(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tbnweekly.com/largo_leader/city-commissioners-leery-about-idea-of-mls-training-in-largo/article_6dc487b0-1735-11e8-a360-93dbd6347afc.html
City commissioners leery about idea of MLS training in Largo
LARGO – Some city leaders threw up their equivalent of a yellow card Feb. 20 after listening to a report on the possibility of Largo joining three other Pinellas County cities in hosting Major League Soccer training.
Several city commissioners expressed concerns about displacing youth athletes for several months and spending as much as $200,000 for field upgrades, but the potential of boosting the city’s economy and reputation was enough for them to want more information from the Tourist Development Council, which is pitching the idea in an effort to turn the area into pro soccer’s equivalent of baseball’s spring training.
“I think it could be a long-term investment opportunity in notoriety for the city, but it’s certainly going to have a short-term – and I don’t know how long a term effect – on our ability to program and provide services to our residents,” said Recreation, Parks and Arts Director Joan Byrne during a City Commission meeting at City Hall.
Weighing the pros, cons
Clearwater, Oldsmar and St. Petersburg currently host MLS teams for training, so city staff reached out to parks and recreation directors about the requirements and pros and cons.
After reading the report, several commissioners said it was hard to find the upside.
Teams would need to use two of the city’s three fields for about three to four weeks in late January or February, and no one else could use the fields during that time.
Also, the fields must be of a professional quality. The report said Clearwater, which hosts DC United and the Philadelphia Union, spent $150,000 in field prep and Oldsmar, which hosts the New York Red Bulls, spent $200,000. In addition, the fields would need to be “rested,” which means no one can use them from November through when the teams play.
When they do start playing, the public would not be allowed to observe practice sessions. The teams, however, provide a youth or coaches clinic and a meet-and-greet for the youth teams.
Also, the players require full-service hotel accommodations, but there are no hotels in Largo that fit their needs.
“In reading this, I’m trying to find a positive and I have yet to find one,” Commissioner Donna Holck said. “If they’re not going to be utilizing our hotels and we can’t, as a public, go watch them play and it’s going to take away from our youth that are very active in soccer, I don’t see a positive in this at all.”
(Follow link for full article.)
http://robbreport.com/shelter/spaces/miamis-new-mls-team-adds-fuel-to-an-already-hot-luxury-real-estate-market-2779432/
Miami’s New MLS Team Adds Fuel to an Already Hot Luxury Real Estate Market
The soccer franchise, led by David Beckham, offers another selling point for the evolving city.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://therealdeal.com/miami/2018/02/21/avra-jain-turns-to-overtown-for-next-restoration-project/
Avra Jain turns to Overtown for next restoration project
Developer aims to rehab five rental buildings using CRA funds
Meanwhile, some massive projects are planned for Overtown. David Beckham is launching a 25,000-seat, $200 million MLS Stadium to be built on a nine-acre development site between Northwest Sixth and Eighth streets, north of the Miami River. The mixed-use Miami Worldcenter is also under development, and is among the Miami sites pitched to Amazon for its second headquarters.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/p/david-beckham-inches-closer-to-owning-mls-club/vp-BBJqGZQ
David Beckham inches closer to Owning MLS Club
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics-extra/2018/02/21/px-santa-berding-has-bag-full-goodies-west-end-shouldnt-turn-down-fc-cincy-stadium-mls-expansion/360175002/
PX: Santa Berding has a bag full of goodies. West End shouldn't turn down FC Cincy stadium
West End residents have mostly raised quality-of-life questions about the idea of a pro soccer palace coming to their backyard....
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.mystatesman.com/sports/soccer/mckalla-place-the-good-bad-and-ugly-for-possible-mls-stadium-site/0CNAWFzLEM9bRvNtfPJJlK/
McKalla Place: The good, bad and ugly for possible MLS stadium site
When ranking the physical treasures of Austin, McKalla Place won’t land in anybody’s top 10. Or top 50.
Nonetheless, the 24-acre, city-owned property in North Austin is part of a shrinking group of properties that have been offered to Precourt Sports Ventures, owners of Columbus Crew SC, as potential sites for a 20,000-seat stadium. PSV officials have said the MLS franchise now dwelling in Ohio could relocate to Austin if a suitable stadium plan takes root.
Right now 10414 McKalla Lane isn’t pretty. The tract’s desolate and bleak, surrounded by warehouses and industrial parkways. And it comes with a long and sordid history of what city staff called “significant environmental issues.”
The city purchased the property in 1995 from Reichhold Chemicals for the bargain-basement price of $1.4 million. Chemical companies have been located there since 1957, and archived American-Statesman stories reveal a history of explosions, unstable ground and chemical dumps into the soil, which was still giving off foul odors as recently as 2004.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/1988-us-soccer-plans-promotion-relegation-system-mls
1988: When U.S. Soccer made plans for a ‘new and revolutionary’ promotion/relegation system
As some still pine for an open system, U.S. Soccer - and one Sunil Gulati - actually planned for it three decades ago. Then, MLS came along.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/feb/21/columbus-crew-move-austin-texas-mls
The Crew want to move to Austin – but does Austin want the Crew?
The MLS franchise is planning to leave Columbus and move 1,200 miles to the south. But not everyone in their proposed home would welcome them
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-plymouth-argyle-striker-spend-1242055
Former Plymouth Argyle striker to spend a year playing football in the MLS
Popular Plymouth-borm striker joins Colorado Rapids in a year-long loan deal
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/orlando-city-amazon-alexa-updates-fans
Orlando City roll out Amazon Alexa updates for fans
MLS side tap into Amazon’s intelligent personal assistant to provide daily news flashes.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.polygon.com/2018/2/21/17033702/fifa-18-mls-esports-emls-cup-tournament
How MLS is using FIFA 18 esports to reach the next generation of soccer fans
The eMLS Cup is just the beginning
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/3390645/mls-homegrown-minutes-go-up-but-chances-for-young-us-talent-limited
MLS homegrown minutes go up but chances for young U.S. talent limited
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/21/mls-esports-leagues-first-tournament-streams-on-twitch-this-apr/
MLS eSports league's first tournament streams on Twitch this April
The eMLS' first competition will be at PAX East.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/21/major-league-soccer-announces-details-first-emls-cup-tournament
Major League Soccer announces details for first eMLS Cup tournament
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/the-depressing-history-of-mls-versus-liga-mx-in-concacaf-champions-league/
The depressing history of MLS versus Liga MX in CONCACAF Champions League
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2018/02/21/major-league-soccer-announces-tournament-details-emls-cup-pax-east-april-5-8
Major League Soccer announces tournament details for eMLS Cup at PAX East, April 5-8
(Follow link for full article.)
https://ussoccerplayers.com/2018/02/toronto-focuses-on-the-champions-league-and-mls.html
Toronto focuses on the Champions League and MLS
(Follow link for full article.)
http://worldsoccertalk.com/2018/02/21/espn-plus-niche-audiences-help-increase-mls-exposure/
ESPN Plus’ niche audiences could help increase MLS exposure
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/101659044/Anthony-Hudsons-MLS-debut-sees-loss-in-record-low-temperature-of-16
Anthony Hudson's MLS debut sees loss in record low temperature of -16
(Follow link for full article.)
http://denver.cbslocal.com/video/category/spoken-word-kcnctv/3814261-colorado-rapids-game-could-be-coldest-ever-for-mls/
Colorado Rapids Game Could Be Coldest Ever For MLS
Tuesday night's Colorado Rapids game could be the coldest match ever played between two Major League Soccer teams.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/sport-business-deals-industry-digest-february-21-fa-sports-direct-nike
Rolling sports business news wrap: Every deal, every day
All the sports business deals as they happen throughout the day.
Soccer: Discount sports retail outlet Sports Direct came close to a major-tie-up with English soccer's Football Association (FA) but concerns from a number of stakeholders ultimately saw the deal collapse, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
The UK newspaper states that the FA were looking for a replacement for current team sponsor Vauxhall ahead of this summer's World Cup and were struggling to find a new backer.
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley's company were in lengthy talks to step in but the deal fell through for a number of reasons, including the concerns of England kit supplier Nike about Sports Direct dictating pricing policy. The FA was also thought to prefer a blue-chip company and a less controversial figure than Ashley as a partner.
Innovation of the day
Tech-savvy fans of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Orlando City will now be able to use Amazon Alexa as a new way of keeping up to date with their team.
A new partnership with the club allow fans to receive flash briefings about the latest Orlando City news in the form of soundbites from Alexa.
Once the Alexa app is downloaded and the settings have been appropriately personalised, fans will be able to prompt their enabled device for an update by asking, “Alexa, what’s in the news?” It will then respond with updates about player signings, results, upcoming matches and other daily happenings.
Check out the video below, it's pretty cool...
(Follow link for full article.)
https://ussoccerplayers.com/2018/02/the-concacaf-champions-league-deserves-attention-mls-liga-mx.html
The CONCACAF Champions League deserves our attention
(Follow link for full article.)
http://cogconnected.com/2018/02/bend-it-like-fifa-major-league-soccer-announces-details-for-emls/
Bend It Like FIFA: Major League Soccer Announces Details for eMLS Cup
America’s #1 Soccer League Lays out the Structure of Their Upcoming FIFA 18 Tournament
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
MLS Expansion Plans Are Not Going All That Well
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sportstalkflorida.com/soccer/mls/mls-expansion-plans-not-going-well/
MLS Expansion Plans Are Not Going All That Well
About a year ago, Major League Soccer decided to expand and look for four cities that had owners and public money that wanted an MLS team. Paperwork was submitted from investors in Charlotte, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, Nashville, Phoenix, Raleigh, Sacramento, St. Louis, St. Petersburg, San Antonio, and San Diego. But most of the proposals turned out to be worthless. St. Louis voters turned down a chance to put up public money for a soccer stadium. St. Petersburg, Florida voters said yes to a proposal to renovate Al Lang Stadium through a lease deal as long as the owner of the proposed MLS expansion team paid for the revamping of the facility. The Major League Soccer expansion committee was not interested in St. Petersburg. Eventually the committee whittled down the list to four cities, Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville and Sacramento. In December the league said yes to Nashville after the city came up with the money that pleased the MLS owners. In October, 2017. Nashville Mayor Megan Barry proposed throwing a quarter of a billion dollars into a project that would include a 27,500-seat stadium for a Major League Soccer expansion team. In November, the Nashville city council said Mayor Barry’s plan made sense to them and approved the proposal. All of a sudden Nashville had the best proposal for a soccer stadium and leaped to the top of the MLS’s expansion list.
While the league is trying to figure out expansion, there is a problem in Columbus. Columbus Crew owner Anthony Precourt who is threatening to move his team from Columbus to Austin, Texas. Precourt has been talking to Austin officials for a number of months but has run into a roadblock. Austin has delayed a decision on building a soccer venue until May 15. Perhaps the appetite for soccer isn’t as large as the MLS thinks.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/02/20/west-end-residents-unleash-concerns-over-potential.html
West End residents unleash concerns over potential FC Cincinnati stadium
West End residents aired out their concerns and opposition, many of them loudly, about an FC Cincinnati stadium in their neighborhood during an often-raucous West End Community Council meeting on Tuesday night.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.independentmail.com/story/sports/2018/02/20/greenville-fc-announces-2018-schedule-inaugural-soccer-season-npsl/351142002/
Greenville FC announces 2018 schedule for inaugural soccer season
Greenville FC has taken another big step to its inaugural season, releasing its schedule for 2018.
The season begins May 4 on the road against Georgia Revolution FC, while the first home game, played at Furman University's Eugene Stone Stadium, is set for May 12 at 7 p.m. against Inter Nashville FC.
Overall, the schedule features eight home matches.
Greenville, a member of the National Premier Soccer League, is the only NPSL team in South Carolina.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7yxe17/hunter_gorskie_a_renaissance_man/
Hunter Gorskie: A Renaissance Man (rowdiessoccer.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/888843
Hunter Gorskie: A Renaissance Man
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (February 20, 2018) — One day in the summer of 2016, Tampa Bay Rowdies center back Hunter Gorskie found himself in the lobby of a modeling agency in New York City.
Gorskie, then playing for Miedź Legnica in Poland, was on a short summer vacation in his hometown and wanted to meet his older brother Jason Gorskie for brunch. Jason had recently ended a professional soccer career of his own and was beginning to make his way into a new career path in the modeling and fashion industry.
When Hunter arrived at the agency, Jason brought his director out for an introduction in the lobby and the director pitched a new idea. What if the two brothers, with little to no modeling experience between them, did a photoshoot together?
The idea was kind of laughed off and the Gorskie brothers went to brunch as planned. But while they were eating, Jason’s phone rang. The director on the other end asked if they would return to the agency after their meal and do a test shoot together that he could shop around to some potential clients.
Hunter Gorskie isn’t afraid of the unknown, so the brothers went back to the studio and did a photoshoot together not really expecting anything to come of it.
https://www.sportstalkflorida.com/soccer/mls/mls-expansion-plans-not-going-well/
MLS Expansion Plans Are Not Going All That Well
About a year ago, Major League Soccer decided to expand and look for four cities that had owners and public money that wanted an MLS team. Paperwork was submitted from investors in Charlotte, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, Nashville, Phoenix, Raleigh, Sacramento, St. Louis, St. Petersburg, San Antonio, and San Diego. But most of the proposals turned out to be worthless. St. Louis voters turned down a chance to put up public money for a soccer stadium. St. Petersburg, Florida voters said yes to a proposal to renovate Al Lang Stadium through a lease deal as long as the owner of the proposed MLS expansion team paid for the revamping of the facility. The Major League Soccer expansion committee was not interested in St. Petersburg. Eventually the committee whittled down the list to four cities, Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville and Sacramento. In December the league said yes to Nashville after the city came up with the money that pleased the MLS owners. In October, 2017. Nashville Mayor Megan Barry proposed throwing a quarter of a billion dollars into a project that would include a 27,500-seat stadium for a Major League Soccer expansion team. In November, the Nashville city council said Mayor Barry’s plan made sense to them and approved the proposal. All of a sudden Nashville had the best proposal for a soccer stadium and leaped to the top of the MLS’s expansion list.
While the league is trying to figure out expansion, there is a problem in Columbus. Columbus Crew owner Anthony Precourt who is threatening to move his team from Columbus to Austin, Texas. Precourt has been talking to Austin officials for a number of months but has run into a roadblock. Austin has delayed a decision on building a soccer venue until May 15. Perhaps the appetite for soccer isn’t as large as the MLS thinks.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/02/20/west-end-residents-unleash-concerns-over-potential.html
West End residents unleash concerns over potential FC Cincinnati stadium
West End residents aired out their concerns and opposition, many of them loudly, about an FC Cincinnati stadium in their neighborhood during an often-raucous West End Community Council meeting on Tuesday night.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.independentmail.com/story/sports/2018/02/20/greenville-fc-announces-2018-schedule-inaugural-soccer-season-npsl/351142002/
Greenville FC announces 2018 schedule for inaugural soccer season
Greenville FC has taken another big step to its inaugural season, releasing its schedule for 2018.
The season begins May 4 on the road against Georgia Revolution FC, while the first home game, played at Furman University's Eugene Stone Stadium, is set for May 12 at 7 p.m. against Inter Nashville FC.
Overall, the schedule features eight home matches.
Greenville, a member of the National Premier Soccer League, is the only NPSL team in South Carolina.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7yxe17/hunter_gorskie_a_renaissance_man/
Hunter Gorskie: A Renaissance Man (rowdiessoccer.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/888843
Hunter Gorskie: A Renaissance Man
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (February 20, 2018) — One day in the summer of 2016, Tampa Bay Rowdies center back Hunter Gorskie found himself in the lobby of a modeling agency in New York City.
Gorskie, then playing for Miedź Legnica in Poland, was on a short summer vacation in his hometown and wanted to meet his older brother Jason Gorskie for brunch. Jason had recently ended a professional soccer career of his own and was beginning to make his way into a new career path in the modeling and fashion industry.
When Hunter arrived at the agency, Jason brought his director out for an introduction in the lobby and the director pitched a new idea. What if the two brothers, with little to no modeling experience between them, did a photoshoot together?
The idea was kind of laughed off and the Gorskie brothers went to brunch as planned. But while they were eating, Jason’s phone rang. The director on the other end asked if they would return to the agency after their meal and do a test shoot together that he could shop around to some potential clients.
Hunter Gorskie isn’t afraid of the unknown, so the brothers went back to the studio and did a photoshoot together not really expecting anything to come of it.
Rowdies Highlights vs Montreal Impact - Feb 17, 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=490onpJfpEU
Rowdies Highlights vs Montreal Impact - Feb 17, 2018
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on Feb 17, 2018
Highlights of Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Montreal Impact in the Rowdies Suncoast Invitational, including Jochen Graf's first goal as a member of the Rowdies.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMRdol12KMI
2018 Rowdies Suncoast Invitational - Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Montreal Impact
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Streamed live on Feb 17, 2018
Rowdies Suncoast Invitational 2018
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Montreal Impact
Feb 17, 2018
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7ysiyw/cole_i_should_have_come_to_the_united_states/
Cole: I should have come to the United States instead of Liverpool (goal.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/cole-i-should-have-come-to-the-united-states-instead-of/1vuhkiolfitih1p1t0i854avrh
Cole: I should have come to the United States instead of Liverpool
The midfielder has been pleased with his time with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and says he should have gone across the pond after leaving Chelsea
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/joe-cole-i-should-ve-snubbed-liverpool-for-united-states-move-4220720
Joe Cole: I should've snubbed Liverpool for United States move
Joe Cole has revealed he regrets joining Liverpool from Chelsea in 2010.
The former England international signed with Chelsea from West Ham United in 2003 and went on to win three Premier League titles during his seven seasons at Stamford Bridge.
After signing with Liverpool, Cole's career fell off dramatically. He made just 26 Premier League appearances for the Reds in 18 months. He then spent time at Lille, West Ham, Aston Villa and Coventry before arriving at Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2016.
And Cole has stated his regret at not moving to the States when he left Chelsea.
"I'm still loving playing and it's a great lifestyle out there," Cole told Chelsea's website.
"It was a really good decision and I wish I'd gone when I left Chelsea.
"Once I'd done my knee I couldn't really keep myself fit for any length of time, apart from when I played in France for a season, and with hindsight I should have done it then."
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/888429?referrer_id=2333971
11 Preseason Things – New Cycle Begins
Battery’s victory brings spotlight; Ever ready for San Antonio
6. RIGHT ACTION: The Tampa Bay Rowdies ended up on the short end of a 2-1 defeat to the Montreal Impact on Saturday night at the Suncoast Invitational at Al Lang Stadium, but as in their prior outing against FC Cincinnati, there was a lot to like from the team’s display, particularly a rollicking second half that saw the hosts put their MLS opponents on their heels regularly. For around a 20-minute spell, Tampa Bay created plenty of chances, highlighted by a Junior Flemmings finish that was cleared off the line and a penalty kick by Georgi Hristov that was saved by Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush. The pressure eventually paid off with 15 minutes to go, as Jochen Graf notched his first goal for the club, at which point it looked possible the hosts would go on to earn victory, only for the Impact to quickly take advantage of a defensive lapse to allow Nacho Piatti an opportunity he took well for the winner. As it stands, though, there have been far more positives for the Rowdies than negatives, results notwithstanding.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.dkpittsburghsports.com/2018/02/19/fun-staff-free-time-bradenton/
Fun with the staff: ‘Free time’ in Bradenton
BRADENTON, Fla. — One question gets asked all the time about covering the Pirates in Florida: “What do you do with your free time at spring training?” It gets asked by friends, it gets asked by readers and it gets asked by anyone who finds out your reason for visiting the ‘Sunshine State.’
