they only realized the importance of soccer after the team have gone to Houston? I wonder how many of those 80millions are texas dollars or AEG dollars.....
Right now it's Monopoly money until they figure out a way to get the political will for the council and voters to approve it.
Noah, Assuming this does get through the council, how do you rate its chances with the general public? We know about the passion of those who frequent these boards, but I have no idea how receptive the general voters of the city of San Jose are likely to be. Does this have to be packaged with the baseball scheme to get any traction?
As reported today, zero. If it's a starting point for negotiations for a more reasonable arrangement, maybe.
I feel like I'm missing something. Does someone want to explain why they want to make this offer after their team is gone? To me it seems like a waste of money, to try and attract a team when you just had one kiss you goodbye. If this is their idea of "damage control", then they seriously need to elect some new people up there.
What we saw this week with the Quakes is actually a major plus for MLS. While it sucks for the Quakes fans here is why it is a great day for MLS. For the first time ever there is actual legitimate competition between cities and owners for a team. This was not the case 4 years ago. You couldn't give teams away and cities could care less. But what effectively happened was AEG said: "Look we can get a better deal in a city that really wants us and wants to build us a stadium (with possilbe committed investors). If you want to keep the team match it." There is a market for MLS and cities want to have teams. Maybe not every city, but some see MLS as a good deal for their city. San Jose called AEG's bluff and lost. Houston who was waiting in the wings scored a major coup. The reality is that with the FIFA imposed limit on 18 teams. In reality MLS will probably end up with 20. There is quickly becoming a shortage on teams and investments in a growing sports market. Basically MLS will go to the place that builds stadiums and have good owners. The rules have changed as of today. And don't for one second think that this will be the last team to be moved. In 15 years when Columbus Crew stadium starts looking really crappy, and MLS is making money, don't be surprised to see Seattle or Charlotte offer up a sweet state of the art stadium with all kind of financial incentives.
This was nothing but a CYA move on their part. Politically, it has zero chance of passing the required votes--both the city council to put it on the next ballot, and in a citywide election. At best, it's a starting point for getting a new team into San Jose.
If this is ever be put up for a vote, I can't imagine more than 10% voting yes on a $80 million sports subsidy. I would like it to happen, but it is more of a pipe dream.
I agree with red card: This is all political cover to shift the blame. This is so transparent that I'm surprised some people are actually holding out hope that this will actually fly. The only mystery is how disengenuous MLS commish Garber is about trying to obtain an expansion team for San Joe in 2007. The only positive in this debacle is that we're finally rid of AEG.
It will be a great day for MLS only if the San Jose fans bend over and let them reem them up the ass one more time. That's not going to happen. So MLS shot themselves in the foot. San Jose fans have more dignity than to be used as blackmail for political purposes. Just because the NFL does it to their sucker fans doesn't mean everyone has to accept it. I'd like to see a consortium of people in San Jose work with the government to get a stadium built for a USL team. It can be done. Point number one to make to the San Jose government: why would you want to give money to a league that just tried to blackmail you and dragged your name through the mud for 3 years? - Paul
This is like the girlfriend that gets dumped and then offers just about anything to get back with the ex-boyfriend.
You just have to frame the argument right. This stadium will benefit the entire community, because it will be available for community use 120 days a year. Plus, it will help local businesses with all the people coming into the area for games.
Purdy is just a soccer hating a$$hole. He totally supports the effort to get a baseball stadium (and the city spending $80 million to acquire land for it) and says it is a great investment since the land would have other uses if the baseball idea failed. One of these uses he mentions is a "park". So, a soccer stadium does not make financial sense, but spending $80 million for a park that a few dozen people might wander through in a day, and most of them probably homeless drunks, does make sense?
This is the most annoying move anyone's made during the whole relocation crisis. The council and MLS both know damn well this will never get voter approval so they are just trying to save face among casual soccer fans by making it look like they cared.
Agreed. This deal would not fly if it were for the 49ers or Giants, let alone anyone farther down the food chain. Both of them were expected to finance their own stadiums, the Giants did it basically on their own and the 49ers have apparently given up. I don't think you would get any different reaction in SJ than SF.
While Mark Purdy may come off as a soccer-bashing ass, and not too bright: "Look, it's no secret how I feel about the Earthquakes, whose current out-of-town proprietors are threatening a move to Houston. That's ridiculous on two levels. First, I am not convinced that the owner, Anschutz Entertainment Group, will really move the team to Houston, where there is also no soccer-specific stadium available. Second, the Earthquakes need to stay here. It makes sense for MLS. It makes sense for San Jose. The South Bay has shown it will support a well-run pro soccer franchise. It is one of the country's top 10 soccer markets, without argument." ... after re-reading hiscolumn from Nov. 30 I can't say that his main point is all that far off: 1) San Jose State University has a stadium that's a storied part of US soccer history 2) Along with that, they have the land just sitting there, under-used; 3) It would be a win-win-win situation for the City of San Jose, the County of Santa Clara, the university, MLS, new local owner AND the entire Northern California and US soccer community if the parties would get together and redevelop the stadium 4) This politicians and the university are the ones we should be pissed at for their shortsightedness and complete and utter lack of leadership. Once again, as in the earthquake reconstruction challenges in the recent past, Southern California had the leadership to make it happen, while Northern California's leadership is sitting on their collective asses.
I know a lot of people don't think this kind of deal would fly with the voters, but one of the ironies of it is that the city/public would only have to come up with $36 million in cash, which is LESS THAN 10% OF WHAT THESE JACKA$$ES SPENT ON THE NEW CITY HALL, a fitting Taj Mahal to their incompetence and ego.
Exactly. Anyone worth their salt could seel this deal to the community. If they can't find a guy, call me. I'll sell it for you.