Atlanta Soccer » MLS Expansion http://atlantasoccerblog.com In the midst of a resurgence Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:42:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 MLS Southeast Expansion & NASL Expansion http://atlantasoccerblog.com/2012/04/mls-visits-north-carolina/ http://atlantasoccerblog.com/2012/04/mls-visits-north-carolina/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:24:27 +0000 Scott http://atlantasoccerblog.com/?p=1388 Major League Soccer President Mark Abbott was invited by the Carolina RailHawks, of the NASL, to visit the Triangle area and have an open discussion regarding the potential of MLS expansion.  Other attendee’s included David Downs, commissioner of the NASL, and Aaron Davidson, vice president of Traffic Sports. The event opened with a fan forum, and included an invite only meeting of local business, community, and soccer leaders. The day concluded with a media round table at WakeMed Soccer Park, home of the Carolina Railhawks.

“We are not about jumping the gun and putting cart before the horse,” RailHawks President Curt Johnson said. “Those things evolve in time.”

“What we’re trying to do is build the largest possible fan base that we can have here and let other people decide what at the end of the day will be the future. Those people will be the owners, MLS and the NASL and the fans and corporate partners.”

The fan base will now have room to grow as WakeMed Soccer Park, which is owned by Wake County, is undergoing a $6.3 million expansion that will add 3,000 seats and move the capacity up to 10,000 seats. The project is scheduled to be completed by the September of this year.

Abbott said “I’m a firm believer there are markets in the Southeast that can perform at the level of the Pacific Northwest.”

MLS has indicated that it is focused on establishing a 20th expansion team in New York. But an expansion timetable beyond 20 teams, and specifically a plan for the Southeast, has not been established according to league officials.

Abbott also continued to communicate the three key factors that MLS evaluates in potential expansion targets: an ownership group financially capable of operating the team, a stadium seating between 20,000 and 25,000, and a market that can draw roughly that many fans while generating corporate support.

So while the MLS may not have any immediate plans for expansion is seems as though the NASL will be expanding soon. In addition to Ottawa joining in 2014, Indyweek Sports reported that the NASL is poised to announce two expansion franchises within the next 30-45 days. The league has finalized contractual terms with one club and is in the latter stages of negotiations with the other. One is an existing soccer club while the other is an upstart franchise. Moreover, Davidson indicated one will be stationed in the western U.S. while the other will be located within the NASL’s current main geographic footprint.

USL side Orlando City seems to be the most logical team to join the NASL. They have a great team, strong fan-base, and MLS ambitions that would all make sense for them to step up into the next level.

In regards to the western club Downs did rattled off a few potential expansion locations including: Phoenix, San Diego, Indianapolis, and Detroit. Phoenix has shown some great promise in recent friendlies and would give the San Antonio Scorpions a nearby team to help foster a rivalry.

See this MLS article on the visit and vote for Atlanta in the poll “Which Southeast market do you think will emerge as the frontrunner for expansion?”.

Video of the Fan Forum can be located at www.carolinarailhawks.com

So what markets do you think the NASL should expanded to next?

]]> http://atlantasoccerblog.com/2012/04/mls-visits-north-carolina/feed/ 0 Is MLS to Atlanta still alive? http://atlantasoccerblog.com/2010/03/is-mls-to-atlanta-still-alive/ http://atlantasoccerblog.com/2010/03/is-mls-to-atlanta-still-alive/#comments Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:34:20 +0000 Scott http://atlantasoccerblog.com/?p=331 After most of us have moved through the grieving process and  accepted the fact that MLS will not be coming to Atlanta anytime soon they had to mention our name.  It’s like we’re in middle school and the popular boy/girl just looked at us and said hi.  They see us, they really see us. Doug [...]]]> After most of us have moved through the grieving process and  accepted the fact that MLS will not be coming to Atlanta anytime soon they had to mention our name.  It’s like we’re in middle school and the popular boy/girl just looked at us and said hi.  They see us, they really see us. Doug Roberson from the AJC asked MLS Commissioner Don Garber if there has been any progress with Arthur Blank or other potential owners in regards to an expansion team in Atlanta.  Garber said

“ There has been lots of discussion last year that were very focused.  We stopped those discussions and I remain committed to Arthur Blank, [AMB] Group, and the Falcons and hopefully working with them at some point to get a team to Atlanta. Right now that’s not on the short term agenda for either of us.  I imagine at some point in our future, however long you look out on the horizon, some point we’ll have a team in Atlanta.   We can’t be a national league and not have a team in the south.  Atlanta would be a great place for it and I can’t think of a better owner then Arthur Blank.”

When asked to elaborate on the timeline Garber didn’t think we’d see it in the next couple of years but reiterated that he’d be surprised if we didn’t see a team in Atlanta at some point.  So, you’re saying there’s a chance!

