Which city has a viable stadium that could attract a MLS team that need to be relocated?

Discussion in 'MLS: Commissioner - You be The Don' started by vevo5, Aug 26, 2012.

  1. vevo5

    vevo5 Member

    Nov 23, 2011
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Let's assume team X need to be relocated in 2013 or 2014, which city has a viable stadium that could attract a MLS team and large enough fan base/population size to attract good attendance (17,000+)?


    This is a good chart that detail which cities is viable (large enough to support MLS). Which of these cities have a viable stadium for the long-term similar to Portland or Montreal pr a Seattle type situation?



    Code:
    Rk Current Metropolitan Area  2011 Census change
    1 D1 1996 New York            22,214,083  0.58% NFL MLB NBA NHL MLS
    2 D1 1996 Los Angeles          18,081,569  1.14%    MLB NBA NHL MLS
    3 D1 1998 Chicago              9,729,825  0.45% NFL MLB NBA NHL MLS
    4 D1 1996 Washington-Baltimore  8,718,083  1.69% NFL MLB NBA NHL MLS
    5 D1 1996 Boston                7,601,061  0.56% NFL MLB NBA NHL MLS
    6 D1 2008 San Jose (Bay Area)  7,563,460  1.27% NFL MLB NBA NHL MLS
    7 D1 1996 Dallas-Fort Worth    6,887,383  2.32% NFL MLB NBA NHL MLS
    8 D1 2010 Philadelphia          6,562,287  0.44% NFL MLB NBA NHL MLS
    9 D1 2006 Houston              6,191,434  2.31% NFL MLB NBA    MLS
    10 D2 2011 Atlanta              5,712,148  1.67% NFL MLB NBA
    11 D2 2006 Miami-Ft Lauderdale  5,670,125  1.90% NFL MLB NBA NHL
    12 D1 2007 Toronto              5,583,064        CFL MLB NBA NHL MLS
    13        Detroit (U.S. only)  5,207,434 -0.22% NFL MLB NBA NHL
    14 D1 2009 Seattle              4,269,349  1.67% NFL MLB        MLS
    15        Phoenix              4,262,236  1.65% NFL MLB NBA NHL
    16 D1 2012 Montreal              3,824,221        CFL        NHL MLS
    17 D2 1995 Minneapolis-St. Paul  3,655,558  1.10% NFL MLB NBA NHL
    18 D1 1996 Denver                3,157,520  2.16% NFL MLB NBA NHL MLS
    19        San Diego (U.S. only) 3,140,069  1.45% NFL MLB
    20        St. Louis            2,882,932  0.16% NFL MLB    NHL
    21        Cleveland            2,871,084 -0.38% NFL MLB NBA
    22 D3 2011 Orlando              2,861,296  1.53%        NBA
    23 D2 2010 Tampa (Bay Area)      2,824,724  1.49% NFL MLB    NHL
    24        Sacramento            2,489,230  1.12%        NBA
    25 D2 2004 San Juan              2,478,905 
    26 D3 2008 Pittsburgh            2,450,281  0.12% NFL MLB    NHL
    27 D3 2004 Charlotte            2,442,564  1.66% NFL    NBA
    28 D1 2011 Vancouver            2,313,328        CFL        NHL MLS
    29 D1 2011 Portland              2,262,605  1.64%        NBA    MLS
    30 D2 2012 San Antonio          2,194,927  2.45%        NBA
    31        Cincinnati            2,179,965  0.36% NFL MLB
    32 D1 1996 Kansas City          2,122,908  0.86% NFL MLB        MLS
    33        Indianapolis          2,103,574  1.10% NFL    NBA
    34 D1 1996 Columbus              2,093,185  1.07%            NHL MLS
    35        Las Vegas            2,013,326  0.91%
    36        Austin                1,826,636  3.84%
    37 D2 2007 Raleigh-Durham        1,795,750  2.64%            NHL
    38 D1 2005 Salt Lake City        1,776,528  1.81%        NBA    MLS
    39        Milwaukee            1,757,604  0.36% NFL MLB NBA
    40        Nashville            1,698,651  1.66% NFL        NHL
    41        Virginia Beach        1,679,894  0.49%
    42        Greensboro Triad      1,602,693  0.85%
    43        Louisville            1,440,607  0.92%
    44        Jacksonville, FL      1,360,251  1.09% NFL
    45        Oklahoma City        1,348,333  1.96%        NBA
    46        Hartford              1,331,406  0.04%
    47        Grand Rapids          1,328,440  0.52%
    48        Memphis              1,325,605  0.72%        NBA
    49        Greenville SC        1,281,394  1.14%
    50 D3 2006 Richmond              1,269,380  0.88%
    51        New Orleans          1,238,228  1.92% NFL    NBA
    52        Ottawa                1,235,324                    NHL
    53        Calgary              1,214,839        CFL        NHL
    54        Buffalo (U.S. only)  1,213,871 -0.16% NFL        NHL
    55        Birmingham            1,212,800  0.36%
    56        Albany                1,168,120 -0.03%
    57 D2 2010 Edmonton              1,159,869        CFL        NHL
    58 D3 2011 Rochester            1,150,469  0.07%
    59        Fresno                1,095,829  1.34%
    60 D3 2011 Dayton                1,075,683  0.26%
    61        Knoxville            1,063,354  0.78%
    62        Tulsa                  998,438  1.01%
    63        Tuscon                  989,569  0.95%
    64        Honolulu                963,607  1.09%
              El Paso (U.S. only)    820,970  2.54%
              Winnipeg                730,105        CFL        NHL
      D3 2004 Harrisburg, PA          687,222  0.61%
      D3 2010 Charleston, SC          682,121  2.64%
      D3 2011 Wilmington, NC          369,685  2.03%
      D3 2011 St. George, Antigua 
    U.S./Mexico cross-border metro areas
      Tijuana - San Diego          5,009,170
      El Paso - Juarez              2,461,538
      Reynosa - McAllen            1,700,000
    
