[#10 Shirt]

Ok, maybe "boom" is going too far, but it's nice to see so many teams moving into venues that allow them to become profitable (not renting out NFL stadiums) and provide a nice, intimate atmosphere.

The stadium that started it all: Columbus Crew Stadium - 22,500 - 1999
http://www.stadiummanagers.org/images/stadiums/u_112403164943.jpg

The Home Depot Center
Teams: LA Galaxy and Chivas USA
Capacity: 27,000
Built: 2003

http://www.pcl.com/src//Files/52_SWRegion/5200161_1_300.jpg

http://www.concacaf.com/competitions/goldcup/2005/downloads/HOME_DEPOT_CENTER/HomeDepot2.jpg

http://www.concacaf.com/competitions/goldcup/2005/downloads/HOME_DEPOT_CENTER/HomeDepot.jpg

Pizza Hut Park
Team: FC Dallas
Capacity: 21,193
Built: 2005

http://www.kenn.com/images/pizza_hut_park_panorama03.jpg


Bridgeview Stadium (naming sponsor TBA..likely LaSalle Bank)
Team: Chicago Fire
Capacity: 20,000
Under Construction

http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/chf/imgs/stadium/bridgeview/renderings/aerial_view_lg.jpg

http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/chf/imgs/stadium/bridgeview/construction_photos/2005/09_22_05/5.jpg

http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/chf/imgs/stadium/bridgeview/construction_photos/2005/08_29_05/7_south_stage_lg.jpg


Harrison Stadium (naming sponsor TBA)
Team: Metrostars
Capacity: 20,000
Completion in 2007

http://metrostars.mlsnet.com/gallery/2005/08042005_metro_stadium/1_lg.jpg

http://metrostars.mlsnet.com/gallery/2005/08042005_metro_stadium/5_lg.jpg

http://www.sportsvenue-technology.com/projects/harrison/images/Metrostars01.jpg
Earlier design


Colorado Rapids Stadium (naming sponsor TBA)
Team: Colorado Rapids
Capacity: 20,000
Completion in 2007

http://www.coloradorapids.com/Images/Community/gallery3.jpg

http://www.coloradorapids.com/Images/Community/gallery4.jpg


Also worth mentioning...

Rochester (USL, "minor league" team) has a 12,000 seat stadium u/c right now.
http://photos.rhinossoccer.com/data/517/medium/tDSC01841.JPG



None of them are exactly cutting edge design, but they mark a significant point in the story of professional soccer in the U.S.

It should also be noted that they are all designed with expansion in mind (in the open ends, additional upper decks, or temporary seating on the stage ends).

New stadiums are also being planned in Salt Lake and D.C., but nothing has been finalized.

[phillyskyline]

Thanx for the pics... out of curiousity which field is the largest on the east coast?

[Cirrus]

DC is also looking to build a soccer specific stadium in Poplar Point, but it's still in the planning stages. It would likely have a capacity of 24,000.

[yarabundi]

Montréal also has a soccer stadium announced earlier this year. Sponsor will be local cheese company : Saputo. It'll have 15K seats - not much considering tne extreme popularity of this sport here but it'll be better than nothing.

[#10 Shirt]

RSL's new stadium in Sandy, Utah. (Just announced today.)
Capacity: 25,000
Groundbreaking spring '06

http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/images/2005/10/12/eH2Kck4U.jpg


http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/images/2005/10/12/kLUmPzkd.jpg

[ThrashATL]

Kansas City Wizards are looking at a 22,000 seat stadium in suburban Johnson County, KS. They're currently in the cavernous 78,000 seat Arrowhead Stadium:

http://www.kansascity.com/images/kansascity/kansascitystar/news/Soccer_Stadium_10-02-2005_32GSGOB.jpg

Atlanta is also considering a 25,000 seat soccer stadium for a possible MLS expansion team. The current Atlanta USL team is also building it's own stadium as well.

