Should Beckham move MLS franchise to Las Vegas?

This article below about Beckham and MLS is out of date. 

MLS turned down Las Vegas a few years ago; there's a lot of good reasons why MLS would not want a Las Vegas team now, now that we have 12 much larger markets currently vying for 4 MLS expansion slots. 

More importantly, no one bothered to submit a Las Vegas bid to MLS by the January 31st deadline, so Las Vegas is not even under consideration for MLS expansion, at this time. 

Even more importantly: 

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http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/raiders/2017/01/30/sheldon-adelson-las-vegas-raiders-oakland-stadium-project/97267980/

Sheldon Adelson withdraws from Raiders' Las Vegas project

The Raiders’ primary plan for a new stadium in Las Vegas has apparently come up snake eyes.

Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson has pulled out as an investor from a proposed project tagged at nearly $2 billion, apparently blindsided by the franchise's negotiating tactics.

Adelson, chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., issued a statement Monday saying his family “will no longer be involved in any facet of the stadium discussion.”

.  .  . 

“The Oakland Raiders came before the Las Vegas Stadium Authority last week with a proposed lease agreement that has sent shockwaves through our community,” read his statement. “It was certainly shocking to the Adelson family. We were not only excluded from the proposed agreement; we weren’t even aware of its existence.

“In addition to being discouraged by the surprise submission, I was deeply disappointed for the disregard the Raiders showed our community partners, particularly UNLV, through the proposed agreement.

“It’s clear the Raiders have decided their path for moving to Las Vegas does not include the Adelson family.”


So, Sheldon Adelson is not going to help pay for this Las Vegas NFL stadium, which was part of the plan. IIRC David Beckham was tied to Sheldon Adelson and his casino businesses; David Beckham is not tied to the Oakland Raiders. Even if the stadium eventually gets built and the Raiders move to Las Vegas, there is no evidence that the Raiders want an MLS team to share their NFL stadium in Las Vegas. 

Basically I don't see David Beckham being able to pivot from Miami to Las Vegas, if Miami does not work out. That option seems to be no longer on the table, IMO. And if it eventually does become an option again, it will probably be too late. Time is running out. I suspect that if Beckham gives up on Miami and wants another option, he will be limited to trying to partner with one of the 12 groups currently vying for an MLS spot.

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http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/us-sport/major-league-soccer/david-villa-sent-off-video-technology-new-york-city-mls-a7588261.html

Should Beckham move MLS franchise to Las Vegas?

Given that the MLS is said to be growing impatient with delays, rumours surfaced in December that Beckham may be considering a switch to Las Vegas. But is it a good idea?

by Kristan Heneage

19th February 2017

On February 5, 2014, David Beckham had a big announcement — he was bringing Major League Soccer to Miami.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star had negotiated a clause into his LA Galaxy contract that allowed him to purchase a franchise at any time for a set fee of $25 million, and after retiring in 2013 he decided ownership would be his next step.

Clad in a tailored suit and speaking with a mix of ambition and humility, Beckham said, “We don’t want public funding…we want to create a stadium, we want to create a soccer team — a football club — that is a people’s football club, it’s as simple as that.”

Unfortunately for Beckham three years have passed since that day with little progress to show for it. Given that the league is said to be growing impatient with delays, rumours surfaced in December that he may be considering a switch to Las Vegas. but is it a good idea?

THE PROS

No competition

Should David Beckham’s MLS franchise eventually spawn in Miami, it will be operating within a competitive market for football.

No one argues that Miami’s large Hispanic population makes it a good place for a football team, but the presence of Miami FC — fronted by Alessandro Nesta — means Beckham has already lost out on a number of potential fans.

Perhaps the more galling aspect of this is that Nesta’s team was announced after Miami Beckham United. Furthermore, Miami FC has already completed one season in the rival North American Soccer League and are currently preparing for year two.

If Beckham was to move to Las Vegas he wouldn’t have any notable competition. Their closest rivals, the brilliantly named Las Vegas Mobsters, play in the amateur PDL and at present play in a venue that only holds 1,000 people.

That means he would be the dominant force in the region which will make it easier to cultivate a fan base.

A stadium in downtown Vegas is achievable

One of the major stumbling blocks for Beckham’s franchise has been securing land for a stadium. His ownership group failed on three separate occasions to secure land, and despite finally buying some land in Overtown, Miami, last year they still need an additional three acres.

Compare that with the situation in Las Vegas, where the city’s Mayor, Carolyn Goodman, actually backed a recent proposal from the Oakland Raiders. Interestingly, Beckham took part in the pitch, and discussed the idea of bringing European teams to the city for exhibition games.

However, it’s worth considering his own team for the stadium especially when you consider that its location on the Las Vegas strip will appease league commissioner Don Garber.

Garber has been keen for all new MLS franchises to have downtown stadiums for accessibility reasons, which makes sense. A stadium that is close to the city’s main attractions should make it tempting to Beckham, with public transport routes also advantageous.

It’s a better fit for his needs

Of the many stereotypes about Las Vegas few ring more true than the fact it is filled with money. A rich place full of people looking to spend money that is certainly something Beckham needs right now.

In recent months his stadium efforts have been hampered by what his people describe as a ‘need for further investment’. Realistically, Beckham is being smart and not looking to sink his fortune into a football club.

Regardless, he needs to persuade people to get on board and Las Vegas has a number of potential candidates that could be enticed by the chance to link up with him in the same way LAFC has a number of Californian celebrity backers.

Furthermore, the star power Vegas holds is also beneficial. Celebrities flock to the city year round, and that would help Beckham create the type of glitzy experience that seems synonymous with his name.

Overall, Las Vegas is a better fit for what he needs right now, and if he was to abandon Miami then Vegas has to be his first port of call.

There was a time when David Beckham could do no wrong in MLS. In 2007 he was the league’s marquee name, and catapulted MLS onto a global stage.

However, things have changed. No longer a professional player, there is less of an appeal to his name, and when Garbrer spoke of deadlines approaching in December it was a subtle hint that he would not wait forever.

“There is a deadline on the Miami deal,” he told reporters while refusing to reveal just when that is. “We continue to work with the ownership group because we want a team in Miami. We continue to be very engaged there.”

If Beckham chooses to abandon the idea of Miami it could force the league to question the legitimacy of his plans altogether. MLS has already waited three years for a franchise fronted by Beckham, but it won’t wait forever, even for him.

