Expansion Rumors Megathread

http://www.tennessean.com/story/new...hville-sc-aligning-efforts-mls-bid/101278348/

Good news out of the Nashville bid. Tampa's lease was also approved by the public vote yesterday.

Bids are starting to differentiate themselves based on readiness rather than just potential or on market "fitness."

Near Ready:
Sacramento
Nashville (all required parties in-alignment on stadium and MLS plans)
Phoenix
Tampa
San Diego (giving them the benefit of the doubt here)

Quiet/Unknown:
San Antonio
North Carolina
Cincinnati (private stadium plans still held close to vest)

Not Ready:
Miami
St. Louis
Detroit
Indianapolis
Charlotte
 
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http://www.tennessean.com/story/new...hville-sc-aligning-efforts-mls-bid/101278348/

Good news out of the Nashville bid. Tampa's lease was also approved by the public vote yesterday.

Bids are starting to differentiate themselves based on readiness rather than just potential or on market "fitness."

Near Ready:
Sacramento
Nashville (all required parties in-alignment on stadium and MLS plans)
Phoenix
Tampa
San Diego (giving them the benefit of the doubt here)

Quiet/Unknown:
San Antonio
North Carolina
Cincinnati (private stadium plans still held close to vest)

Not Ready:
Miami
St. Louis
Detroit
Indianapolis
Charlotte
If Tampa's stadium lease/expansion is a go, then I've gotta think they are in one of the two drivers' seats. They have a team, a stadium, a proactive owner, and are in a location that can create an instant sunshine state rivalry. Not quite a derby, but pretty darn close (probably takes as long to drive from Orlando's stadium to TB as it does from NYCFC to RB when traffic is bad).
 
If Tampa's stadium lease/expansion is a go, then I've gotta think they are in one of the two drivers' seats. They have a team, a stadium, a proactive owner, and are in a location that can create an instant sunshine state rivalry. Not quite a derby, but pretty darn close (probably takes as long to drive from Orlando's stadium to TB as it does from NYCFC to RB when traffic is bad).

The two wrenches there are Miami and the fact that Peterson doesn't exactly seem like the easiest guy to work with, and we know they value ownership group "fit" highly.

Given information we have today, I could see Sacramento, San Diego, Cincinnati, Nashville, and Miami/Tampa. If Detroit gets its stadium site, they would jump Cincy or Nashville. Phoenix sits at #29.

*Opinion changes weekly with news.
 
The two wrenches there are Miami and the fact that Peterson doesn't exactly seem like the easiest guy to work with, and we know they value ownership group "fit" highly.

Given information we have today, I could see Sacramento, San Diego, Cincinnati, Nashville, and Miami/Tampa. If Detroit gets its stadium site, they would jump Cincy or Nashville. Phoenix sits at #29.

*Opinion changes weekly with news.
All true (save maybe Miami), but what can be said about Peterson is that he's gotten soccer to work, in a city that MLS couldn't, while also being in an inferior league (stylewise, talantwise, and lacking TV exposure). Sometimes being a tough personality is needed. I'd be surprised if MLS hasn't rued the day they contracted from TB.
 
All true (save maybe Miami), but what can be said about Peterson is that he's gotten soccer to work, in a city that MLS couldn't, while also being in an inferior league (stylewise, talantwise, and lacking TV exposure). Sometimes being a tough personality is needed. I'd be surprised if MLS hasn't rued the day they contracted from TB.

I'll always take the opportunity to share this branding story:

ALEXI LALAS (Defender, New England Revolution): If you didn’t come from a soccer culture and you were asked to brand a new sports team in the mid-’90s, of course you were going to go crazy. And they did—they went crazy.

PAYNE: I told them, “I don’t get this [Tampa Bay] ‘Mutiny’. What’s with the symbol?” They said, “Oh, it’s a mutant bat.” “Okay, what does that have to do with Mutiny?” “You know—Mutiny, mutant.” I said, “Those are two different words with completely different meanings. They just share some letters. What are you doing?”

THOMAS RONGEN (Coach, Tampa Bay Mutiny): What the f---? A mutant bat? What are we representing? Nike must have had a few guys smoking dope, coming up with the craziest things.

https://www.si.com/longform/2015/mls/
 
If Tampa's stadium lease/expansion is a go, then I've gotta think they are in one of the two drivers' seats. They have a team, a stadium, a proactive owner, and are in a location that can create an instant sunshine state rivalry. Not quite a derby, but pretty darn close (probably takes as long to drive from Orlando's stadium to TB as it does from NYCFC to RB when traffic is bad).

2 hours and 8 minutes from Al Lang Stadium to Orlando City's stadium, but that's because it is all the way over in St. Pete. Would be 90 minutes from downtown Tampa. It is 37 minutes from Yankee Stadium to Red Fool Arena. It is 2 hours and 6 minutes to Philadelphia's stadium in Chester, PA.
 
2 hours and 8 minutes from Al Lang Stadium to Orlando City's stadium, but that's because it is all the way over in St. Pete. Would be 90 minutes from downtown Tampa. It is 37 minutes from Yankee Stadium to Red Fool Arena. It is 2 hours and 6 minutes to Philadelphia's stadium in Chester, PA.
Tongue in cheek.... comment from me.

But it's taken me 90min+ to get from the Willis Ave Bridge to downtown Brooklyn when traffic has been bad.
 
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Orlando Tampa would absolutely be a derby match. Can't tell me fans can't make 3 hour drive once or twice a year. Central Florida derby.

Honestly, I'd love all three teams for the color combos. Really hoping Miami goes with pink if they ever take the field.

Orlando - Purple
Tampa - Yellow/Green Stripes
Miami - Pink

All three of those matchups would be among the best color combo games in MLS.
 
Honestly, I'd love all three teams for the color combos. Really hoping Miami goes with pink if they ever take the field.

Orlando - Purple
Tampa - Yellow/Green Stripes
Miami - Pink

All three of those matchups would be among the best color combo games in MLS.
It would be great and would add some variety to a really bland color palette that MLS has gotten itself into. Red & blue should be off the table at this point for any new teams.
 
Honestly, I'd love all three teams for the color combos. Really hoping Miami goes with pink if they ever take the field.

Orlando - Purple
Tampa - Yellow/Green Stripes
Miami - Pink

All three of those matchups would be among the best color combo games in MLS.
So let me guess, you snuck into the kids section at Barnes & Noble and looked at too many Dr. Suess books in a row right before typing that out, right?

Not that I disagree, of course.

.
 
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Orlando Tampa would absolutely be a derby match. Can't tell me fans can't make 3 hour drive once or twice a year. Central Florida derby.

it already is ...there were even scuffles here and there when orlando was in USL and they played each other ( cant remember if it was friendly or US open cup)

i mean just look at Tampa rowdies this year when they hosted Orlando city B ....massive amount of orlando fans were there ( this was during a fifa week so thats probably why) a whole bleacher section was filled out
 
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