer has taken on immense popularity, with some local high school championship games drawing several thousand. The new soccer stadium also could fill a need for many local schools, Rebusk said.

Copyright © 2000 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

You mean the city is going to actually do something to improve itself. Wow, This is amazing.

 

I don't know if New Orleans can average more than 13k in attendance every year even if they do get a stadium.

 

If the Zephyrs can sell out, I don't think a pro soccer team would have a problem selling tickets.

 

I think with a GM that has the right experience could easily turn NO into a 15,000 a year franchise.

 

So what are the chances that they will upgrade the soccer stadium they are building to mls specifications and bring in an expansion team.

 

Can we bring smoke bombs, flares and a cannon?

If so, I'm in.

Sachin