Comments on Al Lang Stadium and the Rowdies; also ETFE roof technology. This is a place holder; will add more comments in future.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2018/02/musical-chairs-or-great-mls-sss-nimby.html
Musical chairs; or the great MLS SSS NIMBY relocation/expansion swap meet, flea market, fish fry, bbq, gossip roundup & sewing circle.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2017/06/source-rowdies-in-top-4-for-mls.html
I am probably sperging out, linking two unrelated comments in two unrelated articles, but I cannot help but notice this:
Source: Rowdies in ‘Top 4’ for MLS Expansion
Stadium Plans
- Completing the renovations and expansion of the stadium in time for 2019 season. This is a minor issue where the team could begin it’s first season in MLS with a long road trip to allow for full completion of the stadium.And this:
Orlando wants to host the 2019 Major League Soccer All Star Game
The hope remains that Orlando will be able to make their bid for the MLS All Star Game in 2019. Soccer fans throughout the state hope that Orlando gets the game and the league has been impressed with the success of Orlando FC, one of the leagues true success stories.
It is possible by that time the Tampa Bay Rowdies could be in the MLS along with Orlando FC making the game even sweeter in 2019.This is odd. Both writers mention the Rowdies being in MLS in 2019 as a possibility, whereas everything I had read said that the two MLS expansion teams chosen this year (and this does not include Miami) would be joining MLS in 2020.
The one writer speculates about Al Lang Stadium expansion being completed in time for the 2019 MLS season, and the other writer speculates about Orlando City hosting the MLS All Star game in 2019 in time to play with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in MLS, and not with Beckham's Miami MLS club.
Is this significant? Does this mean something new is going on that we don't know about? I have no idea! Weird.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2017_02_01_archive.html
This is a misleading headline: properly parsed, it actually means "Garber hints that he isn't going to be retiring as MLS commissioner any time soon".
Because the New England Revolution are very close to getting their own soccer specific stadium (SSS), always have been, and always will be.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2017/02/should-beckham-move-mls-franchise-to.html
http://journalofcommerce.com/Home/News/2017/2/Winnipegs-Leaf-conservatory-to-have-unusual-roof-1021862W/
Winnipeg’s Leaf conservatory to have unusual roof
The developers of a new conservatory in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park are banking on an unusual lightweight roofing material called ETFE to make a significant expanse of indoor growing space financially feasible.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/12/innovative-roof-at-khalifa.html
Another article on ETFE roofs use in sports stadia.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/12/rowdies-launch-mls2stpete-campaign-to.html
We had the big announcement tonight. It was not the MLS announcement I was hoping for, but it was a good strong case for moving the Rowdies to MLS and expanding Al Lang Stadium. These comments below are interesting:
He said he's had preliminary discussions with the MLS and league commissioner Don Garber on bringing a team to St. Pete, and he expects to continue those conversations in a meeting with Garber in early January. Edwards said Garber has said positive things about the Tampa Bay region as a potential MLS market, most recently at an appearance at the University of South Florida in October.
Garber said during that speech that while Orlando City Soccer controls the MLS territory and TV rights to this region, "it's something that can be worked out," a spokeswoman for Edwards said.
Edwards said he has "a good investment group" but declined to identify any investors or discuss any potential ownership structures of a MLS team. The league intends to raise franchise fees and could charge $200 million for the next expansion team.
“Major League Soccer has met with Bill Edwards and is aware of the Rowdies’ campaign to bring an MLS expansion team to the Tampa/St. Petersburg market,” MLS Executive Vice President Dan Courtemanche said in a statement. “There is a rich tradition of professional soccer in the area dating back more than 40 years, and we are impressed with their vision and plans for a world-class soccer stadium on the downtown waterfront in St. Petersburg. We look forward to learning more about their plans in the coming months.”
So we still might hear something definite about the Rowdies going to MLS in the next few months; it is being talked about and things sound encouraging. St. Pete officials are on board, which is something Don Garber had mentioned as being necessary in his comments back on October 26th. We have a mention from Edwards that he has "a good investment group" which sounds like he has some new investors, but no word yet on who they might be. Something to watch closely in the next few months.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/12/romano-how-complicated-can-building.html
This is a good summary of the pieces of the puzzle that Bill Edwards has to put together to get the Tampa Bay Rowdies into MLS. One correction: there is no "territorial fee" issue with Orlando City; Don Garber addressed that issue on October 26th. If MLS wants the Rowdies, they're in. Orlando City's territorial rights will be adjusted accordingly. If there is any compensation for Orlando City due to this, it is an internal MLS matter which won't affect the Rowdies.