It confirms his Miami plans as a failure

When David Beckham did make his announcement there were certainly skeptics voicing concerns. Miami was not primed for a team, nor a stadium, but the star power of Beckham helped dull those concerns.

Three years on those same pebbles of doubt now look like roadblocks. Atlanta United will play their MLS opener next month (despite being announced two months after Beckham’s franchise) and so the pressure starts to mount on Beckham again.

Everyone associated with the project has maintained a positive rhetoric in public. “Our partners are 100 percent committed to Miami,” spokesman Tadd Schwartz said in a statement.

“And we will continue working with Commissioner Garber and the league as we finalise the launch of our world-class soccer club. We’re making progress, and we appreciate the strong support of our fans as our launch draws closer.”

A sudden change of direction would confirm the plan was a failure, and Beckham is far from used to that. His time at LA Galaxy began with difficulties, but ultimately saw him ride off into the sunset with two MLS Cups to his name.

The same won’t happen if he abandons his team in Miami, with his pride taking as much of a dent as his reputation.

Vegas remains an untested market

One of the benefits of Miami is the city’s history as a football market. Granted, MLS has had a team based there before (the Miami Fusion, which folded in 2001) but that was a significantly different time for both MLS and football in America.

Tapping into the strong Hispanic market in Miami, there was talk last year that Beckham had headhunted Roberto Carlos to be coach of his team for that very reason. On the field, it would not be difficult to persuade some of South America’s best talent to relocate to Florida in the same way Kaka did with Orlando City.

For that reason, Miami is more of a known quantity. The same cannot be said for Las Vegas. The original iteration of the NASL did have a team there – Las Vegas Quicksilvers – containing by the late Eusebio, but the team folded after just one year of competition.

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http://sport360.com/article/other/us-sports/223506/three-pros-and-cons-of-david-beckhams-option-to-move-his-mls-franchise-from-miami-to-las-vegas/

Should Beckham move MLS franchise to Las Vegas?

Given that the MLS is said to be growing impatient with delays, rumours surfaced in December that Beckham may be considering a switch to Las Vegas. But is it a good idea?

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http://saintpetersblog.com/st-pete-city-council-approves-ordinance-language-schedules-march-2-public-hearing-ahead-al-lang-stadium-referendum/

St. Pete City Council approves ordinance language and schedules March 2 public hearing ahead of Al Lang Stadium referendum

St. Petersburg City Council approved today ordinance language in the first step towards scheduling a May 2 referendum, which would allow residents of St. Petersburg to vote on giving City Council the authority to negotiate a long-term use agreement for Al Lang Stadium.

The use agreement, which can’t exceed 25 years, would allow Al Lang Stadium’s primary purpose to be the home field for a potential Major League Soccer team.

City Council also announced today, that they have set the public hearing date for Thursday, March 2, where St. Petersburg residents and business owners are invited to weigh in on the ordinance before Council votes on scheduling the May 2 special election.

Rowdies owner Bill Edwards will cover the entire cost of the May 2 election.

In a release, the Tampa Bay Rowdies said it appreciates St. Petersburg City Council for scheduling the Public Hearing and allowing the club to continue its aspirations of bringing another major league sports team to the city.

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http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/baybuzz/st-pete-council-moves-rowides-mls-bid-forward/2313531

St. Petersburg City Council moves Rowdies' MLS bid forward

Charlie Frago, Times Staff Writer

Thursday, February 16, 2017 5:37pm

ST. PETERSBURG — The City Council chamber had plenty of soccer aficionados outfitted in green and gold show up Thursday to support the Tampa Bay Rowdies' bid to join Major League Soccer and expand their waterfront home at Al Lang Stadium.

Those fans also had a former mayor (and potential future mayor if he runs in 2017) in attendance. Edwards Group president Rick Baker, representing Rowdies owner Bill Edwards, was there but did not speak in favor of the ordinance.

It would authorize a May 2 referendum that would allow the city to negotiate a long-term lease with the Rowdies contingent upon the team receiving one of a handful of MLS expansion slots from the United States’ premier soccer league.

But Baker did step forward when a proposed tweak to the ballot language raised the issue if whether the city could make a deadline to post a legal notice in the Tampa Bay Times in time for the final March 2 vote.

The Rowdies would pay the $1,000 fee for the legal notice, Baker said. In fact, Edwards has pledged to pay for up to $80 million in stadium improvements and a $150 million MLS franchise fee without asking for any public money.

That stance was applauded by many of fans and other supporters at Thursday's meeting, including the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Partnership and the Downtown Neighborhood Association. They also argued that bringing the MLS to the city would stimulate economic development, attract a diverse population and put the city on the map of hip destinations.

Council members agreed. They advanced the measure to a final vote set for March 2.

There were a few dissenters, however. They said the downtown waterfront was ill prepared for an influx of fans, parking hassles and trash that would be generated by a proposed 18,000-seat stadium.

City Council member Charlie Gerdes successfully altered the ballot language to make clear that soccer wouldn't be the only event held at the historic waterfront stadium. Edwards, a music promoter who also manages the nearby Mahaffey Theater, has said he wants to use the space for concerts, too.

“I just want people to know before they vote, that there’s going to be other types of events,” Gerdes said during a break. City staff contacted the Times to see if there was a way to run the notice (Short answer: yes.)

How many concerts would be needed to make the financing work, asked council member Karl Nurse.

Baker promised to get those details for council members.

City Council chairwoman Darden Rice, an ardent Rowdies fan and season ticket holder, said she understood residents’ instincts to protect the city's downtown waterfront.

But, she said, the city’s founders didn’t envision that space would always remain a green space. After all, she said, they built Al Lang in 1947.

“Someone said this was a generational opportunity,” said Rice, echoing a previous resident. “I agree.”

MLS officials have said they'll select the first two of four expansion teams in the coming months, probably in early summer. More than a dozen cities have submitted applications to the league.

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http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2017/02/16/rowdies-al-lang-referendum-moves-ahead-to-public-hearing-after-passing-first-city-council-vote/2569

Rowdies’ Al Lang Referendum Moves Ahead to Public Hearing After Passing First City Council Vote

February 16, 2017 Jake Nutting Articles, MLS, USL   

by JAKE NUTTING

The ordinance calling for a public referendum to allow the Tampa Bay Rowdies and city of St. Petersburg to negotiate a new 25-year use agreement to manage Al Lang Stadium as part of the team’s bid to win an expansion spot in Major League Soccer took an important step on Thursday.

