St. Pete mayor to meet face to face with Rays owner Stuart Sternberg

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pinellas/st-pete-mayor-to-meet-face-to-face-with-rays-owner-stuart-sternberg

St. Pete mayor to meet face to face with Rays owner Stuart Sternberg

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The mayor of St. Petersburg is set to meet face to face with the Tampa Bay Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg.

It’s been more than a month since the principal owner of the Tampa Bay Rays Stuart Sternberg announced plans to explore splitting games between Montreal and St. Petersburg.

In the days that followed last month’s announcement, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman has remained firm on his position that the Rays play all of their games in St. Petersburg or there is nothing to negotiation.

RELATED:

Rays owner committed to making split-season Montreal deal happen
St. Pete Mayor: Sharing the Rays with Montreal is not an option
Baseball union: Player approval needed to move Rays to Montreal
Despite holding news conferences and taking to social media, the mayor has not formally met face to face with Sternberg to discuss options.

Fans attending the Rays game Monday night hope the mayor doesn’t give in to any pressure.

“There’s no chance the Rays can be supported in two markets,” Zak Davis said. “Nobody is going to build two stadiums. I’m curious to hear what comes out of it. I don’t know that we’ll find a unilateral decision tomorrow. I think more talks are going to continue.”

The meeting is expected to take place at 3 p.m. Fans are anxious to find out if the team will ask for permission to pursue the Montreal idea.

A spokesman for Kriseman told ABC Action News the Montreal proposal is likely to be among an array of issues they will discussed.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.gq.com.au/fitness/sport/the-nbas-elite-are-turning-towards-soccer-as-a-new-way-of-investing-their-cash/news-story/3804073a7fa2387c9196f4599ebc9da4

The NBA's Elite Are Turning Towards Soccer As A New Way Of Investing Their Cash

LEBRON WAS THE FIRST PLAYER TO ESTABLISH A FINANCIAL LINK BETWEEN THE TWO SPORTS, BUT HE'S NOT THE LAST.

“Much more soccer, I haven’t played basketball since I retired," were the words of Steve Nash in a Sports Illustrated interview back in 2016. Nash, who made himself a legend of the Phoenix Suns and established himself as one of the all-time great point guards in a glittering 20-year career, was honest in divulging the way his priorities had shifted since leaving the sport.

"I love the game and still am working with the Warriors [as a consultant] and find a great deal of reward and enjoyment out of that. But I’m playing no basketball and playing soccer semi-regularly. If you add up my love of Spurs and Mallorca and the Whitecaps, I probably watch more soccer than I do basketball these days as well."

One of these clubs may sound familiar to most with even a basic knowledge of the beautiful game. But why would Nash, one of the highest-paid players in the history of the league, be troubling himself watching obscure streams of second-division Spanish football?

The answer is simple: he had just added himself to the list of NBA legends who, on the advice of their managers, had decided to put some of their hard-earned capital behind the fortunes of a team. It's a list that's grown since Nash purchased his ownership stakes in both the MLS's Vancouver Whitecaps and Spanish side Mallorca, and it now seems that taking an ownership stake in a successful soccer club is becoming an in-vogue way for highly-paid athletes to make safe investments in their future.

The highest-profile example of this comes in arguable GOAT LeBron James, who many are periodically reminded actually owns a 2% stake in Liverpool FC. He's been an on-and-off vocal supporter of the club since he took a piece of the pie back in 2011, and there's no doubt that the investment has paid massive dividends.

Liverpool was struggling both financially and performance-wise at the time LeBron took a stake. Shortly after, Fenway Sports Group took over, and since then the club's fortunes have shifted dramatically. A near-title winning season in 2013 set the stage for the appointment of Jurgen Klopp, who's led the Reds not only back to near the top of the premier league table, but their first European cup since 2005.

Liverpool's value has skyrocketed as a result, and they're now among the top financial powers in global football once more — a status they haven't enjoyed since the 1980s. According to reporting from ESPN’s Darren Rovell (per Business Insider), LeBron's stake has grown from $US6.5 million to approximately $US32 million in the space of less than a decade.

Now, it seems that other NBA stars (as well as those who manage their finances) are taking notice, particularly with the growth and growth of the MLS and NWSL as major beacons for sporting franchises in America. The US's World Cup glory on the female side of the game has made women's football a more lucrative financial prospect than ever, while the MLS continues to go from strength to strength, adding new clubs with financial backing from the likes of David Beckham (who owns part of incoming team Inter Miami), Riot Games founder Brandon Beck (managing owner of the new LA FC), boxer Oscar De La Hoya (Houston Dynamo), and Drew Carey (Seattle Sounders).

James Harden, one of the NBA's highest-paid players right now, has added his name to the same list, buying a 5% stake in the ownership group that owns both the Houston Dynamo and its female counterpart, the Houston Dash — two talismanic team sfrom the city where his own Rockets play in the NBA. The deal was set up by True Capital Management, Harden's wealth management company.

“It was time,” Harden said in a recorded message to the fans. “I’m invested, this is my city and I’m here, I’m here to stay. I know I need to bring a championship in basketball and I will, that’s coming very, very soon, but I just had to show my appreciation and let you guys know that I’m a part of the city and I’m here forever, so I’m a part of the Dynamo, we’re going to take this thing to another level.”

The deal is “another opportunity to expand my brand globally, over these last four or five years I became very passionate about soccer so it made perfect sense,” he told Fox local news on Saturday.

It makes perfect sense financially, as well. MLS teams are, for cities like Columbus and Salt Lake, the biggest sporting organisations around, making the stadiums and assets that come with a Major Soccer Franchise prime pieces of property for any investor. Houston is also in the midst of a slump right now, sitting outside the MLS playoff spots and having not won any major MLS silverware since 2007. If they can turn their fortunes around like Liverpool though, Harden's investment could prove very lucrative very quickly.

This is only set to improve as the USA gears up to host the 2026 World Cup. The MLS have even announced that the expansion fee for new teams has been raised to $200 million USD, such is the value of a new franchise.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2019/07/22/26900/

NAMING THE TEAM: Atletico de Madrid roster for MLS all-star game

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/canadian-championship-vancouver-whitecaps-look-to-advance-against-cavalry-fc/

Canadian Championship: Vancouver Whitecaps look to advance against Cavalry FC

Vancouver Whitecaps look to salvage season when they host Cavalry FC in the Canadian Championship.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2019/07/22/open-for-business-open-cup-entry-deadline-for-amateur-teams-is-aug-12/

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Open Cup entry deadline for amateur teams is Aug. 12

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/83057/the-absurdity-of-summer-league-playoffs-and-a-p.html

The absurdity of summer league playoffs -- and a proposal to replace them

Soccer America

Without this playoff system, each team could save on travel costs and give players more games. ... amateur soccer and the small number of teams in United Women's Soccer, ... U.S. Open Cup participation may fall by the wayside.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/07/22/schelotto-looks-la-galaxy-players-break-through-leagues-cup

Schelotto looks for LA Galaxy players to break through in Leagues Cup

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1374022986085425&id=1021506468003747

American Craftsman Museum

June 28 at 3:21 PM ·

Have you heard the news?

The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement opens to the public on Tuesday, December 10!

The only major museum in the nation dedicated to this important movement in the history of American decorative arts (c. 1900 – 1930), the $90 million, 5-story, 137,000-square-foot building is the culmination of a six-year collaboration between founder, collector, and benefactor Rudy Ciccarello and award-winning architect Alberto Alfonso, of Alfonso Architects.

After thousands of hours spent in concept and design and four years under construction, the museum is nearly complete and can only be described as architecturally striking. The building is accentuated with brilliant Brazilian granite panels and Arts and Crafts-era tile murals that create a bold architectural presence. Once inside, visitors will find themselves in the expansive Grand Atrium, soaring five stories high. Lit from above by Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired stained-glass skylights and framed by a 67-foot historic tile mural, the first floor is home to the Museum store, Café, Ambrosia Restaurant, and a research library. The rest of the museum has more than 40,000 square feet of permanent gallery space and 10,000 additional square feet dedicated to changing exhibitions. The permanent galleries are the repositories for the world-class collection of art objects from the Two Red Roses Foundation, started by Ciccarello in 1997. The collection of more than 2,000 objects includes rare and one-of-a-kind examples of furniture, pottery, metalwork, tiles, lighting, color wood blocks, photography, jewelry, and fine art created in the early years of the twentieth century. In addition to gallery space, there is an auditorium, a large event and banquet hall, a graphic studio, and education studio.

We can not wait to welcome guests from near and far to enjoy this new museum!

#museumaacm

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/New-museum-coming-to-St-Pete-in-Dec

New museum coming to St. Pete in Dec.

Rendering of the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, opening in December in St. Petersburg.

Downtown St. Petersburg will welcome another major museum to it cultural landscape this winter, the $90 million, five-story Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement. The museum will open in December and is the result of collaboration between collector and founder Rudy Ciccarello and architect Alberto Alfonso.

The collection will include more than 2,000 objects and examples of American furniture, pottery, metalwork, tiles, lighting, color-wood blocks, photography, jewelry and fine art from the early 20th century. The museum will also feature an auditorium, an event and banquet hall, a graphic studio and an education studio.

The building itself will feature a grand atrium, skylights and a dramatic spiral staircase, all adorned with period art, light fixtures, stained glass windows and fireplaces. The first floor will be home to the museum store, cafe and Ambrosia Restaurant as well as a research library. The other four floors will be home to more than 40,000 square feet of permanent gallery space and 10,000 square feet for rotating exhibitions.

Announcements regarding exhibitions and other programs are forthcoming.

St. Petersburg is home to a number of art and cultural institutions, including the Dali Museum, the Chihuly Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Morean Arts Center, the Woodson African American Museum and the Florida Holocaust Museum.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/07/04/new-museum-of-american-arts-and-crafts-movement-readies-for-its-grand-opening-this-winter-in-st-pete

New Museum of American Arts and Crafts Movement readies for its grand opening this winter in St. Pete

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.tampabay.com/visual-arts/museum-of-the-american-arts-and-crafts-movement-now-scheduled-to-open-by-years-end-20190703/

Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement now scheduled to open by year’s end

Expansion, better amenities and search for perfectionism contributed to delays

Work continues on the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement. The museum is now scheduled to open in December.

The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, the newest...

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2019-07-22/leagues-cup-galaxy-tijuana-soccer

Galaxy begin Leagues Cup play against Tijuana but won’t play stars

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/golden-state-warriors-sign-exclusive-fanatics-retail-partnership

Golden State Warriors sign exclusive Fanatics retail partnership

NBA giants appoint management team under new Bay Area merchandise agreement.

Fanatics also manages merchandising operations in the Bay Area for the National Football Association's (NFL) San Francisco 49ers, Major League Baseball's (MLB) San Francisco Giants, Major League Soccer's (MLS) San Jose Earthquakes, and the National Hockey League's (NHL) San Jose Sharks.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/soccer/premier-league-roundup-chicharito-wants-out-west-ham-talks-mls

Premier League Roundup: Chicharito wants out of West Ham, in talks with MLS

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/atlanta-united/result/result-mls-stars-trick-shot-penalty-goes-horribly-wrong_365727.html

Result: MLS star's trick shot penalty goes horribly wrong