Although I’d love to, Lance Lysowski and I don’t use our free time to golf. That’s probably the most popular assumption. We also don’t use it to fish off of one of the beautiful piers we drive by on the way to Pirate City or LECOM Park. In our ‘free time,’ we’re more likely to be found working … or eating.
There’s just not as much time as someone would assume when covering the earliest parts of the baseball season. While it’s true that the portion of the day we spend with the Pirates ends shortly after noon, that’s really when our days are just getting started. From there it’s generally lunch, work, dinner, work, sleep, repeat.
In a rare case, such as Saturday night in my situation, you’re able to experience a little bit extra for a couple of hours. Things have to align perfectly, and they did for me as I was able to take advantage of a shorter day and get my work done in time to see my soccer team, the Philadelphia Union, and college friend Ray Gaddis take on D.C. United at Al Lang Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/888133?referrer_id=2349190
Rowdies Battle, But Fall to Montreal
Piatti scores winner for Impact after Graf brought Tampa Bay level
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/2018/2/17/17024508/impact-wins-again
Impact Wins Again!
Tampa Bay Rowdies 1-2 Montreal Impact
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/18/dc-united-beat-philadelphia-union-2018-preseason-o/
DC United beat Philadelphia Union in 2018 preseason opener
Luciano Acosta’s late goal lifted DC United over Philadelphia Union, 2-1, in the two teams’ opening match of the 2018 Rowdies Suncoast Invitational.
Cory Burke tied the game for Philadelphia in the 88th minute, but Acosta turned around and nailed the deciding goal one minute later.
Darren Mattocks scored the match’s first goal in the 14th minute for United, assisted by Zoltán Stieber.
The match was played at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida. The United Soccer League club Tampa Bay Rowdies are hosting the preseason tournament, and New York City FC and Montreal Impact are also in Florida for the tournament.
Six new signings played in United’s starting 11 against Philadelphia: Mattocks, Yamil Asad, Frédéric Brillant, Oniel Fisher, Júnior Moreno and Ulises Segura.
United will play one more match in the invitational, Wednesday against Jacksonville Armada FC of the North American Soccer League.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7ysjk0/back_in_time_vancouver_whitecaps_and_the_days_of/
Back In Time: Vancouver Whitecaps and the days of Las Vegas Quicksilvers (aftn.ca)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://aftn.ca/back-in-time-vancouver-whitecaps-and-the-days-of-las-vegas-quicksilvers/
Back In Time: Vancouver Whitecaps and the days of Las Vegas Quicksilvers
The 1970’s was a strange decade. The fashion, the fads, and what was with all that brown and orange wallpaper? Then in football you had the North American Soccer League.
There were a lot of weird and wonderful things that went on with the old NASL but 1977 certainly stands out as a particularly bizarre year. It was a year where new markets were tried, and spectacularly failed, seemingly serving as major steer clear lesson for the decades that followed.
Last week, with a Vancouver Whitecaps team set to take to the pitch at Aloha Stadium for the first time in 41 years, we brought you the story of Team Hawaii and the days when the ‘Caps headed to the island to play a league match in 1977. And we’ve got to say, we were delighted to see that the article proved incredibly popular!
So with the ‘Caps set to take on new USL side Las Vegas Lights tonight in a preseason friendly, we just had to take a look at the last time a Whitecaps team played in Sin City as well, as we journey back to the days of the Las Vegas Quicksilvers, when the ‘Caps headed to Vegas to play a league match.
That year? You guessed it. 1977.
I love my football history and the NASL has always fascinated me. Even when I was a kid over in Scotland, I was collecting football programmes (programs to the rest of you reading this!) from visiting NASL teams touring the four corners of the United Kingdom on pre and post season friendlies. And I still have them.
Such exotic names to a kid growing up used to a bunch of Uniteds, Citys, and their ilk. No Aztecs, Earthquakes, or Rowdies for us. The 1977 NASL season saw a couple of names disappear as the teams folded (Boston Minutemen and Philadelphia Atoms) and two others change their names (Hartford Bicentennials became the Connecticut Bicentennials and New York Cosmos dropped their city name to become just the Cosmos).
Three other teams relocated altogether, throwing up three new names for fans. The Miami Toros moved to Fort Lauderdale and became the well known Strikers, and as we talked about last week, the Thunder left San Antonio to become the horribly named Team Hawaii.
Finally, and talking of horrible team names, San Diego Jaws left the sandy beaches behind for the desert sand and became Las Vegas Quicksilvers.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/city-beat/article200762894.html
How much would an MLS snub damage Sacramento Republic FC fan interest?
The temperature was plummeting into the 40s on Thursday night as Republic FC took the pitch at Papa Murphy’s Park. Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC were in town for a meaningless preseason friendly with Sacramento. The star attraction of the night – men’s national team star and Sounders forward Clint Dempsey – was sitting on the sidelines in street clothes.
Yet a crowd of around 6,000 fans turned out – an attendance figure that would thrill most other teams in the second division USL. Fans mingled around the concourse sipping craft beer and the Tower Bridge Battalion supporters club cheered from the stands, singing “Republic till I die.”
As Sacramento’s prolonged campaign to join Major League Soccer drags on, will this level of loyalty continue?
(Follow link for full article.)
https://sports.yahoo.com/bayern-arjen-robben-won-t-134539585.html
Bayern’s Arjen Robben won’t rule out future in MLS
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/twitter-amazon-youtube-verizon-nfl-streaming-rights
Report: Twitter, Amazon, YouTube and Verizon in contention for NFL streaming rights
Four technology companies bidding for Thursday Night Football slot.
In January, YouTube agreed a deal with Los Angeles Football Club, a Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise due to begin competing in the 2018 season, for exclusive Los Angeles-area broadcast rights.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sports360az.com/2018/02/zhang-gives-big-boost-rising-fc-pursuit-mls/
Alex Zheng:Difference Maker for Rising FC
The trajectory of Phoenix Rising FC towards being granted a Major League Soccer club went into a different direction last week when the franchise announced a significant piece to their already stable ownership structure. Before I get into why the addition of Alex Zheng as Director of the Rising FC governing board is so important for fans of the team, let’s back up.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://theknow.denverpost.com/2018/02/19/coldest-mls-match-colorado/176935/
Colorado Rapids could play the coldest match ever between MLS teams, giving Commerce City a potential second game for the record books
The CONCACAF Champions League game could break record for low temperature kickoff
(Follow link for full article.)
https://worldsoccertalk.com/2018/02/14/carlos-cordeiros-tenure-will-judged-handles-soccer-united-marketing-sum/
Carlos Cordeiro’s tenure will be judged by how he handles Soccer United Marketing (SUM)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cnet.com/news/espn-plus-to-stream-mls-live-soccer-matches/
ESPN Plus to stream MLS Live soccer matches
In an exclusive deal, the upcoming $5 per month sports subscription service will carry major league American kicks
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/14/kick-mls-fantasy-back-lagerway-linked-usmnt-soccergrams
Kick Off: MLS Fantasy is back! | Lagerway linked to USMNT | #SoccerGrams
(Follow link for full article.)
https://ussoccerplayers.com/2018/02/mls-club-partnerships-history-dallas-bayern-munich.html
MLS club partnerships have an interesting history
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Feb 14, 2018) US Soccer Players - MLS clubs partnering with famous European outfits is not a new phenomenon. Attempts to link up with the established elite in Europe has long been part of the chase to advance the MLS version of the game. Before MLS was a decade old, it wasn't unusual to see announcements that teams were linking up with European counterparts to exchange of business and soccer ideas.
These “partnerships”, (the scare quotes are necessary) rarely delivered much. Most came and went without any real reports of their impact on the MLS club. They slipped out of the spotlight almost as soon as the participating clubs issued the obligatory quote-laden press releases. The European club would play up the opportunities to get some of its younger players experience, while the MLS side would express excitement over the chance to learn from the world-class technical staff of the European club. Rinse-and-repeat.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.ktsa.com/mayor-not-giving-mls/
San Antonio’s mayor not giving up on MLS
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/14/fc-cincinnati-stadium-whos-who-west-end-debate/333315002/
FC Cincinnati stadium: Who's who in West End debate
The drama over the attempt to bring a Major League Soccer stadium to the West End has a lengthy cast of characters that includes some of the most powerful people in Cincinnati and others who have crusaded for decades as advocates for the black community. ...
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.prosoccerusa.com/fc-dallas/fc-bayern-and-fc-dallas-announce-landmark-player-development-partnership/
FC Bayern and FC Dallas announce landmark player development partnership
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/charleston-battery-hosts-major-league-soccer-teams-at-the-carolina-challenge-cup/Content?oid=15513960
Charleston Battery hosts Major League Soccer teams at the Carolina Challenge Cup
(Follow link for full article.)
http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/14/zlatan-ibrahimovic-already-house-hunting-ahead-expected-manchester-united-exit-7313518/
Zlatan Ibrahimovic already house hunting ahead of expected Manchester United exit
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is looking for a new house in Los Angeles as he prepares to leave the club, reports claim.
The 36-year-old is has been heavily linked with a transfer to Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy when his one-year contract at Old Trafford expires in the summer.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots/the_blitz/2018/02/five_next_boston_sports_droughts_to_end
Five next Boston sports droughts to end
2. New England Revolution to win the MLS Cup
Major League Soccer has only been around since 1996, but the Revolution were in on the ground floor. And, for a while, the franchise owned by the Krafts seemed perhaps destined for the same type of success that it shared Gillette Stadium with. However, the Revolution could not quite get over the hump. They made it to the MLS Cup final in 2002, then three consecutive seasons from 2005-2007. The Revolution made another run at it in 2014 only to fall short to the Los Angeles Galaxy. Since then, the Revolution have yet to approach that same level.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.mystatesman.com/sports/soccer/mls-austin-soccer-tabled-thursday-council-meeting/iNKM5Hlv2pQnKT63Q1LljP/
MLS to Austin: Soccer to be tabled at Thursday’s council meeting
Soccer will not be part of the conversation when the Austin City Council meets Thursday.
Item 19, which involves discussion and possible action on Major League Soccer stadium sites, remains on the agenda but will be postponed, according to the mayor’s office.
The city staff has withdrawn the soccer agenda item, and Mayor Steve Adler will announce that at the beginning of the meeting, said Jason Stanford, Adler’s communications director. “No chance of it coming up for discussion that we can see,” Stanford said.
Precourt Sports Ventures, owners of Columbus Crew SC, is not ready to have that discussion since it has yet to identify stadium site preferences to the city after its scuttled pursuit of Butler Shores Metropolitan Park.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/espn-strikes-deal-mls-exclusive-streaming-rights/
ESPN+ Strikes a Deal with MLS For Exclusive Streaming Rights
(Follow link for full article.)
http://triblive.com/business/headlines/13303841-74/a-tv-station-just-made-a-first-of-its-kind-sports-streaming-deal
A TV station just made a first-of-its-kind sports streaming deal
LOS ANGELES — A television station in Salt Lake City has struck a first-of-its-kind deal: It is going to livestream a professional sports team's games without also carrying them over the air.
KSL, an NBC affiliate, is charging into the digital future by securing the local rights to livestream the games of Major League Soccer franchise Real Salt Lake to viewers in the Salt Lake City area. The deal announced Tuesday is the first such agreement between a U.S. local TV station and a pro sports team.
The agreement reflects how viewers - who have increasingly made a habit of watching shows and live sporting events on their digital devices - are changing the way broadcasters are looking at their business. And it could pave the way for other local broadcasters to strike similar deals.
Real Salt Lake already has an over-the-air TV outlet: Its games are shown on Sinclair Broadcasting's KYMU. But KSL - owned by Bonneville International Corp., which itself is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - pursued the streaming rights separately as it looks for local content to reach audiences who have migrated to digital devices.
Another MLS team, the Los Angeles Football Club, has an exclusive deal with a streaming service, bypassing local TV completely. The team sold the rights for 18 games to Alphabet Inc.'s YouTubeTV, which will make them available to subscribers of the over-the-top streaming service in Southern California for an additional fee.
On a national basis, Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN is launching a subscription streaming service, offering live events not shown on its cable channels. It's a way to reach - and get revenue from - people who don't want to pay for cable or satellite TV.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/3383397/zlatan-ibrahimovic-eyeing-homes-in-los-angeles-amid-galaxy-links-sources
Zlatan Ibrahimovic eyeing homes in Los Angeles amid Galaxy link - sources
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/14/stejskal-tam-closing-mls-liga-mx-gap-will-it-show-ccl
Stejskal: TAM closing the MLS-Liga MX gap, but will it show in CCL?
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/espn-plus-mls-streaming-package
ESPN Plus picks up MLS streaming package
New OTT service to show US soccer league fixtures.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://theprovince.com/sports/soccer/mls/vancouver-whitecaps/mls-live-to-close-up-shop-as-u-s-streaming-rights-land-with-espn-so-what-about-canada
MLS Live to close up shop as U.S. streaming rights land with ESPN. So what about Canada?
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/city-beat/article200400399.html
A whale on the way? Republic FC in talks with ‘several’ potential billionaire investors
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/02/15/sacramento-republic-fc-gaining-ground-mls-expansion-race/343723002/
Is Sacramento Republic FC gaining ground on FC Cincinnati in MLS expansion race?
The appearance locally of Major League Soccer's expansion race is that it's been a one-horse competition with Futbol Club Cincinnati leading, but that's far from the case....
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/15/stejskal-despite-ending-holdout-lee-nguyen-still-wants-out-new-england
Stejskal: Despite ending holdout, Lee Nguyen still wants out of New England
The impasse between Lee Nguyen and the New England Revolution remains on.
Nguyen ended his training camp holdout last week, but sources have told MLSsoccer.com that the veteran attacker still wants to be traded by New England.
As first reported by MLSsoccer.com on Jan. 11, Nguyen asked the Revs for a trade shortly after the end of the 2017 season, then re-iterated his request after Brad Friedel was hired as head coach in November. Friedel told MLSsoccer.com at the MLS Combine on Jan. 17 that the club would not trade Nguyen, who is under contract through 2018 with two club option years in 2019 and 2020. The 31-year-old did not report for the start of New England’s preseason training camp on Jan. 23, holding out for over two weeks before re-joining the Revs last Friday.
Despite his desire to be traded, the sources said New England are still not entertaining offers for Nguyen. Paul Tenorio reported on Feb. 1 that Chicago and Montreal were interested in the attacker.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.kcra.com/article/talks-between-sacramento-republic-fc-potential-mls-investors-get-very-serious/18205440
Talks between Sacramento Republic FC, potential MLS investors get ‘very serious’
Team hopes to become next expansion team to join Major League Soccer
(Follow link for full article.)
https://mlsmultiplex.com/2018/02/16/ranking-the-top-10-stadiums-in-major-league-soccer/
Ranking the top 10 stadiums in Major League Soccer
Heading into the 2018 MLS Season, we rank the top 10 stadiums in Major League Soccer. The league has assembled an impressive collection.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/mls-parity-compared-using-gini-coefficient/
A look at MLS parity compared to other leagues using the Gini coefficient
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2018/02/16/more-riding-on-spurs-ownership-than-san-antonios.html
More riding on Spurs ownership than San Antonio's NBA future
The city's pursuit of Major League Soccer is also at stake.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Michael-Essien-set-to-join-MLS-side-D-C-United-626886
Michael Essien set to join MLS side D.C United
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/2018/02/16/detroit-major-league-soccer-expansion-2020/345569002/
MLS expansion: League's radio silence bad sign for Detroit's 2020 bid
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2018/02/16/charlotte-independence-sale-completed.html
It's official: Charlotte Independence have a new owner
Former Nucor CEO Dan DiMicco this week completed his purchase of controlling interest in the Charlotte Independence.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://flixed.io/soccers-shifting-sands-streaming-services/
Soccer’s Shifting Sands of Streaming Services
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.startribune.com/mls-teams-have-better-shot-in-champions-league-soccer-tourney/474353673/
MLS teams have better shot in Champions League soccer tourney
Five MLS teams, including champion Toronto, are in the field.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.trifectanetworksports.com/new-england-revolution-looking-emls-representative/
New England Revolution Looking For eMLS Representative
on February 16, 2018
The New England Revolution are on the lookout for the best EA Sports FIFA gamer in the City of Boston. The team is looking for an gamer to represent the club at the official eMLS Cup competition.
Major League Soccer and EA SPORTS debuted a new competitive gaming league for EA SPORTS FIFA 18. A total of 19 MLS clubs will recruit and sign representatives to participate in the inaugural eMLS Cup,
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/3386250/arjen-robbens-bayern-munich-considering-mls-china-or-qatar-move
Arjen Robben's Bayern Munich considering MLS, China or Qatar move
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/021718_mls-preseason/friedel-revs-search-1st-preseason-win-against-san-antonio/
Friedel, Revs search for 1st preseason win against San Antonio
U.S. soccer hero takes on challenge of struggling Revs side
(Follow link for full article.)
https://nesn.com/2018/02/bayern-munichs-arjen-robben-considers-mls-transfer-heres-potential-timetable/
Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben Considers MLS Transfer; Here’s Potential Timetable
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.jacksonville.com/sports/20180216/armada-opens-store-releases-2018-schedule-amid-league-transition
Armada opens store, releases 2018 schedule amid league transition
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7xz5ps/rowdies_flemmings_hitting_the_ground_hard/
Rowdies, Flemmings Hitting the Ground Hard (uslsoccer.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/887664?referrer_id=2333971
Rowdies, Flemmings Hitting the Ground Hard
Tampa Bay set for test from Impact at Suncoast Invitational on Saturday
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2018/02/16/as-kriseman-looks-to-redevelop-the-trop-site-rays.html
As Kriseman looks to redevelop the Trop site, Rays remind city they retain some property rights
In a letter this week, the team clarified that last week's announcement means they will exclusively pursue stadium opportunities in Tampa but doesn’t mean the team will definitely move.
The Tampa Bay Rays want to move to Ybor City but they’re not ready to dump St. Petersburg just yet.
In a letter this week to City Attorney Jackie Kovilaritch, the team clarified that last week's announcement means they will exclusively pursue stadium opportunities in Tampa but doesn’t mean the team will definitely move. That’s despite a major marketing campaign supporting an Ybor stadium including a new slogan, “RaYbor City,” and an advocacy group called Rays 2020 supporting the move.
It also means St. Pete isn’t quite free to start developing the Tropicana Field site.