St. Petersburg’s city council unanimously voted to approve the language for the ordinance, paving the way for a public hearing and possible adoption on March 2. Should the ordinance be approved, a referendum on the new use agreement at Al Lang would be scheduled for May 2.

During the open forum discussion of the meeting, the majority of speakers voiced support for the ordinance moving forward. Those in favor included team supporters, local sponsors of the team, as well as representatives from the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Partnership and the Downtown Neighborhood Association.

Rowdies fan and St. Petersburg resident Mike Pendleton noted how the Rowdies have helped strengthened his family’s roots to the area after arriving over ten years ago.

“Even though we’ve been here for 12 years, I think when we stumbled upon the Rowdies four years ago it has probably one of the biggest things that has made St Petersburg feel like a home for our family,” said Pendleton. “It’s not just going to the games every Saturday in the spring, fall and the summer. It’s also the folks that you meet along the way. There’s a tremendous amount of support for the Rowdies in the community. It’s a special part of the community. My son is coached by a former player. So there’s a lot of reasons why I think the Rowdies mean an awful lot to this community, and the history of the Rowdies means a lot to this community.”

The Rowdies’s proposal also received support from a surprising source. As a founding member of the group Preserve Our Wallets and Waterfront, Hal Freedman played an important role in squashing the Tampa Bay Rays’ plan to construct a new stadium at the Al Lang site nearly a decade ago. Now Freedman is offering his backing of the plan put forth by the Rowdies.

“The Rowdies proposal for an MLS team takes care of almost all of the objections we had to [the Rays’ plan],” said Freedman. “It’s half the size, there’s no taxpayer money involved, it’s the height of the Mahaffey rather than a 325 ft high sail. They pulled it together and I think it just makes a lot of sense for downtown.”

Freedman, however, did note reservations about Al Lang becoming a regular host to concerts after the stadium expansion. Three speakers at Thursday’s meeting came out against the referendum, echoing Freedman’s worry about the noise pollution from concerts but also questioning if the downtown area is capable of handling the amount of people an 18,000-seat Al Lang Stadium would bring.

After listening the concerns, Council member Charlie Gerdes successfully changed the ballot language of the potential referendum to convey to voters that soccer will not be the sole use of the expanded Al Lang.

Former Mayor of St. Petersburg and current President of the Edwards Group Rick Baker informed the city council the team would be open to discussing the issue of limiting the amount of concerts and other events during the negotiations for the new use agreement should the referendum pass. Currently there is no cap on how many concerts Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards can host at Al Lang. Instead, the present lease agreement has a minimum requirement of non-soccer events that he must bring to Al Lang every year.

As far as the logistics of managing 18,000 people flooding in the downtown area, Council member Steve Kornell took issue with the comments from those who believed the city was incapable of handling the foot traffic or parking issues. He touted the city’s staff and its ability pull off events such as the city’s annual Grand Prix event.

A point of contention between some of the speakers in the meeting was whether the team’s stadium proposal fits with what the Downtown Waterfront Master Plan (DWMP) created through years of work proposed for Al Lang. Many said the plan laid out by the Rowdies jibes perfectly with the suggestions made for the Al Lang site in the DWMP, but one resident stated his understanding was that plan never called for a stadium the size of the one the Rowdies hope to have.

The exact wording of the section of the Al Lang section in the DWMP leaves room for interpretation, though it is clear that it calls for redevelopment and for the area to remain a destination for sports.

From the DWMP:

    The Al Lang Stadium block, from 2nd Ave. S to 4th Ave. SE, should also be redeveloped with sports associated program, and ancillary retail and commercial uses. This concept has many site design issues that will require creative solutions to realize the goal of a vibrant, walkable mixed-use area.

While sympathetic to the issue of protecting the city’s waterfront, Council chairwoman Darden Rice expressed a belief that the proposal from the Rowdies to stay within the current footprint of Al Lang and upgrade the stadium honors the sporting legacy of the site.

“The founders of the city never had in mind for the downtown waterfront park system to be nothing but green space and passive parks, said Rice. “That’s why the Al Lang stadium is there, which you all know has served our community for a little over 60 years as a baseball stadium.

“I’m sensitive to the comments that were made earlier about the concern of the number of seats and the number of people that will be brought into the area, but I don’t think it’s that far of a stretch to think that a baseball stadium that was built in 1947 with 7,500 seats would someday in the year 2017 be a more modernized stadium that would seat more people.”

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http://www.cltampa.com/arts-entertainment/sports/article/20852563/rowdies-clear-first-hurdle-in-pursuit-of-al-lang-mls-renovations

Rowdies clear first hurdle in pursuit of Al Lang MLS renovations

Council unanimously passed the first reading of the resolution. But what does that mean?

Colin O'Hara     

Feb 17, 2017 1 PM

The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ initiative to renovate Al Lang Stadium to fit Major League Soccer’s requirements cleared its first speed bump Thursday as St. Petersburg City Council approved the first reading of a ballot question that would be posed to the city's voters on the issue.

The handshakes and smiles began before the meeting even started. Spirits were high and so was support for the referendum, which would allow a special election to be held on May 2 to determine whether or not the city will enter into a 25-year agreement with Bill Edwards, owner of the Rowdies, who has pledged to carry out the upgrade using his own money. Edwards plans on funding renovations that will upgrade the stadium to the required minimum of 18,000 seats, more than doubling its capacity.

Several St. Petersburg organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, local small businesses who gave credit to the Rowdies for increases in profits and residents from downtown urged council to move forward in the referendum process.

“Having an MLS team in St. Petersburg is a perfect match for the changing demographics as well as the growing recognition … as an international destination,” Gina Driscoll, president of the St. Petersburg Downtown Neighborhood Association, said. “We are grateful for the thoughtful planning that everyone put into it … as well as the stadium and franchise fees being self-financed. We need to take advantage of that.”

Several more organizations and about a dozen Tampa Bay Rowdies fans heaped praise on the potential project, including, even, some who had opposed moving the Tampa Bay Rays to the city's downtown waterfront.

“The stadium clears all previous objections to the Rays stadium,” Hal Freedman, founder of St. Pete Preserve Our Wallets and Waterfront—which opposed the waterfront stadium idea, said. “They’ve got their act together.”

The reasons he sees the soccer stadium project differently, he said, are myraid. It does not exceed the height of the Mahaffee theater, and it fits in the current footprint of the stadium.

Though, not all in attendance supported the plans.

