soccer fans have any thoughts about where next franchise should be?

AkbarClone

The race is on for the next Major League Soccer franchise. Seattle begins next year (their basketball is gone), Philadelphia starts play in 2010.

However, the sports stars are coming out to rally for their prospective cities:


Vancouver - 2 time NBA MVP Steve Nash is investing partner who want to see the Whitecaps get into the top level.

St. Louis - Albert Pujols is backing the Gateway city to get into the act. They lost out to Philly in the last round.

Miami - Spanish soccer giants Barcelona F.C. are wanting to invest in having a club in Florida.

Ottawa - The NHL's Ottawa Senator's owner wants to have a rivalry with the success of Toronto FC.

New York - The N.Y. Mets want to build a soccer specific stadium next to their facility. MLS wants another franchise in the "big apple".



Any thoughts about who you think should get in next ?

I don't really follow soccer (outside of collegiate level), so I have no preference regarding MLS sites.

yawie99

I'm not a big MLS fan, but I'd love to see St. Louis land a team. We have a pretty long soccer tradition and I think the metro area would support a club. Barca's backing and a large Latino community probably give Miami an edge, though.

Goot

IF done right, Miami will be VERY successful. The Fusion played up in Ft. Lauderdale with a horrible marketing campaign that didn't extend farther than billboards at THE exit on I-95.

With Barcelona's backing, and a location like Florida International University's new football stadium, attendance would be great. The fact that the area is largely hispanic and being on FIU's campus, a school that boasts a 60% hispanic population, wouldn't hurt either.

Goot

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I don't really follow soccer (outside of collegiate level), so I have no preference regarding MLS sites. >>



Akbar, you're a UNC fan right? If so, it's good to see them back in the tourney this year. Hopefully my Bulls (USF), the No. 8 natl. seed, will make some noise and build on our Sweet 16 run from last year. I was at the Big East Championship last weekend in Tampa to see them beat #11 Notre Dame and #3 St. Johns to win the title.....what a great weekend of soccer! It also didn't hurt that it kind of masked the fact that we got blown out by Rutgers in football on Saturday......

MPeter

I don't think it matters. As much as some people want soccer to become huge in the United States, it's not going to happen. The popularity of MLS will eventually die out. It's got too much of an international feel to it for most Americans. Another thing that is has going against it is the lack of scoring. Americans like to see action and scoring. They don't want to sit for two hours for a 0-0 tie.

One thing I noticed in this country and I may be wrong on it, but it's just my observation. Of the professional leagues....NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS.......the NFL is by far the most popular. Here's what I noticed......NHL seems to be mostly European players. MLS is starting to become more international. MLB is growing more toward hispanic players. The NBA is bringing in more European players. The NFL on the other hand is basically American born players.

It's almost like fans want someone to relate to when they watch the sports. Little Johnny down the road can't relate to a hockey player from Finland who can't speak English, nor can he relate to a guy from the Dominican Republic. He can however relate to a guy who grew up in his home state, played high school football just like him and attended a university that he watches play on Saturdays.

The Freddie Adu's and David Beckhams will fade into the past soon enough. 99% of Americans couldn't even name one MLS players. On another side note, the women's professional soccer league starts up again in this country next Spring. My guess is they'll have one season of play before the league goes under.