Rays General Counsel John Higgins wrote that while the Rays stadium evaluation activities would be focused solely on the Ybor City site, a “decision notice” was still several months out. That notice would serve as the official document expressing the Rays' intent to break the team's use agreement to play ball at Tropicana Field through 2027.
A spokeswoman for the Rays declined comment, but the Higgins letter lays out how the team has maintained its contractual obligations under the memorandum of understanding approved by both the team and the city that allows the Rays to explore alternative stadium sites.
That document preserves the Rays’ right to half of all development proceeds on the Tropicana Field site through the duration of the team’s contract. The “decision notice” Higgins referenced in his letter would trigger provisions in the MOU including fees for breaking the contract and loss of development rights.
Even though it’s not a done deal, St. Pete officials are preparing for an eventual Rays exodus. Mayor Rick Kriseman said after the Rays announcement that he plans to move forward with updating a site master plan that currently centers on the inclusion of Major League Baseball to one that develops the 81-acre site in a way that complements the city without the Rays.
Alan DeLisle, the city’s development administrator, told the Tampa Bay Business Journal the city is working with HKS Architects, the firm that created the original Tropicana Field site master plan, to update the vision.
“It’s not exactly back to the drawing board,” DeLisle said. “The principles that were identified in that plan are outstanding with or without the stadium.”
Some carryovers from the old plan will likely include incorporating Booker Creek into public park space and building affordable housing. DeLisle said the plan will also include retail, hospitality and office space.
One feature missing from the original site plan was a convention center. During initial conversations about the site, there were mixed opinions about whether downtown St. Pete could support a convention center; the answer to that now is “no.” But an entirely new development with the possibility of adding downtown hotel space could support one.
“I think that is on the table,” DeLisle said. “We will reach out to [Visit St. Pete Clearwater] and explore that idea. The idea would be to learn more about what the market might be calling for and whether that could be a good place for [a convention center].”
One of the features going away in the old master plan is “Rays Way.” It was envisioned as a point of entry to a new stadium on the northeast corner of the Tropicana Field site and a way to engage both fans and non-fans in a way that would encourage game attendance.
Instead, DeLisle said there could be something akin to a main street with public art, a commitment to sustainability and an “entrepreneurial” element.
Another possibility is whether or not the void left by Major League Baseball could be filled by professional soccer.
Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards said this week he's looking to sell a stake in the team. He had been trying to earn an expansion spot in Major League Soccerat Al Lang Stadium where the team currently plays. It’s unclear whether that MLS push could carry over to new team ownership, but a new stadium could grab the attention of MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
DeLisle didn’t say whether the Rowdies MLS vision could be a part of the Tropicana Field site’s future but didn’t rule out the possibility either.
“I don’t think anything is off the table,” he said.
Whatever plans may come, development may not be that far off. Per the MOU, the Rays have until the end of the year to make a decision about whether to leave Tropicana Field. The only catch: The city would have to replace parking spaces lost by any development conducted before the Rays leave town.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/2018/2/15/17018994/report-carlos-bocanegra-withdraws-name-from-u-s-soccer-gm-role
Report: Carlos Bocanegra withdraws name from U.S. Soccer GM role
That rumor lasted all of 24 hours.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://clicklancashire.com/2018/02/16/u-s-announces-friendly-vs-paraguay-in-north-carolina.html
U.S. announces friendly vs. Paraguay in North Carolina
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.news4jax.com/sports/armada-owner-may-change-face-of-soccer-in-america
Armada owner may change face of soccer in America
Robert Palmer's 'Division Zero' approach could change the sport's structure
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.thehoya.com/sewall-president-seeks-new-path-u-s-soccer-federation/
SEWALL | President Seeks New Path for US Soccer Federation
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.nashvillepost.com/sports/nashville-sc/blog/20992924/nashville-sc-announces-television-deal
Nashville SC announces television deal
Twenty-seven of the club's 34 games during inaugural USL season will air live on Ch. 30
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.monroecopost.com/news/20180214/rochester-lancers-lady-lancers-to-play-at-capelli-stadium
Rochester Lancers, Lady Lancers to play at Capelli Stadium
The Rochester Lancers and Lady Lancers signed a contract with Dworkins to play all home games at Capelli Stadium for the 2018 season.
“Aquinas was a great venue last season, but the school will be updating their facility this spring and we are unable to use the stadium there,” said Ashley Maria King, vice president of operations.
Doug Miller will return as head coach for the Rochester Lancers 2018 season in the National Premier Soccer League. Miller led the team to a 6-4-2 record in 2017, and missed the NPSL playoffs by one point.
Sal Galvano will return as head coach of the Lady Lancers in United Women’s Soccer. Galvano serves as head coach for the Monroe Community College Lady Tribunes, who he led to a 13-3 record in 2017.
Kayla Klark Kent-Moreira will return to the Rochester Lancers as director of soccer operations. She worked for the indoor Lancers for four seasons, WNY Flash of the NWSL for two seasons and WNY Flash of the UWS in 2017.
“Soccer is an important part of the Rochester community, and we are excited to host the Lancers and Lady Lancers at Capelli Sport Stadium in 2018,” said David Dworkin, co-owner of Rochester Rhinos and owner of Capelli Sport Stadium.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7xithl/more_preseason_kits_released_green_and_gold/
More Preseason Kits Released! (Green and gold) (twitter.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/963797594592997376
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account
@TampaBayRowdies
👀 New preseason 🔥 just in time for the Rowdies Suncoast Invitational! We’ll debut these Saturday night against @impactmontreal.
7:30 AM - 14 Feb 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7xla0g/tampa_bay_rowdies_2018_season_preview/
Tampa Bay Rowdies 2018 Season Preview (medium.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://medium.com/j-king-s-labratory-project/now-or-never-tampa-bay-rowdies-2018-season-preview-ce842545d255
Now or Never: Tampa Bay Rowdies 2018 Season Preview
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7xte18/four_days_left_to_preorder_your_2018_ralphs_mob/
FOUR DAYS LEFT to PRE-ORDER your 2018 Ralph's Mob Memberships!!! (mailchi.mp)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://mailchi.mp/3ba36db47762/w3qrz9uzki-1342477?e=[UNIQID]
2018 Membership Packages
ONE WEEK LEFT!
There is only one week left to get your 2018 Ralph's Mob Membership preorder in our online store! Memberships help to fund our all of our activities throughout the year including: creating tifo, banners and flags; maintaining drums and equipment; and putting on events/coordinating travel. Purchasing a Ralph’s Mob Membership allows you the ability to purchase 2018 Ralph’s Mob section Season Tickets, away travel, and more!
Like in past years we have multiple tiers to choose from featuring our 2018 Member Shirt and Scarf. We are also bringing back a "Sons of Pirates" Package and our “Mini-Mobster” Membership for kids! T-Shirts this year are a higher quality Next Level T-Shirt - not a DriFit style shirt like the past few years. (For size guides, check out these: Next Level Men's Size Guides; Next Level Women's Size Guides).
To avoid shipping charges, be sure to select "pickup" on the checkout screen. Pickup and shipping orders will both be available at the time of the regular season opener (Saturday, March 24th). Packages that include shirts will be available via preorder only. All shirt preorders packages are due by February 19th!
Click on the image above to place your preorder and secure your membership today!
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7y0o6z/lets_play_two_tropics_tangle_with_san_diego/
Let's play two! Tropics tangle with San Diego Sockers for home weekend doubleheader [STREAM LINKS IN COMMENTS] (fltropics.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.fltropics.com/news/let-s-play-two-tropics-tangle-with-san-diego-socke
Let's play two! Tropics tangle with San Diego Sockers for home weekend doubleheader
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7y143c/tbu_coach_edmundo_rodriquez_will_be_part_of/
TBU Coach Edmundo Rodriquez will be part of Rowdies broadcast team (twitter.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/tbusoccer/status/964476019561426945
tbusoccer
@tbusoccer
Great news! Edmundo Rodriguez the current coach of the ECNL 00 Composite team and the U14G Premier will call the TV analysis for all the Rowdies home games this season. Eddie has worked for ESPN3 doing youth soccer for a while and now jumps to the pros! Congrats to Eddie!
4:26 AM - 16 Feb 2018 from Odessa, FL
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7y2d21/whos_on_your_rowdies_rushmore/
Who's on your Rowdies Rushmore? (self.TampaBayRowdies)
Inspired by this twitter post from the Unused Subs: https://twitter.com/UnusedSubsPod/status/964593289071611905
My four are:
Iron Mike Connell
Steve Wegerle
Perry van der Beck
The White Pele, Rodney Marsh
Murderers Row could work:
http://mytampabayrowdies.blogspot.com/2009/06/rowdies-press-photos-1976-murderers-row.html
The 1976 Rowdies scoring machine, that was called "Murderers Row", with Stewart Scullion, Rodney Marsh, Derek Smethurst, and Clyde Best seated.
I agree that "We stand for soccer " is a bit outdated but I don't know how well a Rowdies Roushmore would go. The majority of people don't know any former rowdies players although it is a nice way to pay homage to them.
Hmmm...this is tough.
Marsh, Georgi, Perry, Luke Mulholland, and most importantly Jonny Steele.
...and as u/RumblesUbambaa said, Shane Hill
Oscar Fabbiani also deserves a mention:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93scar_Fabbiani
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7y3pzv/time_to_update_the_overhang_at_al_lang/
Time to update the overhang at Al Lang (twitter.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/unusedsubspod/status/964593289071611905
The Unused Substitutes Soccer Show
@UnusedSubsPod
Think it might be time for an update to the overhang at Al Lang. This was a fun way to utilize the overhang, but now it feels like an outdated marketing slogan.
May we suggest getting some awesome local artists to paint Rowdies greats on the overhang instead?
12:12 PM - 16 Feb 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7yai02/rowdies_impact_du_montreal_is_live_show_your/
Rowdies / Impact du Montreal is LIVE. Show your colors!! (youtu.be)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey4mkz_KC44&feature=youtu.be
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7ycpkv/three_things_from_the_rowdiesmontreal_fixture/
Three Things from the Rowdies-Montreal Fixture (self.TampaBayRowdies)
Marcel Schafer hasn't missed a step. Had he played longer he was bound for an assist. Schafer to Graf could be Montana to Rice. Hopefully he was taken out just for precaution.
Flemmings looked like an absolute beast out there. Got a little carried away on the ball at times but his speed and control were absolute lunacy.
Defense was disorganized. Both conceded goals were a combo of bad positioning and ball-watching.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7ye1at/rumor_lakeland_tropics_joining_tucson_and/
[RUMOR] LAKELAND TROPICS JOINING TUCSON AND TORMENTA IN USL D3 (self.USLPRO)
Tropics will be going USL D3 not sure if this means that they will get rid of their indoor team to focus on outdoor soccer
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/USLPRO/comments/7ycy13/rumor_lakeland_tropics_joining_tucson_and/
[RUMOR] LAKELAND TROPICS JOINING TUCSON AND TORMENTA IN USL D3 self.USLPRO
Tropics will be going USL D3 not sure if this means that they will get rid of their indoor team to focus on outdoor soccer
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7ylyf4/the_next_step_joe_cole_on_his_pathway_from_child/
THE NEXT STEP | Joe Cole on his pathway from child prodigy to future coach (coachesvoice.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.coachesvoice.com/the-next-step/
Player to Coach
The next step
Joe Cole
Player, Tampa Bay Rowdies, 2016-Present
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.vavel.com/en-us/soccer/mls/881371-game-recap-philadelphia-union-vs-dc-united.html
Philadelphia Union vs. D.C. United Preseason Recap
02-20-2018
In their first game in the Tampa Bay Rowdies' Suncoast Invitational, the Philadelphia Union face off against D.C. United.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.wpxi.com/sports/at-long-last-beckhams-mls-team-in-miami-is-born/691038334
At long last: Beckham's MLS team in Miami is born
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=490onpJfpEU
Rowdies Highlights vs Montreal Impact - Feb 17, 2018
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on Feb 17, 2018
Highlights of Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Montreal Impact in the Rowdies Suncoast Invitational, including Jochen Graf's first goal as a member of the Rowdies.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMRdol12KMI
2018 Rowdies Suncoast Invitational - Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Montreal Impact
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Streamed live on Feb 17, 2018
Rowdies Suncoast Invitational 2018
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Montreal Impact
Feb 17, 2018
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7ysiyw/cole_i_should_have_come_to_the_united_states/
Cole: I should have come to the United States instead of Liverpool (goal.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/cole-i-should-have-come-to-the-united-states-instead-of/1vuhkiolfitih1p1t0i854avrh
Cole: I should have come to the United States instead of Liverpool
The midfielder has been pleased with his time with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and says he should have gone across the pond after leaving Chelsea
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/joe-cole-i-should-ve-snubbed-liverpool-for-united-states-move-4220720
Joe Cole: I should've snubbed Liverpool for United States move
Joe Cole has revealed he regrets joining Liverpool from Chelsea in 2010.
The former England international signed with Chelsea from West Ham United in 2003 and went on to win three Premier League titles during his seven seasons at Stamford Bridge.
After signing with Liverpool, Cole's career fell off dramatically. He made just 26 Premier League appearances for the Reds in 18 months. He then spent time at Lille, West Ham, Aston Villa and Coventry before arriving at Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2016.
And Cole has stated his regret at not moving to the States when he left Chelsea.
"I'm still loving playing and it's a great lifestyle out there," Cole told Chelsea's website.
"It was a really good decision and I wish I'd gone when I left Chelsea.
"Once I'd done my knee I couldn't really keep myself fit for any length of time, apart from when I played in France for a season, and with hindsight I should have done it then."
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/888429?referrer_id=2333971
11 Preseason Things – New Cycle Begins
Battery’s victory brings spotlight; Ever ready for San Antonio
6. RIGHT ACTION: The Tampa Bay Rowdies ended up on the short end of a 2-1 defeat to the Montreal Impact on Saturday night at the Suncoast Invitational at Al Lang Stadium, but as in their prior outing against FC Cincinnati, there was a lot to like from the team’s display, particularly a rollicking second half that saw the hosts put their MLS opponents on their heels regularly. For around a 20-minute spell, Tampa Bay created plenty of chances, highlighted by a Junior Flemmings finish that was cleared off the line and a penalty kick by Georgi Hristov that was saved by Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush. The pressure eventually paid off with 15 minutes to go, as Jochen Graf notched his first goal for the club, at which point it looked possible the hosts would go on to earn victory, only for the Impact to quickly take advantage of a defensive lapse to allow Nacho Piatti an opportunity he took well for the winner. As it stands, though, there have been far more positives for the Rowdies than negatives, results notwithstanding.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.dkpittsburghsports.com/2018/02/19/fun-staff-free-time-bradenton/
Fun with the staff: ‘Free time’ in Bradenton
BRADENTON, Fla. — One question gets asked all the time about covering the Pirates in Florida: “What do you do with your free time at spring training?” It gets asked by friends, it gets asked by readers and it gets asked by anyone who finds out your reason for visiting the ‘Sunshine State.’
Although I’d love to, Lance Lysowski and I don’t use our free time to golf. That’s probably the most popular assumption. We also don’t use it to fish off of one of the beautiful piers we drive by on the way to Pirate City or LECOM Park. In our ‘free time,’ we’re more likely to be found working … or eating.
There’s just not as much time as someone would assume when covering the earliest parts of the baseball season. While it’s true that the portion of the day we spend with the Pirates ends shortly after noon, that’s really when our days are just getting started. From there it’s generally lunch, work, dinner, work, sleep, repeat.
In a rare case, such as Saturday night in my situation, you’re able to experience a little bit extra for a couple of hours. Things have to align perfectly, and they did for me as I was able to take advantage of a shorter day and get my work done in time to see my soccer team, the Philadelphia Union, and college friend Ray Gaddis take on D.C. United at Al Lang Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/888133?referrer_id=2349190
Rowdies Battle, But Fall to Montreal
Piatti scores winner for Impact after Graf brought Tampa Bay level
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/2018/2/17/17024508/impact-wins-again
Impact Wins Again!
Tampa Bay Rowdies 1-2 Montreal Impact
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/18/dc-united-beat-philadelphia-union-2018-preseason-o/
DC United beat Philadelphia Union in 2018 preseason opener
Luciano Acosta’s late goal lifted DC United over Philadelphia Union, 2-1, in the two teams’ opening match of the 2018 Rowdies Suncoast Invitational.
Cory Burke tied the game for Philadelphia in the 88th minute, but Acosta turned around and nailed the deciding goal one minute later.
Darren Mattocks scored the match’s first goal in the 14th minute for United, assisted by Zoltán Stieber.
The match was played at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida. The United Soccer League club Tampa Bay Rowdies are hosting the preseason tournament, and New York City FC and Montreal Impact are also in Florida for the tournament.
Six new signings played in United’s starting 11 against Philadelphia: Mattocks, Yamil Asad, Frédéric Brillant, Oniel Fisher, Júnior Moreno and Ulises Segura.
United will play one more match in the invitational, Wednesday against Jacksonville Armada FC of the North American Soccer League.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7ysjk0/back_in_time_vancouver_whitecaps_and_the_days_of/
Back In Time: Vancouver Whitecaps and the days of Las Vegas Quicksilvers (aftn.ca)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://aftn.ca/back-in-time-vancouver-whitecaps-and-the-days-of-las-vegas-quicksilvers/
Back In Time: Vancouver Whitecaps and the days of Las Vegas Quicksilvers
The 1970’s was a strange decade. The fashion, the fads, and what was with all that brown and orange wallpaper? Then in football you had the North American Soccer League.
There were a lot of weird and wonderful things that went on with the old NASL but 1977 certainly stands out as a particularly bizarre year. It was a year where new markets were tried, and spectacularly failed, seemingly serving as major steer clear lesson for the decades that followed.
Last week, with a Vancouver Whitecaps team set to take to the pitch at Aloha Stadium for the first time in 41 years, we brought you the story of Team Hawaii and the days when the ‘Caps headed to the island to play a league match in 1977. And we’ve got to say, we were delighted to see that the article proved incredibly popular!
So with the ‘Caps set to take on new USL side Las Vegas Lights tonight in a preseason friendly, we just had to take a look at the last time a Whitecaps team played in Sin City as well, as we journey back to the days of the Las Vegas Quicksilvers, when the ‘Caps headed to Vegas to play a league match.
That year? You guessed it. 1977.
I love my football history and the NASL has always fascinated me. Even when I was a kid over in Scotland, I was collecting football programmes (programs to the rest of you reading this!) from visiting NASL teams touring the four corners of the United Kingdom on pre and post season friendlies. And I still have them.
Such exotic names to a kid growing up used to a bunch of Uniteds, Citys, and their ilk. No Aztecs, Earthquakes, or Rowdies for us. The 1977 NASL season saw a couple of names disappear as the teams folded (Boston Minutemen and Philadelphia Atoms) and two others change their names (Hartford Bicentennials became the Connecticut Bicentennials and New York Cosmos dropped their city name to become just the Cosmos).
