St. Pete business group throws its weight behind Rowdies MLS dream

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http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/01/10/st-pete-business-group-throws-its-weight-behind.html

St. Pete business group throws its weight behind Rowdies MLS dream

Jan 10, 2017, 5:28pm EST

Janelle Irwin Reporter Tampa Bay Business Journal

The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce is launching a Rowdies Council to promote the city as a winning destination for Major League Soccer.

The council will serve as a business-backed group of community leaders supporting Rowdies owner Bill Edwards in his effort to win an MLS expansion team.

“A lot of people were asking, 'How can we get involved?'” said outgoing St. Pete chamber chair Greg Holden. “We thought it was better for an independent group to support the effort rather than the Rowdies.”

Holden is co-chairing the group with Tash Elwyn, president of the Raymond James & Associates Private Client Group. They plan to announce leadership roles in three subcommittees in the coming days. Those committees will address sponsorship, season tickets and a referendum allowing Edwards to start an $80 million stadium improvement plan needed to entice MLS to St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg City Council must approve referendum language that would allow the Rowdies to negotiate a long-term lease and details of a stadium improvement plan. That referendum would go to voters in May in a special election. Voter approval is required for such projects if they occur on downtown waterfront land.

“When you look at attendance at sporting events, MLS outdraws the NBA,” Holden said. “A soccer game always ends at 9:30 p.m. on a Saturday night and that matters for our retailers. The economic impact is tangible.”

Applications for an MLS expansion team are due to the league at the end of the month. Ten cities are vying for the chance.

St. Pete has a lot going for it. Unlike some of the other potential markets, the Rowdies already have a stadium and improvements to it would be privately funded. In St. Louis, for example, a public funding mechanism to build a soccer stadium failed this week, leaving that city’s chances at winning a team pretty low.

The league is looking for a city in a good media market. Tampa Bay has the largest market of any of the competing teams, said Rick Baker, president of the Edwards Group, which owns the Rowdies.

MLS leaders are also looking for a community that supports soccer.

“The community support part of it is really where the chamber comes in,” Baker said. “If you have the business community come in and show their support – that they’re going to buy season tickets and sponsorships – it gives the MLS more confidence in our market.”

Baker said he was inspired after more than 50 local business leaders showed up for the chamber’s council announcement Friday with only a day or two’s notice.

Baker has also hired a consultant to help win an MLS team. Brett Lashbrook is the former CEO of Orlando City. He oversaw that franchise through its transition from minor league soccer to MLS and now runs his own consulting firm out of Las Vegas.

Baker called Lashbrook the “most knowledgeable man in soccer.”


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 http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/01/10/st-louis-mls-stadium-expansion-funding-bill-vote

St. Louis MLS stadium, expansion bid in jeopardy after funding proposal is dropped


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http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/north-carolina-courage-joining-nwsl-signals-long-term-ambition-young-league-011017

North Carolina Courage joining NWSL signals long-term ambition for young league 

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http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/st-louis-soccer-stadium-funding-bill-is-dead/article_c11e7ffa-7fc6-59bf-aa51-85f63f85bc33.html

St. Louis soccer stadium funding bill is dead

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http://www.nhregister.com/sports/20170109/professional-mens-soccer-returns-to-new-haven-with-elm-city-express

Professional men’s soccer returns to New Haven with Elm City Express

NEW HAVEN >> The semi-professional National Premier Soccer League, founded in 2003, has consistently grown over the years. On Monday, league expansion continued into New Haven as officials announced the Elm City Express has been added to the league and will begin play this year.

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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/soccer/fort-lauderdale-strikers/fl-fort-lauderdale-strikers-news-0110-20170109-story.html

Strikers' 2017 season in jeopardy

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https://mlsmultiplex.com/2017/01/10/tampa-bay-reveals-mls-stadium-plans-for-expansion-bid/

Tampa Bay reveals MLS stadium plans for expansion bid

by Nathan Reynolds

Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards reveals his plans for a $80 stadium renovation and push for MLS expansion. Do they have better chances than Miami?

MLS expansion is a topic that knows no season or limit. Ever since the David Beckham era the league has been in a race towards to next club, next city or next big superstar. With Don Garber confirming that the league will at least reach 28 teams, cities across the country are lining up bids and stadium proposals.

