Ottawa USL? Lansdowne as National Stadium?

[CanadianSwede]

I was just wondering whether some people think that a USL team would be successful in Ottawa? Many have been speculating that a USL team might eventually come to Victoria where the U-20 games brought much attention. Why not in Ottawa where pretty much every game at the U-20's was sold out. With the exceptions of the cracks in the stands at Lansdowne, a USL team could use this stadium. Maybe the Ottawa Fury PDL team could join up with a USL team? But then one has to argue that many people wouldn't come to the games (classic example the Ottawa Renegades).

Another interesting point to make is why not make Lansdowne into a viable stadium for world cup qualifying. Many players comment on their dislikes of Artificial turf at BMO field so why not host some games in Ottawa where the grass is greener and real..? Plus many countries play there home games in their respective capitals.

Let me know what you think.

Cheers

[Daniel]

a) A USL1 team needs a dedicated, usually local, owner. Ottawa does not have one for now. Nor does it have a history of support for club soccer.

Landsdowne Stadium is simply too big for an expansion USL1 team. Even 6k in the 23k stadium would look empty.

c) National stadium? Beyond being in (reportedly) abysmal shape, Ottawa also has Fieldturf.

[CanadianSwede]

Haha, I guess that answers this topic

Cheers

[Alberto7]

I attended several Ottawa Intrepid games at Landsdowne in 1990 where attendance was under 1,000 and it was pretty pathetic. The best attendance I witnessed was 1,200 against the league champion Vancouver 86ers. The worst was the first game I attended when only 789 people showed up.

[Grizzly]

quote:Originally posted by Daniel

a) A USL1 team needs a dedicated, usually local, owner. Ottawa does not have one for now. Nor does it have a history of support for club soccer.

Landsdowne Stadium is simply too big for an expansion USL1 team. Even 6k in the 23k stadium would look empty.

c) National stadium? Beyond being in (reportedly) abysmal shape, Ottawa also has Fieldturf.

a) is correct. a smaller stadium would be preferrable but Landsdowne is both a pretty good stadium for soccer and a large stadium that is pretty forgiving for small crowds, ie. you can still get some atmosphere going. c) it is not in abysmal shape though it is not well maintained at the moment. It may not be saying much but it is still in better shape than CCR though this is due to it simply being a better and sturdier stadium in the first place. On the other hand the amount of renovation that occured for the U-20 World Cup was pretty disappointing and I doubt a USL team would precipate major renovations either (it would take a CFL team). Landsdowne used to have an older generation of Field Turf but this was replaced by a Sportexe field for the U-20. While this field also has the highest FIFA rating it seems inferior to FieldTurf from what I have seen.

The main question is whether Ottawa would support a USL team. I think Ottawa sports fans are more supportive than they are given credit for. Yet, I think there might be the same issue as in Toronto, fans would support a team perceived as major league (ie. MLS) but not one that is perceived as minor league such as USL. On the other hand if they could ever get a business owner who could operate the team on the Impact model (established as a non-profit entity, lots of marketing particularly at families, very low ticket prices, lots of giveaway tickets) it might work at the USL level. This Impact model would probably work in a lot of cities but it seems like the Impact are the only team to employ it for reasons of which I am not sure. Maybe it requires a deep pocketed owner and some very sympathetic politicians to allow for the non-profit structure.

[Grizzly]

Lynx stadium is indeed a very nice stadium but was specifically built for baseball, ie. it could be modified for other sports but will never be an ideal soccer stadium. I would pick an oversized good soccer stadium over an ideally sized poor soccer stadium, ie. Landsdowne over Lynx stadium. It was indeed quite unfortunate that Lynx stadium was built to be such a one sport facility as a mid-sized stadium of this size was exactly what Ottawa needed and still lacks.

[Guest Ed]

quote:Originally posted by Sigma

There was talk of tearing down Frank Clair, and building high rent apartments. The city would then renovate Lynx Stadium for football and soccer use. I honestly can't see this happening, but Lynx Stadium is a decent stadium, and they need to do something with this. Although, I suppose Ottawa will probably get an independent league baseball team at some point.

Nice spot for apartments. Do the 67's still play in the Civic Centre? BTW Sigma, your neck of the woods is in the news with restless natives.

[CanadianSwede]

quote:Originally posted by Daniel

Landsdowne Stadium is simply too big for an expansion USL1 team. Even 6k in the 23k stadium would look empty.

While the stadium may look empty, it does not presuppose that the atmosphere would suffer. I saw Servette FC play in Geneva the year after they had been relegated from the AXPO SUPER League to the third division. While the crowd had drastically decreased from one year to the next, a group of die hard servette fans of about 100-200 could still be heard around and outside le Stade de Geneve (capacity 31 000). They had the place rocking.