Three other teams relocated altogether, throwing up three new names for fans. The Miami Toros moved to Fort Lauderdale and became the well known Strikers, and as we talked about last week, the Thunder left San Antonio to become the horribly named Team Hawaii.
Finally, and talking of horrible team names, San Diego Jaws left the sandy beaches behind for the desert sand and became Las Vegas Quicksilvers.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/city-beat/article200762894.html
How much would an MLS snub damage Sacramento Republic FC fan interest?
The temperature was plummeting into the 40s on Thursday night as Republic FC took the pitch at Papa Murphy’s Park. Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC were in town for a meaningless preseason friendly with Sacramento. The star attraction of the night – men’s national team star and Sounders forward Clint Dempsey – was sitting on the sidelines in street clothes.
Yet a crowd of around 6,000 fans turned out – an attendance figure that would thrill most other teams in the second division USL. Fans mingled around the concourse sipping craft beer and the Tower Bridge Battalion supporters club cheered from the stands, singing “Republic till I die.”
As Sacramento’s prolonged campaign to join Major League Soccer drags on, will this level of loyalty continue?
(Follow link for full article.)
https://sports.yahoo.com/bayern-arjen-robben-won-t-134539585.html
Bayern’s Arjen Robben won’t rule out future in MLS
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/twitter-amazon-youtube-verizon-nfl-streaming-rights
Report: Twitter, Amazon, YouTube and Verizon in contention for NFL streaming rights
Four technology companies bidding for Thursday Night Football slot.
In January, YouTube agreed a deal with Los Angeles Football Club, a Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise due to begin competing in the 2018 season, for exclusive Los Angeles-area broadcast rights.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sports360az.com/2018/02/zhang-gives-big-boost-rising-fc-pursuit-mls/
Alex Zheng:Difference Maker for Rising FC
The trajectory of Phoenix Rising FC towards being granted a Major League Soccer club went into a different direction last week when the franchise announced a significant piece to their already stable ownership structure. Before I get into why the addition of Alex Zheng as Director of the Rising FC governing board is so important for fans of the team, let’s back up.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://theknow.denverpost.com/2018/02/19/coldest-mls-match-colorado/176935/
Colorado Rapids could play the coldest match ever between MLS teams, giving Commerce City a potential second game for the record books
The CONCACAF Champions League game could break record for low temperature kickoff
(Follow link for full article.)
https://worldsoccertalk.com/2018/02/14/carlos-cordeiros-tenure-will-judged-handles-soccer-united-marketing-sum/
Carlos Cordeiro’s tenure will be judged by how he handles Soccer United Marketing (SUM)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cnet.com/news/espn-plus-to-stream-mls-live-soccer-matches/
ESPN Plus to stream MLS Live soccer matches
In an exclusive deal, the upcoming $5 per month sports subscription service will carry major league American kicks
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/14/kick-mls-fantasy-back-lagerway-linked-usmnt-soccergrams
Kick Off: MLS Fantasy is back! | Lagerway linked to USMNT | #SoccerGrams
(Follow link for full article.)
https://ussoccerplayers.com/2018/02/mls-club-partnerships-history-dallas-bayern-munich.html
MLS club partnerships have an interesting history
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Feb 14, 2018) US Soccer Players - MLS clubs partnering with famous European outfits is not a new phenomenon. Attempts to link up with the established elite in Europe has long been part of the chase to advance the MLS version of the game. Before MLS was a decade old, it wasn't unusual to see announcements that teams were linking up with European counterparts to exchange of business and soccer ideas.
These “partnerships”, (the scare quotes are necessary) rarely delivered much. Most came and went without any real reports of their impact on the MLS club. They slipped out of the spotlight almost as soon as the participating clubs issued the obligatory quote-laden press releases. The European club would play up the opportunities to get some of its younger players experience, while the MLS side would express excitement over the chance to learn from the world-class technical staff of the European club. Rinse-and-repeat.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.ktsa.com/mayor-not-giving-mls/
San Antonio’s mayor not giving up on MLS
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/14/fc-cincinnati-stadium-whos-who-west-end-debate/333315002/
FC Cincinnati stadium: Who's who in West End debate
The drama over the attempt to bring a Major League Soccer stadium to the West End has a lengthy cast of characters that includes some of the most powerful people in Cincinnati and others who have crusaded for decades as advocates for the black community. ...
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.prosoccerusa.com/fc-dallas/fc-bayern-and-fc-dallas-announce-landmark-player-development-partnership/
FC Bayern and FC Dallas announce landmark player development partnership
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/charleston-battery-hosts-major-league-soccer-teams-at-the-carolina-challenge-cup/Content?oid=15513960
Charleston Battery hosts Major League Soccer teams at the Carolina Challenge Cup
(Follow link for full article.)
http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/14/zlatan-ibrahimovic-already-house-hunting-ahead-expected-manchester-united-exit-7313518/
Zlatan Ibrahimovic already house hunting ahead of expected Manchester United exit
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is looking for a new house in Los Angeles as he prepares to leave the club, reports claim.
The 36-year-old is has been heavily linked with a transfer to Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy when his one-year contract at Old Trafford expires in the summer.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots/the_blitz/2018/02/five_next_boston_sports_droughts_to_end
Five next Boston sports droughts to end
2. New England Revolution to win the MLS Cup
Major League Soccer has only been around since 1996, but the Revolution were in on the ground floor. And, for a while, the franchise owned by the Krafts seemed perhaps destined for the same type of success that it shared Gillette Stadium with. However, the Revolution could not quite get over the hump. They made it to the MLS Cup final in 2002, then three consecutive seasons from 2005-2007. The Revolution made another run at it in 2014 only to fall short to the Los Angeles Galaxy. Since then, the Revolution have yet to approach that same level.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.mystatesman.com/sports/soccer/mls-austin-soccer-tabled-thursday-council-meeting/iNKM5Hlv2pQnKT63Q1LljP/
MLS to Austin: Soccer to be tabled at Thursday’s council meeting
Soccer will not be part of the conversation when the Austin City Council meets Thursday.
Item 19, which involves discussion and possible action on Major League Soccer stadium sites, remains on the agenda but will be postponed, according to the mayor’s office.
The city staff has withdrawn the soccer agenda item, and Mayor Steve Adler will announce that at the beginning of the meeting, said Jason Stanford, Adler’s communications director. “No chance of it coming up for discussion that we can see,” Stanford said.
Precourt Sports Ventures, owners of Columbus Crew SC, is not ready to have that discussion since it has yet to identify stadium site preferences to the city after its scuttled pursuit of Butler Shores Metropolitan Park.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/espn-strikes-deal-mls-exclusive-streaming-rights/
ESPN+ Strikes a Deal with MLS For Exclusive Streaming Rights
(Follow link for full article.)
http://triblive.com/business/headlines/13303841-74/a-tv-station-just-made-a-first-of-its-kind-sports-streaming-deal
A TV station just made a first-of-its-kind sports streaming deal
LOS ANGELES — A television station in Salt Lake City has struck a first-of-its-kind deal: It is going to livestream a professional sports team's games without also carrying them over the air.
KSL, an NBC affiliate, is charging into the digital future by securing the local rights to livestream the games of Major League Soccer franchise Real Salt Lake to viewers in the Salt Lake City area. The deal announced Tuesday is the first such agreement between a U.S. local TV station and a pro sports team.
The agreement reflects how viewers - who have increasingly made a habit of watching shows and live sporting events on their digital devices - are changing the way broadcasters are looking at their business. And it could pave the way for other local broadcasters to strike similar deals.
Real Salt Lake already has an over-the-air TV outlet: Its games are shown on Sinclair Broadcasting's KYMU. But KSL - owned by Bonneville International Corp., which itself is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - pursued the streaming rights separately as it looks for local content to reach audiences who have migrated to digital devices.
Another MLS team, the Los Angeles Football Club, has an exclusive deal with a streaming service, bypassing local TV completely. The team sold the rights for 18 games to Alphabet Inc.'s YouTubeTV, which will make them available to subscribers of the over-the-top streaming service in Southern California for an additional fee.
On a national basis, Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN is launching a subscription streaming service, offering live events not shown on its cable channels. It's a way to reach - and get revenue from - people who don't want to pay for cable or satellite TV.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/3383397/zlatan-ibrahimovic-eyeing-homes-in-los-angeles-amid-galaxy-links-sources
Zlatan Ibrahimovic eyeing homes in Los Angeles amid Galaxy link - sources
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/14/stejskal-tam-closing-mls-liga-mx-gap-will-it-show-ccl
Stejskal: TAM closing the MLS-Liga MX gap, but will it show in CCL?
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/espn-plus-mls-streaming-package
ESPN Plus picks up MLS streaming package
New OTT service to show US soccer league fixtures.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://theprovince.com/sports/soccer/mls/vancouver-whitecaps/mls-live-to-close-up-shop-as-u-s-streaming-rights-land-with-espn-so-what-about-canada
MLS Live to close up shop as U.S. streaming rights land with ESPN. So what about Canada?
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/city-beat/article200400399.html
A whale on the way? Republic FC in talks with ‘several’ potential billionaire investors
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/02/15/sacramento-republic-fc-gaining-ground-mls-expansion-race/343723002/
Is Sacramento Republic FC gaining ground on FC Cincinnati in MLS expansion race?
The appearance locally of Major League Soccer's expansion race is that it's been a one-horse competition with Futbol Club Cincinnati leading, but that's far from the case....
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/15/stejskal-despite-ending-holdout-lee-nguyen-still-wants-out-new-england
Stejskal: Despite ending holdout, Lee Nguyen still wants out of New England
The impasse between Lee Nguyen and the New England Revolution remains on.
Nguyen ended his training camp holdout last week, but sources have told MLSsoccer.com that the veteran attacker still wants to be traded by New England.
As first reported by MLSsoccer.com on Jan. 11, Nguyen asked the Revs for a trade shortly after the end of the 2017 season, then re-iterated his request after Brad Friedel was hired as head coach in November. Friedel told MLSsoccer.com at the MLS Combine on Jan. 17 that the club would not trade Nguyen, who is under contract through 2018 with two club option years in 2019 and 2020. The 31-year-old did not report for the start of New England’s preseason training camp on Jan. 23, holding out for over two weeks before re-joining the Revs last Friday.
Despite his desire to be traded, the sources said New England are still not entertaining offers for Nguyen. Paul Tenorio reported on Feb. 1 that Chicago and Montreal were interested in the attacker.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.kcra.com/article/talks-between-sacramento-republic-fc-potential-mls-investors-get-very-serious/18205440
Talks between Sacramento Republic FC, potential MLS investors get ‘very serious’
Team hopes to become next expansion team to join Major League Soccer
(Follow link for full article.)
https://mlsmultiplex.com/2018/02/16/ranking-the-top-10-stadiums-in-major-league-soccer/
Ranking the top 10 stadiums in Major League Soccer
Heading into the 2018 MLS Season, we rank the top 10 stadiums in Major League Soccer. The league has assembled an impressive collection.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/mls-parity-compared-using-gini-coefficient/
A look at MLS parity compared to other leagues using the Gini coefficient
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2018/02/16/more-riding-on-spurs-ownership-than-san-antonios.html
More riding on Spurs ownership than San Antonio's NBA future
The city's pursuit of Major League Soccer is also at stake.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Michael-Essien-set-to-join-MLS-side-D-C-United-626886
Michael Essien set to join MLS side D.C United
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/2018/02/16/detroit-major-league-soccer-expansion-2020/345569002/
MLS expansion: League's radio silence bad sign for Detroit's 2020 bid
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2018/02/16/charlotte-independence-sale-completed.html
It's official: Charlotte Independence have a new owner
Former Nucor CEO Dan DiMicco this week completed his purchase of controlling interest in the Charlotte Independence.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://flixed.io/soccers-shifting-sands-streaming-services/
Soccer’s Shifting Sands of Streaming Services
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.startribune.com/mls-teams-have-better-shot-in-champions-league-soccer-tourney/474353673/
MLS teams have better shot in Champions League soccer tourney
Five MLS teams, including champion Toronto, are in the field.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.trifectanetworksports.com/new-england-revolution-looking-emls-representative/
New England Revolution Looking For eMLS Representative
on February 16, 2018
The New England Revolution are on the lookout for the best EA Sports FIFA gamer in the City of Boston. The team is looking for an gamer to represent the club at the official eMLS Cup competition.
Major League Soccer and EA SPORTS debuted a new competitive gaming league for EA SPORTS FIFA 18. A total of 19 MLS clubs will recruit and sign representatives to participate in the inaugural eMLS Cup,
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/3386250/arjen-robbens-bayern-munich-considering-mls-china-or-qatar-move
Arjen Robben's Bayern Munich considering MLS, China or Qatar move
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/021718_mls-preseason/friedel-revs-search-1st-preseason-win-against-san-antonio/
Friedel, Revs search for 1st preseason win against San Antonio
U.S. soccer hero takes on challenge of struggling Revs side
(Follow link for full article.)
https://nesn.com/2018/02/bayern-munichs-arjen-robben-considers-mls-transfer-heres-potential-timetable/
Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben Considers MLS Transfer; Here’s Potential Timetable
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.jacksonville.com/sports/20180216/armada-opens-store-releases-2018-schedule-amid-league-transition
Armada opens store, releases 2018 schedule amid league transition
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7xz5ps/rowdies_flemmings_hitting_the_ground_hard/
Rowdies, Flemmings Hitting the Ground Hard (uslsoccer.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/887664?referrer_id=2333971
Rowdies, Flemmings Hitting the Ground Hard
Tampa Bay set for test from Impact at Suncoast Invitational on Saturday
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2018/02/16/as-kriseman-looks-to-redevelop-the-trop-site-rays.html
As Kriseman looks to redevelop the Trop site, Rays remind city they retain some property rights
In a letter this week, the team clarified that last week's announcement means they will exclusively pursue stadium opportunities in Tampa but doesn’t mean the team will definitely move.
The Tampa Bay Rays want to move to Ybor City but they’re not ready to dump St. Petersburg just yet.
In a letter this week to City Attorney Jackie Kovilaritch, the team clarified that last week's announcement means they will exclusively pursue stadium opportunities in Tampa but doesn’t mean the team will definitely move. That’s despite a major marketing campaign supporting an Ybor stadium including a new slogan, “RaYbor City,” and an advocacy group called Rays 2020 supporting the move.
It also means St. Pete isn’t quite free to start developing the Tropicana Field site.
Rays General Counsel John Higgins wrote that while the Rays stadium evaluation activities would be focused solely on the Ybor City site, a “decision notice” was still several months out. That notice would serve as the official document expressing the Rays' intent to break the team's use agreement to play ball at Tropicana Field through 2027.
A spokeswoman for the Rays declined comment, but the Higgins letter lays out how the team has maintained its contractual obligations under the memorandum of understanding approved by both the team and the city that allows the Rays to explore alternative stadium sites.
That document preserves the Rays’ right to half of all development proceeds on the Tropicana Field site through the duration of the team’s contract. The “decision notice” Higgins referenced in his letter would trigger provisions in the MOU including fees for breaking the contract and loss of development rights.
Even though it’s not a done deal, St. Pete officials are preparing for an eventual Rays exodus. Mayor Rick Kriseman said after the Rays announcement that he plans to move forward with updating a site master plan that currently centers on the inclusion of Major League Baseball to one that develops the 81-acre site in a way that complements the city without the Rays.
Alan DeLisle, the city’s development administrator, told the Tampa Bay Business Journal the city is working with HKS Architects, the firm that created the original Tropicana Field site master plan, to update the vision.
“It’s not exactly back to the drawing board,” DeLisle said. “The principles that were identified in that plan are outstanding with or without the stadium.”
Some carryovers from the old plan will likely include incorporating Booker Creek into public park space and building affordable housing. DeLisle said the plan will also include retail, hospitality and office space.
One feature missing from the original site plan was a convention center. During initial conversations about the site, there were mixed opinions about whether downtown St. Pete could support a convention center; the answer to that now is “no.” But an entirely new development with the possibility of adding downtown hotel space could support one.
“I think that is on the table,” DeLisle said. “We will reach out to [Visit St. Pete Clearwater] and explore that idea. The idea would be to learn more about what the market might be calling for and whether that could be a good place for [a convention center].”
One of the features going away in the old master plan is “Rays Way.” It was envisioned as a point of entry to a new stadium on the northeast corner of the Tropicana Field site and a way to engage both fans and non-fans in a way that would encourage game attendance.
Instead, DeLisle said there could be something akin to a main street with public art, a commitment to sustainability and an “entrepreneurial” element.
Another possibility is whether or not the void left by Major League Baseball could be filled by professional soccer.
Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards said this week he's looking to sell a stake in the team. He had been trying to earn an expansion spot in Major League Soccerat Al Lang Stadium where the team currently plays. It’s unclear whether that MLS push could carry over to new team ownership, but a new stadium could grab the attention of MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
DeLisle didn’t say whether the Rowdies MLS vision could be a part of the Tropicana Field site’s future but didn’t rule out the possibility either.
“I don’t think anything is off the table,” he said.
Whatever plans may come, development may not be that far off. Per the MOU, the Rays have until the end of the year to make a decision about whether to leave Tropicana Field. The only catch: The city would have to replace parking spaces lost by any development conducted before the Rays leave town.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/2018/2/15/17018994/report-carlos-bocanegra-withdraws-name-from-u-s-soccer-gm-role
Report: Carlos Bocanegra withdraws name from U.S. Soccer GM role
That rumor lasted all of 24 hours.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://clicklancashire.com/2018/02/16/u-s-announces-friendly-vs-paraguay-in-north-carolina.html
U.S. announces friendly vs. Paraguay in North Carolina
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.news4jax.com/sports/armada-owner-may-change-face-of-soccer-in-america
Armada owner may change face of soccer in America
Robert Palmer's 'Division Zero' approach could change the sport's structure
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.thehoya.com/sewall-president-seeks-new-path-u-s-soccer-federation/
SEWALL | President Seeks New Path for US Soccer Federation
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.nashvillepost.com/sports/nashville-sc/blog/20992924/nashville-sc-announces-television-deal
Nashville SC announces television deal
Twenty-seven of the club's 34 games during inaugural USL season will air live on Ch. 30
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.monroecopost.com/news/20180214/rochester-lancers-lady-lancers-to-play-at-capelli-stadium
Rochester Lancers, Lady Lancers to play at Capelli Stadium
The Rochester Lancers and Lady Lancers signed a contract with Dworkins to play all home games at Capelli Stadium for the 2018 season.
“Aquinas was a great venue last season, but the school will be updating their facility this spring and we are unable to use the stadium there,” said Ashley Maria King, vice president of operations.
Doug Miller will return as head coach for the Rochester Lancers 2018 season in the National Premier Soccer League. Miller led the team to a 6-4-2 record in 2017, and missed the NPSL playoffs by one point.
Sal Galvano will return as head coach of the Lady Lancers in United Women’s Soccer. Galvano serves as head coach for the Monroe Community College Lady Tribunes, who he led to a 13-3 record in 2017.
Kayla Klark Kent-Moreira will return to the Rochester Lancers as director of soccer operations. She worked for the indoor Lancers for four seasons, WNY Flash of the NWSL for two seasons and WNY Flash of the UWS in 2017.
