[SteelTown]

Bob Young to Seek USL Soccer Franchise for Hamilton

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3781903

February 24, 2009 - Canadian Football League (CFL) Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Hamilton, Ontario - Bob Young, owner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, announced today that the team has begun the process of applying for a United Soccer League (USL) franchise for the city of Hamilton, contingent on the construction of a new stadium in Hamilton.

Young remarked, "As a minority owner of the USL's Carolina Railhawks, I'm personally aware of the growing popularity of USL soccer across North America and would be thrilled to see a Hamilton team play in a league with the great Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps franchises."

"We have been investigating the economic viability of a professional soccer team in Hamilton for a number of years and with the possibility of a new stadium on the horizon, we felt that this is the right time to begin the application process."

[drpgq]

Bob Young to Seek USL Soccer Franchise for Hamilton

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3781903

February 24, 2009 - Canadian Football League (CFL) Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Hamilton, Ontario - Bob Young, owner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, announced today that the team has begun the process of applying for a United Soccer League (USL) franchise for the city of Hamilton, contingent on the construction of a new stadium in Hamilton.

Young remarked, "As a minority owner of the USL's Carolina Railhawks, I'm personally aware of the growing popularity of USL soccer across North America and would be thrilled to see a Hamilton team play in a league with the great Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps franchises."

"We have been investigating the economic viability of a professional soccer team in Hamilton for a number of years and with the possibility of a new stadium on the horizon, we felt that this is the right time to begin the application process."

Wow, that would be pretty cool.

[Hammer Native]

Well it's good that he is already coming up with plans to put a stadium to other uses. I think with proper marketing and if the franchise is big league, hopefully it would catch on. We've certainly seen enough World Cup fever from all the nationalities in our city, and hopefully international interest can be turned into local.

[thistleclub]

Great add. I foresee an international version of the Art Crawl taking root.

The warm months are slowly getting locked up, but only slowly. USL seems to be 18 home games from February to September; the Montreal Impact, for example, plays 12 of those from June-September, while the Cats play 10 home games from June through October. Prime outdoor season would probably be May-September, and even then the two franchises would only account for around a sixth of the bookable dates for the facility's peak season. A National Lacrosse League franchise could keep the USL team company on nine dates Jan-May (prior to the Cats' season), which would bring us to 37 dates locked in (not counting the Cats' twice-weekly October practices). If someone was convinced of the viability of that strategy, it would mean a little more peace of mind for stakeholders and a more dynamic venue. And you still have around 90% of the year open for concerts and events.

[urban_planner]

This would definatly work just given the demographics of the city. I would be suprised if it didn't work. Espcially given also where the stadium would be build I just think ot the soccer parties on James N when some of the more popular teams win the World Cup etc.

[emge]

Certainly a good time for this to come out, and perhaps one more piece of the overall funding/use puzzle.

Soccer as well as football does hit a greater cross-section of the population, and the location is close to many multicultural neighbourhoods, not just James North - more interest.

The Whitecaps' sits lists season tickets as starting from $247 to $509. Prices for single tickets aren't posted for the current season, but groups of 15-19 are given prices of $14-$28 per ticket depending on the section.

Here's the wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USL_First_Division)on it as well - attendance figures look like they're growing as well over the past few years for the league - just over 5000/game in the regular season and almost 8000/game for the playoffs, though that seems averaged over all the teams.

[BCTed]

A National Lacrosse League franchise could keep the USL team company on nine dates Jan-May (prior to the Cats' season), which would bring us to 37 dates locked in (not counting the Cats' twice-weekly October practices).

The National Lacrosse League plays in indoor arenas.

[SteelTown]

New tenant for Pan Am stadium?

February 25, 2009
Drew Edwards
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/Sports/article/519974

A day after city council approved a $60-million stadium for the Pan American Games, another potential tenant for the facility has stepped forward.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats' owner Bob Young announced yesterday that he will seek a franchise with the United Soccer League, a Tampa-based organization that fields 11 teams in its top division, including the Montreal Impact and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Young, who is part-owner of the league's Carolina RailHawks, said that he has been examining professional soccer opportunities in Hamilton since taking over the Canadian Football League franchise in 2003, but couldn't make the numbers work with a team housed at the aging Ivor Wynne Stadium.

