http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-3/105401313891800.xml Nice article in the Times-Picayune about soccer's revival in New Orleans.
It was a great story and hit the nail on the head about how teams fail. I think that every team should have to start in the PDL and then grow to the level that can be supported. Losing 50,000 - 100,00 is better then 500,000. And it give an organization time to grow and figure out what works in that area. It seems like Syracuse is doing well, but for every team like that there are more Leigh Valley's.
Rumors are their might be a soccer stadium on the way. Just heard this today - so that would be very exciting.
I think that would be the story of the year. I just wish they would do a better job with the website. nopdl.com not a great web address either.
In a word, yes. The reason the previous A-League folded team had more to do with owner incompetence* than a poor market. (Owned the Riverboat Gamblers and a minor league baseball team and stadium - RG's played at the same stadium as the baseball team, but when he sold the baseball team, he didn't include a provision to ensure the RGs would be able to continue playing at the stadium - opps!)
Actually the original owner sold the team to the baseball guys. The baseball guys changed the name to Storm, baseball guys then fired all the soccer guys, and tried to make it baseball. They then pulled the plug a year later because they had no vision. The sad thing is right behind the stadium is the Storm practice field. It was big enough to do a mini-stadium that would be great for less than $500,000. But they wouldn't spend the money, they wouldn't advertise, they didn't support the soccer team. Very sad.
I'll bet soccer will do great in New Orleans once the NFL moves the Saints to LA for the 2004 season to help out with the new TV contract.
Won't happen, team makes money, and they love the Superdome for Superbowl. Hornets could be out rather quickly though.