Tampa Bay took another massive step forward, releasing renderings of plans to upgrade Al Lang Stadium for MLS standards. As reported by the Tampa Bay Times, the owner plans for a $80 million renovation that would bring the grounds up to current standards and be able to seat 18,000 fans.

Check out mock images of the new Tampa Bay MLS stadium, with the Tropicana Field, home to the Rays in the MLB, in the background.

Why Tampa Bay?

Edwards has promised to fund the entire project privately, with supporting investors. So where does this bid rank compared to the Miami, Raleigh, St. Louis, etc. of the expansion world?

Finances – MLS wants stable ownership in place. Raleigh appears to have a central backer, whereas St. Louis’ plans of state money is clearly not coming any time soon. If Edwards truly can handle it privately, that should speed up the bid timeline.

Stadium – The club already owns the ground; it wouldn’t require much involvement from the city due to staying within current limits; and it sits right on the water. A great TV view, much like the Union’s stadium.

Market – Ranked as the #11 TV market in the U.S., the MLS can’t go wrong by adding Tampa Bay. Increased TV ratings, and in a city that is use to supporting professional teams. It would be hard to imagine that they would have a difficult time filling 18,000 seats.

Structure – With a team already in existence and playing the USL, filling out a full MLS roster and staff wouldn’t be a big challenge. Following the model of Orlando, they should be able to easily transition into the top level.

Taking all of that into consideration, the Tampa Bay bid looks very solid and the MLS would be wise to consider it. With the need for additional southeast teams, the Rowdies (or whatever their MLS name would be) could be in the MLS by 2020.

What are your thoughts? Is Tampa Bay a good expansion city for the league?

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http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/55/cmain/2017/01/09/31324402/florida-cup-alternate-atletico-mg-squad-preparing-for-matches-on-

Florida Cup: Alternate Atletico-MG squad preparing for matches on U.S. soil

The Brazilians have arrived in America for clashes against Bayer Leverkusen and the Tampa Bay Rowdies while the main squad trains at home.

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http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/55/cmain/2017/01/09/31321892/florida-cup-brazilians-to-debut-this-week

Florida Cup: Brazilians to debut this week

Brazil will be represented in the Challenge 2017 by Atlético-MG and Bahia against Germans, Argentinians and Americans

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http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/01/09/mls-expansion-city-tampa-bay-rowdies-st-petersburg

MLS expansion city profile: Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg

Brian Straus

Monday January 9th, 2017

Market Analysis

Is there a symbol that sums up Major League Soccer’s early years better than that outer-space video game mutant bat thing? Nonsense names, loud colors and incongruous branding were just the beginning as top-tier soccer returned to the U.S. in 1996. There were the cavernous NFL stadiums, the aging foreigners, the unheralded American journeymen, lean times and lots of unpredictability. And shootouts. And 1990s soccer hair.

The Tampa Bay Mutiny had it all, from their incomprehensible logo and neon/puke green jerseys to the stylish Carlos Valderrama-inspired soccer inside the original Big Sombrero. But like MLS 1.0, the Mutiny didn’t last. The club was unable to find an investor, attendance dipped into the four digits and at the end of the 2001 season, it was contracted along with the Miami Fusion.

A lot has changed since MLS 1.0, and a lot has changed in Tampa and St. Petersburg. And so the Bay is back on the league’s expansion radar. Led by flamboyant local real estate developer Bill Edwards, the bid is anchored by the reborn Tampa Bay Rowdies, who will play this year in the USL after spending six seasons in the NASL. The Rowdies’ Al Lang Stadium, a converted waterfront baseball park, is their current and future home. It’s located in the St. Pete half of the country’s 11th largest media market and 18th-most populous metro area (around 3 million).

Now that Atlanta United is ready to take the field, it’s significant that Tampa Bay is the largest media market in the U.S. without an MLS team. Yes, it ranks higher than Miami, Detroit and Phoenix. And that’ll turn heads at MLS headquarters, where boosting TV ratings is paramount. It’s also worth noting, and Edwards did so when speaking with SI.com, that the Bay no longer is “God’s Waiting Room.” Residents aged 20-34—the Millennials MLS covets—now comprises around 19% of the region’s population, according to a 2015 study, and that’s expected to rise more than 10 points in the next five years. The region was home to only four Fortune 500 companies as of 2015.

Edwards had never seen a soccer game when he purchased the Rowdies in 2013.