"With the new stadium, we have a business model that makes good sense and the USL league is doing well enough, so we're excited to do this, assuming the stadium does get built," Young said.

While the team has yet to formally submit an application to the league, Young says he's already held discussions with league officials about bringing a team to the city.

Matthew Weibe, senior director of franchise development for the league, says the interest is mutual.

"They've approached us and have shown interest in acquiring a franchise and that's something we're interested in exploring," Weibe explained. "We think given its location and where we want to grow the league, Hamilton is an ideal market."

Weibe said a franchise typically costs in the "upper six-figures."

Young said the application is conditional upon the success of the Pan Am bid -- a decision is expected in November -- but that the team could begin play earlier than the planned stadium's 2015 completion date, possibly as early as 2011.

"We'd play a couple years at Ivor Wynne and then move to the new stadium," Young said.

The Tiger-Cats owner said he doubted a team could be viable playing at Ivor Wynne on a permanent basis.

"It would certainly raise real questions about it," he added.

Young said he wanted to step forward quickly after the stadium decision because he wanted to show his support for council's decision with something tangible.

"City council has demonstrated a real commitment to this stadium project. A lot of people were telling the city, 'if you build it, good things will happen,' and we're just an example of that."

[thistleclub]

The National Lacrosse League plays in indoor arenas.

Thanks for the reminder. I transposed threads (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=4103004&postcount=346) in my head. Had been going on the assumption that they might want to equip the facility for the possibility of winter events. Or at least to make the beginning of soccer season less nippy.

[thistleclub]

New tenant for Pan Am stadium?
"With the new stadium, we have a business model that makes good sense and the USL league is doing well enough, so we're excited to do this, assuming the stadium does get built," Young said.

Can't wait to see the business model.

[SteelTown]

Matthew Weibe, senior director of franchise development for the league, says the interest is mutual.

"They've approached us and have shown interest in acquiring a franchise and that's something we're interested in exploring," Weibe explained. "We think given its location and where we want to grow the league, Hamilton is an ideal market."

I thought that was a good quote, Hamilton an ideal market for soccer.

Young said the application is conditional upon the success of the Pan Am bid -- a decision is expected in November -- but that the team could begin play earlier than the planned stadium's 2015 completion date, possibly as early as 2011

Another good quote, stadium built by 2011? Would be nice but I doubt that, I say if awarded the Games 2012 or 2013. Maybe the CFL is pushing to build the stadium ASAP so Hamilton can host a Grey Cup.

[king10]

"We'd play a couple years at Ivor Wynne and then move to the new stadium," Young said

i think he means the team can start play in 2011 at ivor wynne untill the new stadium is completed

[SteelTown]

Opps. Well that would be good.

[drpgq]

Doesn't Toronto FC play against Montreal and Vancouver in the USL for the right to go on to the North American Champions League thing? A home date at Ivor Wynne against Toronto FC might get a good crowd.

[SteelTown]

Thanks for the reminder. I transposed threads (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=4103004&postcount=346) in my head. Had been going on the assumption that they might want to equip the facility for the possibility of winter events. Or at least to make the beginning of soccer season less nippy.

Replace Lacrosse with Rugby.

[thistleclub]

Replace Lacrosse with Rugby.

Occurred to me but I second-tiered it because of the sub-optimal seasonal overlap (May-August?) with soccer and football, and the economics of the franchises (Hamilton's Hornets and Wildcats both play out of Mohawk Sports Park, as does Burlington’s Niagara Thunder).

[SteelTown]

Bob Young Owner, Hamilton Tiger-Cats with Bob McCown & Jim Kelley
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

The owner of the Ti-Cats joins Prime Time Sports to talk about the team's decision not to renovate Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton and the push for a new stadium.

http://www.fan590.com/media.jsp?content=20090224_180118_1980

Bob Young talks about the USL.

[thistleclub]

Montreal Impact grab headlines (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/090225/canada/sports_soccer_sp_concacaf_santos_impact). I'd love to see something like this be a Hamilton newsbrief one day...

[thistleclub]

A little more light on the possible lacrosse draw compared to the key tenants.