“Soccer is an important part of the Rochester community, and we are excited to host the Lancers and Lady Lancers at Capelli Sport Stadium in 2018,” said David Dworkin, co-owner of Rochester Rhinos and owner of Capelli Sport Stadium.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7xithl/more_preseason_kits_released_green_and_gold/
More Preseason Kits Released! (Green and gold) (twitter.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/963797594592997376
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account
@TampaBayRowdies
👀 New preseason 🔥 just in time for the Rowdies Suncoast Invitational! We’ll debut these Saturday night against @impactmontreal.
7:30 AM - 14 Feb 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7xla0g/tampa_bay_rowdies_2018_season_preview/
Tampa Bay Rowdies 2018 Season Preview (medium.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://medium.com/j-king-s-labratory-project/now-or-never-tampa-bay-rowdies-2018-season-preview-ce842545d255
Now or Never: Tampa Bay Rowdies 2018 Season Preview
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7xte18/four_days_left_to_preorder_your_2018_ralphs_mob/
FOUR DAYS LEFT to PRE-ORDER your 2018 Ralph's Mob Memberships!!! (mailchi.mp)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://mailchi.mp/3ba36db47762/w3qrz9uzki-1342477?e=[UNIQID]
2018 Membership Packages
ONE WEEK LEFT!
There is only one week left to get your 2018 Ralph's Mob Membership preorder in our online store! Memberships help to fund our all of our activities throughout the year including: creating tifo, banners and flags; maintaining drums and equipment; and putting on events/coordinating travel. Purchasing a Ralph’s Mob Membership allows you the ability to purchase 2018 Ralph’s Mob section Season Tickets, away travel, and more!
Like in past years we have multiple tiers to choose from featuring our 2018 Member Shirt and Scarf. We are also bringing back a "Sons of Pirates" Package and our “Mini-Mobster” Membership for kids! T-Shirts this year are a higher quality Next Level T-Shirt - not a DriFit style shirt like the past few years. (For size guides, check out these: Next Level Men's Size Guides; Next Level Women's Size Guides).
To avoid shipping charges, be sure to select "pickup" on the checkout screen. Pickup and shipping orders will both be available at the time of the regular season opener (Saturday, March 24th). Packages that include shirts will be available via preorder only. All shirt preorders packages are due by February 19th!
Click on the image above to place your preorder and secure your membership today!
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7y0o6z/lets_play_two_tropics_tangle_with_san_diego/
Let's play two! Tropics tangle with San Diego Sockers for home weekend doubleheader [STREAM LINKS IN COMMENTS] (fltropics.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.fltropics.com/news/let-s-play-two-tropics-tangle-with-san-diego-socke
Let's play two! Tropics tangle with San Diego Sockers for home weekend doubleheader
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7y143c/tbu_coach_edmundo_rodriquez_will_be_part_of/
TBU Coach Edmundo Rodriquez will be part of Rowdies broadcast team (twitter.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/tbusoccer/status/964476019561426945
tbusoccer
@tbusoccer
Great news! Edmundo Rodriguez the current coach of the ECNL 00 Composite team and the U14G Premier will call the TV analysis for all the Rowdies home games this season. Eddie has worked for ESPN3 doing youth soccer for a while and now jumps to the pros! Congrats to Eddie!
4:26 AM - 16 Feb 2018 from Odessa, FL
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7y2d21/whos_on_your_rowdies_rushmore/
Who's on your Rowdies Rushmore? (self.TampaBayRowdies)
Inspired by this twitter post from the Unused Subs: https://twitter.com/UnusedSubsPod/status/964593289071611905
My four are:
Iron Mike Connell
Steve Wegerle
Perry van der Beck
The White Pele, Rodney Marsh
Murderers Row could work:
http://mytampabayrowdies.blogspot.com/2009/06/rowdies-press-photos-1976-murderers-row.html
The 1976 Rowdies scoring machine, that was called "Murderers Row", with Stewart Scullion, Rodney Marsh, Derek Smethurst, and Clyde Best seated.
I agree that "We stand for soccer " is a bit outdated but I don't know how well a Rowdies Roushmore would go. The majority of people don't know any former rowdies players although it is a nice way to pay homage to them.
Hmmm...this is tough.
Marsh, Georgi, Perry, Luke Mulholland, and most importantly Jonny Steele.
...and as u/RumblesUbambaa said, Shane Hill
Oscar Fabbiani also deserves a mention:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93scar_Fabbiani
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7y3pzv/time_to_update_the_overhang_at_al_lang/
Time to update the overhang at Al Lang (twitter.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/unusedsubspod/status/964593289071611905
The Unused Substitutes Soccer Show
@UnusedSubsPod
Think it might be time for an update to the overhang at Al Lang. This was a fun way to utilize the overhang, but now it feels like an outdated marketing slogan.
May we suggest getting some awesome local artists to paint Rowdies greats on the overhang instead?
12:12 PM - 16 Feb 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7yai02/rowdies_impact_du_montreal_is_live_show_your/
Rowdies / Impact du Montreal is LIVE. Show your colors!! (youtu.be)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey4mkz_KC44&feature=youtu.be
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7ycpkv/three_things_from_the_rowdiesmontreal_fixture/
Three Things from the Rowdies-Montreal Fixture (self.TampaBayRowdies)
Marcel Schafer hasn't missed a step. Had he played longer he was bound for an assist. Schafer to Graf could be Montana to Rice. Hopefully he was taken out just for precaution.
Flemmings looked like an absolute beast out there. Got a little carried away on the ball at times but his speed and control were absolute lunacy.
Defense was disorganized. Both conceded goals were a combo of bad positioning and ball-watching.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7ye1at/rumor_lakeland_tropics_joining_tucson_and/
[RUMOR] LAKELAND TROPICS JOINING TUCSON AND TORMENTA IN USL D3 (self.USLPRO)
Tropics will be going USL D3 not sure if this means that they will get rid of their indoor team to focus on outdoor soccer
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/USLPRO/comments/7ycy13/rumor_lakeland_tropics_joining_tucson_and/
[RUMOR] LAKELAND TROPICS JOINING TUCSON AND TORMENTA IN USL D3 self.USLPRO
Tropics will be going USL D3 not sure if this means that they will get rid of their indoor team to focus on outdoor soccer
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7ylyf4/the_next_step_joe_cole_on_his_pathway_from_child/
THE NEXT STEP | Joe Cole on his pathway from child prodigy to future coach (coachesvoice.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.coachesvoice.com/the-next-step/
Player to Coach
The next step
Joe Cole
Player, Tampa Bay Rowdies, 2016-Present
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.vavel.com/en-us/soccer/mls/881371-game-recap-philadelphia-union-vs-dc-united.html
Philadelphia Union vs. D.C. United Preseason Recap
02-20-2018
In their first game in the Tampa Bay Rowdies' Suncoast Invitational, the Philadelphia Union face off against D.C. United.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.wpxi.com/sports/at-long-last-beckhams-mls-team-in-miami-is-born/691038334
At long last: Beckham's MLS team in Miami is born
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Soccer History: Brookhattan
(Follow link for full article.)
https://ussoccerplayers.com/2018/02/soccer-history-brookhattan.html
Soccer History: Brookhattan
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Feb 12, 2018) US Soccer Players – Establishing soccer in New York City isn’t just an MLS problem. For all the communities and clubs, producing a dominant team has never been easy. Consider how much the New York Cosmos had to spend for their brief run of relevance in the 1970s. It’s an old story, with lots of teams trying to bring championships to New York. One of those was Brookhattan. Based in New York City, the club was founded in 1933 and played in the American Soccer League.
After the original ASL’s collapse in 1933 following the onset of the Great Depression four years earlier, Brookhattan and the New York Americans helped in the formation of a new ASL. Before the start of the 1938-39 season, the team dropped “New York” from its name and simply became known as Brookhattan.
Throughout the 1940s, Brookhattan was one of the most-successful clubs in the country. The team won the Lewis Cup, awarded to the winners of the ASL’s league cup, in 1942 and 1945. Brookhattan captured the treble after also winning the ASL title and National Challenge Cup, the precursor to the US Open Cup, in 1945. Brookhattan featured many star players of the time, including George Barr, Jack Hynes, and Teddy Glover. All three men would later be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
The 1945 season marked the pinnacle of Brookhattan’s success. While the ASL struggled as players went off to fight in World War II, Brookhattan rose above the rest thanks to MVP Steve Rozbora. They won the league title, edging out the Philadelphia Americans by just two points in the standings. Brookhattan also won the Lewis Cup and the National Challenge Cup that year. On the road to the Challenge Cup final, Brookhattan defeated the New York Americans in the first round, Kearney Irish in the round of 16, Baltimore Americans in the quarterfinals, and Brooklyn Hispano 5-4 in overtime in a riveting semifinal. In the two-leg series to decide the trophy, Brookhattan beat the Cleveland Americans 4-1 on June 10 at home and 2-1 on the road.
“The main thing that it did have going for it was longevity. Not many ASL teams lasted a quarter-century… Brookhattan was important to the ASL in the sense that it was always there, year after year, but it didn't really win very much outside of that one great year,” said soccer historian Roger Allaway.
When coffee importer Eugene Diaz, who had owned a team called New York Galicia, purchased the club in 1948, he changed the name to Brookhattan-Galicia. The same year Diaz decided to bankroll the unified club, Brookhattan reached the National Challenge Cup final, coming out of the East bracket, only to lose to Simkins Ford of Missouri 3-2, in the final.
Brookhattan’s legacy is a mixed one. Allaway said there were other teams at the time far more successful. “During the 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s, the ASL was dominated by teams from Philadelphia and Kearny, N.J. There were usually two teams from Brooklyn each year – Hispano and Wanderers – and two from the Bronx – Brookhattan and New York Americans – but they tended to take a back seat to teams from Philadelphia and Kearny,” Allaway said. “In the 1920s, the best ASL teams were from New England. The Fall River Marksmen team that won the same triple in 1930 was a far better team than 1945 Brookhattan.”
While the team didn’t always win trophies or finish first in the ASL, it did feature some of the country’s best players during that era. The team that lost the 1948 final featured none other than Joe Gaetjens. The Haitian-born forward, who played for Brookhattan from 1947 to 1950, would go on to star for the United States at the 1950 World Cup. His now-legendary goal against England helped the US win 1-0, which remains one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.
Gaetjens had originally come to the United States to study accounting at Columbia University on a scholarship from the Haitian government. He could not make a living playing soccer alone – where he earned about $25 a game – and decided to take a job washing dishes. At the same time, he proved to be a prolific scorer in the ASL. During the 1947–48 season, his first in the league, Gaejtens scored the second-most goals of any player with 14. During the 1949-50 season, he was the league’s top scorer – with 18 goals in 15 matches – and in the process earned a spot on the National Team after committing to become a US citizen. Although he never did get an American passport (FIFA rules at the time allowed for this), Gaetjens eventually moved to France to play professionally and later back to Haiti. He is believed to have been killed in 1964 by the country’s secret police on orders from dictator Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier. Gaetjens’ body was never found.
Gaejtens was just one example of how the team’s roster reflected the diversity of New York City. Cuban-born Pito Villanon, believed to be the first black player in the ASL’s history, played his entire 11-year career at Brookhattan, retiring in 1958. During the 1952-53 season, Villanon, a striker, scored 12 goals and finished as the league’s top scorer and MVP. Another star player, Rudy Kuntner, was also one of the ASL’s best strikers. Born in Austria, Kuntner moved to the US as a child and later helped Brookhattan win the treble. He also had a day job as an electrician – and later stage manager – at New York’s famed Metropolitan Opera. Kuntner had also earned two caps with the National Team in 1928 as part of the Olympic team. Back then, the Olympics counted as full international games.
Brookhattan-Galicia became Galicia SC. Before the start of the 1961-62 season, the merged with the amateur club Honduras to become Galicia-Honduras. The side finished a dismal seventh in the eight-team league that season and withdrew from the league. Brookhattan was lost to history until a 2013 revival as an amateur club. Brookhattan’s website says the club – which features the team’s original logo – is “quintessentially and decidedly non-glamorous, championing grassroots and amateur soccer.” The club has not been forgotten by a new generation of players and fans this time on the fields of Brooklyn.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.thenutmegnews.com/current/2015/6/24/scandal-envelopes-brookhattan-fc-as-they-fire-kit-manager-for-soliciting-healthy-candy-bars
The Nutmeg News
Satire, Humor, Commentary - Contains No Actual News
Scandal Envelopes Brookhattan FC As They Fire Kit Manager For Soliciting Healthy Candy Bars
June 24, 2015
NEW YORK - The kit manager for Brookhattan FC, Darby Gilliam, was fired today after it was revealed that he supplied Luna bars for the midfield of Brookhattan after they asked for candy.
"I didn't know we had a candy bar clause with the convenience store down the street. One of midfielders wanted to have the decision between Mounds, Almond Joy and Payday. He sent me out to make the decision and I picked up a Luna bar. Later in the day, I was told that I was going to be let go for bringing really shitty candy bar back to practice."
Players from Brookhattan agreed to speak to The Nutmeg News on the condition of anonymity and had the following to say.
"(ED Note - REDACTED player name) told him Mounds, Almond Joy or something like a Payday. No one actually wants a Luna Bar. REDACTED wanted something that increases the size of our team. He should know that he can't broker an agreement with a candy bar that no one wants."
The midfielder involved in the middle of the scandal stated, "While I ended up satisfied by the Luna Bar in question, it appears that Darby didn't understand what he was getting himself into. The other guys in the locker room are mad at his dismissal but they aren't about to challenge the status quo of Mounds Bars and Twix."
Brookhattan beat reporter Dale Cranbrook had the following to say, "Look, you play with fire organizing something like this. He should know that if you interfere with an organizations ability to make itself fatter by any means necessary that it will strike back upon you very quickly. While he likely didn't do this maliciously, when you get in between an organization and the food that it uses to survive... you won't last long."
Mr Gilliam released a final statement to the press later in the day. "I do not apologize for trying to increase the nutritional options for our midfield, I only wish that our team and our league was not in the pocket of Big Candy. I stand by my work as the kit manager for Brookhattan and am deeply disappointed in the response from the team."
The Nutmeg News will have more news on this scandal as it increases.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://pothunting.com/cart/index.php?p=product&id=237&parent=9
New York Brookhattan FC - Mens Throwback US Soccer Shirt
Overview
1950 was a busy year for Joe Gaetjens. Sank England in the first round of the World Cup. Washed dishes at a Manhattan bistro to make ends meet. Won ASL golden boot with powerhouse New York Brookhattan. United supporters from both boroughs.
Description
NEW YORK BROOKHATTAN MENS ANVIL 100% COTTON T IN PURPLE
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2018/02/13/Franchises/Rowdies.aspx
Tampa USL Owner Edwards Looking To Bolster Investor Group
USL Tampa Bay Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards yesterday said that he is "looking to bolster his ownership group," according to Rodney Page of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Edwards said, "We are looking to put together an ownership group and we have five or six groups talking to us right now. We are trying to t...
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/espn-fc-united/68/post/3382260/futbol-in-america-miami-ready-to-make-its-mark-thanks-to-david-beckham-major-league-soccer
Futbol in América: Miami ready to make mark thanks to David Beckham
(Follow link for full article.)
http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/02/13/video-10000-fans-turn-up-for-las-vegas-lights-debut/
VIDEO: 10,000 fans turn up for Las Vegas Lights debut
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.phillysoccerpage.net/2018/02/13/news-roundup-union-back-in-florida-usl-stadium-madness-boswell-adieu-more/comment-page-1/
News roundup: Union back in Florida, USL stadium madness, Boswell adieu, more
MLS
Longtime D.C. United and Houston Dynamo defender Bobby Boswell announced his retirement. His sound bites will be sorely missed, but he was sure to tell one last story.
FC Dallas signed a development deal with German giants Bayern Munich.
USL
FC Cincinnati is drawing up plans for a big shiny soccer stadium in the city’s West End. The proposal would require a land swap with a local high school.
Phoenix Rising owners aren’t waiting around for expansion. The club is moving forward with plans to build an MLS-style, soccer-specific stadium. This follows news that the owner of Ligue 1’s OGC Nice has joined the Arizona club.
And after a delirious preseason game versus Atlanta United, Nashville SC has moved their USL home opener to the NFL’s Nissan Stadium thanks to high demand for tickets.
U.S. Soccer
Five lessons from the U.S. Soccer Federation presidential election.
The always sharp Megan Rapinoe weighs in on the election.
The USMNT added a slate of friendlies to their schedule: playing host to Paraguay and visiting Ireland and France.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/02/13/fc-cincinnati-s-season-ticket-sales-hit-another.html
FC Cincinnati’s season ticket sales hit another record-breaking milestone
Amid all of the talk about where FC Cincinnati’s soccer stadium will be built if it hauls in a Major League Soccer expansion franchise, the club has been on a record-breaking season ticket sales tear.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/886506?referrer_id=3577980
USL's Week Ahead – USL Clubs Welcome MLS Preseason Tests
Battery's Carolina Challenge Cup gets national television audience for first time in history
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/886685?referrer_id=2364194-news-archive
Switchbacks Team Up with Capelli Sport
Manufacturer becomes Colorado Springs’ official uniform and equipment supplier
(Follow link for full article.)
http://clarksvillenow.com/local/nashville-soccer-clubs-home-opener-moved-to-nissan-stadium/
Nashville Soccer Club’s home opener moved to Nissan Stadium
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.kktv.com/content/sports/Switchbacks-Announce-Capelli-Sport-As-Official-Uniform-and-Equipment-Supplier-In-Multi-Year-Deal-473964863.html
Switchbacks Announce Capelli Sport As Official Uniform and Equipment Supplier In Multi-Year Deal
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.portada-online.com/2018/02/13/exclusive-interview-las-vegas-lights-fc-usls-newest-team-embraces-local-hispanic-culture/
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Las Vegas Lights FC, USL’s Newest Team, Embraces Local Hispanic Culture
(Follow link for full article.)
http://gazette.com/colorado-springs-switchbacks-show-off-new-capelli-sports-kits-excited-for-2018-season/article/1620939
Colorado Springs Switchbacks show off new Capelli Sports kits, excited for 2018 season
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sounderatheart.com/2018/2/13/17009262/garth-lagerwey-usmnt-gm-candidates
Garth Lagerwey on short list of USMNT GM candidates, Grant Wahl says
Position would apparently report directly to USSF CEO Dan Flynn, not new president Carlos Cordeiro.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sounderatheart.com/2018/2/12/17002852/carlos-cordeiro-elected-us-soccer-president
Major Link Soccer: Carlos Cordeiro elected U.S. Soccer President
The current USSF Vice President will take on the executive role, and must now pivot away from being seen as an “inside hire.”