“The community seemed to love [the team]. It was in trouble. My background is taking things that are broken and fixing them,” Edwards said. “I fell in love with the sport. I got hooked on it … I fell for the sport and I understand it. I understand the players. I understand the coaches. I understand a lot of things. I’m a hands-on owner. I’m the guy sitting behind the bench watching the game. I’m the guy on the field giving the sweaty guys a hug, saying ‘Good job! Good hustle!’ I love the game. I love the people in it.”

Edwards, 71, is all in. He was raised in Massachusetts, was wounded while serving in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, and eventually entered the mortgage business. He’s now one of the Bay Area’s most prominent businessmen thanks to his significant real estate holdings and involvement in high-profile projects, the arts and now sports.

Edwards said he’s interested in bringing aboard additional investors—“the more the merrier,” he stressed—but he has every intention of remaining majority owner.

“There’s a lot of wealth in this town, and we all know each other pretty much. There are a lot of conversations going on,” he said. “This isn’t a job for me. This is a great experience and I’m really enjoying it after working my butt off for so long, to have some fun. I’m having a lot of fun with it and this is great way to give back to the city and the community.”

Beyond the ownership group, Edwards made news last week with the hiring of former MLS and U.S. Soccer Federation executives Brett Lashbrook and Forrest Eber, who are highly regarded for their work overseeing Orlando City’s transition from USL to MLS. 

Stadium Plan

The Rowdies have one of the simplest, cheapest stadium plans among the expansion hopefuls. They already have refurbished seats, the video board, locker rooms and more at Al Lang, which sits on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront. Now Edwards is committed to putting $80 million (plus cost overruns) into expanding the stadium from around 7,200 seats to 18,000. He told SI.com that he intends to ask for no public money and that the city will be on the hook only for some infrastructure upgrades such as sewage.

Working with ICON Venue and Populous, both of which have been involved in the construction and/or renovation of numerous MLS stadiums, Edwards and the Rowdies intend to turn Al Lang into a facility with a unique configuration that leaves one corner open toward the Bay and the other toward the city skyline. Edwards has purchased a nearby parking garage to boost the number of spots and said he is financing a special local election this spring, which is required when there’s any significant construction or lease agreement on the city’s waterfront property. Edwards said he expects to operate the stadium under a use or lease agreement with St. Petersburg.

Al Lang is next to the Mahaffey Theater, the venue that relies on support from The Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts, and the Salvador Dalí museum and is a few blocks from St. Petersburg’s downtown dining and nightlife district on and around Central Ave.

Sports and Soccer Scene

When the original Rowdies kicked off in 1975, the Tampa Bay area had no teams in any of the country’s major sports leagues. It now has three—the NFL’s Buccaneers, NHL’s Lightning and MLB’s Rays. Each has had periods of success and struggle, and at the moment the Lightning are the most consistent winners and play to capacity in Tampa’s Amalie Arena. But down the street from Al Lang, the Rays have the worst attendance in baseball. The Bucs drew an average of 60,624 this season to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

It’s an unpredictable, eclectic sports town(s). The population is there, support wavers at times, but success is rewarded. It’s also an event town(s). Four Super Bowls, three Final Fours (one men’s, two women’s), two Frozen Fours and Monday’s College Football Playoff final, among others, have been staged in Tampa or St. Pete.

Like other sports, soccer’s results in the area have varied. The original Rowdies debuted in ’75 and immediately won the NASL championship. Average attendance broke 10,000 that year and peaked above 28,000 in 1980. Then the decline began, the NASL folded in ’84 and the Rowdies spent several more years as a minor league and indoor team before finally shutting down 10 years later.

In 1996, MLS and the Mutiny came to town. Again, things started well. Valderrama and Co. won the Supporters' Shield that first season and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. But average attendance never broke 14,000 and the league was unable to find an investor to operate the team. The financial losses continued through the 2001 season, after which MLS shut down the club. Malcolm Glazer, who owned the Bucs and soon would take over Manchester United, negotiated with the league but ultimately declined to save the team.

The Rowdies were resurrected in 2010 and joined the NASL the following season. Despite winning a championship in 2012, attendance was below 4,000 per game. Then Edwards stepped in, put some money into the club and stadium and plotted his entry into MLS. This season, the Rowdies averaged 5,878 at Al Lang, which ranked third in the league.

