Major League Soccer Expansion

[Zeno]

Whatever happened to that Freddie Adu dude? Wasnt he suppose to save American soccer or something? Havent heard anything about him in years...

Adu is doing very well in the U20 World Cup right now and last I read Celtic(Scotland) and Parma(Italy) are trying to get his services. Rumor has his transfer price at over $10 million.

His cross today set up Altidores header that went for a goal against Austria this afternoon(1-1 at halftime though).

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Whatever happened to that Freddie Adu dude? Wasnt he suppose to save American soccer or something? Havent heard anything about him in years...

He plays for Real Salt Lake now so he doesn't get much exposure. He hasn't done all that well so far in the MLS, but right now he's playing for the US in the Under-20 World Cup and doing rather well (had a hat trick against Poland). He's probably looking for a contract with a European team, which would help is progress a lot.

 

[Mulli]

So would anyone here buy Fire season tickets for a chance to see Beckham?

 

[azsouthendzone]

So would anyone here buy Fire season tickets for a chance to see Beckham?

I would buy Fire season tickets for a chance to see soccer. Living in Phoenix Beckham is 6 hours away. I'm thinking of going to the Galaxy vs. Chivas Guadalajara game on the 28th.

 

[Zeno]

Excerpt from Garber chat on MLSNet

Everyone from Everywhere
When will MLS be expanding to Pacific Northwest/Florida/New York/Philadelphia/Canada?

Don Garber
If I answer that here, we certainly won't have much to talk about during the State of the League address tomorrow. I'm well aware that much of the internet traffic and fan buzz recently concerns expansion and all of you know I, and MLS president Mark Abbot, spend a great deal of our time traveling from city to city meeting with potential owners, officials and sports authorities and all others to manage the expansion of the league. I'm very confident that we will be able to announce a 16-team league by the end of the year. It's still a moving target as to what cities will flow in when.

Brendan in Oakland
What is the status of the Earthquakes?

Don Garber
As all of you have been reading recently, Lew Wolff and his partner John Fisher, petitioned the league requesting the opportunity to exercise their option prior to 2010. There are a number of issues involved with that request and we continue to work with Lew and John to resolve them. Most importantly Wolff and Fisher are very excited about relaunching the Earthquakes, are totally committed the Bay Area and I believe will be fantastic owners in Major League Soccer.

Jason from Philadelphia
Is there any news on a possible new MLS franchise in Philadelphia?

Don Garber
No news yet but continuing to make progress but I'm hopeful, and even a bit bullish, about MLS's opportunities in Philly. We've been lobbying in the State House for public support of a facility and believe we have secured real interest from what we believe will be a terrific ownership group.

Jason from New Haven, Conn.
Can you give us the status on some other markets?

Don Garber
There's more interest in MLS expansion than at any other time in the history of the sport in the country. Without prioritizing any one market, here is a rundown of the cities: Vancouver, Portland, Seattle, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Antonio, St. Louis, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Rochester, New York City, Atlanta, Miami and Las Vegas.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was shocked to see Miami and San Antonio mentioned. I thought with the 2 failed franchises in Florida in the early years of the league would mean they wouldn't be returning. Texas already has 2 teams and San Antonio isn't as large as a lot of the other markets mentioned.

 

[Zeno]

Another thing very interesting about the chat..

Jade from Seattle
What is the status of the proposed Pan Pacific competition with the J-League, A-League, K-League, etc? When might we hear news about it?

Don Garber
We're continuing to work with leagues in all those countries to put a Pan-Pacific tournament together but have yet to finalize the competition.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Thats just an awesome idea. Those leagues may be more established but are probably more along the lines of competition as MLS. The more non-MLS games MLS teams play the more variety in styles of play they will face and the smarter the players will become (hopefully or we'll get beat fairly regularly). The travel will be hard though, its an all day flight to Japan from the west coast--imagine flying from New York!

 

[CardEd]

San Jose it is......

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=446506&cc=5901
Pro soccer to return to San Jose

Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said Wednesday that professional soccer will return to Silicon Valley for the 2008 season with the approval of the San Jose Earthquakes as an expansion team. The ownership group is led by Lew Wolff and John Fisher, who also own the Oakland Athletics.
The Earthquakes will join the Western Conference, Garber said during his state of the league address in Colorado ahead of Thursday's All-Star game.
The Earthquakes still need approval from the San Jose City Council for plans to build a privately financed soccer stadium near Mineta San Jose International Airport. The stadium is scheduled to seat as many as 20,000 and open in 2010.
The Earthquakes won two MLS Cup titles before relocating to Houston in 2005 after plans for financing a new stadium in San Jose fell through. The Houston team, now known as the Houston Dynamo, won the MLS Cup title last year.
The San Jose Earthquakes will be MLS's 14th team and the third in California alongside Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
"This is a momentous day in the maturation of Major League Soccer," Garber said in a statement. "One, because we are able to reward the soccer fans in the Bay Area for their patience and complete our commitment to return a team to them. Two, because it shows how much the sport's credibility has grown in just two years time."
Wolff said the Earthquakes will play home games in temporary stadiums for the first two seasons. Negotiations with the venues are ongoing and the locations will be announced soon, Wolff said in a statement.


Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
------------------------------------------------------------

I couldn't find anything about the expansion news on MLS.com so take it for what it's worth......

 

[hafey]

San Jose deserves a team more than any of those other cities. They strongly supported the Earthquakes, but were rather unfairly left in the dust when they moved to Houston. San Jose is a very good choice.

 

[Peter C]

Bring MLS to Phoenix

San Jose deserves a team more than any of those other cities. They strongly supported the Earthquakes, but were rather unfairly left in the dust when they moved to Houston. San Jose is a very good choice.

Now that San Jose has their team, time to help bring MLS to Phoenix.

MLSPR roadtrip - September 6

Join MLSPR in an opportunity to see an MLS game and show Major League Soccer, on a nationally televised game, that Phoenix can support an MLS team. Chivas USA has reserved a section for MLSPR that will be very visible on the broadcast.

For information on this roadtrip see the Member Events page of MLSPR.

 

[FArting]

Welcome to the forum

 

[Jasper]

I think the MLS has to expand and attract talent from all over the world to become a professional league.

The best markets are the southwest and and cosmopolitan cities.
The Spanish and Asian population I suppose tend to like soccer more than others.
Baseball, NFL, basketball, and hockey do tend to draw different crowds.

Problem is in Europe teams either win, lose or draw.

It would be weird for Americans to go to a game an experience a draw. it just doesn't feel right.

I hope MLS thrives and receives sell out crowds every game.

 

[Zeno]

I think the MLS has to expand and attract talent from all over the world to become a professional league.

The best markets are the southwest and and cosmopolitan cities.
The Spanish and Asian population I suppose tend to like soccer more than others.
Baseball, NFL, basketball, and hockey do tend to draw different crowds.

Problem is in Europe teams either win, lose or draw.

It would be weird for Americans to go to a game an experience a draw. it just doesn't feel right.

I hope MLS thrives and receives sell out crowds every game.

Soccer is no different here ie Win Lose or Draw

 

[Mulli]

Soccer is no different here ie Win Lose or Draw

I think he is saying the Americans are not used to the draw.

 

[Jasper]

I think he is saying the Americans are not used to the draw.

Yep!

Could anyone imagine the NFL with draws?
Out of 16 games played the Rams advance to the playoffs with a 8-1-7 record with 6 wins 5 losses and 7 draws with 31 league points. However the Cards with a 10 and six record lose out due to fewer league points 10-6-0, 30points. 3 points for win, 1 for draw, 0 for losses.

 

[Zeno]

Yep!

Could anyone imagine the NFL with draws?
Out of 16 games played the Rams advance to the playoffs with a 6-5-7 record with 6 wins 5 losses and 7 draws with 31 league points. However the Cards with a 10 and six record lose out due to fewer league points 10-6-0, 30points. 3 points for win, 1 for draw, 0 for losses.

Umm thats 25 pts for your hypothetical Rams (3 X 6 = 18 + 7 for draws).

MLS isn't going to convert most American sports fans to soccer, its going to draw from those who are already soccer fans, those who regularly watch EPL, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga and International Competitions. Thats the idea behind smaller MLS stadiums, they know they will never attract 40K+ to watch soccer every week so they make the stadiums seat around 20-25K.

The other hopeful draw is from the next generation of fan. Soccer is huge in the youth ranks(more kids play soccer than youth football, basketball and baseball COMBINED), if those kids develop a love for the game and grow up with a solid pro league to watch chances are better than good that they will continue to watch as they get older.

As I was a kid growin up NASL was fizzling out and the only pro league we really had was MISL (indoor soccer), I used to go to see the Phoenix Inferno and Phx Pride play--but it was different from the outdoor game it didn't really appeal to me as much and it was rarely ever on TV. Kids nowadays have soccer on nearly everyday and MLS on Thursday nights and the weekends. We'll see how this translates to attendance in the next 5 yrs or so.

 

[Jasper]

Oops,

I recalculated again.

 

[Zeno]

MLS picks next expansion team....

Major League Soccer's 15th team will be its first in the Pacific Northwest. SBI has learned that MLS has chosen Seattle as the home for the next MLS expansion team. Sources with knowledge of the deal have confirmed that Seattle will join MLS for the 2009 season, a year after San Jose is set to join MLS as its 14th team. According to sources from the Pacific Northwest, owners of the USL Seattle Sounders will be involved with the ownership group and the new MLS team will be called the Sounders.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

rochester continually gets hosed.........

