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#1
12-31-04, 10:29 AM
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http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlin...320455&cc=5901 Garza continues to flirt with MLS Aris Ohanessian, USSOCCERUK.COM San Antonio has been on the radar map for most of the last year when it comes to Major League Soccer and expansion plans -- but the mayor of the city has said the area may change its sights onto relocating the Kansas City Wizards to Texas. In last Friday's edition of the San Antonio Business Journal, Garza said his city may target the Wizards if a local owner cannot be found in Kansas City by Lamar Hunt. Hunt earlier this month stated his intent to sell the Wizards due to financial and stadium reasons, and opened the idea of finding an out-of-town buyer if no one stepped to the forefront in Kansas City. Garza's term as mayor ends in April and because of that has only a limited amount of time and leverage in his present position to make something happen. In the article, city officials stated that San Antonio may be willing to build a stadium for a club instead of using the mostly vacant Alamodome as a permanent home. The new facility would be built on the south end of the Alamodome property, where a parking lot now exists. "Some of this is (City Council) executive session stuff," said City Councilman Art Hall to the Business Journal, "so I really can't comment on much. But I have seen some of the proposals. "He's (Garza) shown (me) some of the renderings," said City Councilman Chip Haass. "We've discussed some options." There are several obstacles that would need to be cleared for a team to land in San Antonio, expansion or relocated. Garza is a huge sponsor of this movement, but his impending departure is a problem. His successor may not be as involved in the matter, plus there is the large problem of funding the stadium. Add to the mix a need for an investor/owner of the club, and the whole picture is likely not to be cleared up by April when Garza leaves office. Garza did say he has met with Lamar Hunt (a Texas native) several times in the past, and that three groups have told Garza they are interested in having a team in San Antonio. None of those three have been publicly made known, but it is likely that one is Mexican power Club America - who has flirted with MLS in the past when it came to the San Jose Earthquakes, the other league franchise whose future is in doubt. The team would begin play in the Alamodome, an outsized 65,000-seat stadium until a new facility would be built. Any new facility would require a mixture of public and private funding, the former of which could be a trouble to secure even in the state of Texas -- which has built a number of stadia over the past decade.      |
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#2
12-31-04, 10:36 AM
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don't waste our money on this!!!
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#3
12-31-04, 10:50 AM
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I think it's great that the Mayor wants to bring Major League Soccer to San Antonio. The only thing that I don't want to see is another stadium. Better use that Dome of ours.
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#5
12-31-04, 12:00 PM
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Another boondoggle by Garza. I don't hear anyone in the community clammoring for this. Just Garza trying to leave himself some sort of legacy. Taxpayers will not fund another stadium that will sit empty.
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#6
12-31-04, 12:59 PM
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They might as well just play at a high school gym cuz thats how many people will show up.
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#7
12-31-04, 01:29 PM
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Noooo!! If we can't invest in a dam MLB or NFL team, let's not start fartin around with minor league crap! The Missions: Hey even I enjoy taking in a game every once in a while. The Silver Stars: uh...no comment  .
__________________ EPIPHANY: the quicker that I realize that I'm just not a nice person the quicker that I can not feel bad about smashing random strangers in the face with my belt buckle... |
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#8
12-31-04, 02:17 PM
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it is a big waste of money... the only soccer team that would draw fans here is the mexican national team...and even the second game that was played here drew far fewer fans than the first one.... it is a waste of money... especially if a new stadium is built. the missions, rampage, and silverstars practically give their tickets away and they still barely get fans. the missions are even good and nobody really likes to attend games... |
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#10
12-31-04, 08:41 PM
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I used to go to DC United games when I lived there, and it was great. Good attendance, CRAZY fans. I also wouldn't mind paying for yet another stadium to be built because : a) the Alamodome is completely sealed off from the elements and thus no fun. Its function should be changed to something like a branch of the convention center or a shopping mall. As is, it appears to be useless. b) an outdoor soccer field can also be played on by an NFL team. |
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#11
12-31-04, 11:43 PM
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Minor leagues are not crap. You are watching stars of the future at a reasonable price. Sure, they aren't over paid, drugged up, thug like players but the best time to watch players at their best is when they are working themselves up the ladder. Anyway, the Missions have done pretty well for themselves for the past 100 years considering having the Spurs come into town as a major league team in San Antonio in the '70s. Same thing with hockey. We've had hockey here in San Antonio for the past ten years (going on eleven), and not one hickup yet. Heck, we had "TWO" hockey teams at one time!! Now, for the reason why these teams aren't as favorable as the Spurs are, I don't know. Doesn't make any sense that a big town like San Antonio doesn't sell out all four pro teams every night like most other big cities. But it is a small market and the only thing that it can and should handle is minor league sports. |
