Expansion, relocation discussed at owners meetings

Deuce · 11-21-2005, 12:01 AM

RSL Played the Wizards in pre-season in Tulsa last year. In fact they were one of the first cities to see RSL play, even before anyone in Salt Lake saw them play...

Mango Jam · 11-21-2005, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

Tulsa and OKC did have a good rivalry going for a new MLS team back in 2002-03.
Which one had the deal with Central OK Unv.?

I dunno who had a deal with OCU.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deuce

RSL Played the Wizards in pre-season in Tulsa last year. In fact they were one of the first cities to see RSL play, even before anyone in Salt Lake saw them play...

Yeah, there were about 2k there for that in March. It was absolutely frigid. It was at the university soccer fields and not advertised at all. This board was the only reason I even knew about it. I'm realy looking forward to seeing RSL here, hopefully next year, Yay!!!

SoccerPrime · 11-22-2005, 06:00 AM

Here is some more info I gleamed from BS this morning, Mango.

Tulsa downtown's "East Village" development is bordered as follows:

N - Burlington-Northern railway
E - Highway 75 (aka I-444)
S - 7th St
W - Detroit Ave

http://www.urbantulsa.com/article.asp?id=1084

Hmmm... here's an interesting blog from Michael Bates regarding the replacement of Adam Adwon on the Tulsa Development Authority:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Bates
Adam Adwon is the brother of Mitch Adwon, a close advisor to Mayor Bill LaFortune. Mitch Adwon is said to be involved with the backers of the proposed soccer stadium development in the "East Village" section of downtown. Since TDA-owned land would be involved in any such deal, this looks like a move to eliminate a potential conflict of interest.

Mitch Adwon:
http://www.adwonproperties.com/mitchadwon.htm

Tulsa Development Authority:
http://www.tulsadevelopmentauthority.org/index.html

Youth and college soccer in Tulsa, along with a brief mention of "a major league soccer team with a great name, the Roughnecks."

http://www.urbantulsa.com/articles/20040617/2027.asp

prk166 · 11-22-2005, 09:56 AM

No offense to anyone in Tulsa but if you thought SLC was a small market, Tulsa is tiny. I'm just not sold on the idea that a team there will work in the long run.

SoccerPrime · 11-22-2005, 09:59 AM

The Roughnecks from the NASL seemed to have a good following.

Deuce · 11-22-2005, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prk166

No offense to anyone in Tulsa but if you thought SLC was a small market, Tulsa is tiny. I'm just not sold on the idea that a team there will work in the long run.

I have to disagree with you here. The small market may actually be the way forward for MLS.
I think that the leagues fixation with LA/NY is counter-productive. I think a grass roots small market league will really endear the public to our beautiful game. that is just my opinion anyway.

montgjules · 11-22-2005, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deuce

I have to disagree with you here. The small market may actually be the way forward for MLS.
I think that the leagues fixation with LA/NY is counter-productive. I think a grass roots small market league will really endear the public to our beautiful game. that is just my opinion anyway.

Deuce has an interesting perspective on this.

It got me wondering to myself if all those big cities just have so MANY things to do, places to see, etc. that a soccer team just kind of fades into the woodwork, so to speak. In a smaller market like SLC, it is automatically one of the major attractions and has a lot fewer things to compete with. I'd love to see The Don's viewpoint on that idea.

SoccerPrime · 11-22-2005, 11:58 AM

I think Garber and most of MLS agrees with you both Deuce and Jules.
Although I am unsure Tulsa defines what exactly MLS is looking for, but essentially yes, they would rather be a big fish in a little pond. I believe SLC has further cemented this idea into the MLS elite.

However, when it comes to TV ratings and defining MLS on national terms, MLS must also have a presense in the bigtime cities, which is way they spend so much time on LA and NY. LA has been very successful. Once the Metros have a stadium, they too will also have much success I believe.

I'll also point out that the NBA Hornets have relocated to OKC and are doing even better than they were in Orleans.

Mango Jam · 11-22-2005, 05:40 PM

Thanks for the articles Ethan I've been doing a lot of reading on BS too.

I think we have a great market here, not having to compete with other pro sports is a plus in my eyes. There is a large soccer culture in the form of youth leagues and college teams and everybody I've talked to it is excited to hear we will be getting a team. Don Garber did say at the Supporter's Summit in Frisco that the Wizards will be playing in KC in 2006, that is contrary to what I have been hearing since August. I hope we don't have to wait until 2007 but I definitely don't want them to rush and half a$$ the process and have all the naysayers say, "I told you so". I think the Tulsa FO could learn from RSL's marketing department, your attendance this year was awesome. I hope they come up with a better name than the Roughnecks, sounds too much like Rednecks to me.

oussan · 11-22-2005, 07:28 PM

I'm wondering if the league is just flirting with these smaller markets as they try to grow the league in larger markets. San Jose, for example. Not a small town by any means, but it sure doesn't have the ring or the star power of its northern neighbor SF (which is also one of the larger TV markets in the country). I think the league is happy with teams that do well in small markets. Teams like RSL at least make MLS a little more interesting - it's not just the same ten teams kicking soccer balls around, and our supporters are amazing. Still, if Houston steps forward saying it wants the Quakes (and is willing to put forth the necessary dough), San Jose is no more. Just like that. Once a team has invested in land and facilities I don't think the league will be as flighty, but I'm sure that MLS is not interested in a whole bunch of Salt Lakes, Tulsas, or Rochesters kicking around. It would much rather a Philly, a Houston, or a team in any other large market. The fact is that when RSL finally goes to the MLS cup our tiny little market will be the only one that really knows about it, and I think the league is quite aware of that.

But hey, if Tulsa's the next city to join the league, all the better! Soccer for all, I say!

(And Mango Jam, why not just call yourselves the Rednecks anyway? I don't know, I'm just a sucker for a good politically incorrect mascot, I guess, being a Ute fan and a Redskins fan and all.)