    Updated - Aug 25, 2012
     
  2. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Which forum has a poster that needs to be relocated.

    Oh, right, that would be this one...
     
  3. PhillyMLS

    PhillyMLS Member+

    Oct 24, 2000
    SE PA
    Los Angeles.
     
  4. trevor_daniles

    Aug 19, 2007
    Detroit. Definitely.
     
  5. HailtotheKing

    HailtotheKing Member+

    San Antonio FC
    United States
    Dec 1, 2008
    TEXAS
    Club:
    San Antonio Scorpions FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ^ That, times infinity billion.
     
    Jasonma repped this.
  6. Achowat

    Achowat Member+

    Mar 21, 2011
    Revere, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Cities with a big enough and small enough stadium to host an MLS team in 2014 are San Antonio, Hamilton, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa (if the stadium ever gets built) and Regina.
     
  7. canammj

    canammj Member+

    Aug 25, 2004
    CHINO, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    San Antonio is doing it right, but I am not sure MLS will go with third team in Texas.
    Now, if we had a proper MLS-2, our list could be quite long of cities. Stadiums are always going to be the issue. Crazy thought, but what if the Green Bay Packers say wanted a team to fill their stadium in the summer- could even use the same name and colors. Stadium would probably too large and from what i have seen, field too narrow. Las Vegas stadium looked a little narrow and of course, much too warm most of the time. Phoenix, if not playing in the Cardinal stadium as too large, now about the DBACKs stadium, kind of how DCU shared with baseball. If a team goes to Atlanta, how about Bobby Dodd- grass. Atlanta BEAT played their before- too narrow ? Downtown.
    Nashville, if Titan too big, how about Vandy's ? Is the Butler Bowl in Indy still around ?

    Bottom line as MLS found out, until you build your own SSS, you will have problems with size, type of field, football etc.
     
  8. Zxcv

    Zxcv Member+

    Feb 22, 2012
    ^Why wouldn't MLS go with a third Texan team? Not only are they actually building assets and a fanbase, but its a large city and equally large TV market. I fail to see one downside to San Antonio.
     
  9. HailtotheKing

    HailtotheKing Member+

    San Antonio FC
    United States
    Dec 1, 2008
    TEXAS
    Club:
    San Antonio Scorpions FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Based on ?
     
  10. canammj

    canammj Member+

    Aug 25, 2004
    CHINO, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    = more of a statement of geography than anything. If the MLS stops a 20 for while, you are set for NASL. If the league goes to 24, I think you are a top 2-3 to make the jump if the new stadium fills regular and gets pushed to that 18-20 K level of most other SSS.
    =Another way of saying this, I think Garber is going to get his 2nd NYC team as #20 one way or the other. If he goes to 24, that only gives him 4 slots to try to MAYBE spread the geographical presence of the league. If he is not worried say to put a team or two back in the south and simply wants to go with best markets (and nothing wrong with that), then you fall into the same situation that PDX-SEA-MONT did by stepping up.
    =Heck, what are doing even right now- outdrawing 2-3 MLS teams playing in a high school stadium on plastic. Sky would seem the limit with your own SSS and grass.
    (it was fun to see you beat HOU in the USOC)
     
  11. HailtotheKing

    HailtotheKing Member+

    San Antonio FC
    United States
    Dec 1, 2008
    TEXAS
    Club:
    San Antonio Scorpions FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Which is pointless. Geography won't be the determining factor in anything if there's ownership, money, and support.