Toronto Rock: 7,000 season tickets and an average attendance of 14,570 in 2008 (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Lacrosse/article/560665
). So the Rock is making up half of its attendance in undecideds, adding over 7,000 bodies: slightly above the size their committed base. That's volatile, but they're obviously doing a decent job of filling the seats. A Valentine's Day match-up with Buffalo drew over 18,000.

Tiger-Cats: 16,000 season tickets (http://www.thespec.com/article/501128) and an average attendance of 20,784 in 2008 (http://www.geocities.com/cfl_historical/CFL-Attendance.htm). The Cats are fairly dependent on their season ticket holders and generally adding fewer than 5,000 bodies that haven't already bought into the ride: about a third the size their committed base. That's volatile too -- if season ticket holders decide they've had enough, the numbers can dip precipitously and stabilize much lower. Average the team's attendance numbers over the last 30 years and you're sitting around 15,000-16,000.

The stats obviously don't tell the whole story, but they seem to reflect favourably on lacrosse, especially considering the minimal overlap with USL/CFL action.

[BCTed]

A little more light on the possible lacrosse draw compared to the key tenants.

Toronto Rock: 7,000 season tickets and an average attendance of 14,570 in 2008 (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Lacrosse/article/560665
). So the Rock is making up half of its attendance in undecideds, adding over 7,000 bodies: slightly above the size their committed base. That's volatile, but they're obviously doing a decent job of filling the seats. A Valentine's Day match-up with Buffalo drew over 18,000.

Tiger-Cats: 16,000 season tickets (http://www.thespec.com/article/501128) and an average attendance of 20,784 in 2008 (http://www.geocities.com/cfl_historical/CFL-Attendance.htm). The Cats are fairly dependent on their season ticket holders and generally adding fewer than 5,000 bodies that haven't already bought into the ride: about a third the size their committed base. That's volatile too -- if season ticket holders decide they've had enough, the numbers can dip precipitously and stabilize much lower. Average the team's attendance numbers over the last 30 years and you're sitting around 15,000-16,000.

The stats obviously don't tell the whole story, but they seem to reflect favourably on lacrosse, especially considering the minimal overlap with USL/CFL action.

The lacrosse idea just does not fly. The indoor component of the proposed stadium is a bubble that would cover only the field, not the stands. NLL play takes place on hockey rinks surrounded by hockey boards --- it does not take place on football fields.

[omro]

The lacrosse idea just does not fly. The indoor component of the proposed stadium is a bubble that would cover only the field, not the stands. NLL play takes place on hockey rinks surrounded by hockey boards --- it does not take place on football fields.

The roof design could change along with the site location, etc.

[thistleclub]

The lacrosse idea just does not fly. The indoor component of the proposed stadium is a bubble that would cover only the field, not the stands. NLL play takes place on hockey rinks surrounded by hockey boards --- it does not take place on football fields.

Thanks again for the clarification. Didn't refer to the mockups. Was just blue-skying year-round multi-use based on what might be a misread of this story (http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/516542). If the facility is only able to host events May-October, that definitely changes the picture.

Copps may be a better home for a lacrosse team, true. Seems like it has something to offer. Better numbers than the ABA, anyway. ;) (And yes, I know that lacrosse is a different sport than basketball.)

About pro rugby I don't know much, frankly. Seems like something that might be limited to one-off events, like university football's Vanier Cup. The lure for amateur teams (secondary/post-secondary included) would be that it's a low-cost or no-cost proposition. I guess it comes down to the business model/facility policies for the stadium.

[omro]

It's funny how different sports are played in different cultures.

Lacrosse in the UK is mainly an outdoor and primarily a girl's sport. :haha:

[flar]

It's funny how different sports are played in different cultures.

Lacrosse in the UK is mainly an outdoor and primarily a girl's sport. :haha:

Are you thinking of field hockey? Lacrosse is the toughest sport I've ever seen, even rougher than rugby.

There are two kinds of lacrosse too. One is played in hockey arenas and the other is field lacrosse, played outdoors.

[SteelTown]

Hamilton could end up with too many sports franchises, CFL, AHL, possibly USL, possibly D-League and hopefully NHL as well.

Idealy I think this would work out.......