The U.S. men's national team has played six times in the Tampa Bay area, most recently in 2012, when it defeated Antigua & Barbuda in a World Cup qualifier. Average attendance for the six games staged from 1985 through ’12 is 22,508. Raymond James Stadium will host the U.S. as part of a CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader in July. The area’s other national team tie sits a few miles south in Bradenton, which is home to U.S. Soccer’s U-17 residency program.

MLS Pros

The size of the market and Edwards’ stadium plan are huge plusses. MLS wants ratings and a population base, and the fact that the Rowdies would play in a downtown, waterfront venue that will cost half as much as many other grounds is unique and extremely appealing. Edwards’s wealth, enthusiasm and commitment are notable.

Tampa Bay would have an obvious rivalry with Orlando City, which has been heated at times even though they’ve never played in the same league. There have been preseason matchups and one U.S. Open Cup meeting, a 2014 affair won by Orlando. The enmity extends beyond the soccer field.

Edwards said sponsorship won’t be a problem.

“The biggest problem I’ve had in this town is not being in MLS,” he said.

Also, there are the Rowdies’ amazing green-and-yellow hooped jerseys. MLS needs those.
MLS Cons

Orlando’s proximity also could be a negative, especially if City objects to an MLS team a little more than 100 miles away. The Lions reportedly have the rights to the Tampa Bay TV market, and that’s not necessarily something they’d be willing to cede without compensation. The two metro areas combined have a population of around 5.3 million, roughly equivalent to a city like Atlanta or Boston.

Then there’s Edwards himself, whose tendency to make waves could make for interesting times in an MLS boardroom that prefers things slow, steady and conservative. Edwards is outspoken, ambitious and no stranger to courting controversy, either in the media or in actual courts. Edwards is well-known for his philanthropy. He’s also no stranger to the witness stand. He’s a larger-than-life figure hoping to join a league influenced heavily by the stoic and/or quiet Phil Anschutz, Clark Hunt, and Robert and Jonathan Kraft.

Edwards ultimately left the NASL because he said he couldn’t find common ground with his fellow owners. But he made no friends with stunts like July’s team-produced video highlighting officiating mistakes and a press release that called referees “inconsistent, incompetent and unprofessional.” It seemed very un-major league. At the same time, he demonstrated what an asset he can be through his renovations at Al Lang and the signing of a player like English veteran Joe Cole.

Can his passion be channeled?

Edwards acknowledged he’s “not a typical owner,” but he stressed that his respect for MLS’s growth leaves him with little incentive to rock the boat.

“Why would I question MLS and what they do? They’ve got the road map to being successful,” he said. “They’ve got their act together. When I deal with idiots, I let them know I think they’re idiots. But when you’re talking to people who are versed in these things and know what they’re doing, I take advantage of it. I want to be with people who are smarter than me, who have more experience, who have their act together. Than I can invest my money wisely … I’m three years in. They’re 20. That’s why I’m taking my hard-earned cash and putting it in the right place.”
Commissioner's Thoughts

“We love what Bill has been able to do. Al Lang Stadium is super cool. You can’t get a better environment, right on the waterfront. This is the largest market that we’re not in. If you look at the top 15-18 DMAs, this is the largest of those where we don’t have a team in, so that’s intriguing to us,” Don Garber said at a University of South Florida lecture in October.

“We’ve shown that we’re more successful in New York with two teams in New York. The rivalry between Red Bulls and New York City FC has helped the league and has certainly helped both clubs. And I think we’re going to see this thing just explode in LA with two teams in Los Angeles. In Orlando’s case, I’m convinced that at the time that we decide that we want to come back into this region, we’ll sit down and have a conversation with the owners there and figure out a way to make that work as we’ve done throughout the expanded rollout of our league.”

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http://www.pennlive.com/cityislanders/index.ssf/2017/01/usl_granted_division_2_status.html

United Soccer League Granted U.S. Soccer Federation Provisional Division 2 Status
 
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http://90soccer.com/ussoccer/united-soccer-league-announces-2017-conference-alignment/

United Soccer League Announces 2017 Conference Alignment

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http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/article125553379.html

Miami FC to stay in NASL – for now

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http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/new_york_cosmos_saved_after_mediacom_ceo_buys_stake

New York Cosmos saved as Mediacom CEO buys stake

Future of NASL champions secured after Rocco Commisso invests.

