Barca plan US side

AreliusIII · 11-14-2005, 09:31 AM

http://www.football.co.uk/news/barca_plan_us_side_209135.shtml

AreliusIII · 11-14-2005, 03:18 PM

http://www.soccer365.com/US_NEWS/Breaking_News/page_131_109141.shtml

prk166 · 11-14-2005, 05:40 PM

I have a hard time seeing AEG selling LA or NY. I think they're selling / have sold off their other teams to concentrate on those investments sinc ethey have a lot of upside. Is Hunt really interested in selling Dallas? He seems to love the game and doesn't seem anxious to get out of it. He just realizes he doesn't have the resources to build KC a SSS and wants them to be able to have one (or at least find an owner that is willing to move the team a invest in an SSS in another town).

Since it's Barcelona + Miami's an international Latin American hub, you gotta wonder if they won't end up there in the end.

oussan · 11-14-2005, 11:28 PM

I'm not against foreign entities purchasing MLS franchises, but I do hope the league exercises some caution. I'm not sure we're going to win many more converts to MLS by building a "FC Barcelona" in Miami, or an "America USA" in Houston. If anything, I think a good number of average Americans might be turned off, dismissing soccer as a game that, as the Nike campaign goes, is only for foreigners. Not an American sport. I think MLS needs to make sure that the league always feels like it is our own, and not some developmental league for European clubs.

Jim Umber · 11-15-2005, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oussan

I'm not against foreign entities purchasing MLS franchises, but I do hope the league exercises some caution. I'm not sure we're going to win many more converts to MLS by building a "FC Barcelona" in Miami, or an "America USA" in Houston. If anything, I think a good number of average Americans might be turned off, dismissing soccer as a game that, as the Nike campaign goes, is only for foreigners. Not an American sport. I think MLS needs to make sure that the league always feels like it is our own, and not some developmental league for European clubs.

The idea is certainly intriguing. I'm just not sure how it would work. Of course, that is why they are discussing it. There may be just too many obstacles in the way.

AreliusIII · 11-15-2005, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oussan

I'm not against foreign entities purchasing MLS franchises, but I do hope the league exercises some caution. I'm not sure we're going to win many more converts to MLS by building a "FC Barcelona" in Miami, or an "America USA" in Houston. If anything, I think a good number of average Americans might be turned off, dismissing soccer as a game that, as the Nike campaign goes, is only for foreigners. Not an American sport. I think MLS needs to make sure that the league always feels like it is our own, and not some developmental league for European clubs.

By the way, the latest word from the Don is that Club America has lost all interest in an MLS franchise. They wanted to keep up with Chivas originally, in breaking into this market, but I suppose since they have seen how it has gone for Chivas (perhaps diluting their brand a bit) they have decided against it.

SoccerPrime · 11-15-2005, 10:23 AM

Philly MLS!

oussan · 11-15-2005, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AreliusIII

By the way, the latest word from the Don is that Club America has lost all interest in an MLS franchise. They wanted to keep up with Chivas originally, in breaking into this market, but I suppose since they have seen how it has gone for Chivas (perhaps diluting their brand a bit) they have decided against it.

It will be interesting to watch as Chivas improves, whether the fan base grows or whatever. Still, if the Chivas guys were hoping an MLS franchise would bolster their brand in the US, I think they're wrong. I don't agree with it, but I think there is a bit of a subconscious superiority complex that Americans suffer from when it comes to anything Mexican. I don't know that a European team would suffer from the same attitude, be it Barca or Madrid, but I think teams from leagues south of the border may be wary of trying to promote their brands in the states until Chivas proves to be a real a draw.

IMHO.

oussan · 11-16-2005, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prk166

I have a hard time seeing AEG selling LA or NY.

I remember hearing that MLS wanted to have another team in New York, but I think that's ridiculous at this point. The Metros aren't even that well-attended and there's talk of putting another team there, just because it's a big market?! Size isn't everything in this case.

I'd like to see MLS spread the league out a bit more. I'd even like to see Chivas move out of Carson, maybe down south to San Diego, or, hell, even TJ would be fine by me (if Canada, why not Mexico?). There are more big markets than just NYC. Miami, Seattle, Atlanta, Philly, Houston, Milwaukee, Cleveland... those would all be fine additions to the league.

SoccerPrime · 11-17-2005, 06:06 AM

Maybe if the Metros played in NYC it would help attendance.

Everything I have read about this 2nd NY team, says they would play in the city, not Jersey (like the Metros).