 

[Zeno]

MLS plans to name their 16th team at the end of the year, St. Louis & Philly are considered the front runners(to balance out the conferences it will be an eastern team). They'll begin play in 2010.

Hopefully they stay at 16 teams for awhile to allow the talent and level of play in the league to get better. Adding more teams only means weaker rosters right now and sub-par talent isn't going to attract the crowd they want.

 

[Peter C]

MLS plans to name their 16th team at the end of the year, St. Louis & Philly are considered the front runners(to balance out the conferences it will be an eastern team). They'll begin play in 2010.

Hopefully they stay at 16 teams for awhile to allow the talent and level of play in the league to get better. Adding more teams only means weaker rosters right now and sub-par talent isn't going to attract the crowd they want.

I'm not so sure that Seattle is a lock as the 15th team. While I do agree that the Pac NW is a good market, the issue of the stadium still looms. Apparently, Seattle funded the stadium with the understanding that it was a multi-use(read football and futbol) facility and that MLS would be coming and playing there. This is in contradiction to the stated league expansion policy that expansion teams must have a soccer specific stadium plan in place as part of the agreement.

This is not to say that the money wouldn't be there, but the mood of the public, not unlike here in the Phoenix area, is not to use public funds. That's where the entry of Paul Allen(of Microsoft fame and fortune) into the picture makes it interesting.

To me, there are 3 strong candidates for 2 slots. Personally I'd like to see all 3 get in. Who cares that the divisions will be unequal for a few years more. MLS should strike while the iron is hot and shoot for 20 teams by 2012, then have a consolidation period.

just my two cents.

 

[Zeno]

To me, there are 3 strong candidates for 2 slots. Personally I'd like to see all 3 get in. Who cares that the divisions will be unequal for a few years more. MLS should strike while the iron is hot and shoot for 20 teams by 2012, then have a consolidation period.

just my two cents.

Who are your 3 strong candidates out of curiosity? (Seattle, St Louis & Philly or Phoenix?)

I think 20 teams is way too much. The talent isn't there right now, adding that many more teams will weaken the pool. I say get to 16 teams and wait a good 10 yrs before you even consider expansion again. Let the level of play catch up and the league to start making a better profit then consider expansion.

 

[Peter C]

Who are your 3 strong candidates out of curiosity? (Seattle, St Louis & Philly or Phoenix?)

I think 20 teams is way too much. The talent isn't there right now, adding that many more teams will weaken the pool. I say get to 16 teams and wait a good 10 yrs before you even consider expansion again. Let the level of play catch up and the league to start making a better profit then consider expansion.

While I'd love to include Phoenix in the top tier of expansion candidates, I think it's pretty apparent that Philly, St Louis and Seattle are the major players as of this writing.
In the end, those with the deepest pockets will get the nod.

As for talent dilution, you may be right. Especially after DCU's exit from the Copa Sudamericana. Once again, an MLS club has failed to make a significant impact in an international club tourney. The league's top team falls to a team in 14th place in the Mexican League.

The latest TV contracts will generate around $20m/year for eight years. It's the best deal yet, but limits the revenue stream to attract or keep talent in the league.

All that being said, I still want a team in Phoenix.

 

[Mulli]

Watch out for the Chicago Fire. They are burning up and white hot with Blanco leading them to the playoffs!!!

 

[Zeno]

Seattle is official and Drew Carey is part owner...

SEATTLE (AP) -- Drew Carey's already proven himself to be a soccer nut, following the U.S. team internationally and regularly showing up to watch Los Angeles Galaxy games.

Now, the comedian and game-show host is financially invested in the sport.

Carey will be a minority owner in the new MLS expansion team in Seattle. The ownership group comprises Carey, Seattle Seahawks' owner Paul Allen, Seattle Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer and Hollywood producer Joe Roth. Roth will be the majority owner.

"Starting in 2009, I'm rooting for my money," Carey said Monday.

The new franchise, which will begin play in 2009, was announced Friday and was to be formally introduced Tuesday. But Carey was at Monday night's Seahawks game against San Francisco at Qwest Field, which will be the home of the to-be-named franchise.

In August, Carey injured his arm on the set of "The Price Is Right." Instead of going to the hospital, he went to lunch with Roth about the possibility of getting involved with the ownership group.

Carey pitched the idea of having a fan membership -- similar to FC Barcelona -- where fans have a say in the direction of the franchise, including voting for the general manager every four years.

When Roth agreed to the idea, Carey signed on financially.

"We're going to let the fans control who the general manager is and whether he is hired for a four-year period," Carey said. "Adrian is going to be the general manager, and he's one of the owners, but four years from now ... they might vote him out."

Carey also had one other condition: The team will have a marching band.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

at first I was shocked he was raising the 12 flag - especially a week after a loss in cleveland - then it made sense as explained

would still love to see rochester get one someday......