CFL and USL for the new stadium
NHL and D-League for Copps.

Therefore two sports franchises for each venue.

[omro]

Are you thinking of field hockey? Lacrosse is the toughest sport I've ever seen, even rougher than rugby.

There are two kinds of lacrosse too. One is played in hockey arenas and the other is field lacrosse, played outdoors.

Interesting... I've had a bit of a google and it seems that Lacrosse is played by both sexes here in the UK, however... I did grow up in an all boys school and it was never played there. And I only ever remember Lacrosse as a girl's sport.

However, I stand corrected.

[king10]

The lacrosse idea just does not fly. The indoor component of the proposed stadium is a bubble that would cover only the field, not the stands. NLL play takes place on hockey rinks surrounded by hockey boards --- it does not take place on football fields.

it depends which lacrosse league we are talking about.. of course NLL would not work as it is an indoor league.. but MLL (outdoor lacrosee) could be played at the stadium... toronto just recieved a relocated franchise which will play out of bmo field. this is the leagues website..
http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/
however i dont think the league would have enough fan support to be successful in hamilton

[sofasurfer]

And I only ever remember Lacrosse as a girl's sport.

To be fair, I thought that too. And I went to mixed schools in the UK.

Netball and field hockey were considered girls' sports at the schools I went to, and *shrug*. Then again, I don't think I've ever known lacrosse on the curriculum at any English school (Scotland might be different - indeed, their entire education system is. It's actually considered better, overall).

[SteelTown]

You might be surprised to know that lacrosse is Canada's national sport.

[omro]

I was surprised to discover that it was a sport learnt from the native peoples and brought to Europe.

I must admit that I had thought that Ice Hockey was the Canadian sport of choice.

[emge]

hockey the sport of choice.... yes... official national sport... no, until 1994 when it became the 2nd official national sport.

I think it's more about the history of the game that makes it our national sport, though lacrosse has quite a following.

I know I'm watching "Hockey Night in Canada" tonight and that I have no idea when the lacrosse season is :)

[omro]

So...

Let me get this straight...

Lacrosse - national sport - guys weilding sticks, wearing armour, bashing and hitting each other to get at a ball.

Hockey - national sport - guys weilding sticks, wearing armour, bashing and hitting each other to get at a puck.

Canadian Football - sport - guys wearing armour, bashing and hitting each other to get at a ball.

Lots of armour, bashing and hitting going on generally. :haha:

[emge]

Don't forget rugby! It may not be the national sport, but we have all the hard hits... and no padding or armour whatsoever! And it's not just the regular season games... try playing a snow sevens tournament in February hitting the rock-hard frozen mud over and over again... now that's a sport! (It also worked out well for me since I have lousy depth perception -- I can tackle someone and let a fast runner pick up the ball and go with it).

And um, yes.. that was girls' rugby. Guys' rugby is even more insane, just because they're naturally faster/stronger - although perhaps not as naturally vicious :D.

[omro]

When I played rugby, I was so little they used to get me and the ball confused, though perhaps accidentally on purpose...

[thistleclub]

Hamilton could end up with too many sports franchises, CFL, AHL, possibly USL, possibly D-League and hopefully NHL as well.

That's a possibility. We could also end up with too few bookings. Copps was dark for most of its first decade -- a couple of new country, classic rock or metal shows a month, the NHL gave us the cold shoulder and the Bulldogs hadn't shown up yet. Few venues that size are going to be booked solid year-round, but any private operator will want some sort of security, a hedge against the bottom line. I'm interested in all of the above options, but I imagine venue operators and team investors would scrutinize the business arguments for and against before making any decision.

[omro]

Can a successful city have too many sporting franchises?

[thistleclub]

Can a successful city have too many sporting franchises?