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/ct-espn-mls-streaming-rights-20180213-story.html
ESPN's web service to gain exclusive rights to stream out-of-market MLS matches
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.kolotv.com/content/sports/1868-Earthquakes-agree-to-affiliate-extension-473699763.html
1868, Earthquakes, agree to affiliate extension
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Reno 1868 FC and its MLS affiliate, the San Jose Earthquakes, have agreed to a one-year affiliation extension, the clubs announced Saturday.
The deal, which includes a one-year option, was approved by both the United Soccer League and Major League Soccer Friday afternoon.
“This extension emboldens our partnership,” Edelstein said. “And it continues to be the benchmark for successful MLS and USL affiliations.”
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/sports/article199487909.html
US Soccer reboots, elects Carlos Cordeiro president
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/885569?referrer_id=2349190
Sellout Crowd Welcomes Nashville to Pro Ranks
Mensah scores first goal for NSC before 9,059 fans against Atlanta
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/885622?referrer_id=2349190
Lights FC Ushers in New Era with Sellout Crowd
10,387 fans pack Cashman Field for club’s opening game against Impact
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.whoscored.com/News/1e8jimmYG0qmXTsV-sIcjw/Show/Arsenal-and-Liverpool-target-163;40m-rated-goalkeeper
Manchester City star to finish career in MLS, says agent
The agent of Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has revealed his client will finish his playing career in Major League Soccer.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://mlsmultiplex.com/2018/02/11/atlanta-united-defeat-nashville-sc-in-front-of-sellout-crowd/
Atlanta United Defeats Nashville SC in Front of Sellout Crowd
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/man-city-attacker-kevin-de-bruyne-has-mls-ambitions-4219590
Man City attacker Kevin de Bruyne has MLS ambitions
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.epluribusloonum.com/2017/9/7/16263000/us-soccer-expansion-departure-tracker-2018-mls-nasl-usl-pdl
2018 US Soccer Expansion/Departure Tracker
Soccer expansion is always fun but tracking it is not, so we’re here to help.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/soccer/rising/2018/02/11/phoenix-rising-fc-2018-season-schedule-tickets/327295002/
Phoenix Rising FC fall to Red Bulls of MLS in preseason
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.themaneland.com/2018/2/11/16999966/our-city-why-the-las-vegas-lights-neon-jersey-is-just-what-american-soccer-needs-usl-mls-soccer
Our City: Why the Las Vegas Lights Neon Jersey is Just What American Soccer Needs
Today I will attempt to defend the undefendable new Las Vegas Lights FC neon kits. They are obnoxious, and just what American soccer needs.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/11/seltzer-takeaways-another-major-matchday-during-mls-preseason
Seltzer: Takeaways from another major matchday during the MLS preseason
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.inc.com/chris-matyszczyk/the-unexpected-city-thats-new-favorite-to-host-amazons-second-headquarters.html
Amazon's New Headquarters: A New City Emerges as the Favorite
This definitely isn't the first place that comes to mind.
Nashville, though, does have at least some of the slightly alternative tendencies that are so familiar in Amazon's current home of Seattle.
Just as Seattle has an extremely popular Major League Soccer team, so Nashville has just secured an expansion MLS franchise.
But we make such comparisons at our peril.
No one really knows what might be inside the head of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
It's easy to imagine he's already made his mind up, despite the company only saying it will announce its decision some time this year.
Should passionate Amazon-lovers in the other competing cities be downcast at the idea that the company might put its HQ2 in Nashville, I have a small remedy.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/lights-fc-soccer/lights-fc-lose-preseason-debut-in-front-of-sellout-crowd/
Lights FC lose preseason debut in front of sellout crowd
(Follow link for full article.)
https://traveltradedaily.com/americas-sport/item/3665-alaska-airlines-renews-portland-timbers-support
Alaska Airlines Renews Portland Timbers Support
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-may-have-to-spend-more-in-new-mls-financial-realm/
Analysis: Sounders may have to spend more in new MLS financial realm
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/11/landon-donovan-debuts-club-leon-mexicos-liga-mx
Landon Donovan debuts for Club Leon in Mexico's Liga MX
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.nashvillepost.com/sports/nashville-sc/blog/20992153/nashville-sc-puts-on-good-show-in-preseason-opener
Nashville SC revels in support during preseason opener
Rain-soaked preseason game ends in defeat, does not diminish celebratory mood around city's newest pro sports entry
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2018/02/12/owner-of-top-european-soccer-club-buys-stake-in.html
Owner of top European soccer club buys stake in Phoenix Rising, aims to bolster MLS bid
Phoenix Rising FC wants to join Major League Soccer.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/12/seeking-great-adventure-syrian-international-lands-new-england
Seeking "great adventure," Syrian international lands in New England
(Follow link for full article.)
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Faced with the next step in his career, Gabriel Somi, then of Swedish club Östersunds FK, had plenty of options.
He could stay in the Allsvenskan, Sweden's top flight, or head overseas to “top clubs” in Scotland and Denmark. But two doses of persuasion ultimately convinced the 26-year-old left back that Major League Soccer would be his destination for the 2018 season.
The first came via a phone call from Brad Friedel, the newly-minted coach of the New England Revolution, who Somi had only previously come across from watching the ex-Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper on TV. The other came via Mohammed Saeid, a fellow Örebro, Sweden native who had stints at Columbus Crew SC, Minnesota United and the Colorado Rapids from 2015 to 2017.
The kicker? Somi wanted a new challenge – even beyond playing for Östersunds FK in the Europa League – and that Revs presented exactly that.
“Of course I had plenty of options to stay in Europe,” Somi said, “But I felt it would be a great adventure in MLS and the way Brad [Friedel] wanted to use me was the key.”
Somi’s journey, however, comes with a twist. He’s of Syrian descent, and was first called up to their national team for pivotal World Cup qualifiers against Australia in October. Somi didn’t feature for The Qasioun Eagles then, but he now stands as the sole player of Syrian descent in MLS.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2018/02/12/edwards-looks-to-sell-a-stake-in-the-rowdies-to.html
Edwards looks to sell a stake in the Rowdies to make Major League Soccer a reality for St. Pete
Business magnate Bill Edwards is looking to sell a stake — and possibly majority ownership — in the Tampa Bay Rowdies to make a Major League Soccer franchise a reality for St. Petersburg.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/3381470/leon-say-landon-donovan-will-return-to-san-jose-earthquakes
Landon Donovan's Club Leon to face Earthquakes in friendly
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/3381411/the-goodthe-bad-and-the-ugly-of-mls-expansion-what-lafc-can-expect
The good, the bad and the ugly of MLS expansion: What LAFC can expect
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/soccer/rising/2018/02/12/phoenix-rising-fc-proposed-mls-stadium/325577002/
Here's what we know about Phoenix Rising FC's proposed MLS-style stadium
(Follow link for full article.)
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2018/02/12/overtown-uneasy-beckham-soccer-stadium/
Overtown Residents Remain Uneasy Over Beckham’s Soccer Stadium Plans
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Soccer star David Beckham is bringing Major League Soccer to Miami, but the idea of a soccer stadium without parking in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood still isn’t sitting well with residents.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://sports.yahoo.com/club-leon-fools-everyone-marketing-220158332.html
Club Leon fools everyone with marketing ploy for MLS friendly
Landon Donovan’s new team Club Leon used a sneaky marketing ploy to announce an upcoming March friendly with Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes.
The Liga MX side posted a tweet that read, “Landon Donovan will return to his country in March, following interest from San Jose Earthquake of MLS” which had everyone believing that Donovan could be returning to Major League Soccer to play for a new team.
Instead, it turned out to just be a mischievous announcement for a friendly on March 24th, with Donovan returning to play his first MLS club, with whom he won the 2003 MLS Cup while on loan from Bayer Leverkusen.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2018/02/12/report-nashville-sc-headed-to-bigger-venue-for.html
Nashville SC headed to bigger venue for regular season home opener
Nashville's soccer fans will have far more seats to fill when the city's new professional soccer team takes the field for its first official home game.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/nashville-sc/story/3381561/nashville-sc-moves-first-usl-home-game-to-nfl-stadium
Nashville SC moves first USL home game to NFL stadium
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2018/02/12/new-details-west-end-stadium-today-fc-cincinnati-woos-schools-community-groups/328621002/
FC Cincinnati wants to move Stargel for Major League Soccer stadium; school board mum
(Follow link for full article.)
https://socceramerica.com/publications/article/76746/report-rowdies-owner-edwards-selling-stake-in-tea.html
Report: Rowdies owner Edwards selling stake in team
Bill Edwards, the Tampa Bay Rowdies owner since 2013, wants to sell team. Just how much a stake in the team was disputed.
After a Sports Business Journal report that the Rowdies, who will begin their second season in the USL after many seasons in the NASL, were being put up for sale, Edwards told the Tampa Bay Rowdies that he is simply selling a stake in the team that will raise the profile of the team in its bid for an MLS expansion team.
"We are looking to put together an ownership group and we have five or six groups talking to us right now," Edwards told the Times. "We are trying to take it to the next level, which is Major League Soccer. But it takes a lot of money to be in MLS. I don’t plan on walking away from anything. I’ve poured five years of my life into the Rowdies and look where they’ve come. Why would I walk away?"
The 72-year-old Edwards had double bypass heart surgery in May. He has since returned to work.
Edwards said his next step is to bolster his MLS bid by finding investors to form a larger ownership group. His statement is confirmation that he recognizes that he alone can't win an MLS expansion team for Tampa Bay. He told the Times he was seeking to put together as strong an ownership group as possible to play in the USL or seek an MLS expansion team.
Tampa Bay is not in the running for the 26th expansion slot -- Cincinnati, Detroit and Sacramento are the finalists -- but it still has hope of being in the running for the next two slots. MLS has not yet announced a timeline for the selection of these two teams that will take the league to 28 teams.
The Rowdies play in St. Petersburg's Al Lang Stadium, which would require $80 million in renovations to upgrade to MLS standards.
The current Rowdies began as FC Tampa Bay in the USSF D2 League in 2010. They were renamed the Rowdies in 2012 when they won the NASL title. The Rowdies' first season in the old NASL came in 1975 when they won the Soccer Bowl over the Portland Timbers.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://aftn.ca/episode-243-the-aftn-soccer-show/
Episode 243 – The AFTN Soccer Show (Man The Barricades with guests Stefan Marinovic, Justin Fiddes, and Lucas Stauffer)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://wvxu.org/post/one-proposal-fc-cincinnati-replaces-stargel-stadium#stream/0
One Proposal From FC Cincinnati Replaces Stargel Stadium
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/02/12/fc-cincinnati-confirms-it-wants-stargel-site-for.html
FC Cincinnati confirms: It wants Stargel site for new soccer stadium
FC Cincinnati revealed its plan for a West End stadium to the Cincinnati Public Schools board on Monday night.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/02/13/mls-outfit-fc-dallas-sign-talent-development-deal-bundesliga-champions-bayern-munich
FC Dallas Signs Talent Development Deal With Bayern Munich
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sportstarlive.com/football/bayern-munich-in-youth-development-link-up-with-fc-dallas/article22742582.ece
Bayern Munich in youth development link-up with FC Dallas
Youth players from FC Dallas and Bayern Munich will be the beneficiaries of the two clubs' newly announced development partnership.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://mlsgb.com/2018/02/13/premier-league-best-player-kevin-de-bruyne-mls/
The Premier League’s best player is already planning a move to MLS
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.eurosport.com/football/bayern-munich-sign-youth-development-partnership-with-fc-dallas_sto6613875/story.shtml
Bayern Munich sign youth development partnership with FC Dallas
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.90min.com/posts/5976363-mls-outfit-fc-dallas-sign-talent-development-deal-with-bundesliga-champions-bayern-munich
MLS Outfit FC Dallas Sign Talent Development Deal With Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munich
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.soundersfc.com/post/2018/02/13/sounders-fc-announces-iheartmedia-new-radio-broadcast-partner-950-kjr-am-becoming
Sounders FC announces iHeartMedia as new radio broadcast partner, with 950 KJR AM becoming radio flagship of the Rave Green
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/bayern-munich-fc-dallas-player-development-partnership
Bayern Munich and FC Dallas pen player development partnership
Clubs to initiate training exchange for coaches and players.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/111191/ksl-in-local-professional-soccer-ott-deal?utm_source=NetNewsCheck-rss&utm_medium=category-feed-tech&utm_campaign=category-feed-tech-KSL-In-Local-Professional-Soccer-OTT-Deal
KSL In Local Professional Soccer OTT Deal
Coverage of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake club and others will be available digitally via the Salt Lake City NBC affiliate’s connected TV “Over-the-Top” app and its website.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-13/espn-s-web-service-is-said-to-gain-exclusive-pro-soccer-rights
ESPN's Web Service Gains Exclusive Pro Soccer Rights
(Follow link for full article.)
http://awfulannouncing.com/espn/espn-plus-mls-rights-mls-live.html
ESPN Plus acquires exclusive out-of-market Major League Soccer rights, will offer them at a cheaper price than MLS Live did
ESPN will offer full out-of-market MLS streaming through ESPN Plus, which will be cheaper than MLS Live and have other sports content as well.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/13/mls-live-be-added-espn-lineup-spring-free-fans-until-espn
MLS LIVE to be added to ESPN+ lineup this spring; free to fans until ESPN+
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2018/02/13/report-market-mls-games-coming-espn-will-cost-less/
REPORT: Out-of-Market MLS Games Coming to ESPN+ and Will Cost Less
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2018/2/13/17008230/why-the-partnership-with-fc-dallas-helps-bayern-munich
Why the partnership with FC Dallas helps Bayern Munich
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2018/2/13/17009296/first-candidate-for-usmnt-gm-emerges
First candidate for USMNT GM emerges
Will it come from MLS?
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3382855/mls-to-move-its-streaming-service-to-espn+-this-year
MLS to move its streaming service to ESPN+ this year
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TheMassive/comments/7xeo1p/crew_fans_given_bleak_financial_picture/
Crew fans given bleak financial picture (mystatesman.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.mystatesman.com/sports/soccer/mls-austin-columbus-crew-fans-given-bleak-financial-picture/vXY2MESik5my2m5WU1ig5O/
MLS to Austin: Columbus Crew fans given bleak financial picture
(Follow link for full article.)
http://ktar.com/story/1947711/phoenix-rising-lands-big-investor-should-help-future-mls-bid/
Phoenix Rising lands big investor, should help future MLS bid
PHOENIX — Phoenix Rising FC, a professional soccer team based in the Valley, has attracted a big-name investor that could up its potential to become a Major League Soccer team.
In a release, the team said Advantage Sports Union Ltd. had signed onto the Rising ownership group that already included people from Four Peaks Brewing Company and P.F. Chang’s, among other companies, and owner-player Didier Drogba.
Advantage’s chairman, Alex Zheng, created a 3,000-property hotel chain in Asia and is also a significant investor in OGC Nice, a French team that plays some of the best squads in Europe.
“We were fortunate and flattered to meet with a number of impressive investors who have interest in Phoenix Rising FC, but Alex Zheng was exceptional,” Berke Bakay, the team’s governor, said in the release.
“His amazing knowledge, experience and intellect were only exceeded by his incredible personality and passion for our sport.”
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2018/2/13/17008600/la-galaxy-original-robin-fraser-talks-early-dog-days-of-mls
LA Galaxy original Robin Fraser talks early dog days of MLS
Two time Defender of the Year appears on ExtraTime Radio’s story time segment
Nowadays you hear former MLS stars and other assorted old-timers talking up how good today’s players have it. The league might have its share of flaws, but MLS has come a long way from the 90’s era of cavernous stadiums, football lines and widespread uncertainty. (A visual of Michael Parkhurst munching on quinoa inside Atlanta United’s space-age training ground comes to mind)
Backtrack a few decades however, and you would find talented soccer players who toiled in America’s earlier leagues only for the newly-launched Major League Soccer to hand these guys a professional experience they could have previously only dreamed of.
Robin Fraser, a standout with the Colorado Foxes before finding a home in Los Angeles, is one of those players. A former Defender of the Year and four time Best XI with the Galaxy, the current Toronto FC assistant coach spoke on ExtraRadio about his past experiences. Give it a listen below. (Skip ahead to the 34-minute mark for the Fraser interview)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://the18.com/soccer-news/mls-streaming-on-espn-plus
MLS Shutting Down Its Streaming Service; ESPN To Take Over
The reported change could benefit viewers with a cheaper streaming option.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-mls-streaming-20180213-story.html
A TV station just made a first-of-its-kind sports streaming deal
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.goal.com/en-in/news/will-chris-durkin-be-the-next-breakout-american-teenager-in/197hicb8tarre138hnxcw8wnhw
Will D.C. United's Chris Durkin be the next breakout American teenager in MLS?
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2018/02/13/what-taxes-money-would-mls-fc-cincinnati-stadium-bring-schools/335293002/
West End wants to know: What taxes would an FC Cincinnati stadium bring in for schools?
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/2018/02/13/espn-s-web-service-is-said-to-gain-exclusive-pro-soccer-rights
ESPN's Web Service Is Said to Gain Exclusive Pro Soccer Rights
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2018/2/13/17010472/espn-replaces-mls-live-streaming-service
ESPN+ replaces MLS Live streaming service
What used to cost $79.99 a year is now $4.99 a month.
I’ve always liked MLS Live, the streaming package which allows soccer fans to watch out-of-market league matches live or in an archived format. Conversely, like most fans I’ve never been super thrilled with the buggy delivery nor the high price tag.
Luckily there’s great news for Galaxy fans. MLS Live will be incorporated into the new ESPN+ streaming service currently under construction, and available at a much cheaper price. Additionally, until the new service launches MLS Live will be available free of charge.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/auto-racing/St-Petersburg-streets-mighty-kind-to-IndyCar-s-Will-Power_165453708
St. Petersburg streets mighty kind to IndyCar’s Will Power
ST. PETERSBURG — The IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is still three-plus weeks away, but Will Power was already the first one at the track.
Really, is anyone surprised?
Power attended Tuesday’s ceremonial track-build event on the downtown streets, in the shadow of Al Lang Stadium. The native Australian came into town from his residence in Charlotte, N.C., for the event, joining Oliver Askew, who drives for St. Petersburg-based Cape Motorsports in the Pro Mazda feeder series; Jason Bell, a Tampa resident who drives for Audi in the World Challenge sports car series; Mayor Rick Kriseman; and event co-promoters Kim Green and Kevin Savoree.
Being the fastest IndyCar driver to get to St. Petersburg (apart from resident Sebastien Bourdais, of course) is fitting for Power, who also always seems to be the fastest to get around St. Petersburg.
The Team Penske star has earned the pole position six times on the 1.8-mile temporary street circuit, the most in the event’s history. This year’s race weekend is March 9-11.
"It just flows well for me," Power said in trying to explain his qualifying success in St. Petersburg. "It’s a street course; I’m pretty strong everywhere, I expect to go into every weekend with a chance to win or be on pole. This is no different. But this particular race … I always love it here."
He is indeed a contender everywhere — 30 career IndyCar wins, 44 poles and the 2014 series championship attest to that. But even by his high standards, Power is perhaps at his best in St. Petersburg. His six poles here are his most at any track, and he has won the race twice (2010, 2014).
