OK, so for the past few years with AEG buying up the majority of MLS teams and basically keeping MLS afloat, I`ve thought that he was the greatest thing to happen to American professional soccer. However, this past night I made a chart of the current MLS teams based on thier stadium situations and realized that besides the incredible Galaxy Stadium, AEG has done nothing for the MLS fan. Stadium Situations Great: Dal(Hunt), LA(AEG), Clb(Hunt Good: NE(Kraft), KC(Hunt) Fair: DC (AEG) OK: SJ(AEG), Chi(AEG), Col(AEG) Bad: NY(AEG) WHen looking at it this way, I think it`s clear that Hunt is the owner actually DOING things for MLS. As far as AEG is concerned, they`ve done a brilliant job with LA, but look at Hunt! Really revolutionary things in Clb, immediate action in Dallas, and a financially viable club in KC with increasing season ticket sales. Now AEG, has LA, it`s jewel. Talk, talk and more talk in DC, Col, and especially NY. A failed stadium attempt in Chicago and a team that has an intimate stadium, but can`t draw nearly as many fans as other teams WHILE having one of the best teams in the league since 2001 AND US soccers poster boy. wow. Now, can anyone argue agains that?
Um, if you are considering Chicago's current situation under OK, I'd say that's a reach. If you are talking about the move back to SF, I'd place it much closer to 'Good' because of the terms of the new agreement. I probably would say the same for Colorado. The only really flat-out bad deal in MLS now and the foreseeable near future stadiumwise is for Metrostars.
And say what you like about "talk, talk, talk", but I think it is fair to say that AEG has worked very hard to improve the stadium situation in NY/NJ. It is basically the state of NJ that has stalled any attempts to build a new stadium. Plus, even though Chicago has a great arrangement at Soldier Field, they are pursuing their own stadium. Also, Colorado is close to breaking even at Invesco - if you believe the reports. So even though it is short on atmosphere, it would be tough to expect the guy to simultaneously be working on projects in every city he owns a team. Finally, how much of the Frisco development was Hunt really involved in? Didn't he sort of enter into the Dallas situation well after MLS had done most of the work in arranging the stadium? Maybe I am wrong.
It has been stated numerous times here on BS(o take it for what its worth) that Lamar and HSG really pushed at the Frisco deal and only announced their ownership after it all had gone through.
And Uncle Phil has another little crib called Staples Center or something that generates a few $$$ and that Kodak Theatre where they give out those gold mannequin statues in Hollywood every year....a little patience please, soccerheads!
Hunt Sports Group has been the driving force behind all of the Burn's stadium deals over the past 18 months. They did almost all of the work with McKinney in the deal that fell apart, they did all the work with Southlake in the current deal, and they did all of the work in the Frisco deal. Really, when it comes to stadiums, the Burn have been a Lamar Hunt team a lot longer in practice than they have been on paper.
It's really not a fair comparison. First, because every stadium sitution has its own internal logic and timetable. Second, because Anschutz's teams tend to be in cities where land is more expensive and/or harder to find. (I mean, think about it: LA, NY, Chi, and DC. Not exactly the meccas of cheap land. Certainly not like Dallas, Columbus, and Kansas City) And I would say besides Metro, the Qukes also have a pretty poor deal, financially.
I think AEG is holding up their end of the bargin. They are still trying hard to get the Metros stadium built in Harrison and have the mayor on their side AEG and DC Sports Authority are looking into a possible stadium for DC United and Washington Freedom and from what I heard it's serious this time around because DCSA wants to use RFK for the Expos. Chicago has sent feelers to Chicago and the suburbs for a new stadium and one can probably say with certainty that Naperville will be one of the suburbs that answers with all the money the Fire brought to the area. Either way Chicago is moving to a renovated SF with a very good deal in hand. LA has their stadium, Colorado has a good deal with Invesco. The only one not getting that much attention is SJ and that may only be because AEG has only been in control for about a year there. Stadiums take time to get built. Be patient. Sure Hunt produced stadiums for Columbus and Dallas, but they were both unique situations. If Columbus didn't get CCS there would have been no where for them to play at in Columbus unless they went to a small college field in the area. One could argue that the Crew could have played in the just built Jesse Owens Memorial Track and Field Stadium, that seats 10,000 and they could have added 5-6K more around the track, but then they would run into the same problems as Chicago during early spring. Props to Hunt for having the money and the dream, but it was totally necessary the Crew get their own stadium. With Dallas, Hunt wouldn't touch the team with a ten feet pole without a stadium deal and the league wanted to get 49% of the Burn out of their pocket books as it was league owned. So it's extreamly important to Hunt and MLS that a stadium gets built in the Dallas area. Great for the league, but a different side of Hunt was shown with KC Wizards. They were going to have a bi-state tax to build a stadium on the Kansas side of the city and referbish Arrowhead. When the Royals wanted a piece of the pie, it wasn't the referb of Arrowhead Hunt gave up to get the Royals and their government support behind the tax. Of course Hunt owns Arrowhead so the Wizards get a great deal on the stadium, but where money for a SSS could have been built, a bigger, less soccer friendly atmosphere will be instead. Of course, Hunt is better then St Phil. Simply because he owns the Crew and that makes a good man a great man.
With the frisco deal Hunt will have spent between $30 to 40 million on stadiums, AEG has spent $127m.
My take: Great: LA, Clb, Dal (soon enough) Good: NE, KC Fair: Col, Chi (once back in SF) OK: SJ Bad: NY, DC You seem to be forgetting the much improved leasing that the Fire and Rapids have come up with in the last year or so. Also, to call DC "fair" was WAY beyond reality. I thought it was widely known the DC S&E has been "giving United the business" in RFK for years now. By far, the first thing to be resolved SHOULD be NY, but DC better not be far behind. For a team that is the most successful in DC's history (and MLS,) you'd think they would get more respect than they do. I also agree completely with the last sentiment about the land value in perspective markets. You have to also consider the politics of these cities we’re talking about. Chicago, NY, DC, LA are much, MUCH bigger markets where it isn’t as easy to get things done. Either way, both Hunt and Uncle Phil are heroes...we’re lucky to have guys with such deep pockets in our corner. Too bad there aren’t more like them.