My guess is that it comes down to ROI. I think the question is more one of whether there's sufficient fan support to justify the investors' outlay, at least when you're talking about ticketed events and pro/semi-pro teams. And if there's variety, the overlap might be minimal: D-League b-ball, for example, might not have significant crossover with the fan base for CFL football, whereas maybe rugby or soccer might. It depends on the price point as well. If tickets are priced to fill seats and make a great game day experience, it might not be a huge hurdle to get buy-in from 15K of the CMA's adult population of almost 570K, to say nothing of those just outside of our borders in Haldimand, Halton and Niagara. But even three teams with 15 home games per would only eat up a small patch of a stadium's calendar. And to float another apples-and-oranges comparison, nobody seems to worry that there are only so many $50+ arena concerts that the city can support. It's supply and demand. And if the facilities go to private sector management, as Terry Cooke recommended yesterday (http://www.thespec.com/Opinions/article/522077), the business will likely only become more of a business.

[SteelTown]

I think the key to having a successful stadium is having an upper and lower bowl. The lower bowl should not be no more than 10,000 seats like Copps, perhaps even smaller. That way you can close the upper bowl for USL and still make the stadium appear full for USL with 5,000 to 7,000 people and have a good atmosphere.

[omro]

nobody seems to worry that there are only so many $50+ arena concerts that the city can support

I'm thinking of stadiums in the UK, such as London and Birmingham, etc. They are in constant use, mostly with things like concerts and so on, though sporting events too obviously. Most of their market isn't people who live in London or Birmingham. They draw in big crowds of people who are willing to commute to the arenas to see that particular act.

A great example would be the 02 (http://www.theo2.co.uk/venue/venue-info.html) in London. The government built it as the Millenium Dome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millenium_dome), but then abandoned it after they didn't really know what to do with it. Now it's been redeveloped as the 02, it draws in a lot of people as a major mixed use entertainment venue.

There are plenty of global examples to show that if built correctly, a stadium could be viable. If built purely as an ampitheatre with a field and seats, its chances are lessened. It needs to be well thought out beyond merely those elements.

[SteelTown]

Based on the business case for a new stadium it includes "15 United Soccer League games" annually.

[bigguy1231]

Based on the business case for a new stadium it includes "15 United Soccer League games" annually.

I read a story awhile back that Nike who owns the USL was trying to dump it because it was on the verge of bankruptcy. It may not operate next year.

[SteelTown]

Nike sold to NuRock Soccer Holdings. United States Soccer Federation will oversee a tier-two league with USL and North American Soccer League (NASL) Conference. Each conference will have six teams, with the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps being placed in the NASL Conference.

[bigguy1231]

Nike sold to NuRock Soccer Holdings. United States Soccer Federation will oversee a tier-two league with USL and North American Soccer League (NASL) Conference. Each conference will have six teams, with the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps being placed in the NASL Conference.

Well thats good to hear. I am not a big soccer fan, but it would be nice to have pro soccer in this city.

It sounds like they have really downsized, they had something like 30 teams before.

[Berklon]

I don't follow soccer, but isn't MLS a more popular league than USL?

Looking at the average attendance of the MLS teams I notice 6 teams have 13,000 or less and the average for the league is only 16,120. I know the teams in that league have a bigger market than Hamilton, but would it be THAT tough for Hamilton to get an MLS team with numbers like that?

Or am I totally out to lunch? (Like I said, I don't follow soccer).

[SteelTown]

MLS in Hamilton would like be getting NBA, MLB or NFL. Too high up for Hamilton. Next step down would be USL.

Break even point for USL in Hamilton according to the stadium business plan would be about 5,000 people. That's a good number for Hamilton, get Hamilton's Italian and Portuguese involved.

[SteelTown]

To learn more about USL and NASL

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USSF_D2_Pro_League

[SteelTown]

Letter from NASL Chairman, Finance Committee, F. Selby Wellman

http://www.ticats.ca/uploads/assets/HAM/stadium/NASLLetter.pdf

[highwater]

I don't see a date on the letter. When was it written?

[SteelTown]

NASL bid ... with a catch

Young: Stadium on east Mountain
July 30, 2010
Larry Moko
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/Sports/article/816833

Tiger-Cats' owner Bob Young has begun the formal application process to land a North American Soccer League expansion franchise for Hamilton.

But in light of all the squabbling between the Cats and city over where the 2015 Pan Am Games stadium should be built, it certainly wouldn't be appropriate to call Hamilton's proposed soccer team 'United'. Young will back out of the pro soccer bid if the city chooses the west harbour site for the stadium rather than one he prefers on the east Mountain.

