PSG Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 In view that only Toronto will be included in the MLS in the near future, does anyone reckon there will be more Canadian teams added to the USL? I know both Calgary and Edmonton have recently tried and failed but can no other cities other than Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal sustain a franchise? It'd be interesting to hear anyone's views. Would Winnipeg not support a team having hosted so many nats games? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnipeg Fury Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 Winnipeg would support it, but have yet to find a sugar-daddy to step forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSG Posted November 2, 2005 Author Share Posted November 2, 2005 Thanks WF. Do you feel that prospective investors are put off by the likes of the recent Calgary / Edmonton franchises or are there just not enough interested parties full stop in Winnipeg and other cities? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnipeg Fury Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 quote:Originally posted by PSG Thanks WF. Do you feel that prospective investors are put off by the likes of the recent Calgary / Edmonton franchises or are there just not enough interested parties full stop in Winnipeg and other cities? 'there just not enough interested parties full stop in Winnipeg and other cities?" there were plenty of failed attempts prior to the latest in Alberta, so no, I don't think that is a huge factor. Winnipeg's attendance in the CSL (87-92) was second only to Vancouver, and that was with virtually no promotion and usually a bad team (sounds like the Jets). The USL would kill to have a Div 1 team in Winnipeg, but a prospective owner has been elusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calgary Boomer Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 Where would a Winnipeg team play? That soccer complex is shiite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeta Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 Shovels hit the dirt on WSC II next year. Origionaly a 10,000 seater suggested for the site is still a bit blurry. If it's still on a very cheap-o structure I'd expect but all the basics. Floodlights, fixted structure bathrooms, blah blah blah, but steel bleachers, no roof or upper deck. Just a ring of bleachers. Red River College could easily have their field upgraded into a stadium with an all ready existing supply of parking. Would love to see a return to Pan-Am. Would also need a fair bit of improvements, but very doable at an affordable rate on short notice. Nope. Nothing "ready to go" that I can think of though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HamiltonSteelers Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 As biased as I am, I would think that Hamilton could hold its own in D1 at the gate. It would take a great deal of marketing (a la Bulldogs type) but it could work. The old Steelers drew 2000 per game with little advertising but some good press. Simply based on the popularity of the game now, 4000 per isn't that unlikely in this town, but it's a long shot. That being said, sugar daddy be required as well. And probably a renovation of Brian Timmis. Strike that. A DEFINITE renovation of Brian Timmis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnipeg Fury Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Calgary Boomer Where would a Winnipeg team play? That soccer complex is shiite. The Soccer Complex could be renovated very easily. It is ideal for Div 1, and was always a joy to watch the Fury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhat Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 Well I wouldn't call WSC a first rate facility, but it does have natural turf (grass!)and was used for the Pan Am games as well as about 3 MNT matches. It could hold 10,000. As for WSC II, where will it be located Cheeta? Is that on Wilkes? Lots of construction right now. USL wanted Winnipeg in Div 1 a few years ago, but the "Sundogs" wanted a trial in PDL, which was not very successful. Probably a money thing. My preference would be Pan Am Stadium at the University of Manitoba, which already can hold about 7,000, with minor renovations. Grass turf, banked sides (for future seating), and some history as well (ie. Winnipeg Fury CSL). And maybe the "sugar daddy" can negotiate with the University for splitting the costs as well as getting some tax breaks (eg. donations). And parking, bus access, etc. But like all stadium proposals, some egos will have to be considered ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 quote:Originally posted by HamiltonSteelers And probably a renovation of Brian Timmis. Strike that. A DEFINITE renovation of Brian Timmis. Isn't McMaster building a new 7,000 seater? This would be a perfect facility for a Div 1 team, besides the fact it is slated to have a artificial surface. This is assuming the sugar daddy emerges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
An Observer Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 Here are the details of Mac's stadium....its artificial turf with a track...so not ideal. The Ronald V. Joyce Stadium In June 2005, Ron Joyce and McMaster University proudly announced Mr. Joyce’s gift of $10 million to name the new stadium at McMaster University. The $13 million, 6,000-seat Stadium will create an impressive venue for university football and soccer. It will build on a fan base for university athletics that is already one of the most supportive in the country. It will also position McMaster and Hamilton as the number one destination in the Golden Horseshoe for amateur sporting events, attracting fans and sport tourism dollars into the City. Highlights of the Stadium project include: 6,000 permanent seats The capacity to add an additional 6,000 temporary seats All-weather artificial turf (soft surface) on the playing field Opportunity for year-round play The only competitive outdoor track in the city Access to the McMaster Sports Medicine Centre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue and White Army Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 Medium- to small-sized cities could support USL, providing they don't currently have enough other professional sports clubs. Just look at Rochester... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bxl Boy Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 How many "Rochester-like" cities are there in Canada ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeta Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 quote:Originally posted by redhat As for WSC II, where will it be located Cheeta? Is that on Wilkes? Lots of construction right now. Yes and no. West end of Sterling Lyon so a bit south of Wilkes, but yeah, same area. Right across from the CNR Intermodel yard as far as I can guess. Earth movers will be working that acreage for a bit yet. Overpass is a big project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free kick Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Bxl Boy How many "Rochester-like" cities are there in Canada ? According to a census I had found a while back on-line, Rochester was listed just slightly ahead of Calgary in terms of population. That point is well taken and that is the problem we face in Canada when it comes to clubs and leagues. we don't have enought Rochestor sized areas. Then there are other factors like climate etc etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeta Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 quote:Originally posted by HamiltonSteelers As biased as I am, I would think that Hamilton could hold its own in D1 at