Rumor has it MLS plans to expand by 7 teams to 20 total by 2010. I personally think thats a bit fast to add that many teams, the quality of play will suffer and currently MLS quality of play isn't the best as it is. Another rumor has the number at 16 either way here are the rumored cities...
San Diego
Vancouver
Oakland
Atlanta
Philadelphia
Seattle
2nd team in New York
We'll see whether these rumors become true or not. I really didn't expect Phoenix to be on the list, weather would be a killer but its not like the weather in Atlanta would be much more bearable--I was just there last month and the heat and humidity were awful. Supposedly they have a leg up though because their USL team has a soccer specific stadium that could be expanded without much trouble. Oakland(San Joses/Bay area) is the only one that I know of that already has an ownership group in place with the Oakland A's owner being the main investor.
who says Phoenix isn't on the list? PHX Soccer Development is currently working on a stadium site and had a meeting scheduled to pitch to MLS.
Supposedly its the list from a league insider. I seriously don't expect Phoenix to get a team before the Bay area, Philly or Seattle. A second team in New York only makes sense if they have anothe stadium site in place but supposedly the Mets owner is interested in building a stadium near Shea.
Vegas just had a meeting with MLS too, and they reportedly came away impressed but it wasn't one of the finalists for a franchise. The weather may have played a factor there as well.
Supposedly its the list from a league insider. I seriously don't expect Phoenix to get a team before the Bay area, Philly or Seattle. A second team in New York only makes sense if they have anothe stadium site in place but supposedly the Mets owner is interested in building a stadium near Shea.
Vegas just had a meeting with MLS too, and they reportedly came away impressed but it wasn't one of the finalists for a franchise. The weather may have played a factor there as well.
I think 7 teams in 3 years is too fast. MLS have done a really good job of sustaining steady growth so far and I think they'll make the right decision. I think Phoenix would be a great place for a team though, soccer seems to be pretty popular in the area, plus there is a good hispanic population in Arizona. The weather would be a problem (although some evening matches ould be arranged maybe?).
I think it's too early to expand. They should award a franchise to San Jose / Oakland, and leave it at that for a few years. Like Zeno said, the talent pool in MLS is already shallow.
As for Phoenix potential, I heard or read an idea about putting a soccer stadium at AZ Fairgrounds (replacing the Coliseum). I think that would be a great location for a soccer stadium. Maybe someone can think of a creative way to make an open-air stadium that can stay relatively cool.
Hell its not "my" source, its a rumor that supposedly is from a MLS insider.
Doesn't matter though, I really don't expect Phoenix to get an MLS team. Its just not the right climate for a summer soccer league, unless they build an indoor soccer specific stadium.
20 is too much, most european top leagues are supposed to cut it to 18 max.
I agree. The big difference with the US leagues and Euro leagues is we don't have promotion or relegation type of leagues so that might be their thinking with having more teams. Either way 20 that fast is too much of a drain on the league, the talent isn't where it needs to be currently adding more teams. 1 more team next season makes sense if only to even the amount of teams out, then they should lay low for awhile until the quality of play increases.
Hell its not "my" source, its a rumor that supposedly is from a MLS insider.
Doesn't matter though, I really don't expect Phoenix to get an MLS team. Its just not the right climate for a summer soccer league, unless they build an indoor soccer specific stadium.
Like Houston's weather is any better. 100+ degrees and 90% humidity is a hell of a lot worse than the worst day in Phoenix. Dallas's weather sucks too. Trust me, the indoor stadium is in the works. Phoenix has as good if not a better chance than any of those cities from the rumor. Phoenix Soccer Development is currently working with MLS and Valley cities to build the stadium and the investors for ownership are already in place.
Like Houston's weather is any better. 100+ degrees and 90% humidity is a hell of a lot worse than the worst day in Phoenix. Dallas's weather sucks too. Trust me, the indoor stadium is in the works. Phoenix has as good if not a better chance than any of those cities from the rumor. Phoenix Soccer Development is currently working with MLS and Valley cities to build the stadium and the investors for ownership are already in place.