That decision will be made by a city council vote Aug. 10.

In conjunction with the soccer franchise, the Tiger-Cats plan to launch a Hamilton-based, regionally-focused, high performance soccer training academy.

Young says the facility would be spearheaded by soccer development experts, soccer administrators, professional coaches and players. It would offer instructional clinics to all levels of players.

In a release yesterday, Young said: "Due to the regional nature of soccer both within our city and our region, it is essential that this academy and soccer strategy be located at the east Mountain stadium that is easily accessible by multiple modes of transportation and provides a wealth of land for recreational purposes."

Facilitator Michael Fenn recommended the east Mountain site as a compromise solution. The city prefers the west harbour.

"It's an exciting opportunity in a growing sport," said Ticat president Scott Mitchell at a news conference yesterday. "Bob Young is hugely passionate about men's and women's soccer. We think there's a great opportunity to make Hamilton a focal point for professional and amateur soccer in southwestern Ontario.

"There's a lot of things you can do with soccer that you can't do with football. There's more dates."

Young is a significant stakeholder in the Carolina RailHawks of the NASL.

The Ticats also obtained letters of endorsement and support for their centre of excellence plans from national, provincial and local soccer governing bodies.

Hamilton has a first-year team (Croatia) in the Canadian Soccer League.

Stan Adamson, executive director of the CSL, said: "If Hamilton has an opportunity to play at a higher level and it's good for the Canadian game, we would be supportive of them moving up. Hamilton is a big city and deserves a strong soccer franchise. We're delighted to have Croatia in our league."

The NASL is part of the United States Soccer Federation Division 2 pro grouping. Teams this season are based in Puerto Rico, Montreal, Rochester, Carolina, St. Louis, Vancouver, Portland, Baltimore, Minnesota, Miami, Austin, (Tex.) and Tampa Bay.

The D2 Pro League is the second tier of the American and Canadian soccer pyramids below Major League Soccer.

Ron Smale, president of the Ontario Soccer Association, says there are 130,000 registered players within the Hamilton area. Al Carrafiello, president of the Hamilton and District Soccer Association, estimates there are 25,000 registered players in his association, 80 per cent between the ages of 5 and 18.

The Hamilton Spectator Cup is the oldest and longest-running soccer competition in North America. It began in 1896.

Games officials have given the city and Ticats until Aug. 31 to reach an agreement on the Pan Am stadium site.

[bigguy1231]

Just what this city needs, another second rate minor league sports franchise and soccer to boot. They'll be lucky to draw 1,000 a game.

[crhayes]

Just what this city needs, another second rate minor league sports franchise and soccer to boot. They'll be lucky to draw 1,000 a game.

Lots of Italians and Portuguese in Hamilton, soccer could be big here.

I'd obviously love to see an MLS team though, that would draw a lot of fans for sure.

[bigguy1231]

Lots of Italians and Portuguese in Hamilton, soccer could be big here.

I'd obviously love to see an MLS team though, that would draw a lot of fans for sure.

First of all Italians and Portuguese only support their own meaning Italian or Portuguese based teams.

As for the MLS, thats not going to happen, ever. Bob Young is talking about a NASL franchise, basically a second rate league that can't attract flies, let alone human beings.

[dennis1]

Bigguy is right. But he's says MLS will never happen. Not true. MLS is cheap to run. The GTHA has enough people to support two teams. NHL and MLS for Hamilton. Let's do this.

[crhayes]

First of all Italians and Portuguese only support their own meaning Italian or Portuguese based teams.

As for the MLS, thats not going to happen, ever. Bob Young is talking about a NASL franchise, basically a second rate league that can't attract flies, let alone human beings.

Obviously they only support their own when you're talking on the scale of the World Cup, or even the Premier League. That mentality is based mainly in the old school Italians and Portuguese; it's definitely not as prevalent in the younger generation. I'm sure there would be some support for a local soccer team.

If the ticket prices were right I'd attend a few games to see what it's all about. A lot of young people in Hamilton are open to change, and are wondering when something is going to happen in this city. Even an NASL/USL team could be a change that they are proud of and willing to support.