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http://www.eurosport.com/football/factbox-david-beckham-s-impact-on-major-league-soccer_sto6007975/story.shtml

FACTBOX-David Beckham's impact on Major League Soccer

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http://www.timescolonist.com/major-league-soccer-announces-new-five-year-canadian-broadcast-agreements-1.6839885

Major League Soccer announces new five-year Canadian broadcast agreements

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http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/st-louis-soccer-stadium-funding-bill-is-dead/article_c11e7ffa-7fc6-59bf-aa51-85f63f85bc33.html

St. Louis soccer stadium funding bill is dead
 
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http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/david-beckham-put-mls-on-fast-track-to-respectability-4469001/

David Beckham put MLS on fast track to respectability

Ten years back, David Beckham arrived in America to play in the MLS, a deal that made the former England captain the poster boy for the league.

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http://www.twcnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2017/01/9/charlotte-leaders-negotiating-deal-to-bid-for-major-league-soccer-team-at-memorial-stadium.html

Charlotte Leaders Negotiating Deal to Bid for Major League Soccer Team at Memorial Stadium
 
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http://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/ground-broken-for-soccer-stadium-everything-else-still-tentative/

Ground broken for soccer stadium; everything else still tentative

Ground was ceremonially broken Dec. 12 for a Major League Soccer stadium south of Midway Center. Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber, Minnesota United FC lead owner Bill McGuire, youth soccer players and a team of elected officials and fans took turns wielding shovels in a raised garden bed. About 200 people turned out for the event.

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https://cartt.ca/article/tsn-tva-sports-kick-new-agreements-major-league-soccer

TSN, TVA Sports, kick off new agreements with Major League Soccer

TORONTO and - TSN has inked a new, multi-year media rights extension with Major League Soccer to become Canada’s exclusive English-language broadcaster of MLS.

Beginning with the 2017 season, TSN will air exclusive coverage of every game featuring Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, a slate of Montreal Impact matchups, plus the MLS All-Star Game, MLS Decision Day, the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, and MLS Cup.

MLS on TSN will announce its broadcast schedule for the 2017 season in the coming weeks, and live streaming and on-demand viewing will continue to be available to TSN subscribers through the TSN Go app and on TSN.ca.  TSN has been the official Canadian broadcaster of MLS since 2011.

Quebecor’s TVA Sports signed a five-year agreement as the exclusive French-language broadcaster of the Montreal Impact games.  The deal includes MLS All-Star Game, the playoffs and the MLS Cup final.

The official broadcaster of the Impact since its debut in the MLS in 2012, TVA Sports will also continue to offer a weekly show on the Impact and professional soccer.

Videotron, a founding partner of the Impact and Stade Saputo, has also renewed its partnership until 2021.

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http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/hillsborough-pinellas-not-cooperating-on-rays-future/384877565

Hillsborough, Pinellas not cooperating on Rays' future

Noah Pransky, WTSP 5:21 PM. EST January 10, 2017

Elected leaders in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties vowed to do anything possible to keep the Rays in the region long-term. But 10Investigates has learned there's been zero coordination between the two sides as they each compete to build the Rays a new ballpark, even disagreeing on informal ground rules to prevent a bidding war.

As the Rays stadium saga enters its 10th year, officials in both Hillsborough County and St. Petersburg have been meeting privately with the team to discuss possible stadium locations.

Hillsborough's lead negotiator, commissioner Ken Hagan, told WDAE-AM on Monday he has worked with the team to narrow a list of sites down to "one or two" that would connect Tampa's Channelside, and Ybor neighborhoods.

Hagan, who has repeatedly refused interview requests from 10Investigates, also said the county's bankers in New York have been meeting with the Rays' banking team to discuss stadium financing, possibly a bigger challenge for the region than finding an appropriate site.

But that conflicts with St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman saying he hopes to avoid a competition between Hillsborough and Pinellas.

"When we start getting into detailed conversations about financing," Kriseman said, "what we set ourselves up for is a bidding war, and then the taxpayers are the losers when that happens.”
St. Petersburg has been meeting with the Rays privately as well and seems to hold a distinct advantage over Hillsborough County when it comes to available funding streams for a new stadium, since Hillsborough is already paying for two other stadiums and a convention center.

Kriseman has also been bullish on the possibility of a new stadium next to the existing stadium, so redevelopment at the Tropicana Field site could help fund the project. 