He said the track became even better last year after the city resurfaced part of its streets.
"Sometimes the new stuff, until rubber goes down, is really slippery," Power said. "But brand new is always best. Then it slowly degrades after that. The track’s pretty smooth here now because they resurfaced most of it," he said, noting that a notoriously bumpy area coming out of Turn 3 (nearest the USF St. Petersburg campus) was smoother last year.
One thing that has not always been smooth is IndyCar’s recent history with street races. Events in Baltimore, Houston, Edmonton and Sao Paulo, Brazil, have come and gone from the series schedule in recent years. But St. Petersburg has become a mainstay as the season opener, becoming a popular stop for the drivers.
"I don’t know what the formula is, but it seems the cities that get behind the race always succeed," said Power, who turns 37 on March 1. "This is a great advertisement (for the city) for a whole weekend, when you think of a race. That’s two-hour coverage that goes out all around the world. You can’t really pay for that sort of advertising."
Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
When: March 9-11, featuring IndyCar, Indy Lights, Pro Mazda, USF2000 and World Challenge series; St. Petersburg resident Sebastien Bourdais is the defending IndyCar race champion
Where: Downtown streets of St. Petersburg, around Al Lang Stadium, Pioneer Park and the Dali Museum, and incorporating a runway at Albert Whitted Airport
Tickets: gpstpete.com or toll-free 1-877-725-8849; race day prices from $50-$135
Track construction by the numberse_SClB25
Days for construction (rain days are built in).
250 e_SFlb
Crew members who will work on building the track.
12,000 e_SFlb
Tires used to build barriers for increased safety.
18,000
Feet of steel-reinforced concrete block.
22,000
Feet of chain-link fence.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Soccer_Federation_presidential_election,_1998
United States Soccer Federation presidential election, 1998
The 1998 United States Soccer Federation presidential election was held on August 22, 1998 to determine the next President of the United States Soccer Federation. Robert Contiguglia, who succeeds two-term president Alan I. Rothenberg, has been involved in soccer in the U.S. for over three decades as a player, coach and administrator at almost every level of the game. [1]
(Follow link for full article.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Soccer_Federation_presidential_election,_2014
United States Soccer Federation presidential election, 2014
The 2014 United States Soccer Federation presidential election was held in Chicago on March 1, 2014 to determine the next President of the United States Soccer Federation. Sunil Gulati ran unopposed and entered his third four-year term after having served as U.S. Soccer’s President since 2006. [1]
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.standard.net/Business/2018/02/13/ESPN-s-web-service-is-said-to-gain-exclusive-pro-soccer-rights
ESPN's web service is said to gain exclusive pro soccer rights
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.creightonian.com/sports/article_25815676-111e-11e8-9e67-830849931dc7.html
Three Jays selected in the MLS Draft
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMOp3ZOKCFI
2018 USL Schedule Release
United Soccer League
Published on Jan 19, 2018
The schedule is set. Check out where your team is headed this season at uslsoccer.com/usl-schedule.
http://uslsoccer.com/
Keep up with the latest news and subscribe!
https://twitter.com/USL/
https://www.facebook.com/USLSoccer/
http://instagram.com/USLSoccer/
#USL
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7xe62y/shit_post_sprite_leaked_our_new_home_jersey_and/
[Shit post] Sprite leaked our new home jersey and sponsor (instagram.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BevSCszhVSd/
sprite Someday this uniform will be hanging in Coolerstown. #WannaSprite
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/coolray-field-may-not-be-an-awkward-fit-for-atlanta/article_eec149e9-7f66-5b58-8239-47d159ce0925.html
Coolray Field may not be an awkward fit for Atlanta United 2
https://ussoccerplayers.com/2018/02/soccer-history-brookhattan.html
Soccer History: Brookhattan
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Feb 12, 2018) US Soccer Players – Establishing soccer in New York City isn’t just an MLS problem. For all the communities and clubs, producing a dominant team has never been easy. Consider how much the New York Cosmos had to spend for their brief run of relevance in the 1970s. It’s an old story, with lots of teams trying to bring championships to New York. One of those was Brookhattan. Based in New York City, the club was founded in 1933 and played in the American Soccer League.
After the original ASL’s collapse in 1933 following the onset of the Great Depression four years earlier, Brookhattan and the New York Americans helped in the formation of a new ASL. Before the start of the 1938-39 season, the team dropped “New York” from its name and simply became known as Brookhattan.
Throughout the 1940s, Brookhattan was one of the most-successful clubs in the country. The team won the Lewis Cup, awarded to the winners of the ASL’s league cup, in 1942 and 1945. Brookhattan captured the treble after also winning the ASL title and National Challenge Cup, the precursor to the US Open Cup, in 1945. Brookhattan featured many star players of the time, including George Barr, Jack Hynes, and Teddy Glover. All three men would later be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
The 1945 season marked the pinnacle of Brookhattan’s success. While the ASL struggled as players went off to fight in World War II, Brookhattan rose above the rest thanks to MVP Steve Rozbora. They won the league title, edging out the Philadelphia Americans by just two points in the standings. Brookhattan also won the Lewis Cup and the National Challenge Cup that year. On the road to the Challenge Cup final, Brookhattan defeated the New York Americans in the first round, Kearney Irish in the round of 16, Baltimore Americans in the quarterfinals, and Brooklyn Hispano 5-4 in overtime in a riveting semifinal. In the two-leg series to decide the trophy, Brookhattan beat the Cleveland Americans 4-1 on June 10 at home and 2-1 on the road.
“The main thing that it did have going for it was longevity. Not many ASL teams lasted a quarter-century… Brookhattan was important to the ASL in the sense that it was always there, year after year, but it didn't really win very much outside of that one great year,” said soccer historian Roger Allaway.
When coffee importer Eugene Diaz, who had owned a team called New York Galicia, purchased the club in 1948, he changed the name to Brookhattan-Galicia. The same year Diaz decided to bankroll the unified club, Brookhattan reached the National Challenge Cup final, coming out of the East bracket, only to lose to Simkins Ford of Missouri 3-2, in the final.
Brookhattan’s legacy is a mixed one. Allaway said there were other teams at the time far more successful. “During the 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s, the ASL was dominated by teams from Philadelphia and Kearny, N.J. There were usually two teams from Brooklyn each year – Hispano and Wanderers – and two from the Bronx – Brookhattan and New York Americans – but they tended to take a back seat to teams from Philadelphia and Kearny,” Allaway said. “In the 1920s, the best ASL teams were from New England. The Fall River Marksmen team that won the same triple in 1930 was a far better team than 1945 Brookhattan.”
While the team didn’t always win trophies or finish first in the ASL, it did feature some of the country’s best players during that era. The team that lost the 1948 final featured none other than Joe Gaetjens. The Haitian-born forward, who played for Brookhattan from 1947 to 1950, would go on to star for the United States at the 1950 World Cup. His now-legendary goal against England helped the US win 1-0, which remains one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.
Gaetjens had originally come to the United States to study accounting at Columbia University on a scholarship from the Haitian government. He could not make a living playing soccer alone – where he earned about $25 a game – and decided to take a job washing dishes. At the same time, he proved to be a prolific scorer in the ASL. During the 1947–48 season, his first in the league, Gaejtens scored the second-most goals of any player with 14. During the 1949-50 season, he was the league’s top scorer – with 18 goals in 15 matches – and in the process earned a spot on the National Team after committing to become a US citizen. Although he never did get an American passport (FIFA rules at the time allowed for this), Gaetjens eventually moved to France to play professionally and later back to Haiti. He is believed to have been killed in 1964 by the country’s secret police on orders from dictator Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier. Gaetjens’ body was never found.
Gaejtens was just one example of how the team’s roster reflected the diversity of New York City. Cuban-born Pito Villanon, believed to be the first black player in the ASL’s history, played his entire 11-year career at Brookhattan, retiring in 1958. During the 1952-53 season, Villanon, a striker, scored 12 goals and finished as the league’s top scorer and MVP. Another star player, Rudy Kuntner, was also one of the ASL’s best strikers. Born in Austria, Kuntner moved to the US as a child and later helped Brookhattan win the treble. He also had a day job as an electrician – and later stage manager – at New York’s famed Metropolitan Opera. Kuntner had also earned two caps with the National Team in 1928 as part of the Olympic team. Back then, the Olympics counted as full international games.
Brookhattan-Galicia became Galicia SC. Before the start of the 1961-62 season, the merged with the amateur club Honduras to become Galicia-Honduras. The side finished a dismal seventh in the eight-team league that season and withdrew from the league. Brookhattan was lost to history until a 2013 revival as an amateur club. Brookhattan’s website says the club – which features the team’s original logo – is “quintessentially and decidedly non-glamorous, championing grassroots and amateur soccer.” The club has not been forgotten by a new generation of players and fans this time on the fields of Brooklyn.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.thenutmegnews.com/current/2015/6/24/scandal-envelopes-brookhattan-fc-as-they-fire-kit-manager-for-soliciting-healthy-candy-bars
The Nutmeg News
Satire, Humor, Commentary - Contains No Actual News
Scandal Envelopes Brookhattan FC As They Fire Kit Manager For Soliciting Healthy Candy Bars
June 24, 2015
NEW YORK - The kit manager for Brookhattan FC, Darby Gilliam, was fired today after it was revealed that he supplied Luna bars for the midfield of Brookhattan after they asked for candy.
"I didn't know we had a candy bar clause with the convenience store down the street. One of midfielders wanted to have the decision between Mounds, Almond Joy and Payday. He sent me out to make the decision and I picked up a Luna bar. Later in the day, I was told that I was going to be let go for bringing really shitty candy bar back to practice."
Players from Brookhattan agreed to speak to The Nutmeg News on the condition of anonymity and had the following to say.
"(ED Note - REDACTED player name) told him Mounds, Almond Joy or something like a Payday. No one actually wants a Luna Bar. REDACTED wanted something that increases the size of our team. He should know that he can't broker an agreement with a candy bar that no one wants."
The midfielder involved in the middle of the scandal stated, "While I ended up satisfied by the Luna Bar in question, it appears that Darby didn't understand what he was getting himself into. The other guys in the locker room are mad at his dismissal but they aren't about to challenge the status quo of Mounds Bars and Twix."
Brookhattan beat reporter Dale Cranbrook had the following to say, "Look, you play with fire organizing something like this. He should know that if you interfere with an organizations ability to make itself fatter by any means necessary that it will strike back upon you very quickly. While he likely didn't do this maliciously, when you get in between an organization and the food that it uses to survive... you won't last long."
Mr Gilliam released a final statement to the press later in the day. "I do not apologize for trying to increase the nutritional options for our midfield, I only wish that our team and our league was not in the pocket of Big Candy. I stand by my work as the kit manager for Brookhattan and am deeply disappointed in the response from the team."
The Nutmeg News will have more news on this scandal as it increases.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://pothunting.com/cart/index.php?p=product&id=237&parent=9
New York Brookhattan FC - Mens Throwback US Soccer Shirt
Overview
1950 was a busy year for Joe Gaetjens. Sank England in the first round of the World Cup. Washed dishes at a Manhattan bistro to make ends meet. Won ASL golden boot with powerhouse New York Brookhattan. United supporters from both boroughs.
Description
NEW YORK BROOKHATTAN MENS ANVIL 100% COTTON T IN PURPLE
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2018/02/13/Franchises/Rowdies.aspx
Tampa USL Owner Edwards Looking To Bolster Investor Group
USL Tampa Bay Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards yesterday said that he is "looking to bolster his ownership group," according to Rodney Page of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Edwards said, "We are looking to put together an ownership group and we have five or six groups talking to us right now. We are trying to t...
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/espn-fc-united/68/post/3382260/futbol-in-america-miami-ready-to-make-its-mark-thanks-to-david-beckham-major-league-soccer
Futbol in América: Miami ready to make mark thanks to David Beckham
(Follow link for full article.)
http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/02/13/video-10000-fans-turn-up-for-las-vegas-lights-debut/
VIDEO: 10,000 fans turn up for Las Vegas Lights debut
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.phillysoccerpage.net/2018/02/13/news-roundup-union-back-in-florida-usl-stadium-madness-boswell-adieu-more/comment-page-1/
News roundup: Union back in Florida, USL stadium madness, Boswell adieu, more
MLS
Longtime D.C. United and Houston Dynamo defender Bobby Boswell announced his retirement. His sound bites will be sorely missed, but he was sure to tell one last story.
FC Dallas signed a development deal with German giants Bayern Munich.
USL
FC Cincinnati is drawing up plans for a big shiny soccer stadium in the city’s West End. The proposal would require a land swap with a local high school.
Phoenix Rising owners aren’t waiting around for expansion. The club is moving forward with plans to build an MLS-style, soccer-specific stadium. This follows news that the owner of Ligue 1’s OGC Nice has joined the Arizona club.
And after a delirious preseason game versus Atlanta United, Nashville SC has moved their USL home opener to the NFL’s Nissan Stadium thanks to high demand for tickets.
U.S. Soccer
Five lessons from the U.S. Soccer Federation presidential election.
The always sharp Megan Rapinoe weighs in on the election.
The USMNT added a slate of friendlies to their schedule: playing host to Paraguay and visiting Ireland and France.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/02/13/fc-cincinnati-s-season-ticket-sales-hit-another.html
FC Cincinnati’s season ticket sales hit another record-breaking milestone
Amid all of the talk about where FC Cincinnati’s soccer stadium will be built if it hauls in a Major League Soccer expansion franchise, the club has been on a record-breaking season ticket sales tear.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/886506?referrer_id=3577980
USL's Week Ahead – USL Clubs Welcome MLS Preseason Tests
Battery's Carolina Challenge Cup gets national television audience for first time in history
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/886685?referrer_id=2364194-news-archive
Switchbacks Team Up with Capelli Sport
Manufacturer becomes Colorado Springs’ official uniform and equipment supplier
(Follow link for full article.)
http://clarksvillenow.com/local/nashville-soccer-clubs-home-opener-moved-to-nissan-stadium/
Nashville Soccer Club’s home opener moved to Nissan Stadium
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.kktv.com/content/sports/Switchbacks-Announce-Capelli-Sport-As-Official-Uniform-and-Equipment-Supplier-In-Multi-Year-Deal-473964863.html
Switchbacks Announce Capelli Sport As Official Uniform and Equipment Supplier In Multi-Year Deal
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.portada-online.com/2018/02/13/exclusive-interview-las-vegas-lights-fc-usls-newest-team-embraces-local-hispanic-culture/
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Las Vegas Lights FC, USL’s Newest Team, Embraces Local Hispanic Culture
(Follow link for full article.)
http://gazette.com/colorado-springs-switchbacks-show-off-new-capelli-sports-kits-excited-for-2018-season/article/1620939
Colorado Springs Switchbacks show off new Capelli Sports kits, excited for 2018 season
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sounderatheart.com/2018/2/13/17009262/garth-lagerwey-usmnt-gm-candidates
Garth Lagerwey on short list of USMNT GM candidates, Grant Wahl says
Position would apparently report directly to USSF CEO Dan Flynn, not new president Carlos Cordeiro.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sounderatheart.com/2018/2/12/17002852/carlos-cordeiro-elected-us-soccer-president
Major Link Soccer: Carlos Cordeiro elected U.S. Soccer President
The current USSF Vice President will take on the executive role, and must now pivot away from being seen as an “inside hire.”
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/ct-espn-mls-streaming-rights-20180213-story.html
ESPN's web service to gain exclusive rights to stream out-of-market MLS matches
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.kolotv.com/content/sports/1868-Earthquakes-agree-to-affiliate-extension-473699763.html
1868, Earthquakes, agree to affiliate extension
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Reno 1868 FC and its MLS affiliate, the San Jose Earthquakes, have agreed to a one-year affiliation extension, the clubs announced Saturday.
The deal, which includes a one-year option, was approved by both the United Soccer League and Major League Soccer Friday afternoon.
“This extension emboldens our partnership,” Edelstein said. “And it continues to be the benchmark for successful MLS and USL affiliations.”
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/sports/article199487909.html
US Soccer reboots, elects Carlos Cordeiro president
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/885569?referrer_id=2349190
Sellout Crowd Welcomes Nashville to Pro Ranks
Mensah scores first goal for NSC before 9,059 fans against Atlanta
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/885622?referrer_id=2349190
Lights FC Ushers in New Era with Sellout Crowd
10,387 fans pack Cashman Field for club’s opening game against Impact
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.whoscored.com/News/1e8jimmYG0qmXTsV-sIcjw/Show/Arsenal-and-Liverpool-target-163;40m-rated-goalkeeper
Manchester City star to finish career in MLS, says agent
The agent of Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has revealed his client will finish his playing career in Major League Soccer.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://mlsmultiplex.com/2018/02/11/atlanta-united-defeat-nashville-sc-in-front-of-sellout-crowd/
Atlanta United Defeats Nashville SC in Front of Sellout Crowd
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/man-city-attacker-kevin-de-bruyne-has-mls-ambitions-4219590
Man City attacker Kevin de Bruyne has MLS ambitions
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.epluribusloonum.com/2017/9/7/16263000/us-soccer-expansion-departure-tracker-2018-mls-nasl-usl-pdl
2018 US Soccer Expansion/Departure Tracker
Soccer expansion is always fun but tracking it is not, so we’re here to help.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/soccer/rising/2018/02/11/phoenix-rising-fc-2018-season-schedule-tickets/327295002/
Phoenix Rising FC fall to Red Bulls of MLS in preseason
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.themaneland.com/2018/2/11/16999966/our-city-why-the-las-vegas-lights-neon-jersey-is-just-what-american-soccer-needs-usl-mls-soccer
Our City: Why the Las Vegas Lights Neon Jersey is Just What American Soccer Needs
Today I will attempt to defend the undefendable new Las Vegas Lights FC neon kits. They are obnoxious, and just what American soccer needs.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/11/seltzer-takeaways-another-major-matchday-during-mls-preseason
Seltzer: Takeaways from another major matchday during the MLS preseason
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.inc.com/chris-matyszczyk/the-unexpected-city-thats-new-favorite-to-host-amazons-second-headquarters.html
Amazon's New Headquarters: A New City Emerges as the Favorite
This definitely isn't the first place that comes to mind.
Nashville, though, does have at least some of the slightly alternative tendencies that are so familiar in Amazon's current home of Seattle.
Just as Seattle has an extremely popular Major League Soccer team, so Nashville has just secured an expansion MLS franchise.
But we make such comparisons at our peril.
No one really knows what might be inside the head of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
It's easy to imagine he's already made his mind up, despite the company only saying it will announce its decision some time this year.