When it comes to fan support, I think that with proper publicity and a group of good supporters (like impact fans) , Ottawa could sustain a USL-1 Team and gradually increase ticket sales. They would probably attract a good summer crowd and the season is perfect to do it.

Cheers

[rodfern2007]

How about playing in some park? Like in Aylmer,QC?

[CanadianSwede]

Can you clarify? How would that be relevant for a team in Ottawa?

Cheers

[Guest Ed]

quote:Originally posted by CanadianSwede

While the stadium may look empty, it does not presuppose that the atmosphere would suffer. I saw Servette FC play in Geneva the year after they had been relegated from the AXPO SUPER League to the third division. While the crowd had drastically decreased from one year to the next, a group of die hard servette fans of about 100-200 could still be heard around and outside le Stade de Geneve (capacity 31 000). They had the place rocking.

When it comes to fan support, I think that with proper publicity and a group of good supporters (like impact fans) , Ottawa could sustain a USL-1 Team and gradually increase ticket sales. They would probably attract a good summer crowd and the season is perfect to do it.

Cheers

I think you are being naive. What crowds did they get for their PDL franchise? I'll answer that. All under 1,000. In fact, one game reported attendance of 74 people. Having been there and done that in Calgary, unless you bring in some heavy investment, not a chance.

[CanadianSwede]

You may be right, but how was the business model behind the team that folded in Calgary? I lived in Calgary during that time and heard and saw nothing regarding the team. What does an organisation have to do to attract crowds?

Cheers

[DoyleG]

quote:Originally posted by Sigma

There was talk of tearing down Frank Clair, and building high rent apartments. The city would then renovate Lynx Stadium for football and soccer use. I honestly can't see this happening, but Lynx Stadium is a decent stadium, and they need to do something with this. Although, I suppose Ottawa will probably get an independent league baseball team at some point.

There's already plans up for Lynx Stadium. A developer wants to turn it into a venue that would seat 15,000 (don't know if it would be soccer friendly) and aroudn 20,000 for concerts. Add onto that additional corperate boxes. Frank D'Angelo is going to put the Steelback Breweries name onto the facility.

[JamesW]

Any chance of a CSL team in Ottawa?

[Daniel]

The Ottawa Wizards played in Carp (sp?) for 2 seasons and dominated, a few years ago.

[VPjr]

wasn't their news this week that there are major structural dificiencies at Landsdowne and that one of the grandstands might need to be torn down...good thing they didn't "discover" that problem in June or July.

[Grizzly]

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Ottawa/2007/09/26/4527521-sun.html

Game for a revival?

Trio of local businessmen eyeing Lansdowne redevelopment plan, CFL's return, Sun learns

By DEREK PUDDICOMBE -- Sun Media

Three high-profile Ottawa businessmen are at the centre of a plan to revamp Lansdowne Park.

The Sun has learned Roger Greenberg, chairman and CEO of Minto Developments, John Ruddy, the president of Trinity Development Group, and William Shenkman, chairman of Shenkman Corp., another large, Ottawa-based property development company, are part of a group considering a redevelopment proposal for the property.

The plan so far would include an agreement with the city that would leave the municipality's hands clean of any financial responsibility for the property, including a 75-year lease with the city.

It would entail a complete renovation or demolition of Frank Clair Stadium, with the possibility of replacing it with a modern sports facility because the group is currently in talks with the Canadian Football League to bring back professional football to the city.

The redevelopment plan would also include preserving the Aberdeen Pavilion, possibly including a plan to renovate the inside to make room for a round theatre for the performing arts.

Residential development could be a component along with an idea being floated by Parks Canada to connect the 18-hectare property with the Rideau Canal.

The redevelopment could generate as much as $12 million a year in property tax revenue for the city.

Greenberg said he wouldn't comment on any possible opportunities that he or his company might be involved with for Lansdowne Park.

Innes Coun. Rainer Bloess confirmed the group is interested in redeveloping the land, but he wants to see a business plan before he makes any decisions.

"We need a strong commitment from the CFL and if the right investors are there it's something I'd encourage," he said.

Mayor Larry O'Brien said earlier this week a group of local businessmen with "deep pockets" has initiated talks with the city and the CFL to bring football back and redevelop the park.

$1M ARTS DONATION

Shenkman recently donated $1 million toward a 500-seat arts centre in Orleans, which, when completed in 2009, will bear his family name.

The Greenberg family donated $2.3 million for the construction of the new Great Canadian Theatre Company, which opened earlier this month and is named after family patriarch Irving Greenberg.

Ottawa 67's owner Jeff Hunt said any group wanting to bring a CFL franchise back must have a credible proposal in place before going public because the capital's football fans have been burned too many times before.

"If I was giving advice to a group it would be to only make an announcement when a team has officially been granted," said Hunt, who was poised to become the frontman for a Toronto group looking to revive the CFL in Ottawa before its money man became ill.