Salt Lake Quakes?

Aero · 01-06-2006, 10:05 AM

Do you think that we would have been better off if we had waited a year and then got the Earthquakes in town instead of going the expansion route? I'm kind of jealous of Houston that they will have an expansion team without having to have an expansion team. Their team is going to compete right from the start. Would it have been worth giving up a year of soccer here to get a team that is a proven winner? Or will it all be worth it in the end when our team is built into a championship team from the ground up even if we have to wait a little longer for that championship?

rslfutbolfan · 01-06-2006, 10:08 AM

Well, I kinda like having it from the very begining and creating our own thing. But then again Im not a real competitive spirit and just have fun going to the games. Sure it would have been wonderful to win more games, but I had a blast anyways...and look at all the nice new people I met! I think its more fun to create our own "vision" then inherit a whole team from somewhere else!

GO RSL

ReAl · 01-06-2006, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aero

Do you think that we would have been better off if we had waited a year and then got the Earthquakes in town instead of going the expansion route? I'm kind of jealous of Houston that they will have an expansion team without having to have an expansion team. Their team is going to compete right from the start. Would it have been worth giving up a year of soccer here to get a team that is a proven winner? Or will it all be worth it in the end when our team is built into a championship team from the ground up even if we have to wait a little longer for that championship?

Did we know SJ was moving at the time we started this? Was it an option?

Aero · 01-06-2006, 10:38 AM

No, we didn't know at the time so it probably wasn't an option. I don't think that Houston was even sure until just a few weeks ago. This is more about just having a discussion than any real possibility of it happening.I think that I personally would rather start from the ground up rather than inheriting someone else's team. There will always be part of the Houston Whatevers that will be linked to San Jose. I'm glad we got our own team all to ourselves. It might take a little longer to become competetitve, but I think that will just make it all that much more satisfying when if finally does happen.

clarette · 01-06-2006, 10:49 AM

I'm sure the fans in Houston won't care all that much, but from an outsider's perspective, it seems a little Angelina Jolie. Without the brother-kissing and vials of blood, of course.

prk166 · 01-06-2006, 10:51 AM

Ya, I think it's all hindsight. At that point back in 04 when the franchise was announced I don't think there was anything definite on San Jose moving. In fact, weren't they in talks with local buyers even back then? That aside, it would've been nice to get in an established squad. For all the griping I've done about Ellinger, it's not easy putting together a squad from scratch.

I suppose the scoop on Landon then would've been that he went back to Germany just to get out of moving to Utah.

montgjules · 01-06-2006, 11:12 AM

That would have been cool to have San Jose uprooted to SLC. They were my MLS team before we got a team, so I could have left their cling up in my car window next to the new one. Oh well, it'll be more meaningful to us when our team does well because we're built from the ground up.

SoccerPrime · 01-06-2006, 11:30 AM

Oh yes, the rumors were rampant earlier than 2004 that SJ might move. But at the time, much like most ppl in the Bay Area until Dec 05, no one believe MLS and AEG would do it.

But to the point of Aero's question, AEG never wanted to sell the team unless it was to stay in SJ. You see, AEG wanted to keep the team, but didn't want to be in SJ (they had little hope of getting their coveted SSS).
This is why we heard all the talk of Club America buying the Quakes and moving them to Houston, but it never happened. CA didn't want the Quakes, they wanted Houston, as did AEG. Now AEG is in Houston, LA, Chicago and NYC Metro. THE POWER!

In summary, AEG wouldn't have sold the team to Checketts only to have him move the team to SLC. Never would have happened.

ReAl's Gal · 01-08-2006, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rslfutbolfan

Well, I kinda like having it from the very begining and creating our own thing. But then again Im not a real competitive spirit and just have fun going to the games. Sure it would have been wonderful to win more games, but I had a blast anyways...and look at all the nice new people I met! I think its more fun to create our own "vision" then inherit a whole team from somewhere else!

GO RSL

I agree. This last season I met and made friends with people I wouldn't have had to chance to, had we gone the other route. I had experiences last year I wouldn't trade for any amount of wins 🕺

Jim Umber · 01-09-2006, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReAl's Gal

I agree. This last season I met and made friends with people I wouldn't have had to chance to, had we gone the other route. I had experiences last year I wouldn't trade for any amount of wins 🕺

Plus, we had a chance to get our F/O trained right. They work closely with us and we with them. We have built relationships there, that may continue for many years. I'm not sure that would have happened if we had gotten a pre-existing team.

We have had a lot of benefits from the expansion. One of them was NOT winning the MLS cup. But hey, you can't have everything.