Downtown residents such as Gill Gentry raised legitimate concerns regarding excess traffic and the logistics of “masses of people” converging on the stadium site. He added that it's “not feasible” financially to accommodate nearly 20,000 fans on a regular basis. Other residents rallied around concerns of noise pollution, too many other events at the stadium, and concern over whether other types of events would take place at the facility.

Councilman Charlie Gerdes’ sought to allay these concerns by amending the resolution, assuring the stadium’s “primary purpose will not be its sole purpose.”

As for traffic and parking, Councilman Steve Kornell said, the city will be able to handle it just as it does other attractions that have sprung up throughout the city.

“Our downtown didn’t happen by accident … The idea that we’re not going to be able to manage parking or whatever, I just don’t see that. Our staff is very good at what they do,” he said.

Council unanimously passed the resolution, but that was just the first reading.

A second reading of the ordinance will take place on March 2, here council will likely replicate Wednesday’s meeting with a reading, public comment and approval. Once the second approval comes, Edwards will pony up the nearly $250,000 it takes to hold such an election. The election would be held on May 2 and will then determine the fate of Al Lang, which will also determine the fate of the Rowdies’ future in MLS.

No stadium means no MLS, which would crush the dreams of the Bay Area’s most passionate fans.

“I went to my first Rowdies game was when I was nine in 1975,” Rowdies super fan Nancy Bataille, who grew up in Pinellas County. “I decided to move back to St. Pete after I lived in Pasco County for nine years only because the Rowdies moved to St. Petersburg [in 2011].”

Bataille added that she retired from her former job as a veterinary tech to become the club’s retail manager.

Edwards Group president and former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker was pleased with the meeting’s successes.

“I’m very happy. We got a lot of support from the community. I think there’s an enthusiasm building out in the city for the Rowdies. It’s a good time to be in St. Pete,” Baker said.

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http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/02/17/tampa-bay-rowdies-take-step-forward-proposed-mls-stadium-plan

Tampa Bay Rowdies take step forward in proposed MLS stadium plan

February 17, 20171:30PM EST

Sam Stejskal

The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ plan to upgrade Al Lang Stadium in the hopes of landing an MLS expansion team took a step forward on Thursday, when the St. Petersburg City Council approved ordinance language for the project.

Approving the ordinance language is the first step in a process that, if successful, would lead to a May 2 referendum that would allow St. Petersburg residents to vote on giving City Council the authority to negotiate a long-term use agreement for Al Lang Stadium.

According to a press release issued by the Rowdies on Thursday, the use agreement would not be able to exceed 25 years and would allow Al Lang Stadium’s primary purpose to be as the home field for a potential MLS team.

In addition to approving the ordinance language, the St. Petersburg City Council also announced on Thursday that they have set a public hearing for Thursday, March 2 to discuss the ordinance before the Council votes on scheduling the May 2 special election. Rowdies owner Bill Edwards would cover the entire cost of the May 2 election if the Council votes to hold it.

The proposed upgrades would cost up to $80 million and would increase capacity of Al Lang Stadium from approximately 7,500 to 18,000. The full cost of the renovations would be financed entirely by Edwards and the upgrades would only happen if Tampa Bay is awarded an MLS expansion team.

The Rowdies, who are moving from NASL to USL this year, submitted their expansion application to MLS on Jan. 30. The club is one of 12 groups in 12 different cities that submitted a bid. The league will announce two new expansion clubs in 2017, with those teams set to begin MLS play by 2020. Two more teams will be added at a later date, taking the league to 28 total clubs.

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http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/article132822539.html

MLS team hiring a Chief Tattoo Officer

David Beckham, on the site of a 2012 H&M commercial shoot, would surely be intrigued by the Philadelphia Union’s hiring of a tattoo artist.

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http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/02/16/extratime-radio-star-power-dp-signings-and-david-beckhams-mls-legacy

ExtraTime Radio: Star power, DP signings and David Beckham's MLS legacy

LISTEN: What's David Beckham's MLS legacy? Outside of much-needed awareness, it might just be the rule that was initially named after the world superstar. Once the Beckham Rule, now just part of the everyday MLS landscape, Designated Players have changed the league since Beckham signed for LA in 2007. The guys take a close look at MLS star power with none other than the GM who helped sign Beckham at the Galaxy, Alexi Lalas.

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http://www.thedrive.com/news/7694/audi-scores-naming-rights-for-d-c-uniteds-new-soccer-stadium

Audi Scores Naming Rights for D.C. United's New Soccer Stadium

We've been told there are a lot of Americans who really like soccer. Apparently some of them work at Audi.

AAudi shoots, Audi scores. Audi has acquired the naming rights for Major Leage Soccer team D.C. United's new stadium in Washington, D.C., the company announced in a press release Wednesday. 

Audi Field, as the new stadium will be called, will open in 2018 in the southwestern D.C. neighborhood of Buzzard Point. The 20,000-seat facility is also intended to be used for concerts and other events that require, well, seating for 20,000 people.

And it may have paid plenty for it. A source told Bloomberg that the decade-plus contract for the new field is one of the three priciest naming-rights deals in MLS, ranking in line with the $6.6 million a year Banc of California pays for the right to keep its moniker on the LA Galaxy's stadium.

The carmaker has had a long history of supporting the sport the rest of the world irritatingly calls "football." Audi has been the official automotive sponsor of America's Major League Soccer since 2015; it also also sponsored Munich-area professional German soccer team FC Bayern München since 2002.

D.C. United is one of the 10 charter teams in MLS, dating back to 1996. It's the second-most successful franchise in the series, with four overall championships. (The only team with more? The LA Galaxy.)

Audi, along with several other U.S. branches of the Volkswagen Group, is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, roughly 25 miles from RFK Stadium, the home D.C. United currently shares with the Washington Nationals major league baseball franchise.

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http://www.theindychannel.com/news/photos-mls-stadiums-across-united-states

PHOTOS: MLS stadiums across United States

Some MLS stadiums are multi-purpose. The teams share them with other sports, like Gillette Stadium or Yankee Stadium. But a few teams have their own stadiums. Check out photos of the MLS-only stadiums.

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http://www.rslsoapbox.com/2017/2/16/14314712/mls-explained-targeted-allocation-money

MLS Explained: Targeted Allocation Money

The bitcoin of U.S. Soccer, allocation money, is full of complicated rules. Targeted allocation money, even more so.