[looper121]

Kansas City Wizards are looking at a 22,000 seat stadium in suburban Johnson County, KS. They're currently in the cavernous 78,000 seat Arrowhead Stadium:

http://www.kansascity.com/images/kansascity/kansascitystar/news/Soccer_Stadium_10-02-2005_32GSGOB.jpg

Atlanta is also considering a 25,000 seat soccer stadium for a possible MLS expansion team. The current Atlanta USL team is also building it's own stadium as well.

Hmmm, maybe. These 2 cities aren't likely to have these stadiums any time soon...First of all, KC may lose it's team in the next year, they were only just given another year in KC days ago. It isn't looking good for them as the average attendance isn't where Lamar Hunt wants it. and yes, having them play in Arrowhead is terrible. Atlanta won't have an MLS team for some time, as you posted a USL stadium is in the works...

[Evergrey]

Rochester should be added to the MLS... they've lobbied for years.. that city is crazy for soccer and now they have a wonderful new stadium.

[Raraavis]

And College Soccer Stadiums as well


Creighton University Soccer Stadium
Downtown Omaha Nebraska

http://www.bradwilliamsphotography.com/images/CREIGHTON_002sm.jpg

[tuy]

And, even though San Jose just lost the Quakes, they are talking about building a new stadium for an expansion team. They have retained the rights to the team name.

[Alta California]

What's behind these boom in soccer stadium construction, especially in pretty whitebread places. It can't be the MLS. Though this would be an awesome asset if the States bid for the FIFA World Cup.

[Trantor]

What's behind these boom in soccer stadium construction, especially in pretty whitebread places. It can't be the MLS. Though this would be an awesome asset if the States bid for the FIFA World Cup.

Sorry to inform you pal, but World Cup stadiums must hold at least 40.000 people in seats.

Anyway, USA has no chance of hosting another World Cup in the next 30 years at least, since it hosted in 1994. The WC, unlike the Olympics, doesnt pay so much attention for money of the host country.

2006 - Germany
2010 - South Africa
2014 - a South American country (100%), probably Brasil (90%), which only hosted the World Cup in 1950 but won it 5 times
2018 - much probably an European country
2022 - I would guess an asian country
2026 - maybe another european country, maybe a South American country (Argentina?), maybe a north american country (Mexico?)

[trueviking]

Sorry to inform you pal, but World Cup stadiums must hold at least 40.000 people in seats.

Anyway, USA has no chance of hosting another World Cup in the next 30 years at least, since it hosted in 1994.

The WC, unlike the Olympics, doesnt pay so much attention for money of the host country.


there are plenty of suitable stadia larger than 40 000 in the states...and if it were not true about FIFA paying attention to the money of the host country, then the U.S would have never hosted it in the first place.

[trueviking]

vancouver montreal and toronto are buildng soccer specific stadia as well.....the toronto one is in preparation of the 2007 FIFA World Youth Championship


vancouver:

http://www.whitecapsnewstadium.com/data/upload/renderings_city.jpg

http://www.whitecapsnewstadium.com/data/upload/renderings_soccer.jpg

http://www.whitecapsnewstadium.com/data/upload/renderings_aerial_map.jpg

http://www.whitecapsnewstadium.com/data/upload/renderings_conert.jpg[/QUOTE]


montreal:

http://img107.echo.cx/img107/2443/03we.jpg[/QUOTE]


a previous version of the toronto one:

http://www.canoe.ca/Argos/News/2004/10/17/Campus390x277.jpg

[Markitect]

There is a group of investors trying to land a Major League Soccer franchise in Milwaukee, as well. So far they have a loose proposal for a mixed-use development (retail, hotel, offices, residential) with a soccer-specific stadium (20,000 seats or so) as the centerpiece. They have been pushing for the project to be located right Downtown, though a specific site has not yet been identified. Designs for different sites have been ongoing for several months now, but it's all behind-closed-doors type of stuff at the moment.

[CTroyMathis]

I'm diggin' that Vancouver stadium.

[tuy]

With all the interest in building Soccer only stadiums. Look for the MLS to expand. San Jose is already promised a future expansion team. By how many teams do you all think the MLS should expand?