When asked why he hasn't sat down at the table with the Rays and Tampa/Hillsborough officlals, Kriseman said he expected each side to pitch its best site and let the Rays choose their favorite. Kriseman said he hoped both counties would then rally around the chosen site and hope the financing fell into place.

"We’re not getting into a bidding war because that doesn’t do any of us any good," Kriseman said.

St. Pete has even enlisted Dick Vitale in its "Baseball Forever" campaign.

But looking strictly at location, Hillsborough may have an advantage. The possibility of a stadium within walking distance to both Channelside and Ybor City may be difficult for the Rays to pass up. Financing, however, would be a major challenge there.

“For this to work, the team’s going to have to be at the table with at least $200 million, maybe $250 million," Hagan said on WDAE.

He added that the overall cost of a stadium might be in the “550 to 700 million-dollar range," depending on things like whether it would have a retractable roof and an upper deck.

But that leaves a funding gap of at least $300-400 million. Hillsborough County's tourist tax would likely fund only about $75-80 million of construction.

Hagan said in 2010 that he objected to any public funding going toward a new stadium, but has changed his tune in recent years, telling WDAE "there will have to be some public money involved, hopefully primarily tourist tax dollars.”

Hagan suggested tax dollars could contribute toward a project's "infrastructure" and "perhaps mass transit."

The Rays have also not responded to 10Investigates' requests for comment regarding possible funding and preferred locations.

But the team has two more years to explore both sides of the bay. And given the lack of political opportunity for substantial subsidies right now, it appears they may continue to take their time.

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http://gazette.com/division-2-promotion-for-usl-colorado-springs-switchbacks-should-improve-player-caliber/article/1594097

Division 2 promotion for USL, Colorado Springs Switchbacks should improve player caliber

The United Soccer League's recent provisional promotion from Division 3 to D2 by the U.S. Soccer Federation adds more credibility to the growing league and its franchises, including the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

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https://archpaper.com/2017/01/etfe-facade-engineering-miami/

ETFE and facade engineering in Miami

Hard Rock Stadium under construction (courtesy Thornton Tomasetti)
 
Federico Balestrazzi, vice president of Thornton Tomasetti, is a leader of the facade engineering practice for the mid-Atlantic South region of the firm’s operations. He, along with other associates of the engineering firm, will be presenting at the upcoming Facades+ Miami conference.

Thornton Tomasetti’s facade engineering team specializes in the design and construction of complex building enclosures and facades, particularly high-rise curtain wall systems, and provides innovative approaches that are both practical and cost-effective.

Balestrazzi will be presenting insights into recently completed arena and stadium work like the Miami Dolphins stadium renovation that carefully integrates structure with facade engineering. The project team designed a translucent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) shade canopy. Inflated pillows of ETFE cover the canopy, blocking rain and direct sun from the seating bowl while letting light in.

ETFE panels line the inner ring of the new canopy at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The material also surrounds four structural masts, which rise 150 feet above the canopy and 350 feet above the ground to anchor the cables that support the canopy (Wayne Stocks/Thornton Tomasetti)

In a recent blog post about the firm’s research into ETFE, Thornton Tomasetti said, “We believe the high-visibility use of ETFE at the Hard Rock and U.S. Bank stadiums (as well as in other buildings, like ARTIC and The Shed) marks a turning point in its adoption as a viable option for transparent roofs, skylights and building envelopes in the U.S.” The transparent polymer foil is celebrated for its unique properties: It is highly durable, low maintenance, lightweight, and admits the full spectrum of light (including UV, which allows for plant growth).

Right: Revit model of the canopy at Hard Rock Stadium; left: detail of ETFE panels during installation (Thornton Tomasetti).

Balestrazzi said roughly half of the projects he works on are sited locally in the Miami area, and that these projects must respond to environmental conditions unique to the region. “Being in a hurricane region completely changes the game when it comes to wall performance. Dealing with the threat of hurricanes on a yearly basis is a very local phenomenon.”

You can see Balestrazzi’s presentation on facade engineering at the upcoming Facades+ Miami conference, on January 26 and/or take part in a Thornton Tomasetti workshop, “Choosing Between the Titans: Glass vs ETFE.”

Registration is open now. For further details, visit the Facades+ Miami site.

