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July 30, 2008
Yahoo! for Vancouver Bid, Philly Off and Running
More news on the Vancouver expansion bid: former founding employee of Yahoo! and Bay Area resident Jeff Mallet is joining forces the Steve Nash and others to bring MLS to British Columbia. He's been around MLS HQ in New York a lot these days. If their ownership group is any indication, Vancouver should be able to match other expansion cities in ticket and sponsorship sales and beat them at the annual MLS ownership basketball tourney, held at Phil's ranch in Colorado.
Posted by Colin at 09:35 AM | Comments (1)
July 25, 2008
MLS Here to Stay, to Expand to 18 Teams by 2011
MLS is set to expand by two more teams in 2011, bringing the total teams in the league to 18. Among other candidates such as St. Louis, a second New York team, and Montreal, are our favorite candidates: Las Vegas and Vancouver, B.C.
Vegas because it's close enough to travel to. But we're only for it if they get that stadium with a roof. No way it could work without it given our summer schedule.
Vancouver has even more going for it. It is only a two hour flight; its a beautiful city; world famous Santa Clara University alum Steve Nash is backing the Vancouver entry, joining forces with current Whitecaps ownership; and provided they keep the Whitecaps name, along with the Sounders that's another NASL rivarly resurrected.
Go Canada.
Posted by Colin at 01:34 PM | Comments (0)
July 10, 2008
Stadium Update
Things are moving along on the stadium front in a lot of MLS markets, San Jose included. Jay Hipps of SSV and Centerline soccer fame (we use that term loosely) conducted an interview with David Alioto on the purchase of the Airport West Property over at Centerline Soccer. All you city council meeting attendees mark your calendar for a date TBD in "early next year" on the critical conversion piece of our stadium puzzle.
Two other markets have had news recently, as well. The Revolution have plans that are getting more specific - they have even paid for part of a study that took place in Sommerville, a fine little town at the end of the Red Line in Boston. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake's $110M gem of a stadium is taking shape in Utah, and Salt Lake City will get the 2009 all-star game and all the attendant economic and marketing benefits.
Will San Jose get the 2010 or 2011 all-star game or MLS Cup? We certainly hope so.
Posted by Colin at 09:46 AM | Comments (0)
July 07, 2008
Past is Prologue
We were trolling CNN/SI, reading Greg Lalas' American Soccer Fans Bill of Rights (and agreeing with most of it - especially the part about American bars needing to have our games on as a matter of course...), when we came across this gem in the archives feature. It's a true reminder of how far we have come. There is much more to be done, but we are a long way from the 'glory' days of NASL where 50% of the teams playing on football fields.
There are also some great quotes from former Earthquakes owner and current real estate developer Carl Berg - whose assistant we have seen at city council meetings concerning the zoning change at the iStar property asking tough questions of the council - to be found at page three of the article.....
Posted by Colin at 03:15 PM | Comments (0)