    Case in point ^

    Also, there are already "triangles" in the league that are much more compact and overlap their reaches than adding SA would here in Texas.
     
    ji_shuheng and Achowat repped this.
  12. CShine

    CShine Member

    Dec 13, 2009
    Huntsville, AL
    Club:
    Rocket City United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Bayamon, Puerto Rico. It's just as 'viable' as all these other fantasies.
     
  13. Earthshaker

    Earthshaker BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 12, 2005
    The hills above town
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Been to San Antonio once. July. It was 95 degrees, 95% humidity. I thought I had landed in Hell.
     
  14. Achowat

    Achowat Member+

    Mar 21, 2011
    Revere, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You forgot to add "Because soccer is magic"
     
  15. HailtotheKing

    HailtotheKing Member+

    San Antonio FC
    United States
    Dec 1, 2008
    TEXAS
    Club:
    San Antonio Scorpions FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ever been to Houston ? If not, reserve your judgement ;)

    However, the point of "it's F'n hot in SA" is completely valid. SA is more humid than many spots in the US, but still doesn't catch the level that Houston/Corpus etc on the Texas Coast do.
     
  16. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And he forgot MK Dons.
     
  17. Achowat

    Achowat Member+

    Mar 21, 2011
    Revere, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They always do
     
  18. Unmarked

    Unmarked Member

    Aug 31, 2012
    A benefit of promotion and relegation is teams rarely move. Most big cities already have a team so there really isn't anywhere to move to. An owner can't really threaten the city to build him a new stadium or he will move the team because he has no leverage. The NFL is smart not having a team in Los Angeles. Every team that doesn't have a brand new stadium is threating their city to build them a stadium or they will move the team to LA. Promotion and Relegation promotes owners taking responsibly for their team. A franchise system promotes corporate welfare.
     
    eclipse02 repped this.
  19. Achowat

    Achowat Member+

    Mar 21, 2011
    Revere, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ok, you're right and wrong.

    You're right that the NFL is smart not to have a team in LA. You're wrong about the reasons. The NFL's blackout rules means that it makes more sense to have no team in LA than to have a non-capacity crowd at some LA Stadium. There's more money to be made showing the other 32 teams.

    The pro/rel, corporate welfare crap is, of course, just plain wrong
     
  20. Unmarked

    Unmarked Member

    Aug 31, 2012
    NFL teams have been using the LA threat to get new stadiums. Sounds like a good reason to not have a team in LA. A team will be playing in LA once every team, except the one that moves to LA, gets their new stadium. You can bet on it.

    What do you call taxpayers funding stadiums for wealthy owners? Sounds like corporate welfare to me. A franchise system encourages corporate welfare.
     
  21. Achowat

    Achowat Member+

    Mar 21, 2011
    Revere, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    LA can support two teams, easy. The threat wouldn't cease to exist if the Vikings moved to SoCal

    "Corporate Welfare" is a loaded word used by people who, generally, think 'welfare' and 'corporations' are bad things. NFL teams bring billions, billions of dollars of out-of-town money into muncipal coffers. But please, continue using loaded teams; after all, it is easier than actually thinking
     
  22. Unmarked

    Unmarked Member

    Aug 31, 2012
    The threat of of moving a team to LA with one team already in LA is much less than if you have no teams in LA.

    The owner should be responsible for building his own stadium. He shouldn't threaten the city and fans to build him a new stadium or else he is moving. I guess you okay with threats and corporate welfare.
     
    eclipse02 repped this.
  23. Achowat

    Achowat Member+

    Mar 21, 2011
    Revere, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If you want to have a productive discussion, feel free.

    If you want to just keep repeating "Corporate welfare" until you're blue in the face, I could suggest a few more productive uses of your time.

    NFL teams are important to the cities they are in. The stadiums aren't just a money-grab by owners, they're a city investing in its own cultural and economic future.
     
  24. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So who should pay for the sidewalks? Roads? Plumbing? cabling? etc. that will be necessary for the stadium and surrounding infrastructure?
     
  25. Achowat

    Achowat Member+

    Mar 21, 2011
    Revere, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    "The greedy corporations that are trying to profit off the exploitation of fans, players, taxpayers, and the pure sense of athletic accomplishment"
     

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