If the December 6th announcement is that the Rowdies are in as the 24th MLS team, then all of these pieces of the puzzle suddenly fit together very nicely. Even more so if David Beckham is involved as a Rowdies investor. As long as the Rowdies owners are paying for the stadium, a St. Pete referendum on the lease should pass. The Rowdies just need somewhere to play in 2018 and 2019 while a SSS is being built on the Al Lang site; I am hoping Bill Edwards has secured Raymond James Stadium for that purpose.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/11/more-big-soccer-comments.html
More Big Soccer comments. I hope for option 3: expanded ownership group (maybe with David Beckham? hence this blog) and Tampa Bay Rowdies to MLS (hopefully in 2018).
Rowdies to MLS does require a stadium solution, but provided the Rowdies ownership group doesn't require government funding, then the Rays situation doesn't matter. The St. Pete mayor is on board; no reason why Al Lang could not be the stadium solution, provided the Rowdies ownership can pay for it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/11/more-on-al-lang-historic-announcement.html
Additional comments about Al Lang on reddit. Useful refresher in case the December 6 announcement has anything to do with Al Lang.
Important reminder: we now know that Orlando City can't block the Rowdies from getting into MLS, so the delay in expanding Al Lang and the cancellation of the November vote probably has more to do with the lack of support for city/county funding due to the Rays situation, maybe, and also maybe due to waiting to see how talks between Bill Edwards and Don Garber went as to whether the Rowdies can get into MLS, and when.
I would not expect any announcement of Al Lang expansion (or replacement) until after the Tampa Bay Rowdies are officially in MLS. Much easier to commit money into building a proper SSS if MLS is assured. So I am hoping that the December 6 announcement isn't just about the stadium; I am hoping it is about Rowdies entry into MLS, and if so maybe also some news about the stadium as well. But we shall see.
It would definitely be better to tear down the existing structure at Al Lang and build a new, properly oriented SSS on the site. Piecemeal expansion of the existing facility simply locks us in to a bad setup, with no room to expand on one side and limited overall capacity of the bare minimum for MLS (18,000) at a time when MLS SSS size is slowly growing (for instance Orlando City increased their SSS to 25,000 from an earlier lower planned capacity).
Also, forget what the waterfront plan says or does not say: don't decrease parking in and around the stadium. Keep the parking lot, and add additional parking around the new stadium if possible. Every bit helps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/11/beijing-national-aquatics-center.html
Another example of the use of ETFE: Beijing National Aquatics Center (the Water Cube).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/11/some-more-news-articles-about-etfe.html
Some more news articles about ETFE.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/11/historic-announcement-regarding-clubs.html
Redditors comment on "historic announcement". Similar feel to Facebook comments. Lots of deprecation and down-playing of the announcement. No one wants to think about MLS. Best they can suggest is expanding Al Lang, but really, expanding to 10,000 isn't much, and there really isn't room for much more. If we do go to MLS, a complete tear down of Al Lang, reorientation of the field, and a properly designed and built SSS is the only solution.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/08/new-roof-technology-could-benefit-new.html
Article below about new technology in covered stadia. It is now possible to grow natural grass in covered stadia without the expense of moveable roofs or moveable pitches; see Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, as the first example of this; a fully ETFE roofed stadium with natural grass growing inside. The below article is a good read if you are thinking about replacing the existing Al Lang Stadium one day with a fully enclosed, natural grass Soccer Specific Stadium (SSS) for the Rowdies in downtown St. Pete. Keeping the fans dry and the games uncancelled due to flooding or lightning, would not be a bad thing for a future Tampa Bay Rowdies SSS. Far too many empty seats at Rowdies games at Al Lang currently due to worries about the weather.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/10/new-roof-will-help-save-jungle-exhibit.html
Here's another article highlighting the usefulness of ETFE roof technology. Something to keep in mind when the Tampa Bay Rowdies finally start to plan to build their SSS, presumably on the Al Lang site. You can protect players and fans from rain, lightning, etc., while still keeping the outdoors feel, without huge expense.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/11/fords-garage-to-move-into-rowdies-den.html
Rowdies Den is gone: think of the Rowdies Den as free advertising for the Tampa Bay Rowdies for a few years until Bill Edwards could find a better run business to sell that location to.