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http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mls_agrees_canadian_tv_deals_with_tsn_and_tva_sports

MLS agrees Canadian TV deals with TSN and TVA Sports

New five-year deals struck amid surging Canadian interest.

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http://www.mykawartha.com/whatson-story/7058263-mls-announces-new-canadian-broadcast-deals/

MLS announces new Canadian broadcast deals

TORONTO — Major League Soccer has extended its TV deal with TSN for five years while striking a new five-year French-language agreement with TVA Sports.

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http://www.pennlive.com/cityislanders/index.ssf/2017/01/usl_conference_alignment.html

USL Announces 2017 Conference Alignment

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http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/34230709/safety-in-mind-ahead-of-international-soccer-game-in-vegas

Safety in mind ahead of international soccer game in Vegas

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -

It looks like Las Vegas has the "beautiful game" in mind lately.

The city recently renewed its push to attract a Major League Soccer franchise. And, coming next month, an international friendly soccer match will take place at Sam Boyd Stadium between national men's teams from Mexico and Iceland.

The Feb. 8 game will mark the first time the venue is hosting an international match since 2013. The match more than three years ago is primarily remembered for the chaos that took place involving fans of rival pro soccer clubs from Mexico - Chivas and Club America.

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http://www.wbtv.com/story/34230409/some-city-council-members-favor-soccer-stadium-at-eastland-mall-over-elizabeth

Some City Council members favor soccer stadium at Eastland Mall over Elizabeth

CHARLOTTE, NC (Steve Harrison and Ely Portillo/The Charlotte Observer) - Some Charlotte City Council members want the city to consider building a soccer stadium for a possible professional team at the former Eastland Mall site, rather than at Memorial Stadium in Elizabeth.

Under a proposal discussed by Mecklenburg County commissioners last week in closed session, the city and county would each spend $50 million toward building a new stadium. The local ownership group of Bruton Smith and his son, Marcus, who are working to land the Major League Soccer team, would also spend $50 million.

To make room for the MLS stadium, Memorial Stadium and the Grady Cole Center would be demolished.

But some on the council want a closer look at Eastland, which the city has been trying to redevelop unsuccessfully for nearly five years. The city bought the 72-acre mall site in 2012 for $13.2 million. It then spent nearly $1 million demolishing the mall.

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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/decade-later-beckham-ready-more-waves-190927455--sow.html

A decade later Beckham ready to make more waves

By Steve Keating

Jan 10, 2017, 2:09 PM

(Reuters) - Ten years ago on Wednesday David Beckham rocked the soccer establishment when he turned his back on Real Madrid, the world's most glamorous soccer club, and signed with Los Angeles Galaxy.

For a decade the tremors of that deal have rumbled through Major League Soccer and Tim Leiweke, the man who orchestrated what is perhaps the most significant signing in sport history, predicts the charismatic former England captain will soon be making shockwaves again -- as an owner.

"David was an impact moment for the league but it wasn't our birth and it didn't save us from death, but ... David allowed us to realize how big we could be," Leiweke, now one of Beckham's partners in trying to bring an MLS team to Miami, told Reuters.

"We went from surviving to conquering and David gave us that reputation, that belief and from that point on there was no question this league was going to succeed.

"But as big an impact as he had 10 years ago I continue to predict he is going to have as big an impact as an owner."

Certainly Beckham's emergence as the potential owner of a Miami-based MLS franchise dogged by setbacks has been muted compared to his rock star arrival in Los Angeles in 2007.

"David Beckham will have a greater impact on soccer in America than any athlete has ever had on a sport globally," Leiweke, the then-president and CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, the Galaxy's corporate parent, said at the time of the signing.

Leiweke, who is equal parts visionary and shrewd salesman, also proved to be a prophet.

The five-year deal to lure Beckham to the United States, one estimated at $250 million and including commercial opportunities and the rights to buy an MLS expansion team at a steep discount, was by most barometers worth every dollar.

By the time he played his final game in a Galaxy jersey in 2012 MLS was no longer regarded as soccer's comfy retirement home and five years on the Beckham affect is still being felt as the league pushes forward with expansion plans.

In Beckham's first season the average attendance at MLS games was 16,770 and last season it jumped to 21,692. This season will feature 22 MLS teams, up from 13 in 2007.

