The Kleen Brite chemical warehouse site burned last night. It's adjacent to the parcel where the new soccer stadium will be built. http://www.democratandchronicle.com/news/0626IR4NHCT_news.shtml No word yet on how this may affect construction. (It could be a help or hindrance.)
Given the trouble MLS is having getting SSS, I seriously doubt Rochester will be left out in 2006, when they are sure to have their new stadium. I think the league wants to bump up the percentage of teams that have them as soon as possible. The fact that, as a soccer town, Rochester can probably fill it fairly often, at least at the 17K size, is a bonus.
Redesign adds 1.5 mil to cost. DuRoss keeps his word and won't go back to taxpayers for difference. Details: http://democratandchronicle.com/news/0708story012057_news.shtml
I guess thats good news. I wonder what its going to look like. My quess, something similar to the Crew Stadium, except smaller.
In my opinion, Rochester is a lousy 2005 expansion candidate but would be great 2006 or later. That way there would be a progression--open the new stadium one year and join MLS the next. Trying to do too many things at once is a recipe for disaster. As it is, whoever gets the 2nd 2005 expansion slot is gonna have to get a lot of things done in a big hurry. And that's without also building a stadium on an incredibly tight deadline.
I think that's what they're thinking. In fact, they said it's unlikely for 2005 (and that was before the latest stadium drama) but more possible for 2006.
How's this for a likely scenario--MLS, as reported, expands to Chivas LA and Salt Lake City in 2005. That would pretty much make Rochester and Seattle locks for 2006. All the other cities like San Antonio, Houston, and Philadelphia would have to wait a few years.
That's how i think it should happen. When all is said and done the league alignment could look like this: East: Metrostars NE Revolution DC United Philadelphia ??? Central: Chicago Fire Columbas Crew Rochester Rhinos Kansas City Wizards Midwest: FC Dallas Colorado Rapids Salt Lake City Saints Houston ??? West: LA Galaxy Chivas USA San Jose Earthquakes Seattle ??? Go to a 36 game schedule and play divsion oppenents twice at home and twice away and all other teams once at home and once away. All 4 division winners then make playoffs in a home/away series then winners meet for MLS Cup
I think less is more. Keep the two division lineup and take the top 4 or 6 teams for a league cup playoffs.
I totally agree. Keep two divisions and make the playoffs harder to get into by keeping them at 8 teams. If anything go to one table and drop the playoffs.
Dude, quit harshin' on single-table. If there's one thing that this league NEEDS, it's for 80% of its teams to be playing meaningless games for the last month of the season.
This blurb was on a just posted article on mlsnet: http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20040714&content_id=8211&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp "The league's aggressive expansion campaign is scheduled to bring the number of teams in the league to 14 at the start of the 2006 season, with Seattle, Cleveland, San Antonio, Houston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Portland, Phoenix and Minneapolis all cited as potential homes. Garber has stated that the league's plan is to have 16 to 20 teams by 2010." I hope theres nothing to the fact that Rochester wasn't on this list. I'm pulling for you guys up there.
They've openly talked about Rochester before, so I don't know why they wouldn't mention it now. Unless the stadium is the big hangup. Because as of this moment, I think it's still a little bit up in the air, isn't it?
Seems to me like there is a possibility that DuRoss is not willing to shell out the expansion fee. Perhaps he feels that since he's got an SSS he shouldn't have to pay. On top of that, he's making money with the Rhinos, and maybe doesn't have enough to lose with MLS. If thats the case, things might get ugly if MLS tries to move a team to Rochester.
Trey Fitz-Gerald's pressrelease, whic Kenn posted elsewhere says... ...so the omission of Rochester is not something to get alarmed about. Of course this is BigSoccer, so I've just wasted my breath. Interesting about Phoenix, as I don't recall any specific rumors about there (could just be throwing the name out to make the list look more impressive), and I suppose I owe Jamie Trecker an apology for saying he pulled Atlanta out of his ass.
How could AEG move the Earthquakes to Rochester without DuRoss being involved? The Rhinos are the ones with the deal with the local authorities for a stadium. Could Uncle Phil really come blowing into town and make that go away? Would he just say "screw you guys, I'm going to build my own stadium and compete with PaeTec Park"? If he was willing to do that, why wouldn't he just do that in San Jose. There is no MLS team moving to Rochester unless Frank DuRoss buys one and then merges it with the Rhinos.
I don't think it is in the air. The latest hangup has been that the Rhinos are going to shell out an extra $1.5mil to cover extra costs because they can't put the main bowl as low as they had originally hoped.
My bad. I thought the water table thing was the latest hang-up, and that construction had been halted. But I haven't checked up on it lately.
the reason playoofs will not go away is plain and simple ...............MONEY.............. and the owners love it
One table? Sure that could work. However, you're certifiable if you think that there is any hope that any major professional American sports league is going to eliminate a championship playoff following its regular season... MLS included. Playoffs are a tradition within the structure of modern American professional sports. More importantly, they're an added source of revenue. The MLS Playoffs are here to stay. Period. Brian in Boston
You're right. There should be a tournament after the league is finished. It's called the US Open Cup.
Unfortunately for those who are obsessed with the Euro-traditional soccer model, the "tournament" after the MLS "league is finished" is called the MLS Playoffs. That's not changing. American soccer's US Open Cup is what it is: an all-inclusive club soccer tournament that MLS officials are supportively tolerant of. It is an added bonus for fans of the game in the United States. However, the average American sports fan is not going to recognize the winner of the US Open Cup as the champion of professional soccer in this country. He or she is going to reserve that designation for the MLS Cup championship squad. Brian in Boston