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http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2017/02/16/fc-cincinnati-no-point-responding-stadium-rumors-speculation/97892584/

FC Cincinnati: No point in responding to stadium rumors, speculation

Plenty of people are talking about Futbol Club Cincinnati's future stadium prospects, but you won't find the club itself joining in the discourse.

Why? At present, there's nothing to talk about, FC Cincinnati President and General Manager Jeff Berding told The Enquirer Monday....

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https://www.luxurydaily.com/audi-to-be-title-sponsor-of-washingtons-state-of-the-art-stadium/

Audi to be title sponsor of Washington’s state-of-the-art stadium

German automaker Audi is extending its Major League Soccer sponsorship to include both a top-winning team and stadium in Washington.

Audi will be the sponsor of the new D.C. United stadium, a state-of-the-art field scheduled to open next year. As the home of Washington’s MLS team D.C. United, Audi will also sponsor the soccer club to strengthen its supportive relationship.

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http://www.carscoops.com/2017/02/audi-earns-naming-rights-to-dc-uniteds.html

Audi Earns Naming Rights To DC United's New State-Of-The-Art Stadium

Audi announced that starting with the 2018 season, DC United's brand new soccer stadium will be called 'Audi Field'.

The new stadium, home to one of the most decorated soccer franchises in the US, will host a variety of sporting, music and cultural events along the newly developed DC southwest waterfront.

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https://www.soccernation.com/will-the-nasl-come-to-san-diego/

Will the NASL come to San Diego?

There is no guarantee that San Diego will get a Major League Soccer franchise. It is looking mighty likely of late, but the fate of the city’s expansion aspirations is far from sealed.

Even if MLS Commissioner Don Garber and his staff were to select San Diego as one of the league’s expansion locations by the end of this year, top flight soccer would still be a significant length of time away from kicking off in America’s Finest City. A prospective MLS team would not take to the pitch in San Diego until the year 2020 at the earliest.

As the sporting community of San Diego anxiously awaits the potential arrival of MLS, the perennial dark horse that is the North American Soccer League has been sparking an intriguing flame.

Thought to be dead in the water just a few months ago, the NASL is still alive and kicking as the league enters its seventh calendar year of competitive operations.

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https://news.azpm.org/p/news-articles/2017/2/16/106371-desert-diamond-cup-brings-major-league-soccer-to-tucson/

Desert Diamond Cup Brings Major League Soccer to Tucson

Three games will be played each Saturday for two weeks at Kino Sports Complex's North Field.

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http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/02/16/mls-expansion-san-diego-chargers-sdsu-aztecs-nfl

MLS expansion city profile: San Diego

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http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/16/dc-united-receive-zoning-approval-to-build-stadium/

D.C. United receive zoning approval to build stadium

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http://bowdoinorient.com/article/11828

MLS expansion may spell death for promotion/relegation dreams

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http://www.newstalk.com/kevin-kilbane-football-fashion-evolution

Kevin Kilbane: White boots and sleeve tattoos... football's evolving trends

Off The Ball's Kevin Kilbane reminisces about changing styles among players

Recently I heard the news that Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union are planning on hiring their own tattoo artist....

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http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/02/16/dc-united-announce-stadium-groundbreaking-ceremony-february-27

DC United announce stadium groundbreaking ceremony on February 27

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http://tucson.com/sports/local/mls-teams-get-down-to-the-work-in-first-weekend/article_aa199978-7f87-5d05-b58e-4ec4a86e4efa.html

MLS teams get down to the work in first weekend of Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson

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http://saintpetersblog.com/rowdies-compete-mls-teams-suncoast-invitational/

Rowdies compete against MLS teams in Suncoast Invitational

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http://www.postandcourier.com/sports/battery-opens-carolina-challenge-cup-against-mls-champion-seattle-sounders/article_33d3f046-f246-11e6-af40-eb878d9cd362.html

Battery opens Carolina Challenge Cup against MLS champion Seattle Sounders

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http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-soccer-20170218-story.html

Rise of MLS-affiliated 'lower league' is a win-win for players, teams

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http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3064075/new-york-city-star-david-villa-sees-red-in-first-instance-of-var-support

NYCFC's David Villa sees red for slap on A.J. DeLaGarza after VAR used

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http://www.beinsports.com/th-en/major-league-soccer/news/david-villa-sent-off-after-video-replay-5/458775

David Villa sent off after video replay

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http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2017/02/19/32839412/watch-david-villa-sent-off-after-referee-uses-video-replay

WATCH: David Villa sent off after referee uses video replay

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http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/us-sport/major-league-soccer/david-villa-sent-off-video-technology-new-york-city-mls-a7588261.html

New York City striker David Villa sent off after referee uses video technology

Villa dismissed in first instance of a referee making use of the VAR system for a red-card decision

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http://www.rslsoapbox.com/2017/2/19/14331556/beckham-rule-designated-player

MLS History: The Beckham Rule and the rise of the designated player

Without David Beckham and the rise of the designated player, MLS would have a markedly different future.

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https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/02/where-the-majority-of-mls-players-are-coming-from.html

Where do the Majority of MLS Players Come From? The Atlantic Ocean.

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http://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/football/david-villa-slapped-a-player-and-video-replay-made-sure-he-got-red-carded/news-story/e9a60f45e9e343c8e45de222b7759e48

David Villa slapped a player and video replay made sure he got red carded

NO one can escape the watchful eye of video replay, not even reigning Major League Soccer MVP and former Barcelona star David Villa.

Villa, of New York City FC, was ejected from a preseason match vs. the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night after video replay showed him giving defender A.J. DeLeGarza a slap to the face.

The replay shows that the slap itself wasn’t very violent, but the hand-to-face contact is clearly a red card nonetheless. The first official initially gave Villa a yellow card, but after the video review he issued the red card.

With that, the Spanish striker joined the ranks of other players who have been penalised during the MLS preseason, thanks to video replay trials.

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http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/growth-development/sd-fd-soccer-details-20170219-story.html

SoccerCity details coming Monday

Details will be released Monday   on SoccerCity,  the $1 billion-plus, soccer-based redevelopment proposal for Qualcomm Stadium property in Mission Valley.

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http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/sports/MLS-OwnershipStadium-Group-Reveals-More-Details-414213553.html

MLS Stadium Group Reveals More MV Redevelopment Details

New look at proposed River Park made public

The group vying to bring Major League Soccer to San Diego in a new, privately-financed stadium in Mission Valley said it was going to reveal more details of its plan in due time and they are making good on that.