Toronto FC, which debuted in 2007, paid a $10 million expansion fee. The next round of expansion will be a minimum of $150 million per club while Beckham gets his for $25 million.

While the Miami team has no stadium and no name what it does have is the cache behind the Beckham brand that Leiweke believes once operating will make the South Florida club a magnet for some of the soccer's marquee names.

"Is there anyone who is going to be better in the living room than David Beckham recruiting the next David Beckham," asked Leiweke. "To me he can affect the league in a lot of ways and we are now about to see him and the impact on the league he is going to have in a business suit instead of a jersey.

"He can be just as dynamic and just as powerful because for the great players of the world we have the world's greatest recruiter now in David, he's an owner."

"The 10 years have been great but I don't think his work with our league is done by any means or capacity."

While there may never be another signing that will impact a league the way Beckham did Leiweke says there are players out there that can still move the needle globally pointing to names like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Once operational, Leiweke made it clear the Miami franchise will move quickly to put the club on the global soccer map.

"We have arguably one of the best brand ambassadors in the world with David, we are going to aim extremely high," said Leiweke. "We are going to push aggressively.

"As an owner David is going to continue to revolutionize our sport and our league and I think we are only getting started on our potential to where this league is going to go in the next 10 years.

"We aspire not only to be the best club in Major League Soccer we want to be the best club in the Americas and we think Miami has that culture and that tradition that allows us to think that way.

"What I can promise you is Miami is going to create waves."

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http://www.espnfc.com.au/major-league-soccer/story/3036037/mls-reaches-deals-with-tsn-and-tva-for-canadian-television-rights

MLS reaches deals with TSN and TVA for Canadian television rights

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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/david-beckhams-impact-on-american-soccer-endures-a-decade-after-landmark-mls-signing-081645640.html

David Beckham's impact on American soccer endures a decade after landmark MLS signing

Since Beckham’s signing, MLS has grown from 13 teams to 22 for the 2017 season. The Designated Player rule has been expanded and there were no fewer than 50 of them last year. Salaries and TV ratings are up. Regular season attendance has jumped from an average of 15,504 in 2006 to 21,629 in 2016, across far more teams. There are now more than twice the number of stadiums built either specifically for soccer or designed to accommodate it. Toronto FC paid an expansion fee of $10 million; the next round of new teams, when the league grows to 26, and then 28, will pay $150 million and perhaps upwards.

One of those envisioned expansion teams should belong to Beckham. He has been working for about three years to get the right stadium deal done in Miami – lately with the help of Leiweke, who left AEG in 2013 and then turned TFC into an MLS power. Beckham’s signing “clearly made an impact you can’t replicate,” Leiweke says.

“But I think he’s going to have as big an impact as an owner as he did as a player,”Leiweke adds. “We have the world’s best recruiter to bring the greatest players in the world to our league. He’s not done yet. I think the biggest impact of David Beckham is yet to come.”

“Clearly, [signing Beckham] was a seminal moment in the history of our league,” says Garber. “And as such it was a big moment for the history of the sport in our country. Everybody remembers Pele coming into the North American Soccer League and what it did for that league and in many ways David was our Pele.” 

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https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/jan/11/david-beckham-la-galaxy-mls

A decade on, did David Beckham's move to MLS make a difference?

The failures

1) His proposed franchise remains in a state of limbo

It speaks volumes of David Beckham’s MLS franchise that it still does not have a name, despite being announced almost three years ago.

Beckham’s franchise bid was confirmed in February 2014 at a lavish ceremony, but his goal of MLS dominance has been hindered by an inability to secure a stadium in downtown Miami. An issue many sceptics highlighted at the time, there are also concerns about the general viability of a team in Miami. The city housed the Miami Fusion from 1997 until 2001 when financial problems forced the team to fold.

Seemingly undeterred, Beckham has maintained a positive outlook on things with a belief his persistence will produce rewards. Meanwhile, Don Garber – the league’s commissioner – has begun to lose patience, admitting in December that a conclusion was required soon.

“Everybody needs to understand, including David and his partners, that we’ve worked hard, and it’s time for us to reach a conclusion,” Garber told the Miami Herald.

Beckham’s ownership group had acquired land in Overtown, Miami, but bureaucratic delays mean there has been little tangible progress in 2016. Garber did state that he was “more confident than a year ago” about the team’s prospects, but if the franchise fails to materialize it will be a failure for the usually successful Beckham.