[Trantor]

there are plenty of suitable stadia larger than 40 000 in the states...and if it were not true about FIFA paying attention to the money of the host country, then the U.S would have never hosted it in the first place.

yes, but NONE is one of these "boom" stadiums. ANd you were talking about THESE stadiums shown here being a major asset.

US hosted the WC because FIFA wanted to promote the sport in US, not because USA had money to realize the WC.

[Trantor]

why the teams in US are franchises instead of CLUBS?

[VivaLFuego]

Major League Soccer is very weird....I havent followed it in several years. But it is a collective league with revenue sharing and so on, so the teams in less viable markets are propped up financially. There are also strict salary caps both for individuals and for teams. In fact, I believe players sign a contract with the league, not with the team. At least all this was the case a few years ago. Thus expansion isnt so much a question of how the city can handle it, but how the league collectively can handle it. I do remember the league contracted in size losing 2 teams some years back, so be wary of any expansion.

I found it interesting how U.S. soccer is a collective, command-control system while internationally, football operates in a much more free market, a reversal of how things are for most other things in life.

[jamesinclair]

Yeah, I dont really like the US system of granting expansions, and the way that the east and west are seperate....its boring.

I dont want tos ee the same 6 teams play themselves over and over. There should be 16 teams playing on one table. Every team plays another team twice, at home and away.

People should be allowed to start their own team and join, and build their own popularity. The american system is too controlled.

[Owlhorn]

^but proven in the US.

[jamesinclair]

^but proven in the US.

I guess so. It works with the NFL after all. But MLS isnt popular in the US. I wonder what would happen if they tried the other system?

[F11Roch]

Rochester's Paetec Park will hold close to 18,000 with expandable seats and that is just part of Phase I. If a second phase goes ahead that will be upped to 20,000. The Rochester Rhinos are by far the most successful minor league soccer franchise in the nation. They are only minor league team to win the US Open Cup against both minor league and MLS teams. (They did so in 1999). They also from year to year, average between 10,000 and 11,000 fans per game in a non-soccer specific stadium.

They have been mentioned as one of the top relocation or expansion choices for MLS for years. We are one of the true soccer hotbeds in this country.

Here are some semi-recent pictures of the stadium under construction.

http://www.rhinossoccer.com/photos/data/2/medium/3044_lr.jpg
http://www.rhinossoccer.com/photos/data/2/medium/3007_lr.jpg
http://www.rhinossoccer.com/photos/data/2/medium/2889c_lr.jpg

[nick_taylor]

Now all you have to do is start playing cricket again, replace NFL for rugby and all will be complete! ;)

[jpIllInoIs]

I guess so. It works with the NFL after all. But MLS isnt popular in the US. I wonder what would happen if they tried the other system?

imho the MLS tries to keep travel expenses down by playing within divisions. remember that cross contintent travel in the u.s. is a much greater distance than the premiership or la liga or ligue 1.

[#10 Shirt]

An update of grounds currently under construction:

Bridgeview Stadium (Chicago Fire)
http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/chf/imgs/stadium/bridgeview/construction_photos/2006/03_21_06/1.jpg

http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/chf/imgs/stadium/bridgeview/construction_photos/2006/03_20_06/2.jpg

http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/chf/imgs/stadium/bridgeview/construction_photos/2006/03_21_06/2.jpg


Colorado Rapids Stadium:

Model: http://www.coloradorapids.com/images/community/gallery24.jpg

http://www.coloradorapids.com/images/community/gallery53.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/50/116026746_620f1b30fe.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/39/116026748_f6ab35ecb6.jpg

[UrbaniDesDev]

Does it seem to be a trend that, unlike other major league sports in the US, soccer stadiums are being built in the burbs? I realize that most fans are from the burbs, still, but the city is still in the heart of all the burbs. Pittsburgh RiverHounds are planning a new stadium in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, which makes it hard to get to from the North and not that easy from the East either. I would have preferred it in the city

[eomaha]

Creighton University's new stadium has a pretty nice view of downtown Omaha.

http://necoyote.com/images/soccer2.jpg

[Citrus-Fruit]

Some good stadia there. The pitches are very clean and smooth which is the way football should be played on although good old British rain and mud is alot more exciting.