Should passionate Amazon-lovers in the other competing cities be downcast at the idea that the company might put its HQ2 in Nashville, I have a small remedy.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/lights-fc-soccer/lights-fc-lose-preseason-debut-in-front-of-sellout-crowd/
Lights FC lose preseason debut in front of sellout crowd
(Follow link for full article.)
https://traveltradedaily.com/americas-sport/item/3665-alaska-airlines-renews-portland-timbers-support
Alaska Airlines Renews Portland Timbers Support
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-may-have-to-spend-more-in-new-mls-financial-realm/
Analysis: Sounders may have to spend more in new MLS financial realm
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/11/landon-donovan-debuts-club-leon-mexicos-liga-mx
Landon Donovan debuts for Club Leon in Mexico's Liga MX
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.nashvillepost.com/sports/nashville-sc/blog/20992153/nashville-sc-puts-on-good-show-in-preseason-opener
Nashville SC revels in support during preseason opener
Rain-soaked preseason game ends in defeat, does not diminish celebratory mood around city's newest pro sports entry
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2018/02/12/owner-of-top-european-soccer-club-buys-stake-in.html
Owner of top European soccer club buys stake in Phoenix Rising, aims to bolster MLS bid
Phoenix Rising FC wants to join Major League Soccer.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/12/seeking-great-adventure-syrian-international-lands-new-england
Seeking "great adventure," Syrian international lands in New England
(Follow link for full article.)
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Faced with the next step in his career, Gabriel Somi, then of Swedish club Östersunds FK, had plenty of options.
He could stay in the Allsvenskan, Sweden's top flight, or head overseas to “top clubs” in Scotland and Denmark. But two doses of persuasion ultimately convinced the 26-year-old left back that Major League Soccer would be his destination for the 2018 season.
The first came via a phone call from Brad Friedel, the newly-minted coach of the New England Revolution, who Somi had only previously come across from watching the ex-Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper on TV. The other came via Mohammed Saeid, a fellow Örebro, Sweden native who had stints at Columbus Crew SC, Minnesota United and the Colorado Rapids from 2015 to 2017.
The kicker? Somi wanted a new challenge – even beyond playing for Östersunds FK in the Europa League – and that Revs presented exactly that.
“Of course I had plenty of options to stay in Europe,” Somi said, “But I felt it would be a great adventure in MLS and the way Brad [Friedel] wanted to use me was the key.”
Somi’s journey, however, comes with a twist. He’s of Syrian descent, and was first called up to their national team for pivotal World Cup qualifiers against Australia in October. Somi didn’t feature for The Qasioun Eagles then, but he now stands as the sole player of Syrian descent in MLS.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2018/02/12/edwards-looks-to-sell-a-stake-in-the-rowdies-to.html
Edwards looks to sell a stake in the Rowdies to make Major League Soccer a reality for St. Pete
Business magnate Bill Edwards is looking to sell a stake — and possibly majority ownership — in the Tampa Bay Rowdies to make a Major League Soccer franchise a reality for St. Petersburg.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/3381470/leon-say-landon-donovan-will-return-to-san-jose-earthquakes
Landon Donovan's Club Leon to face Earthquakes in friendly
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/3381411/the-goodthe-bad-and-the-ugly-of-mls-expansion-what-lafc-can-expect
The good, the bad and the ugly of MLS expansion: What LAFC can expect
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/soccer/rising/2018/02/12/phoenix-rising-fc-proposed-mls-stadium/325577002/
Here's what we know about Phoenix Rising FC's proposed MLS-style stadium
(Follow link for full article.)
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2018/02/12/overtown-uneasy-beckham-soccer-stadium/
Overtown Residents Remain Uneasy Over Beckham’s Soccer Stadium Plans
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Soccer star David Beckham is bringing Major League Soccer to Miami, but the idea of a soccer stadium without parking in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood still isn’t sitting well with residents.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://sports.yahoo.com/club-leon-fools-everyone-marketing-220158332.html
Club Leon fools everyone with marketing ploy for MLS friendly
Landon Donovan’s new team Club Leon used a sneaky marketing ploy to announce an upcoming March friendly with Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes.
The Liga MX side posted a tweet that read, “Landon Donovan will return to his country in March, following interest from San Jose Earthquake of MLS” which had everyone believing that Donovan could be returning to Major League Soccer to play for a new team.
Instead, it turned out to just be a mischievous announcement for a friendly on March 24th, with Donovan returning to play his first MLS club, with whom he won the 2003 MLS Cup while on loan from Bayer Leverkusen.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2018/02/12/report-nashville-sc-headed-to-bigger-venue-for.html
Nashville SC headed to bigger venue for regular season home opener
Nashville's soccer fans will have far more seats to fill when the city's new professional soccer team takes the field for its first official home game.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/nashville-sc/story/3381561/nashville-sc-moves-first-usl-home-game-to-nfl-stadium
Nashville SC moves first USL home game to NFL stadium
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2018/02/12/new-details-west-end-stadium-today-fc-cincinnati-woos-schools-community-groups/328621002/
FC Cincinnati wants to move Stargel for Major League Soccer stadium; school board mum
(Follow link for full article.)
https://socceramerica.com/publications/article/76746/report-rowdies-owner-edwards-selling-stake-in-tea.html
Report: Rowdies owner Edwards selling stake in team
Bill Edwards, the Tampa Bay Rowdies owner since 2013, wants to sell team. Just how much a stake in the team was disputed.
After a Sports Business Journal report that the Rowdies, who will begin their second season in the USL after many seasons in the NASL, were being put up for sale, Edwards told the Tampa Bay Rowdies that he is simply selling a stake in the team that will raise the profile of the team in its bid for an MLS expansion team.
"We are looking to put together an ownership group and we have five or six groups talking to us right now," Edwards told the Times. "We are trying to take it to the next level, which is Major League Soccer. But it takes a lot of money to be in MLS. I don’t plan on walking away from anything. I’ve poured five years of my life into the Rowdies and look where they’ve come. Why would I walk away?"
The 72-year-old Edwards had double bypass heart surgery in May. He has since returned to work.
Edwards said his next step is to bolster his MLS bid by finding investors to form a larger ownership group. His statement is confirmation that he recognizes that he alone can't win an MLS expansion team for Tampa Bay. He told the Times he was seeking to put together as strong an ownership group as possible to play in the USL or seek an MLS expansion team.
Tampa Bay is not in the running for the 26th expansion slot -- Cincinnati, Detroit and Sacramento are the finalists -- but it still has hope of being in the running for the next two slots. MLS has not yet announced a timeline for the selection of these two teams that will take the league to 28 teams.
The Rowdies play in St. Petersburg's Al Lang Stadium, which would require $80 million in renovations to upgrade to MLS standards.
The current Rowdies began as FC Tampa Bay in the USSF D2 League in 2010. They were renamed the Rowdies in 2012 when they won the NASL title. The Rowdies' first season in the old NASL came in 1975 when they won the Soccer Bowl over the Portland Timbers.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://aftn.ca/episode-243-the-aftn-soccer-show/
Episode 243 – The AFTN Soccer Show (Man The Barricades with guests Stefan Marinovic, Justin Fiddes, and Lucas Stauffer)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://wvxu.org/post/one-proposal-fc-cincinnati-replaces-stargel-stadium#stream/0
One Proposal From FC Cincinnati Replaces Stargel Stadium
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/02/12/fc-cincinnati-confirms-it-wants-stargel-site-for.html
FC Cincinnati confirms: It wants Stargel site for new soccer stadium
FC Cincinnati revealed its plan for a West End stadium to the Cincinnati Public Schools board on Monday night.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/02/13/mls-outfit-fc-dallas-sign-talent-development-deal-bundesliga-champions-bayern-munich
FC Dallas Signs Talent Development Deal With Bayern Munich
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sportstarlive.com/football/bayern-munich-in-youth-development-link-up-with-fc-dallas/article22742582.ece
Bayern Munich in youth development link-up with FC Dallas
Youth players from FC Dallas and Bayern Munich will be the beneficiaries of the two clubs' newly announced development partnership.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://mlsgb.com/2018/02/13/premier-league-best-player-kevin-de-bruyne-mls/
The Premier League’s best player is already planning a move to MLS
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.eurosport.com/football/bayern-munich-sign-youth-development-partnership-with-fc-dallas_sto6613875/story.shtml
Bayern Munich sign youth development partnership with FC Dallas
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.90min.com/posts/5976363-mls-outfit-fc-dallas-sign-talent-development-deal-with-bundesliga-champions-bayern-munich
MLS Outfit FC Dallas Sign Talent Development Deal With Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munich
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.soundersfc.com/post/2018/02/13/sounders-fc-announces-iheartmedia-new-radio-broadcast-partner-950-kjr-am-becoming
Sounders FC announces iHeartMedia as new radio broadcast partner, with 950 KJR AM becoming radio flagship of the Rave Green
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/bayern-munich-fc-dallas-player-development-partnership
Bayern Munich and FC Dallas pen player development partnership
Clubs to initiate training exchange for coaches and players.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/111191/ksl-in-local-professional-soccer-ott-deal?utm_source=NetNewsCheck-rss&utm_medium=category-feed-tech&utm_campaign=category-feed-tech-KSL-In-Local-Professional-Soccer-OTT-Deal
KSL In Local Professional Soccer OTT Deal
Coverage of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake club and others will be available digitally via the Salt Lake City NBC affiliate’s connected TV “Over-the-Top” app and its website.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-13/espn-s-web-service-is-said-to-gain-exclusive-pro-soccer-rights
ESPN's Web Service Gains Exclusive Pro Soccer Rights
(Follow link for full article.)
http://awfulannouncing.com/espn/espn-plus-mls-rights-mls-live.html
ESPN Plus acquires exclusive out-of-market Major League Soccer rights, will offer them at a cheaper price than MLS Live did
ESPN will offer full out-of-market MLS streaming through ESPN Plus, which will be cheaper than MLS Live and have other sports content as well.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/13/mls-live-be-added-espn-lineup-spring-free-fans-until-espn
MLS LIVE to be added to ESPN+ lineup this spring; free to fans until ESPN+
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2018/02/13/report-market-mls-games-coming-espn-will-cost-less/
REPORT: Out-of-Market MLS Games Coming to ESPN+ and Will Cost Less
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2018/2/13/17008230/why-the-partnership-with-fc-dallas-helps-bayern-munich
Why the partnership with FC Dallas helps Bayern Munich
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2018/2/13/17009296/first-candidate-for-usmnt-gm-emerges
First candidate for USMNT GM emerges
Will it come from MLS?
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3382855/mls-to-move-its-streaming-service-to-espn+-this-year
MLS to move its streaming service to ESPN+ this year
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TheMassive/comments/7xeo1p/crew_fans_given_bleak_financial_picture/
Crew fans given bleak financial picture (mystatesman.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.mystatesman.com/sports/soccer/mls-austin-columbus-crew-fans-given-bleak-financial-picture/vXY2MESik5my2m5WU1ig5O/
MLS to Austin: Columbus Crew fans given bleak financial picture
(Follow link for full article.)
http://ktar.com/story/1947711/phoenix-rising-lands-big-investor-should-help-future-mls-bid/
Phoenix Rising lands big investor, should help future MLS bid
PHOENIX — Phoenix Rising FC, a professional soccer team based in the Valley, has attracted a big-name investor that could up its potential to become a Major League Soccer team.
In a release, the team said Advantage Sports Union Ltd. had signed onto the Rising ownership group that already included people from Four Peaks Brewing Company and P.F. Chang’s, among other companies, and owner-player Didier Drogba.
Advantage’s chairman, Alex Zheng, created a 3,000-property hotel chain in Asia and is also a significant investor in OGC Nice, a French team that plays some of the best squads in Europe.
“We were fortunate and flattered to meet with a number of impressive investors who have interest in Phoenix Rising FC, but Alex Zheng was exceptional,” Berke Bakay, the team’s governor, said in the release.
“His amazing knowledge, experience and intellect were only exceeded by his incredible personality and passion for our sport.”
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2018/2/13/17008600/la-galaxy-original-robin-fraser-talks-early-dog-days-of-mls
LA Galaxy original Robin Fraser talks early dog days of MLS
Two time Defender of the Year appears on ExtraTime Radio’s story time segment
Nowadays you hear former MLS stars and other assorted old-timers talking up how good today’s players have it. The league might have its share of flaws, but MLS has come a long way from the 90’s era of cavernous stadiums, football lines and widespread uncertainty. (A visual of Michael Parkhurst munching on quinoa inside Atlanta United’s space-age training ground comes to mind)
Backtrack a few decades however, and you would find talented soccer players who toiled in America’s earlier leagues only for the newly-launched Major League Soccer to hand these guys a professional experience they could have previously only dreamed of.
Robin Fraser, a standout with the Colorado Foxes before finding a home in Los Angeles, is one of those players. A former Defender of the Year and four time Best XI with the Galaxy, the current Toronto FC assistant coach spoke on ExtraRadio about his past experiences. Give it a listen below. (Skip ahead to the 34-minute mark for the Fraser interview)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://the18.com/soccer-news/mls-streaming-on-espn-plus
MLS Shutting Down Its Streaming Service; ESPN To Take Over
The reported change could benefit viewers with a cheaper streaming option.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-mls-streaming-20180213-story.html
A TV station just made a first-of-its-kind sports streaming deal
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.goal.com/en-in/news/will-chris-durkin-be-the-next-breakout-american-teenager-in/197hicb8tarre138hnxcw8wnhw
Will D.C. United's Chris Durkin be the next breakout American teenager in MLS?
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2018/02/13/what-taxes-money-would-mls-fc-cincinnati-stadium-bring-schools/335293002/
West End wants to know: What taxes would an FC Cincinnati stadium bring in for schools?
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/2018/02/13/espn-s-web-service-is-said-to-gain-exclusive-pro-soccer-rights
ESPN's Web Service Is Said to Gain Exclusive Pro Soccer Rights
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2018/2/13/17010472/espn-replaces-mls-live-streaming-service
ESPN+ replaces MLS Live streaming service
What used to cost $79.99 a year is now $4.99 a month.
I’ve always liked MLS Live, the streaming package which allows soccer fans to watch out-of-market league matches live or in an archived format. Conversely, like most fans I’ve never been super thrilled with the buggy delivery nor the high price tag.
Luckily there’s great news for Galaxy fans. MLS Live will be incorporated into the new ESPN+ streaming service currently under construction, and available at a much cheaper price. Additionally, until the new service launches MLS Live will be available free of charge.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/auto-racing/St-Petersburg-streets-mighty-kind-to-IndyCar-s-Will-Power_165453708
St. Petersburg streets mighty kind to IndyCar’s Will Power
ST. PETERSBURG — The IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is still three-plus weeks away, but Will Power was already the first one at the track.
Really, is anyone surprised?
Power attended Tuesday’s ceremonial track-build event on the downtown streets, in the shadow of Al Lang Stadium. The native Australian came into town from his residence in Charlotte, N.C., for the event, joining Oliver Askew, who drives for St. Petersburg-based Cape Motorsports in the Pro Mazda feeder series; Jason Bell, a Tampa resident who drives for Audi in the World Challenge sports car series; Mayor Rick Kriseman; and event co-promoters Kim Green and Kevin Savoree.
Being the fastest IndyCar driver to get to St. Petersburg (apart from resident Sebastien Bourdais, of course) is fitting for Power, who also always seems to be the fastest to get around St. Petersburg.
The Team Penske star has earned the pole position six times on the 1.8-mile temporary street circuit, the most in the event’s history. This year’s race weekend is March 9-11.
"It just flows well for me," Power said in trying to explain his qualifying success in St. Petersburg. "It’s a street course; I’m pretty strong everywhere, I expect to go into every weekend with a chance to win or be on pole. This is no different. But this particular race … I always love it here."
He is indeed a contender everywhere — 30 career IndyCar wins, 44 poles and the 2014 series championship attest to that. But even by his high standards, Power is perhaps at his best in St. Petersburg. His six poles here are his most at any track, and he has won the race twice (2010, 2014).
He said the track became even better last year after the city resurfaced part of its streets.
"Sometimes the new stuff, until rubber goes down, is really slippery," Power said. "But brand new is always best. Then it slowly degrades after that. The track’s pretty smooth here now because they resurfaced most of it," he said, noting that a notoriously bumpy area coming out of Turn 3 (nearest the USF St. Petersburg campus) was smoother last year.
One thing that has not always been smooth is IndyCar’s recent history with street races. Events in Baltimore, Houston, Edmonton and Sao Paulo, Brazil, have come and gone from the series schedule in recent years. But St. Petersburg has become a mainstay as the season opener, becoming a popular stop for the drivers.
"I don’t know what the formula is, but it seems the cities that get behind the race always succeed," said Power, who turns 37 on March 1. "This is a great advertisement (for the city) for a whole weekend, when you think of a race. That’s two-hour coverage that goes out all around the world. You can’t really pay for that sort of advertising."
Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
When: March 9-11, featuring IndyCar, Indy Lights, Pro Mazda, USF2000 and World Challenge series; St. Petersburg resident Sebastien Bourdais is the defending IndyCar race champion
Where: Downtown streets of St. Petersburg, around Al Lang Stadium, Pioneer Park and the Dali Museum, and incorporating a runway at Albert Whitted Airport
Tickets: gpstpete.com or toll-free 1-877-725-8849; race day prices from $50-$135
Track construction by the numberse_SClB25
Days for construction (rain days are built in).
250 e_SFlb
Crew members who will work on building the track.
12,000 e_SFlb
Tires used to build barriers for increased safety.
18,000
Feet of steel-reinforced concrete block.
22,000
Feet of chain-link fence.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Soccer_Federation_presidential_election,_1998
United States Soccer Federation presidential election, 1998
The 1998 United States Soccer Federation presidential election was held on August 22, 1998 to determine the next President of the United States Soccer Federation. Robert Contiguglia, who succeeds two-term president Alan I. Rothenberg, has been involved in soccer in the U.S. for over three decades as a player, coach and administrator at almost every level of the game. [1]
(Follow link for full article.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Soccer_Federation_presidential_election,_2014
United States Soccer Federation presidential election, 2014
The 2014 United States Soccer Federation presidential election was held in Chicago on March 1, 2014 to determine the next President of the United States Soccer Federation. Sunil Gulati ran unopposed and entered his third four-year term after having served as U.S. Soccer’s President since 2006. [1]
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.standard.net/Business/2018/02/13/ESPN-s-web-service-is-said-to-gain-exclusive-pro-soccer-rights
ESPN's web service is said to gain exclusive pro soccer rights
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.creightonian.com/sports/article_25815676-111e-11e8-9e67-830849931dc7.html
Three Jays selected in the MLS Draft
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMOp3ZOKCFI
2018 USL Schedule Release
United Soccer League
Published on Jan 19, 2018
The schedule is set. Check out where your team is headed this season at uslsoccer.com/usl-schedule.
http://uslsoccer.com/
Keep up with the latest news and subscribe!
https://twitter.com/USL/
https://www.facebook.com/USLSoccer/
http://instagram.com/USLSoccer/
#USL
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7xe62y/shit_post_sprite_leaked_our_new_home_jersey_and/
[Shit post] Sprite leaked our new home jersey and sponsor (instagram.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BevSCszhVSd/
sprite Someday this uniform will be hanging in Coolerstown. #WannaSprite
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/coolray-field-may-not-be-an-awkward-fit-for-atlanta/article_eec149e9-7f66-5b58-8239-47d159ce0925.html
Coolray Field may not be an awkward fit for Atlanta United 2
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)