My main questions are whether or not Blank would build an additional stadium or if he would want to incorporate the team into the Falcons new stadium that will be built in the next 8-10 years? I know, I know. It’s not a good fit, MLS won’t allow it (except for Seattle). I think if done right in the next home of the Falcons it could work, especially if it was build with soccer in mind.  My other question is whether or not MLS would direct other interested ownership towards Atlanta or are they focusing solely on Arthur Blank. And where does Beckham and his ability to buy a team come into play? 

 Soccer By Ives has put up a poll on where the 20th MLS should go. So follow this link and vote for Atlanta! (St. Louis is the early leader.)

What do you think? Will Atlanta see MLS in the next 10 years?

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]]> http://atlantasoccerblog.com/2010/03/is-mls-to-atlanta-still-alive/feed/ 5 Top 5 Previous Post http://atlantasoccerblog.com/2010/01/top-5-previous-post/ http://atlantasoccerblog.com/2010/01/top-5-previous-post/#comments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:41:13 +0000 Scott http://atlantasoccerblog.com/?p=40 First off, Happy New Year to you and your family.

When I was setting the new blog up I considered importing the post from my previous blog atlsoccer.wordpress.com.  But I decided instead to just post my 5 favorites. So those have been posted below.

I’m looking forward to a new chapter and a more robust [...]]]> First off, Happy New Year to you and your family.

When I was setting the new blog up I considered importing the post from my previous blog atlsoccer.wordpress.com.  But I decided instead to just post my 5 favorites. So those have been posted below.

I’m looking forward to a new chapter and a more robust blog.  It may not seem very different on the outside but there’s more under the hood then before.  I started my previous blog to learn the basics of blogging and see if I enjoyed it. I had a blast but the subject matter quickly dwindled as the MLS bid failed, the Silverbacks took a year off, and the new women’s pro soccer team were nothing more than a letter of intent and the vision held by Fitz Johnson.

There have been some big changes in the last few months and we’ll get into that soon.  In the meantime enjoy the old post and let me know your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions.

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]]> http://atlantasoccerblog.com/2010/01/top-5-previous-post/feed/ 0 #4: A Matter of Time? http://atlantasoccerblog.com/2009/12/4-a-matter-of-time/ http://atlantasoccerblog.com/2009/12/4-a-matter-of-time/#comments Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:30:41 +0000 Scott http://atlantasoccerblog.com/?p=12 Update: When hearing that MLS wouldn’t be coming to Atlanta is was a great disappointment to many of the soccer fans in Atlanta and the southeast.  Unless Arthur Blank is closer to David Beckham then I think it could be a while before we get another chance.

Originally Posted 1/26/09: SundayPaper.com did an interview with [...]]]> Update: When hearing that MLS wouldn’t be coming to Atlanta is was a great disappointment to many of the soccer fans in Atlanta and the southeast.  Unless Arthur Blank is closer to David Beckham then I think it could be a while before we get another chance.

Originally Posted 1/26/09: SundayPaper.com did an interview with Arthur Blank and Mr. Blank had this to say when asked if the cause of the failed MLS bid was due to the inability to get a group of partners together.

That wasn’t the reason. When you do a deal with MLS, it’s a very complex deal. And the general thinking in Major League Soccer today is that you need a soccer-specific stadium in order to be successful and offer the product in the right kind of environment for fans that are coming and supporting it, in addition to providing a financial model that makes sense for all parties concerned. Traditionally, those have been a public/private kind of partnership. In today’s economy, in this world we’re living in right now in 2009, maybe even 2010, that possibility  is not real, and it’s kind of inappropriate to be thinking about those things right now, in my view. So I just think it’s a matter of timing in terms of when we’ll be able to bring that franchise to Atlanta. It had nothing to do with other people being willing to invest, it had to do really with the timing in the marketplace.

It is disappointing to see the opportunity pass but at the same time it’s difficult to argue his point regarding the need for a soccer-specific stadium in order to be successful and offer the product in the right kind of environment for fans that are coming and supporting it, in addition to providing a financial model that makes sense for all parties concerned. Traditionally, those have been a public/private kind of partnership. In today’s economy, in this world we’re living in right now in 2009, maybe even 2010, that with the current state of the economy.  Arthur Blank didn’t become the successful business man he is by making bad decisions. This bid will require a combination of public and private funds and though this project will have a significant economic impact the dividends will be down the road.  The initial cost that would be required over the next two years would be steep and with the current budget cutbacks the decision would be inappropriate, as Mr. Blank said.

I guess we’ve waited this long, what’s a few more years.  Hopefully we can bring MLS to Atlanta and the economy and league will be on better footing then they are today.

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