On Sunday the group led by FS Investors founder Mike Stone and former Qualcomm Executive Steve Altman released an artist’s rendering of what they think the proposed 55-acre River Park would look like.

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http://fox5sandiego.com/2017/02/19/investors-to-unveil-renderings-of-major-league-soccer-stadium-plan/

Investors to unveil renderings of Major League Soccer stadium plan

SAN DIEGO - A group of investors who applied for a Major League Soccer franchise and released a concept plan for the Qualcomm Stadium property will unveil a detailed site plan Monday.

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http://flbusinessdaily.com/stories/511081670-it-s-almost-time-for-tampa-to-get-rowdy

It's almost time for Tampa to get Rowdy

Soccer lovers can now get their game faces on for the upcoming season, as single-game tickets for the Tampa Bay Rowdies went on sale recently. The Rowdies open their season against Orlando City B on March 25.

Rowdies Chairman and CEO Bill Edwards said Tampa's squad is the best he's seen.

“We’ve recently focused on our push to join Major League Soccer, but it’s time to shift gears and prepare for the upcoming 2017 United Soccer League season,” Edwards said. “Unlike previous seasons, this year you will see a great variety of opponents come to Al Lang Stadium, with 15 teams in the Eastern Conference alone. It’s important that you’re in the stands to show them why Al Lang Stadium is our house.”

Of Tampa's home game schedule, 14 are being played on Saturday nights. Tickets, which range in price from $23.50 to $80, are available by calling the front office at (727) 222-2000.

"With Major League Soccer watching us, it’s time to show them how great Tampa Bay’s appetite for soccer is," Edwards said. "Let’s fill Al Lang Stadium and together bring a MLS team to Tampa Bay. Bring your family, your friends and even your coworkers.”

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http://www.phillysoccerpage.net/2017/02/18/preseason-match-report-tampa-bay-rowdies-0-1-philadelphia-union/

Preseason match report: Tampa Bay Rowdies 0-1 Philadelphia Union

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http://saintpetersblog.com/rowdies-fall-1-0-unions-late-goal-exhibition-opener/

Rowdies fall 1-0 on Union’s late goal in exhibition opener

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http://m.startribune.com/mls-commissioner-don-garber-not-concerned-when-loons-stadium-opens/413904773/

MLS Commissioner Don Garber not concerned when Loons' stadium opens

In the end, the way Don Garber tells it, time is meaningless.

At least when it comes to Minnesota United FC’s new stadium possibly opening in 2019 instead of 2018.

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http://journalofcommerce.com/Home/News/2017/2/Winnipegs-Leaf-conservatory-to-have-unusual-roof-1021862W/

Winnipeg’s Leaf conservatory to have unusual roof

by Mary Baxter Feb 16, 2017

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.

Winnipeg’s Leaf conservatory to have unusual roof

"It would be cost prohibitive if we did it conventionally; we would have a much, much smaller facility, no question," says Gerald Dieleman, project director for Assiniboine Park Conservancy.

The conservancy, a non-profit organization, operates the 400 acres of park next to the city's southwest neighbourhoods.

The $75-million Diversity Gardens project, $61 million of which will be used to build the Leaf conservatory and landscaping, is the final phase of a larger $200 million park revitalization that launched in 2009.

The first phases updated the destination's duck pond and restaurant and revamped its zoo.

Doug Corbett, the conservancy's executive architect, says the idea to use ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer) as the structure's main cover arose out of concerns that a conventional approach would create structural shading because of the large beams and structure needed to support a glass roof.

Trees and plants are going to grow crooked and not get the really full sunlight as if they were outside," he explains.

The project's climate engineer, Stuttgart, Germany-based Transsolar, suggested using ETFE, a clear membrane material like polyethylene, Corbett says.

To date, ETFE has been used primarily in sports stadiums, says Corbett, referring to its use as cladding for the Beijing National Aquatics Centre during the 2008 Summer Olympics.

"It looks kind of like a down jacket that's quilted," he says, noting air is applied in three layers with air between "so it creates 'pillows.' These pillows are what actually give it strength to not sag."

The design team developed a lightweight cable net truss structure to support the ETFE, similar to a tent structure. Along with Transsolar, the design team members are as follows: KPMB, Toronto; Architecture A-49 and landscape architects HTFC Planning & Design, both of Winnipeg; and engineering firms Integral Group Inc., Calgary, SMS Engineering Ltd., Winnipeg and Blackwell Engineering, Toronto.

A steel-framed cylindrical "tent pole" which the team calls a diagrid supports the truss structure. Guy wires similar to tent poles along the perimeter will hold the roof to the ground.

"It's quite big," says Corbett. The diagrid will hold components such as two elevator shafts and double stairwells. The mechanical system is on the diagrid's roof.

Biomes containing a large tropical plant garden as well as smaller Mediterranean gardens, display and butterfly gardens will occupy the 30,000-square-foot structure. The biomes are greenhouse spaces physically divided by transparent ETFE and glass to facilitate different climate zones.

The goal, Corbett says, is to create a higher level of sustainability. To this end, the project's designers are eliminating as much of the mechanical and ventilation systems as possible, "appreciating that these are botanical gardens so you're really not trying to make it 22 C year-round all the time inside them."

The facility's transparency will allow the sun to help heat its interior but there are backups.

"We're going to have some normal perimeter radiation with a boiler system that makes heat," he says. "We're just trying to make sure that it doesn't get too cold that the plants will start to die. It's going to be a fairly passive mechanical system."

With plenty of parkland as a resource, the conservancy will develop a geothermal field to use as an energy source for the boilers.

A waterfall in the interior as well as misting jets inside the biomes will create clouds to control the indoor climates.

The other portion of the facility is a more conventionally built and mechanically serviced "box" building to house a restaurant, banquet facilities, multipurpose and classroom spaces and administration offices.

Exterior gardens created along different themes — an arboretum, traditional formal plantings and an indigenous peoples' garden — will bank the Leaf conservatory. The internal and external plantings together make up the Diversity Gardens.

The use of ETFE for roofing is a first in the prairie province and may be a first in Canada at this scale.

"I think there are ETFE elements at B.C. Place Stadium (in Vancouver) and in Mosaic Stadium in Saskatchewan," Dieleman says.

Public conservatory colleagues elsewhere in North America are watching closely, he says.

Obtaining LEED Gold is a goal, says Corbett, but there's a challenge to qualifying for the sustainable practice certification: the building's unique biomes don't fit into the criteria used for assessment.