I went to the Rowdies Den a few times when visiting St. Pete. The food was "meh". French fries were sub-par (tasteless, over processed frozen fries that Americans have become used to thanks to the fast food industry).
I walked down Central Avenue to Central Melt and had a good grilled cheese sandwich and fresh cut french fries. Far superior food, in a grotty hole in the wall. Sports bar "atmosphere" isn't everything.
Nothing but complaints about the Rowdies Den from Ralph's Mobsters on Facebook; not well run at all.
The Rowdies Den had a good draft beer selection at least.
Nancy Bataille (of the Rowdies Gear shop) will get her Rowdies collectibles back (they were loaned to the Rowdies Den for decor). Hopefully we'll have a Rowdies museum/trophy room in a new SSS at Al Lang and they can go there.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/11/forsyth-barr-stadium.html
Dude was right, you know. Plastics. ETFE to be specific.
Some ETFE related links below, and Wiki article on the Forsyth Barr Stadium, the first to use a full ETFE roof with natural grass turf growing inside. I'd like to see something like this for the Tampa Bay Rowdies SSS (soccer specific stadium) on the site of the current Al Lang Stadium, only better than Forsyth Barr Stadium, of course, and better than any current or planned SSS in MLS. Maybe some day all SSS in MLS could have roofs like this, and MLS could have any soccer calendar it wanted, winter months included.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/09/david-beckhams-cute-snap-of-kids-with.html
Article on Beckham's kids examining his England caps. Yes, the FA still gives out actual caps. I believe Rodney Marsh has 9 England caps? Perhaps one day when we have a Rowdies SSS at Al Lang we could have a trophy room and a hall of fame and a museum. We could have a case for things like Rodney Marsh's caps if he agreed to loan them. All kinds of interesting stuff out there that could go in a Rowdies museum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/11/florida-cup-2017-website-up-and-running.html
Interesting. I did not catch this titbit of news; thanks to redditors for catching it. More seats being added to Al Lang to get it up to 10,000 seats. This would be in keeping with a push for MLS.
Presumably there will be greater marketing and promotion of the Rowdies and combined with talk of MLS this will get more fans out to Al Lang and increase the average attendance a bit.
And yes the November vote was cancelled. I think the mayor and Bill Edwards have a plan for Al Lang that won't involve voter approval for extending the lease.
Edit to add: eyeballing the existing layout of Al Lang from Google satellite, it is hard to see how you could add more than an additional 1,000 seats by extending the existing temporary aluminum stands to the corner flags.
Maybe if you removed the berm you could put seats in there and get close to 2,000 more seats but that would be a lot of work and money (and the kids would miss the berm); especially if it only ends up being used for 2017 (i.e., if with any luck the Rowdies get into MLS in 2018, he says crossing his fingers and knocking on wood). Removing the berm would allow you to move the goal line and touch line closer to the old concrete grandstands however, which would be nice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/11/dali-museum-gets-99-year-lease.html
I was curious what the situation was, lease-wise, with the Dali Museum, formerly on the site of the Bayfront Center, and near Al Lang Stadium. So I Googled the Dali lease situation. So, they got a voter approved 99 year lease.
The St. Pete mayor cancelled the vote on the Al Lang lease earlier this year; we are still in the dark about the plan here. As presumably the Rowdies owners will be paying for the SSS themselves, they need the equivalent of a lease long enough to pay off the 30 year bonds.
There may be a way to do that, by contracting a series of 5 year leases, at say $1 a year, stipulating that the city has to pay the Rowdies back for the stadium bond costs if they don't keep renewing the lease until the bonds are paid off (i.e., effectively 6 auto-renewing 5 year leases). I'm not a lawyer though and I don't know how the St. Pete law on leasing waterfront city property is written. Just me speculating here, on a possible solution to the problem.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment