2013 Houston Dynamo thread

I wasn't a fan of the move to the Eastern division but I have to say we've been having a pretty decent run over there and I don't think I want them to head back to the Western conference.

But more teams are a good thing for MLS... more importantly more notches for the Dynamo organization.

 

I think it's a huge mistake when there are better options (i.e. St. Louis). What about Florida has changed that makes the league think the next 2 should be there? I realize that the potential Miami team could bring star power in the owners box...but so what. It doesn't fill seats.

 

Call me crazy, but Florida feels like the worst sports state in the country. The previous two MLS teams folded due to lack of attendance and interest; the Heat fans leave NBA Finals games early; the Jaguars tarp sections of their stadium and play games in London every year; the Rays can't get people to come to their games, despite competing every year; the Marlins stadium sits empty in Miami.

Given the public backlash in Miami toward funding stadiums after the Marlins debacle, where will this team play? Who will go to the games? The city is incredibly fickle and I hate to see a "destination" city get a club over cities like St. Louis or Minneapolis (I don't buy into the Detroit chatter - there's nobody living in that city).

 

San Antonio would be a good choice. There's only the Spurs (and some minor league teams) in terms of pro sports. Only UTSA in terms of college sports. It's certainly a large enough city and area to support a team and having a HuGE percentage of that being Hispanic certainly doesn't hurt. They'd also be able to draw support from greater Austin. I think it would have a much better chance at being successful than anywhere in Florida.

Kind of off topic, but Dynamo related....I recently learned the Dynamo have a youth academy/club here in Austin. I thought that was cool.

 

The number one factor in any expansion discussion is having an owner with enough money to finance it. If somebody steps up in St. Louis then they would get a team.

I also think the league has learned a lot about how to market the product since the Fusion were contracted. Kansas City is a good example of that, their attendance was often the worst in the league but after re-branding and some better marketing they have really good attendance.

The odd rules of early MLS (clocks counting down and shootouts) which turned off some fans are also gone. There's a large South American population in South Florida and I know a few people that just wouldn't take the league seriously because of some of the stuff they did.

 

Well, according to Don Garber's comments at the MLS All-Star game this season, there will be a total of 4 new franchises by 2020. Orlando is #1. Miami is likely #2. That leaves San Antonio, Atlanta, St. Louis, Sacramento, Minneapolis, etc. vying for the last 2. If I had to bet, I'd go with Atlanta and STL.

 

did the dynamo ever get sold to an independent owner?

 

Not yet. It's still AEG 50%, Brenner 25%, and de la Hoya 25%.

 

I'm a St. Louis fan but as mentioned already, St. Louis is not a better option.
If a city doesn't have an owner/investors ready to pay for a franchise as well as get a stadium situation sorted out then they will not be in line for a team.
Orlando has every single box ticked off.
Orlando is also different from Miami.
Miami's fans come out for the big exhibition matches. Orlando's fans were like the Sounders and Timbers and came out for the USL matches.
Plus they have their stadium situation sorted out. It made a lot of sense. Especially with the need for a team in the Southeast. I would have been more upset if it were Atlanta.

 

Gotta correct you on one thing, the Miami Fusion didn't fold because of lack of attendance or interest. Their final year in the league, they were actually doing quite decently in terms of interest and attendance(especially when their attendance is compared with that of FC Dallas and Colorado amongst other teams around that time period).
They just had bad ownership combined with the fact that they played in Fort Lauderdale and not Miami yet they were called the Miami Fusion. A Miami team playing in the city of Miami will have a better chance of succeeding than before. Especially with owners that will care ie Beckham's potential Bolivian partner.

The team would play in Miami and as long as they go with FIU stadium over Sunlife stadium while sorting out a Soccer Specific Stadium(kind of like the Dynamo did with UH until BBVA came about) then they should be fine.
Miami is not just a destination city. A number of fans feel the way you do but Miami's immigrant population just like Houston's will come out to support that team.
As mentioned already, when cities like St. Louis and Minneapolis put together an investor/owner ready to pony up a franchise fee while putting together a solid plan for a stadium for his team then I'm sure they'd get consideration.

 

Why is that? They have potential ownership in Arthur Blank, a stadium to share with the Falcons, and a good history of support with the Silverbacks.

 

The main reason for me is that stadium share with an NFL team. I think they will get the next franchise after Miami tbh but I hate that stadium share a la NE Revolution. It works for the Seattle Sounders because they can provide the fans to fill up the stadium or nearly fill it up but even then, the NFL gridiron lines on the field
I know the Dynamo and some other MLS teams that share with HS/College teams have faint lines on the field sometimes but those lines on the field just anger me lol.

Anyway, Atlanta probably will get one of the next two teams.

 

Forbes has an article out about the growth of the league and the value of the current franchises. Houston is 4th on the list with a net worth of $125 million.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2013/11/20/major-league-soccers-most-valuable-teams/

 

Saw will bruin at specs in midtown today

 

Buying the champagne early, I guess.

 

That's what I figured.

But all I saw him with was a handle of Makers Mark and a hot blonde chick

 

It says the game is on tomorrow on NBC sports.. Is that just regular ass NBC, or some channel on Cable, or is it CSN