"We are going to work with the CaGBC (Canada Green Building Council)," to establish an approach to its evaluation, he says.

Dieleman says the goal is to begin construction in the spring of this year with the aim to open the facility in late fall 2019.

Timing is tricky. The plants must be introduced during summer. A delay of three months in building the roof would end up pushing the project back a year. Conservancy staff is now awaiting the outcome of provincial and federal government funding applications for the project.

In the meantime, they are ensuring the project is shovel-ready.

Dieleman describes the building as a significant design project because unlike a building constructed in a densely packed urban centre, all of its sides have to be carefully considered to fit in with the park experience.

"You can view this building from all sides," he explains. "There's no back door, if you will. It's a real interesting way of approaching design in a park."

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http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/thursdays-daily-deal-round-up-fivb-nets-senoh-deal

Thursday’s Daily Deal Round-Up: FIVB nets Senoh deal

More industry news in brief.

Soccer: Second-tier Italian soccer club AC Pisa have agreed a major sponsorship deal with Toscana Aeroporti. The regional airport operator's logo will appear on the front of the Serie B strugglers' matchday shirts.

Also in soccer: United Soccer League (USL) team Colorado Springs Switchbacks have sold the naming rights to their home stadium to Weidner Apartment Homes. The 5,000-seater venue will be known as Weidner Field when it hosts the Switchbacks' first home game of the new USL season - the league's first as US soccer's second tier - when OKC Energy FC visit on 1st April.

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http://southbmore.com/2017/02/16/south-baltimore-business-roundup-125/

South Baltimore Business Roundup

The Washington Post is reporting that a “strong” bid for a United Soccer League (USL) franchise has been submitted by a group of Baltimore investors that have not yet been identified. From the article:

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http://www.forbes.com/sites/samanthasharf/2017/02/10/full-list-americas-fastest-growing-cities-2017/#75db848e6007

Full List: America's Fastest-Growing Cities 2017

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2017/02/16/after-long-wait-d-c-united-gets-final-go-ahead-to-build-new-stadium/?utm_term=.4bb001919748

After long wait, D.C. United gets final go-ahead to build new stadium

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http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/758595?referrer_id=2909153

St Petersburg City Council Approves Ordinance Language and Schedules March 2 Public Hearing Ahead of Al Lang Stadium Referendum

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (February 16, 2017) – St. Petersburg City Council approved today ordinance language in the first step towards scheduling a May 2 referendum, which would allow residents of St. Petersburg to vote on giving City Council the authority to negotiate a long-term use agreement for Al Lang Stadium.

The use agreement, which can’t exceed 25 years, would allow Al Lang Stadium’s primary purpose to be the home field for a potential Major League Soccer team.

City Council also announced today, that they have set the public hearing date for Thursday, March 2, where St. Petersburg residents and business owners are invited to weigh in on the ordinance before Council votes on scheduling the May 2 special election.

Rowdies owner Bill Edwards will cover the entire cost of the May 2 election.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies appreciate St. Petersburg City Council for scheduling the Public Hearing and allowing the club to continue its aspirations of bringing another major league sports team to the city.

About #MLS2StPete

The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced their #MLS2StPete campaign in December 2016, only to be named as one of the 12 candidates in the running for an MLS franchise less than two weeks later. The campaign also includes a privately funded renovation and expansion plan to Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg. For more information, visit MLS2StPete.com.

The best way to show that Tampa Bay is ready for a Major League Soccer franchise is to secure 2017 season tickets. For information on how to become a 2017 Season Ticket Member, call (727)222-2000 or click here.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2017/02/17/d-c-uniteds-13-year-stadium-timeline-by-the-headline/?postshare=6261487342152955&tid=ss_fb&utm_term=.7c80b4eda795

D.C. United’s 13-year stadium timeline, by the headline

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/as-rfk-stadium-loses-its-final-tenant-lets-remember-the-richness-it-housed/2017/02/17/3403d5fe-f53e-11e6-8d72-263470bf0401_story.html?utm_term=.62774a4dbc3d

As RFK Stadium loses its final tenant, let’s remember the richness it housed

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2017/02/17/d-c-united-owner-says-new-stadium-deal-could-pay-roster-dividends-this-summer/?utm_term=.f485f04b2d29

D.C. United owner says new stadium deal could pay roster dividends this summer

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https://www.facebook.com/TampaBayRowdies/videos/10155788864168835/?pnref=story

Tampa Bay Rowdies

on Saturday ·

HIGHLIGHTS: The Rowdies opened up their participation in the Suncoast Invitational with 1-0 loss to Philadelphia Union. Both teams created chances, but the Union came out on top thanks to a 73rd minute goal by Derrick Jones.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SuGyDlYkn4&feature=em-lss

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Philadelphia Union- February 18, 2017 - ROWDIES SUNCOAST INVITATIONAL

Streamed live on Feb 18, 2017

ROWDIES SUNCOAST INVITATIONAL - Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Philadelphia Union

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg

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https://www.facebook.com/mutinyluv/posts/10154199478250811?pnref=story

Amanda Milligan

February 17 at 11:09pm ·

Seriously, public transport will be the demise of this area... it's the pits! Buses are great, drivers are great, but routes are bad and there just isn't enough!

It may be a problem for Real Life Problem Solvers Scorpion

TAMPA — Sabrena Lloyd could drive to her barista job at Tampa International Airport in 25 minutes. But she can’t afford a car, so instead the 42-year-old leaves her two-bedroom apartment north of Fletcher Avenue and catches one bus, then another, then a third, looping miles out of her way. When everything goes perfectly, Lloyd spends five hours a day, six days a week, getting to and from work.

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http://www.tampabay.com/projects/2017/data/public-transportation-worst/

Tampa Bay has one of the worst public transit systems in America. Here’s why.

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http://theeaglesbeak.com/2017/02/21/rhinos-stay-strong-even-after-fading-from-mls-view/

Rhinos Stay Strong Even After Fading From MLS View

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https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/20/sports/soccer/mike-piazza-italy-reggiana-owner.html?_r=1

Mike Piazza Learns How to Be an Owner. Of a Soccer Team. In Italy.

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http://www.socceramerica.com/article/72367/usl-john-harkes-is-fired-as-fc-cincinnati-coach.html?edition=16847

USL: John Harkes is fired as FC Cincinnati coach

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http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/02/20/san-diego-mls-expansion-bid-group-reveal-full-plans-new-stadium-site

San Diego MLS expansion bid group reveal full plans for new stadium site

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http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article133904574.html

County commissioners: Bring MLS soccer to Wake

RALEIGH

County leaders want to formally invite Major League Soccer to Wake.

The owner of North Carolina FC, formerly known as the Carolina RailHawks, announced late last year his goal of bringing an MLS team to the Triangle. It’ll be tough, since a stadium could cost up to $150 million and owner Steve Malik is competing with groups from 11 other U.S. cities that also want to launch an MLS franchise.

With that in mind, the Wake County Board of Commissioners on Monday said they plan to write a public letter showing support for Malik’s idea.

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http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/sports/WATCH-Former-Charger-Throws-Support-to-MLS-Proposal-414291913.html

WATCH: Former Charger Throws Support to MLS Proposal

Luis Castillo is on board with the idea of building a new soccer stadium in Mission Valley

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http://www.10news.com/news/group-heading-major-league-soccer-bid-to-unveil-plans-for-qualcomm-stadium-land-in-mission-valley

Group heading Major League Soccer bid unveils plans for Qualcomm Stadium land in Mission Valley

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http://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2017/02/20/32884662/a-summer-move-to-the-mls-ex-man-utd-hitman-chicharito-still

A summer move to MLS? Ex-Man Utd hitman Chicharito still a star at the highest level

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http://www.hudsonriverblue.com/2017/2/20/14664904/david-villa-red-card-var-nycfc-sent-off-robot-apocalypse-mls

Bow Down to Our Video Replay Overlords, for the Robots’ Enslavement of Mankind Has Already Begun

David Villa was the first victim of VAR. Before you know it, we’ll all be vivisected and converted into plasma fuel for impossible doomsday machines.

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http://www.nnbw.com/news/2017-united-soccer-league-season-marks-inaugural-campaign-for-reno-1868-fc/

2017 United Soccer League season marks inaugural campaign for Reno 1868 FC,

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http://www.phillysoccerpage.net/2017/02/20/stock-risingfalling-union-1-0-rowdies/comment-page-1/

Stock rising/falling: Union 1-0 Rowdies

Posted by Jim O'Leary on February 20, 2017 at 9:45 am

With many players carrying over from their NASL team, it’s likely the Tampa Bay Rowdies are going to be a force to be reckoned with in USL, but the gap between levels of the North American soccer pyramid was still very obvious as the Union always looked like they were going to win their first match of the 2017 Rowdies Suncoast Invitational.

Granted, the 1-0 scoreline isn’t quite as definitive as one would like, but it was clear that Jim Curtin picked his lineup with a focus on getting a real look at certain players rather than pushing hard for a win — which is what preseason is for, finding out who is ready for first team minutes and who might need to spend some time with Bethlehem Steel before being seriously considered.

So who impressed, and who needs to keep working? Obviously, we can’t know what Jim Curtin is thinking, but there certainly were a few players who increased their value with this game, while a few others still have work left to do.

#MLS2StPete

The announcers should have consulted a pronunciation guide, and the stadium looked like, felt like, and is a converted baseball stadium. But as cheesy as the constant reminders of the Rowdies’ MLS intentions were, they honestly convinced me that it was an expansion bid worth taking very seriously. On top of that, Ralph’s Mob could probably teach some MLS supporters groups a thing or two, considering how vocal their support was at a preseason game for their recently-moved-to-USL team.

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http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/022017aaa.html

Ray Reid Makes Another Gift Toward Soccer Stadium

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http://www.espnfc.us/major-league-soccer/story/3065348/san-diego-group-unveils-full-redevelopment-plans-for-new-stadium-site

San Diego investors group unveils complete plan for new stadium site

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http://fox5sandiego.com/2017/02/20/group-pushing-for-pro-soccer-team-unveils-mission-valley-site-plan/

Group pushing for pro-soccer team unveils Mission Valley site plan

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http://www.coinflipsoccer.com/2017/02/what-next-for-beckham-fc.html

What Next for 'Beckham FC'

Since December of 2013 when Don Garber announced that a new 'Miami FC' would have principle ownership in David Beckham the fans of other teams have watched on helplessly as their MLS dreams lie in wait on the franchise. It has been more than 3 years since an official statement about ownership groups and plans to bring the league back to Miami, and little to no progress has been made. A real stadium plan has really yet to be set forth while other teams in the Miami metro market struggle to find stable ground themselves. So what is the next step for the league and Beckham to make before preparing the next set of MLS bids. Miami has to be confirmed in or out before the league prepares to move forward.

More of recent with teams beginning to either franchise, or re-franchise, to the Las Vegas area has brought up the idea of moving the Beckham bid West. However, Miami was announced with a western counterpart, LAFC. So the ideas of establishing a new soccer market, though already beyond doubt, seems to make less sense in the notion of disproportioning the league. In addition, the fact exists that there currently is no market for MLS to build off of in the Las Vegas area, with regard to the 5th division Las Vegas Mobsters team. An average recorded attendance of 375 does not exactly scream Major League franchise, including the fact that 2 of the last 4 entering MLS teams were extended market ventures by lower divisional teams.

The league seems to be moving away from the notion of establishing an entire new club, with Beckham FC being a clear example of why. No stadium, no fans, no attendance records, no sales. That is not the model I could see anyone truly investing in. One of the reasons bids were raised to $250 million was to deter small venture owners from financially destroying their clubs and metro soccer itself. But Beckham's foothold lasts, because his bid was only $25 million per his first MLS contract. And to be fair to him, this would not be the first failed Miami venture, or the second, with notion to the attempts made by FC Barcelona in 2009 and the original MLS franchise Miami Fusion. The market itself is just not independently established yet, give the North American Soccer League's Miami time to expand or decline to show the worth of the Miami market first and move from there. Currently Miami FC draws an average home crowd of about 5,200 in a stadium with seating for 20,000 so the math is there to be done on the viability of the Miami market.

So beyond Miami, beyond Vegas, and beyond Western expansion; what is to be done about this bid. Biased and factual opinion would be to extend the bid to another strong Florida market for several reasons. Not only has the rivalry factor increased viewership and attendance, but an established team can take this so much further and be able to create their club culture in a new eye. The Tampa Bay Rowdies seem the most fit to take this bid, or to work with Beckham and the league to work out the bid. Tampa has fans, a stadium, a stadium plan, and the solid financial backing to create not only a proper Florida, but an East coast market team.