You underestimate the hispanic community in Houston. There were thousands of people who went all across the country to watch some of the World Cup 94 games. From Texas Stadium in Dallas, to Soldier Field in Chicago, and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California. Having an MLS team here wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, and hell, why not have MLS/NFL/Rodeo at Reliant, MLB at Minute Maid, and NBA/NHL at the new Arena?
That alone actually makes the MLS a more viable option for Houston than the NHL. You have a built-in fan base with much of the Hispanic community alone. What does Houston really have in common with hockey, other than the NHL's profile?
Games are cheap too ($10), so if you have a huge base, you could probably draw a good crowd. In DC we have a good mix of international fans who are loyal, but that only adds up to a couple thousand or so. The American fans just aren't that loyal. Crowds have really dwindled since our first season. When USA played Jamaica in DC, the Jamiacan crowd outnumbered the Americans 2 to 1. It wasn't even a damn home game.
Well, until David Beckham signs with an MLS team and uses all of their salary, the MLS will forever suck.
For the people who really watch soccer. Dave Beckham is probably the most over-rated player in the premier league. He plays hard for the first 30 minutes. Then disapprears. He is a poor defender. His rockstar image mixed with PAST success is what makes him so popular. Other than that, I'd take Ruud van Nistelrooy over Posh Beckham...anyday sidenote, McBride is doing well representing the MLS
Well, the high school stadium is not long for the Dallas Burn. They got their public funding approved for a brand-new soccer stadium in Frisco to be built near the new AA Baseball park and Stars Center near the Tollway and 121. Of course, it will take a couple of years to build, I assume, but all the taxing entities involved have signed off, and I assume construction will start relatively soon.
It shouldnt take that long to build. The Galaxy built their new home turf, The Home Depot Center, in a little over a year. That's assuming this new project doesnt get delayed like so many other sports developement projects do in Dallas (Victory near AAC, devlopement around Ballpark etc....) Also it looks like Houston is in the mix to land a soccer team. The commish of the MLS really wants to put another team in Texas and Houston is the leading canadiate. Despite the recent trends of soccer only stadiums being built around the league, dont expect one here or for the team to play in a small venue like O'Quin Field (Robertson Stadium whatever its name is today) The MLS wants the team to be at Reliant because they feel the retractable roof would attract more fans out to the game instead of worrying about the oppresive heat. Furthermore, the stadium was built to house an MLS team in the future and the lower bowl of Reliant seats 25,000 which would be perfect for an MLS team. But as every one knows the only problem has been finding ownership. That is apparently being solved though. It appears Bob McNair maybe working on some sort of partnership deal with Anshultz Entertainment, who owns almost half of the leagus teams. Details are still being hammered out but the Texans want Reliant to be a year round destination instead of using for it only 8 regular season gamedays in a year so they could maximize profits. In 2005, look for Houston and Philly to be added to the league. In 2006, look for Seattle and Miami to be added to the mix. Yes, the very same Miami that lost the Fusion to bankruptcy a couple years ago. The mayor in that city wants Miami to have an MLS team and for it to play in the Orange Bowl, closer to the hispanic population so it wouyld have a better chance to survive. Go figure. Oh well, I think our team should be named the Houston Apollos and our colors shopuld be Baby Blue and Dark Blue and white like the Argentina National Team. Those colors look sweet.
I think that if it wants to be successful, they will have to sign about 75% of the Mexican National Team.
This would be so awesome...I've been waiting for something like this and I know this will be a sucess...There are so many soccor fans that don't have an outlet... I agree that Reliant is the place and I can't imagine spending $$$ on upgrading some old facility... Go Houston...
We don't have any problems building the stadiums. It's the promised development around them that never materializes (and I do mean never). According to the Dallas Morning News article, construction on the Frisco stadium would begin in the Fall to be ready for the Burn's 2005 season. Just FYI. http://www.dallasnews.com/localnews/city/collin/stories/040403dnmetburndeal.a7efa.html
USA is going to win the game in MAY. It's a rematch from the world cup, where we beat Mx. USA baby...USA. Damn, they were good in the World Cup. It would be neat to have an MLS team in Houston. I would support them. Soccer is finally starting to get more famous now, since the great job in the last world Cup...
They did. I don't think they let World Cup games be played on Artificial Turf (which is what Texas Stadium has always had).
Get a look at this article I picked up, especially the last paragraph. MLS now looking to expansion Fifteen months ago Major League Soccer appeared to be a candidate for the pro sports scrapheap as it jettisoned two failing Florida franchises and trimmed back to a 10-team league. That and this report from The Chicago Tribune's Jack McCarthy "When the league was going through contraction there were many people saying this was the beginning of the end," Fire general manager Peter Wilt said. "But in fact, it was the beginning of the future." Finances and spending are now stable, season ticket sales are up in all markets and two new stadiums will open this year. There's an enhanced television package and a solid product on the field. The 10-team league even is talking about adding two teams. So league officials were upbeat this week as they discussed the 2003 season, which opens Saturday when defending champion Los Angeles travels to Columbus. "We're feeling cautiously optimistic about 2003," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said during a conference call. "The decision [to contract] was made to shore up our business, to focus our resources on areas we felt would be more productive. … It proved to be a decision that we're very pleased that we made." Among the league's bright spots are impending moves by two teams into new stadiums. In June, the Galaxy opens the Home Depot Center in Carson City, Calif. and will host the 2003 MLS All-Star and league championship games. By October, the Fire could return to the rebuilt Soldier Field with as many as three regular-season games plus playoffs. The Dallas Burn, meanwhile, has finalized plans for a publicly financed complex for professional, high school and youth soccer. And discussions continue on a MetroStars facility in New Jersey and a new home for D.C. United in Washington. MLS will have greater TV exposure with a 25-game package on the Fox Sports World and Fox Sports Espanol networks announced this week. Existing agreements also call for 25 regular-season games on ESPN2 and a three-game ABC-TV package that includes Saturday's Galaxy-Columbus Crew league opener, the MLS All-Star Game and the league title game. Garber also hopes to build on interest generated by last year's U.S. World Cup success. "So many of our players helped our country achieve the quarterfinals in the World Cup and woke many people up literally and figuratively to soccer in the country," he said. Two new franchises are expected to be announced later this season for debut in 2005. Garber mentioned Houston and Philadelphia as the top candidates. That and this report from The Chicago Tribune's Jack McCarthy
when monkeys fly out my butt... besides he hasnt been the same since playing in the WC hurt. that was a mistake on his part but he wanted to be there for his country. but as far as h-town is concerned... i got my usa v mex the second day the tickets went out... i say down with the nhl, we have the ahl which is kinda like college ball but with ticket prices that are a lot better than the nhl. another thing, hispanics arent the only people that like football(haha soccer) there are a lot of people that fell in love with usa this past WC, but for the record ive been a team USAer since 94. but as far as the USA v mex game.. i warn you know it will be a fight to the finnish, i see about 4 yellow cards and maybe a red card in that game, these teams just plain do not like each other.. man i cant wait for us to sent the greenshirts back home crying again ... what did the pres of mex say when we beat them in WC '02 "losing is one thing, but to lose against a country that doesnt care about the sport is terrible." i wonder if kobe jones will be playing, because if he is you will see how bad it will get, those mexican dudes beat that poor guy up nasty. oleeeeeeee ole ole ole.... ole.... ole....
Watch....in the next few years, the MLS team in Houston is going to go defunct due to lack of interest. It's going to suck...just like the Rockets right now.