Everyone of those other cities named has a USL team with a good following, especially Seattle(Sounders), Vancouver(Whitecaps) and Atlanta(Silverbacks). Phoenix doesn't, I used to watch the Saguaros but their fan support was terrible, they weren't USL anyway but a lower league (they played in Peoria at the spring training facility).
Seattle and Vancouver have a leg up because they are trying to establish the league in the northwest of the country and Atlanta has the leg up because the league wants a southeastern representative.
Oakland/Bay Area was basically already promised a team when San Jose left because they never lacked in fan support but lacked in facilities. They now have an ownership group in place and a stadium plan--they are almost guaranteed.
Phoenix has really nothing going for it aside from population. No established fan base and a bad choice for weather make things very difficult for a team. I'd say on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best chance Phoenix is probably around a 3 or 4, not impossible but not very likely.
Everyone of those other cities named has a USL team with a good following, especially Seattle(Sounders), Vancouver(Whitecaps) and Atlanta(Silverbacks). Phoenix doesn't, I used to watch the Saguaros but their fan support was terrible, they weren't USL anyway but a lower league (they played in Peoria at the spring training facility).
Seattle and Vancouver have a leg up because they are trying to establish the league in the northwest of the country and Atlanta has the leg up because the league wants a southeastern representative.
Oakland/Bay Area was basically already promised a team when San Jose left because they never lacked in fan support but lacked in facilities. They now have an ownership group in place and a stadium plan--they are almost guaranteed.
Phoenix has really nothing going for it aside from population. No established fan base and a bad choice for weather make things very difficult for a team. I'd say on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best chance Phoenix is probably around a 3 or 4, not impossible but not very likely.
USL has NOTHING to do with it. And the Sounders have a good following? They draw an average of about 3k a game. The MLS exhibition between Dallas and Columbus at Grand Canyon University with minimal to no advertising drew 4400. Minor leagues bear no factor in determining where to place MLS teams. If the USL was a factor Rochester would be in MLS.
I will tell you right now that I have several friends that work in MLS and they have told me that Philadelphia, San Jose (to bring back the Earthquakes), and Phoenix because of the large crowds they have gotten for soccer matches at Chase Field and University of Phoenix. Las Vegas is also in the mix.
Hell, the guy working to bring MLS to Phoenix, Dana Gagnon just resigned from MLS to work full time in bringing an expansion team here and is close friends with MLS President Mark Abbott. Politics comes into play as much as anything else.
Give us a 3-4 out of 10. I'll take an 8 and I'll take a chance with Phoenix and our open land, knack for developing, and our population and demographics over any of those cities any day. Tear down the fairgrounds and start over with a SSS. It will happen.
If the MLS wants more teams, why don't they simply work out a promotion/relegation deal with USL? I know that MLS doesn't want relegation, but having 2 or 3 divisions with all the teams already in existence could actually work. I think it would create more loyalty between the fans and clubs because there is a lot more at stake each game and each season.
If the MLS wants more teams, why don't they simply work out a promotion/relegation deal with USL? I know that MLS doesn't want relegation, but having 2 or 3 divisions with all the teams already in existence could actually work. I think it would create more loyalty between the fans and clubs because there is a lot more at stake each game and each season.
Could you imagine the LA Galaxy getting relegated and The Rochester Rhinos taking their place? That's why.
Give us a 3-4 out of 10. I'll take an 8 and I'll take a chance with Phoenix and our open land, knack for developing, and our population and demographics over any of those cities any day. Tear down the fairgrounds and start over with a SSS. It will happen.
If you say so. I still think the lack of fan support in AZ for other teams will factor in as well. Arizona doesn't support very well what teams they have and adding another won't help. The Cardinals only started selling out when they unveiled a new stadium(and people complained about sitting in the heat from Sep - Oct--imagine the dead of the summer), the D-Backs attendance is poor considering how their record is this season--its hard to judge a town based on other sports followings but it will come in to play. Just because they had a decent showing for an exhibition game (which if I understand correctly the attendance was mostly youth soccer teams and their parents) doesn't mean much.
To be honest I think Phoenix deserves a team more than Salt Lake did but the other teams mentioned as possible sites make more sense for the league.
I still stand by my assertion that when the expansion teams are announced Phoenix won't be among them. One of us will be right and one of us will be wrong, we'll just have to wait and see.
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