MLSsoccer.com has an article about the new stadium opening today which states it is the 13th soccer specific stadium in the league. EASTERN CONFERENCE 1. Sporting Kansas City have Livestrong Park 2. New York Red Bulls have Red Bull Arena 3. Chicago Fire have Toyota Park 4. Houston Dynamo have BBVA Compass Stadium 5. Columbus Crew have Crew Stadium 6. Philadelphia Union have PPL Park 7. Toronto FC have BMO Field WESTERN CONFERENCE 8. Real Salt Lake have Rio Tinto Stadium 9. Vancouver Whitecaps FC have BC Place 10. Colorado Rapids have Dick's Sporting Goods Park 11. FC Dallas have FC Dallas Stadium 12. Los Angeles Galaxy have Home Depot Center 13. Club Deportivo Chivas USA have Home Depot Center 14. Portland Timbers have Jeld-Wen Stadium WE KNOW: San Jose Earthquakes are building a stadium for 2013 I think Montreal Impact move into Saputo Stadium next month MLS 20th Club will need a stadium commitment before being awarded So that leaves New England Revolution DC United Seattle Sounders FC Now, we all know Seattle will never build a SSS, and really don't need to with their attendance. New England made some overtures towards it a few years back, but don't really see Kraft doing it. DC has been trying forever, and Steven Goff makes it sound like there might be something on the horizon with a potential new ownership partner. So within the next five years, we could have a 20 team league with every club outside of Seattle and New England (and probably DC realistically) in their own homes. Anybody predict this in the dark days of 2001, when many were looking at 2004 as a potential end of Major League Soccer? It's really incredible how far this league has come in 17 seasons. Today is truly a day to celebrate (and hopefully with DC beating Houston )
I think the key is less "Soccer-Specific" Stadiums and more "Soccer-Controlled" Stadiums. After next month I believe that only San Jose and DC will be in stadiums where they are not either the primary tenant or one of their owners owns/operates the stadium. That gives MLS a huge degree of flexibility and revenue control.
I think it's not about who owns/controls the stadium. It's about how the stadium is built/designed. It would be best if the seats are well arranged to maximize the environment/enjoyment of the fans. Did the architects considered the possibility of how big the tifo and flags can be? Another thing, for example, is the bathroom situation in CLink. In a soccer match, you are singing, chanting, and DRINKING for 45+ mins. After this, you only have 15- mins to go to the restroom. Did the architect considered how many (per gender) will go to the restroom in such short amount of time? Of course, you don't have a problem this big in an NFL match.
Who controls the revenue is the most important thing. The logistical issues can be an inconvenience but at the end of the day the league needs to get to profitability. All this other stuff can come later.
In my mind the term 'specific' is an important term in that it means its the only sport being played there or far and away the predominant tenant. It signals that the revenue from soccer only supports the stadium without alot of other tenants requireing turf, ripping up the field or having football lines on the field for a month and a half. With that said Houston's stadium is not soccer specific because Texas Southern U. will be ripping it up with football lines later in the season. Can't wait for the uproar then.
? Houston's is the definition of soccer-specific. And hasn't that issue already been put to bed? From what I've read, the university vs Dynamo thing is going to be a non-issue. I can't remember why though, something about October, or only one game coinciding or whatever. I dunno, but my fears were allayed. If push ever came to shove, TSU is shit outta luck.
TSU, a small Division 1-AA Black College who's clearly a sub-tenant at BBVA, will only have 5 home games at BBVA this year. And none of their home dates coincide with a Dynamo match in the same weekend. If anything, there may be more concerts than football games hosted at BBVA in a calendar year.
Besides, sharing a SSS with regular football games in the fall isn't exactly untrod territory. You let the grass grow a little longer and mark a simple gridiron for TSU for the Saturday game. Then for the Dynamo game on Sunday, you cut the grass, which takes away the gridiron markings almost completely, and mark the field for soccer. It's what they do in Frisco, it works well, and I can't imagine that they wouldn't do the same for TSU.
BBVA does NOT look like a football stadium. The seats are safety orange for crissakes! It's Dyanamo's stadium through and through. It just happens to have a small college play football too. I don't see this as an issue, especially the way they've scheduled it.
Just for the record. BBVA Compass is using a field marking system using water soluble marking. They beleive they can completely erase the football (or soccer) lines within hours. They believe they will never host a soccer game with football lines showing.
Great question. I was wondering myself. Could be pretty fun when all the lines disappear linke disappearing ink.
That's great to hear. I remember the days of MLS teams having to paint yellow soccer markings over the american football markings and the logo's that they put all over the field.
You mean during NFL season at Gillette stadium? Poor Revs are truly never gonna get a SSS. Kraft is the weight around their neck.
They do white lines nowadays...I think. Might depend on the turnover time between Revs and Pats games. Also, it must be noted that with Houston in their own stadium now, yellow lines are now more or less a thing of the past.
the renovated BC Place is looks amazing, but the B.C lions also play there as full time tenants, as well as host of other events, it's not "soccer specific".
soon the sounders will avg over 50,000 per game at the Link, but, Starfire complex in tukwila just south of Seattle, has a nice indoor training facility, and a cool outdoor stadium with plenty of room to add seats. they play there reserve and sounders fc women games there.
FWIW, the Revs made some noise this spring about hoping to have some sort of stadium announcement this summer. Who knows?