This is my home team stadium in England, Wolverhampton Wanderers AKA Wolves - 29,500 (plans to expand well over 43,000 - 2nd tier club - this was rebuilt in 1992 due to laws enforced that all stadiums must be all seater after 96 people were crushed to death during an FA CUP semi-final at Hillsborough in 1989.

http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/park/yfh45/wolvair.jpg

http://home.swipnet.se/trulswolves/images/resan2.jpg

[sccaflagger74]

Does it seem to be a trend that, unlike other major league sports in the US, soccer stadiums are being built in the burbs?

They're being built in the burbs because despite the moniker MLS is still a minor league sport and they don't have the money, nor prestige to get into the heart of cities. When you are a small time business venture you go where the money is.

Bob

[glowrock]

They're being built in the burbs because despite the moniker MLS is still a minor league sport and they don't have the money, nor prestige to get into the heart of cities. When you are a small time business venture you go where the money is.

Bob

As long as the stadia are built fairly close to the center city, they're fine... If they're built 20 miles out in the far suburbs, that's a different story, though...

Aaron (Glowrock)

[nomarandlee]

The Chicago Fire stadium looks pretty cool. I just wish they had built it closer to downtown. Would have been nice and scenic if it was a stones throw from downtown looking out on the city.

[HurricaneHugo]

San Diego needs to build one in order to get an MLS team.

[Toucano]

Miami is getting a new team...The Miami Football Club...The team is in the United Soccer League, not the MLS...They will play in a small 7,000 seat stadium in a local County owned park, until they can afford to build a larger one...

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/060323/story6.shtml

[brian_b]

The Chicago Fire stadium looks pretty cool. I just wish they had built it closer to downtown. Would have been nice and scenic if it was a stones throw from downtown looking out on the city.

Definitely. Unfortunately, it is also not quite as easy to get to if you live in the city. For me, I have to take the train all the way out to Midway Airport and then hop on a suburban bus to get the rest of the way. It will no longer be the quick trip to Soldier Field for me and the rest of the city dwellers.

I just hope I can make it to a few matches this year. The extra 1.5 hour in travel time (round trip) is really going to make it harder.

[Cirrus]

DC's stadium will be in the city. Not downtown, but certainly in an urban area.

It will be in the park-like area in the foreground of this picture. Note that the new Nationals baseball stadium will be directly across the river in that industrial area (which won’t be industrial much longer).
http://beyonddc.com/nonweb/poplarpointstadium2.jpg

They are planning a mixed-use development around the stadium.
http://beyonddc.com/nonweb/poplarpointstadium1.jpg

This is the only image of the stadium itself yet released. It’s only preliminary.
http://beyonddc.com/nonweb/poplarpointstadium3.jpg

[Mr Roboto]

Definitely. Unfortunately, it is also not quite as easy to get to if you live in the city. For me, I have to take the train all the way out to Midway Airport and then hop on a suburban bus to get the rest of the way. It will no longer be the quick trip to Soldier Field for me and the rest of the city dwellers.

I just hope I can make it to a few matches this year. The extra 1.5 hour in travel time (round trip) is really going to make it harder.

Yeah its too bad that the stadium will be so far out from the city in Bridgeview, 71st and harlem I believe. Thats pretty far from downtown. But its definitely not as bad as Naperville, which i remember them playing at during the Soldier field renovation. I will definitely try to see some Fire games out there when its done.

If these new stadiums are more economical, thats great for the league. I remember being in Soldier field thinking, man, theres a lot of empty seats. 65,000 capacity is just too much for the MLS.

[Mr Roboto]

That DC united stadium looks like its gonna be awesome, thats a great location too! I think DC has pretty good attendance too for the MLS which is important.

