Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Do you think Raleigh could support a Major League Soccer Team? We recently attended the Railhawks vs New York Cosmos and their was 7000 people there, a very good attendance. With the Sport gaining more fans year by year surely an MLS Team would be great for this area.
It is a travesty that there isn't a MLS team in the area. We have one of the highest rates of kids in soccer programs through High school and the local schools have some highly touted recruits. The weather is also perfect for the MLS. If Kansas City can have a team that enjoys a rabid fanbase, why can't we?
"Major League Soccer considers several criteria when determining where to award expansion franchises: (1) owners that are committed to MLS and have the financial wherewithal to invest in a team, (2) a stadium or approved plans for a stadium (preferably a soccer-specific stadium) that allows the team to control revenue streams such as parking and concessions, (3) the size of the market of the metropolitan area, and (4) an established local fan base."
So I guess one could argue we have 3 and 4 covered. Maybe an existing stadium can be used to satisfy 2, but they would likely not control the revenue streams as required. More imporantly number 1 appears to be missing. Who is prepared to step up and put the money on the table?
Location: Chapel Hill, NC, formerly NoVA and Phila
9,779 posts, read 15,793,171 times
Reputation: 10888
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaiho
It is a travesty that there isn't a MLS team in the area. We have one of the highest rates of kids in soccer programs through High school and the local schools have some highly touted recruits. The weather is also perfect for the MLS. If Kansas City can have a team that enjoys a rabid fanbase, why can't we?
Not necessarily doubting you, but I'm curious if you have stats to show the bolded? One of my friends asked me if youth soccer was as big down here as in Northern Virginia, and I said it seemed fairly big but it is hard for me to tell. How would you measure this?
We have no local owners. Traffic (the current owners) will hopefully be on their way out as they are pretty deep in the current FIFA scandal. Local ownership is the key. See Minnesota/Atlanta. I am a season ticket holder as my way of showing support for professional soccer in the area, but nothing will happen until Traffic sell the team and we have an owner that is committed to growing soccer in the area.
Not necessarily doubting you, but I'm curious if you have stats to show the bolded? One of my friends asked me if youth soccer was as big down here as in Northern Virginia, and I said it seemed fairly big but it is hard for me to tell. How would you measure this?
Just looking around and talking to people. See this link. Yes, we aren't California, we can never be as soccer crazy as California or Jersey but we are pretty high behind these two Stateshttp://www.collegesoccernews.com/index.php/recuiting/high-school-prospects/739-class-of-2015-high-school-seniors-2
Location: Chapel Hill, NC, formerly NoVA and Phila
9,779 posts, read 15,793,171 times
Reputation: 10888
Quote:
Originally Posted by michgc
Not necessarily doubting you, but I'm curious if you have stats to show the bolded? One of my friends asked me if youth soccer was as big down here as in Northern Virginia, and I said it seemed fairly big but it is hard for me to tell. How would you measure this?
Ha! I'm going to answer my own question!
I just looked up youth soccer rates in the US. First an interesting fact:
In 1974 there were 103,000 kids in youth soccer.
In 2014 there were 3,055,000 kids in youth soccer.
Wow, has it grown!
Anyway, according to the US Youth Soccer State Association:
Of course some of those states are bigger than NC. With NC being the 10th most populous state, it has the 16th highest number of youth players.
Interestingly, it appears that most all of those other states already have at least one MLS team (along with a few other states) or are getting one in the next few years. Obviously, not a great metric, but there does seem to be a high correlation of existence of MLS team with popularity of youth soccer (when using raw numbers).
So would i The great advantage of having a Soccer Team in the MLS is the Global recognition it gives to a City. The MLS is shown on TV all around the world. No-one outside of the UK had heard of my town back home untill we reached the English Premier League. Now their are probably kids in Thailand and China walking around in our replica Jersey
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The great advantage of having a Soccer Team in the MLS is the Global recognition it gives to a City. The MLS is shown on TV all around the world. No-one outside of the UK had heard of my town back home untill we reached the English Premier League. Now their are probably kids in Thailand and China walking around in our replica Jersey 
