USL First Division to San Fran Bay in 2007

[SoccerPrime]

http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/132774.html

Spanish Club Alaves to acquire USL First Division franchise
Northern California based club will begin in 2007
USL News Release

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Tampa, FL – For the first time in USL history, a professional European club will own and operate a USL franchise. USL President Francisco Marcos Tuesday announced Dmitry Piterman, President of Spanish League club Deportivo Alaves from Vitoria, the capital city of the province of Alava in the Basque country of Spain, has signed a letter of intent to operate a USL First Division franchise beginning in the 2007 season.

“I am absolutely thrilled with this development,” said Marcos. “I believe that USL’s future and that of development of American players lies with direct involvement with top international clubs. I have no doubt that the relationship with Alaves will pave the way for many future similar situations. I want to thank Dmitry for his vision and commitment in launching this concept with us and that it will pay dividends all around.”

If all goes according to the terms of the letter of intent, the final franchise acquisition agreement will be completed by the first of July, by which time the exact location of the teams base, name, office location, and preliminary staff will have been completed. Charged with those details will be longtime soccer executive and coach Terry Fisher, who spent the past week in Vitoria with Marcos and Piterman. He will serve as the franchise’s executive management consultant in the start-up phase. Fisher is expected to concentrate the next 45 days in securing a playing location in the San Francisco Bay Area.

[AreliusIV]

Wow. USL gets Romario, now foreign investors. This is great.

[AreliusIV]

Alaves will actually be relegated at the end of this season to the Segunda Division. Alaves has had a yo-yo recent history.

Although Alavés was relegated after the 2003-04 season, they regained their top flight status in a year.

In the season 2005/06 they played in La Liga, but in a bad season they will be relegated again to Segunda División.

[SoccerPrime]

Alaves is also "famous" for having some rather rough and violent "friendlies" against the SJ Quakes.

Last year Alaves was seen as one of the possible savoirs of MLS Quakes. Obviously that didn't happen.

Great news though I think, for Bay area fans.

[knowwonnose]

this will be a good move since there are many Basque people in the region, particularly in the Reno areas. I assume that was their interest in the Bay area. Of course, I'd rather see Athletic in the US, but that's not going to happen any time soon unless they play a friendly against the Rapids a la Karanaka.

[SoccerPrime]

I wasn't aware that Reno, NV was part of the San Francisco Bay metro area...

[Old Ska]

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

I wasn't aware that Reno, NV was part of the San Francisco Bay metro area...

What are you, a geographer?


😉

[knowwonnose]

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

I wasn't aware that Reno, NV was part of the San Francisco Bay metro area...

Appearntly you never watched Bonanza. Reno, being the center of the Basque population in the US. SF being the western edge. Beside, driving west from Reno the next exit on I80 reads "Bay Area". (Hyperbole)

[SoccerPrime]

Originally Posted by knowwonnose

Appearntly you never watched Bonanza. Reno, being the center of the Basque population in the US. SF being the western edge. Beside, driving west from Reno the next exit on I80 reads "Bay Area". (Hyperbole)

Gotcha.

Honestly, as long as the fans can accept not-quite top level soccer, this could be great for Bay area fans.

And yes, Ska, I am in fact, a geographer. Nice catch. :signrocko

[knowwonnose]

http://www.basqueculturalcenter.com/

http://www.basqueclub.com/

Basque food is great, but be ready to sit and share with people you don't know.