the gate. It would take a great deal of marketing (a la Bulldogs type) but it could work. Maybe. Sort of imagined the Lynx migrating your way if things didn't quite work out at Ex. No particular reason except geography and just a stab in the dark. Some great teams, Hell, all great teams in Hamilton back in the CSA days. May sound funny, but the internet realy is an excellent tool for sub-cultures, like soccer, where main stream media is found wanting. A tool not available in the early '90s. A little computer savy would help infinately towards allowing the population of that sub-culture to nuture and grow. One small advantage over days past. How about Quebec City? Or Halifax for that matter? Bit of virgin territory but these are fairly large centres. You'd think a decent venue and a footie base could carry Div 1 teams. Of course the same could have been said, and probably was, of Calgary and Edmonton. P.S. Sorry to disagree with you lads but I was never a big fan of WSC. It was alright. At least compared to Winnipeg Stadium, but never liked it much. Was built on the cheap, no floodlights (at the time), grandstand is too far back and you could only buy Foster's Lager (bleah!). Was excellent for the Pan-Am games and the 2000 WCQs though. Cozy if you were in the bleachers and you were nearly atop the touch lines. Great stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 quote:Originally posted by PSG In view that only Toronto will be included in the MLS in the near future, does anyone reckon there will be more Canadian teams added to the USL? I know both Calgary and Edmonton have recently tried and failed but can no other cities other than Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal sustain a franchise? It'd be interesting to hear anyone's views. Would Winnipeg not support a team having hosted so many nats games? Well, there is the supposed D2 club that will be set up in Quebec with the Impact having some involvement. There were strong rumours that Edmonton was getting a PDL club to be run by Len Vickery who runs the U of Alberta soccer program. Kind of a summer university team, with graduates mixed in. The club essentially exists right now as the Edmonton Green and Gold in the AMSL. They won the Alberta title this year. There was some talk of a return to the PDL for Calgary. And there was a crazy rumour on USLfans.com saying that Victoria was a D1 possibility. The only semi-confirmed news out of this past weekend's USL meeting is that Miami will be in USL D1 next year, replacing Richmond who goes down to D2. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leafs Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Free kick According to a census I had found a while back on-line, Rochester was listed just slightly ahead of Calgary in terms of population. That point is well taken and that is the problem we face in Canada when it comes to clubs and leagues. we don't have enought Rochestor sized areas. Then there are other factors like climate etc etc I dont know where you got your info. Rochester is 220,000, there are many cities in Canada larger than that, . Rochester is just a little minor league town, Will never be in MLS. The City of Vaughn is bigger than Rochester. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 220 000 is the actual legal boundaries of the city. The metropolitan area has just over a million. Same with the greater Calgary area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Man Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Leafs I dont know where you got your info. Rochester is 220,000, there are many cities in Canada larger than that, . Rochester is just a little minor league town, Will never be in MLS. The City of Vaughn is bigger than Rochester. Then why is that pro soccer in Rochester is twice as successful as pro soccer in Toronto was and will be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leafs Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 quote:Originally posted by G-Man Then why is that pro soccer in Rochester is twice as successful as pro soccer in Toronto was and will be? Idiot. go to www.kenn.com look at Attendance for NASL. Torontto out drew Rochester 8 out of the 11 years they where both in the league. Hey facts jackarse. USL Div 1 is not Pro soccer moron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zacRWE Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 What about Windsor/London/Kitchener-Waterloo area? I dont know how well the Border stars do, no London City but They all have Uni's where this potential USL D1 team could play. ie London's football field, Windsor's new Uni field or something at Waterloo/Laurier Uni? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john tv Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 It is all about,here we go again, media acceptance and media support.No media,forget it. Rochester have a good media following. I remember that the home games at the Blizzard,there were always Rochester media as well as Radio play by play guys as well as photographers.The same applies to the Impact. They outnumbered the Toronto media by 8 or 9 to one at the Lynx,both in English and in French.You can have this chicken and egg thing,but there it is.We have witnessed last week how they tried to manipulate the readers and voters and this strange thing has to disappear.I hope that these guys will grow up and smell that soccer grass.Anyway there it is that magic customary answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue and White Army Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 Lynx can't draw a decent gate because: 1.) they're a Mickey Mouse organisation 2.) Toronto Maple Leafs 3.) Toronto Argonauts 4.) Toronto Raptors 5.) Toronto Blue Jays 6.) Toronto Rock etc etc etc Find me a Canadian city with a fairly decent-sized population, relatively few professional sports clubs (and perhaps even things to do overall), and preferably relatively far from other large cities, and you have a prime candidate for a USL D1 franchise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Crampton Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 quote:Originally posted by HamiltonSteelers As biased as I am, I would think that Hamilton could hold its own in D1 at the gate. It would take a great deal of marketing (a la Bulldogs type) but it could work. The old Steelers drew 2000 per game with little advertising but some good press. Simply based on the popularity of the game now, 4000 per isn't that unlikely in this town, but it's a long shot. That being said, sugar daddy be required as well. And probably a renovation of Brian Timmis. Strike that. A DEFINITE renovation of Brian Timmis. Sorry, Steelers but it would take a miracle to get D1 to work financially in the Hammer. The Bulldogs work their butts off to get fans into Copps (a great facility for minor league hockey) but still have trouble making it look full even with the second tier draped off. The Ti-Cats have passionate fans but how close have them come to collapse on so many occasions. It's sad but true: Hamiltonians don't want to tend to spend money to watch their local teams (you're the exception that proves the rule obviously) even if they'd be sad to see them go (Dogs and Cats). With MLS apparently coming to T.O. I gotta feel that the hardcore afficianados will take the GO to the Ex and there just aren't enough casual fans to finance a D1 club. Success in Hamilton would be existance at Lynx-like limping along - we'd never achieve a Rochester, Montreal or Vancouver situation. I'll be happy if a sugar daddy can be found to finance a well run CPSL franchise. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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