[bigguy1231]

Obviously they only support their own when you're talking on the scale of the World Cup, or even the Premier League. That mentality is based mainly in the old school Italians and Portuguese; it's definitely not as prevalent in the younger generation. I'm sure there would be some support for a local soccer team.

If the ticket prices were right I'd attend a few games to see what it's all about. A lot of young people in Hamilton are open to change, and are wondering when something is going to happen in this city. Even an NASL/USL team could be a change that they are proud of and willing to support.

I am not so sure about that. I know a couple of people who are 2nd and 3rd generation Canadians that follow soccer in the old country faithfully and think that soccer in North America is a joke. When Canada plays internationals at home, Canadian supporters are always outnumbered by the visiting teams supporters almost to the point of embarrassment.

All you have to do is look at the CSL where most of the teams are ethnic based organizations. Hamilton Serbians are a prime example of that.

Although I am not a fan of soccer, I would like nothing better than to see a team in Hamilton that is successful. But lets face it, bringing a minor league team to this city is not going to be successful. We have a minor league hockey team that gets very little support, and thats our national sport, what would make anyone in this city think that we would support minor league soccer. Hamilton is a minor league city with a major league mindset. If it's not the best it is not going to be accepted or supported.

[crhayes]

Hamilton is a minor league city with a major league mindset. If it's not the best it is not going to be accepted or supported.

I totally agree, I don't think I could have said that any better. I think it stems from Toronto-envy.

[Berklon]

The funny thing is everyone is talking like MLS is a major league (and maybe it is in comparison to other soccer leagues in North America) but I think I read that only 2 teams made a profit last year (Toronto and Seattle). Is this true? Because that doesn't make the league look that elite.

[dennis1]

Yes, its true. MLS is below many of the South American Leagues.

[SteelTown]

Since August 12, 2010, staff has had discussions with both the national and provincial sport organizations for soccer regarding possible high performance sport development use of the new stadium. Attached to Report CM09006(g) as Appendix “B” is correspondence from the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA). The OSA is investigating establishing a series of regional training centres for player development, requiring upwards of 26 hours of training and six hours of game time each month for 10-11 months annually. The OSA believes that the new stadium would make an appropriate location for a regional training centre. The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) is assessing bidding opportunities for international events, including the 2015 Women’s World Cup. As part of the tournament, multiple venues would be required to host the event, and the new Hamilton stadium could be one of those venues. The CSA also identified the need for affordable alternative stadia for hosting international soccer matches and indicated that the Hamilton region is a viable market for professional soccer in either the United Soccer League (USL) or North American Soccer League (NASL).

http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/C528CBF6-BF4A-482B-910C-471010388275/0/Aug31CM09006g.pdf

[hammerton]

I would buy season tickets in a second if MLS came to Hamilton.

[SteelTown]

"NASL team would be called Hamilton United; would be partnered w/ youth academy to give site an amateur-sport legacy"

[mattgrande]

http://www.ottawafury.com/ottawaNASL

The NASL (which is the league Bob Young's Carolina Railhawks play) has just added Ottawa as a team.

Is there any talk of this Hamilton team actually happening?

[CaptainKirk]

http://www.ottawafury.com/ottawaNASL

The NASL (which is the league Bob Young's Carolina Railhawks play) has just added Ottawa as a team.

Is there any talk of this Hamilton team actually happening?

The Carolina Railhawks has new ownership since January 2011.

Technically HTCFC, Inc (Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football Club) was part owner of the Railhawks until December 2010, not Bob Young.

[markbarbera]

Technically HTCFC, Inc (Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football Club) was part owner of the Railhawks until December 2010, not Bob Young.

Bob Young is the owner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football Club. What the club own, he owns by extension, right?

[CaptainKirk]

Bob Young is the owner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football Club. What the club own, he owns by extension, right?

Right.

That's why I used the word "technically".

I think we all know who owns the Tiger-Cats. Not sure what your point is.

[realcity]

Bob Young/TiCats are the biggest, most reliable, renters of a city-owned stadium. And when we build a new stadium, the TiCats will negotiate to pay rent for every game in our new City-owned stadium. It will be up to the City to rent the stadium out for other events. It is not, never was, Bob Young's stadium. It is Hamilton's, mostly paid for by the feds and the province.