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#12
01-01-05, 01:21 PM
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I dont see any problem with SA trying to lure a MLS team here. In fact...its stupid for them NOT to if the opportunity is there. Now building a new stadium...thats something else entirely. That is going to be a major issue and will be partially tax supported. But just trying to get a team here...seriously..whats wrong with that? Just because many of you dont care for soccer..doesnt mean that there is a lot of other people in this down who dont. Succesful soccer crowds are much smaller than an NBA or NFL crowd. They wont need to draw that many people. And soccer specific stadiums are much smaller than a NFL ready stadium as well. Personally...I think they should just renovate Alamo stadium..that place should be about the right size for a proffesional soccer stadium. They will never lure a MLS team here though if it required playing in the dome permanently. That place is just too big..and MLS soccer is trying to get more soccer specific locations for their teams to play in. If they are going to relocate a team...it will be to a place that will eventually get them a REAL soccer stadium. Personally...I think an ownership here would stand the chance to make a killing in MLS. A MLS soccer team doesnt cost as much to run...and unknown to many of you on the boards there are actually a lot of soccer lovers here in SA. Plus one other advantage a team here would have is its proximity to Mexico and its large hispanic population. This would give the team the opportunity to bring in some Popular Mexican club teams for Friendly matches. Those would bring in a LOT of people...and would help an SA team make a lot of extra dollers that teams in northern cities could not. |
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#13
01-01-05, 03:35 PM
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New stadium ONLY if every local high school and university soccer team has full access to it. Maybe the track and football teams as well. Best bet.....fix up Alamo stadium, and give the team a couple years there. If after a couple years there the team proves to be successful, then you build a stadium. |
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#14
01-01-05, 03:42 PM
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Yes bring us a team! Yes build them a stadium! Yes attract more world leauge games to San Antonio with the stadium! And to those who those who think that people won't show... turn off your Monday Night Football and take a walk to the nearest football field... are there people playing soccer on it? Weird eh?
__________________ ...the realization is better than the anticipation. |
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#15
01-01-05, 09:58 PM
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I say yes, because well, i love soccer and I'm mexican and for me it is so entertaining to watch and it is my favorite sport. I don't think that they should build another stadium because we do have the alamodome... whats the point of another one? what is the dome used for now anyway??
__________________ Why is the rum always gone? *staggers drunkenly* Oh, that's why.  |
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#16
01-01-05, 10:31 PM
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#17
01-02-05, 11:07 AM
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i'm sure if we had an MLS team we'd only get like 3,000 a night. high school football games get more than that.. the rampage average like 4,000... why build another arena for mediocre attendance where you have to give most of the tickets away on local radio stations? the average MLS attendance is 14,000-15,000... the spurs don't even sell out(+-18,500) every game so how could we expect the MLS to even come close? Last edited by clandestino; 01-02-05 at 11:10 AM. |
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#18
01-02-05, 12:36 PM
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Your just pulling numbers out your ass. If a team moves here...its because they think they will do well here. I am sure they will do their research and if a team is viable here...they will move here. If not...then they wont. San Antonio is set for a major explosion in size and progress and the next few years. All we have is one pro team and two minor league teams. I doubt we will have trouble pulling in a respectable crowd for another PRO team. Ticket prices for MLS are not near as high as they are for other pro sports and it doesnt require as many people to be succesful. Getting a good crowd here in SA is NOT impossible. |
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#19
01-02-05, 05:57 PM
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UTSA is planning on adding women's soccer in 2005-2006 and are planning on building a new track/soccer stadium on the campus. It's supposed to hold 5000 permanent seats and some more with portable bleachers. But it could also be expanded to seat 15000+. If the MLS wanted to come to SA, maybe they could work out a deal with the University to upgrade the stadium to current MLS, soccer-specific facilities, size. That way, the stadium wouldn't be an entire waste. I mean, UTSA was going to build a stadium anyway, why not lease it out to the MLS team? Or if they cover some of the construction costs, why not share it? Ask the AD - UTSA
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#20
01-02-05, 06:02 PM
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there will be 2 MLS teams in Los Angeles next year ... one generic team (Galaxy) and one (Chivas USA) geared for Mexican fans ... i'm not sure where the San Antonio fans alligences are but Mexico league team Chivas is widely popular in Los Angeles ... i think an Alamo Stadium retrofit is a good temporary idea the new team plays there for 2 years, plus the high schools would benefit from a new field ... if people like it, then you build a new stadium ... Columbus, Ohio did that and they've done very well with it ... the stadium in LA has concerts too (Dave Matthews Band) and boxing ...
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