MLS reaches agreement with San Antonio for future team

AreliusII · 04-14-2005, 10:36 PM

http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20050414&content_id=26672&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp

Rover · 04-14-2005, 10:54 PM

So it looks like Toronto and San Antonio for expansion.

Oh, wait, the Quakes and the Wizards are still on the clock to find ownership. And can Club America be part of all this?

Should be interesting.

Aero · 04-15-2005, 08:23 AM

It sounds like they got a pretty good deal in San Antonio. I'm not sure how a team down there can't make money. They have all of the good of a SSS without having to shell out the money to build it. Not only that, but they are domed and can hold a higher capacity. Can you say championship game every year in SA? Nice weather in Nov and it's a pretty good spot for tourists along the River Walk.

If I had a spare $10 million, I'd be all over that. It can only be good for the league.

Deuce · 04-15-2005, 08:32 AM

This sounds great but it does not actually mention expansion.

Is this the prelude to a move of San Jose or the most likely candidate Kansas City Wizards to San Antonio?

I don't like the idea of a city losing it's club but in some cases it may be good for MLS to move a club to a city that will support it!

I suppose only time will tell if it is a move or expansion!

Aero · 04-15-2005, 08:37 AM

If you were the owner in one of those cities, wouldn't the deal SA is presenting tempt you even a little bit to move? I know it would me, especially if the team wasn't doing well where they currently are. I too hope that it will be an expansion team and not a moved team, but I wouldn't be surprised if one of those teams ended up moving.

I know in the short-term, relocation is bad for the league. But if they can move a struggling franchise to a place where it will be successful, it might be better in the long run.

bordelais7 · 04-15-2005, 09:16 AM

SA is a great choice for a new team. Do you think it will be hard for them to sell 5,000 season tix by August?

Rover · 04-15-2005, 11:34 AM

The soccer bashers didn't wait long in San Antonio:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/roliver/stories/MYSA041505.1D.COL.SOColiver.1daa169d4.html

Once again, MLS gets the "may not be around long" tar and feathering.

The author complains about the City of San Antonio government "(t)hat wants to embrace a league that may not see the next decade, while effectively ignoring a franchise that has planted healthy roots in San Antonio soil for a century and counting . . ."

Sound familiar?