What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

  • Thread starter Thread starter Priceless
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Jimjamesak said:
Time to see who gets 22, 23, and 24.

Orlando is good. They've done really well soccerwise and supportwise in USL PRO, they have good ownership, and they have a nice stadium coming.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but... a pro franchise in Florida. Not exactly the most sterling track record for consistent support. In any league in any sport.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that this rapid expansion is as foolish as the NHL's "We'll take anyone who can pay what we ask for Expansion Fees, so we can pocket some quick cash" strategy, but I'm starting to get a little unsure as to what the exact plan is for MLS. One has to think that the next set of plans must include some more in the southeast (Atlanta? Carolina? Who else, really?)
 
Last edited:
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

TV market expansion. That MLS' plan right now.

The league is seeking a big TV deal coming up after this next season and they're making changes based on it.

Plus, they're supposedly making a southward expansion to have more warm weather cities so they can play a fall/winter schedule.

Supposedly.
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Atlanta (with the Falcons owner and the new stadium) and Miami (with Beckham and friends) are the next two.

After that it's wide open.
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

And no matter what expansion happens. There is no doubt that Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Jose, LA, and Chivas will end up in the same division. And that division will become soccer's version of the Norris Division.
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Jimjamesak said:
And no matter what expansion happens. There is no doubt that Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Jose, LA, and Chivas will end up in the same division. And that division will become soccer's version of the Norris Division.
Click to expand...

That. Will. Be. Awesome.

(Edit: Don't get me wrong, a completely balanced home-and-away schedule would be best, but we all know that's never happening.)
 
Last edited:
French Rage said:
That. Will. Be. Awesome.

(Edit: Don't get me wrong, a completely balanced home-and-away schedule would be best, but we all know that's never happening.)
Click to expand...
The only question at this point is, when they reach 24, will they go with 4 six team divisions in two conferences or 3 eight team divisions.

If they go 3 eight team divisions then Salt Lake and Colorado join the insanity.

But rest assured that VAN, SEA, POR, SJ, LA, and CHV will be together and it will be a battle.
 
Bob Gray said:
Or if Phoenix someday gets a team? I can hope, can't I?
Click to expand...
It's a possibility.

There are four spots up for grabs:
Orlando just got one and that was a lock anyway.

Miami will almost certainly get one with Beckham and friends.

Atlanta has the inside shot at the third with Arthur Blank wanting an MLS team to play at his new stadium.

After that there's possibilities in San Antonio (they already have their own stadium), Minneapolis (they'd play at the Vikings new place and be owned by Wilf), Detroit (the Silverdome owners want to build a stadium downtown), Sacremento (the city seems to want it), and the ever present St. Louis talk.
 
ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
... between LA, Seattle and Portland.

Let's be serious, are Vancouver, San Jose and Team Mexican Xenophobia really going to contend for anything?
Click to expand...
Vancouver and San Jose? Yes. The Goats? Barring an ownership change no.

Basically you'd have Seattle and LA as the big money spenders, SJ, Portland, and Vancouver as moderate spending "moneyball" teams , and the Goats as a doormat.

The big factor is that every game would be a rivalry game. Beyond the Cascadia and California stuff SEA, POR, and VAN all have some bad blood with LA and SJ on the field and off the field.
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

I thought the MLS wanted to shy away from NFL stadiums and preferred to have their own 12-20K seat venues...
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Jimjamesak said:
After that there's possibilities in San Antonio (they already have their own stadium), Minneapolis (they'd play at the Vikings new place and be owned by Wilf), Detroit (the Silverdome owners want to build a stadium downtown), Sacremento (the city seems to want it), and the ever present St. Louis talk.
Click to expand...

This made me curious, since there was so much talk not that long ago, then they had a second tier team, which disappeared off the face of the earth.

According to their Wikipedia entry, it's basically a tale of St Louis not being able to come up with any financing, which put their MLS bid down to a NASL bid which turned into them folding after their initial NASL backers pulled out midseason.

Seems odd that for a city and bid that had so much pride in itself as having the history and fanbase for it, they couldn't find anyone willing to finance it.
 
RaceBoarder said:
I thought the MLS wanted to shy away from NFL stadiums and preferred to have their own 12-20K seat venues...
Click to expand...
That is preferred but if the ownership controls the stadium then they're ok with it.

The Atlanta stadium is being designed so there's a second roof for just the lower bowl like Vancouver so that's why it's being considered.
 
ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
This made me curious, since there was so much talk not that long ago, then they had a second tier team, which disappeared off the face of the earth.

According to their Wikipedia entry, it's basically a tale of St Louis not being able to come up with any financing, which put their MLS bid down to a NASL bid which turned into them folding after their initial NASL backers pulled out midseason.

Seems odd that for a city and bid that had so much pride in itself as having the history and fanbase for it, they couldn't find anyone willing to finance it.
Click to expand...
St. Louis will always be part of the discussion because of their history.

St. Louis would get a team in a manner similar to Seattle. A potential owner will ask MLS about owning a team and MLS would steer them to St. Louis.

Seattle was in the same boat until Joe Roth came along asking Don Garber about a team. Seattle had the interest and the potential fan base but Adrian Hanauer didn't have the finances for it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top