[VivaLFuego]

Yeah its too bad that the stadium will be so far out from the city in Bridgeview, 71st and harlem I believe. Thats pretty far from downtown. But its definitely not as bad as Naperville, which i remember them playing at during the Soldier field renovation. I will definitely try to see some Fire games out there when its done.

If these new stadiums are more economical, thats great for the league. I remember being in Soldier field thinking, man, theres a lot of empty seats. 65,000 capacity is just too much for the MLS.

Is there any (viable) public transit option out to the games in Bridgeview?

If not, they've just lost an attendee.

[Liz]

my guess is that there'll be a bus from the orange line since its not too far from midway.

[brian_b]

Yes, there is a Pace bus from midway. It's the 386 bus and it goes from Midway over to harlem at 63rd and continues down Harlem past the stadium.

It's not going to be very convenient, but the Orange Line + Pace bus will get you there.

[EtherealMist]

Good to see teams getting soccer-specific stadiums. Its absurd having an MLS team playing infront of 10,000 people in a 70,000+ football stadium. The new stadiums will set a much better atmosphere.

[Latoso]

Yes, there is a Pace bus from midway. It's the 386 bus and it goes from Midway over to harlem at 63rd and continues down Harlem past the stadium.

It's not going to be very convenient, but the Orange Line + Pace bus will get you there.

Don't worry, it will eventually get easier when my Orange Line extension goes through. ;)

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/222/orangepossible2dl.jpg

[ChicagoBruce]

They can’t do the other system yet. They are still too dependent on the few highly successful teams to prop up the other not-so successful teams. Too many teams would fold up, if they let each team control their own revenues. The NFL does not have this problem. Plus, the NFL still does a lot of revenue sharing, more so than most leagues.

Also, the NFL is the undisputed King of American sports right now and the MLS should not attempt to model itself after them. They operate on a different planet than MLS. The NFL’s revenues are measured in the billions. MLS need to avoid the mess that the NHL is in, where salary growth began to rapidly outpace revenue growth. They are doing it the correct way and need to stay the course. Someday the owners will be able to operate with my freedom, but not yet.

[Via Chicago]

chicago fire stadium is almost done

http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/chf/imgs/stadium/bridgeview/construction_photos/2006/05_31_06/1.jpg

http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/chf/imgs/stadium/bridgeview/construction_photos/2006/05_08_06/4.jpg

http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/chf/imgs/stadium/bridgeview/construction_photos/2006/05_04_06/1.jpg

http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/chf/imgs/stadium/bridgeview/construction_photos/2006/05_04_06/6.jpg

[brian_b]

I really hope the Fire are gaining a lot of fans by being so close to the southwest burbs. I bought some tickets for tonight's game and am finding that getting there without a car is a pain in the arse.

It's about 30-45 minutes from Downtown to Midway on the Orange Line and then another 20 minutes on the express bus from Midway to the Stadium. And that express bus will only be leaving every 20 minutes. Ugh, I don't think I'm going to be buying anymore tickets any time soon.

[Houston Proud]

When will Houston build a Soccer Stadium for Houston Dynamos?

[jamesinclair]

When will Houston build a Soccer Stadium for Houston Dynamos?

I dont know what the plans are, but they have to. Its part of the reason they moved from San Jose.

Incidently, San Jose will get a team back by 2010, according to an MLS anouncement the other day.

[twoNeurons]

Since Vancouver is likely to apply for MLS Membership when its waterfront Stadium is opened...

It is in the heart of the city, and it's not even MLS yet, just the minor league Whitecaps... so not all stadia are in the burbs... but then again, It will be built over a railyard so it's difficult land to build on.
http://www.whitecapsnewstadium.com/data/upload/renderings_birds_eye_map.jpg

It will have excellent Transit Connections, major bus corridor, heavy commuter rail, seabus, two subway lines:
http://www.whitecapsnewstadium.com/data/upload/renderings_transit.gif

These were posted before:
http://www.whitecapsnewstadium.com/data/upload/renderings_city.jpg
http://www.whitecapsnewstadium.com/data/upload/renderings_soccer.jpg

[Dougall5505]

thats gonna be a cool view

[Tex1899]

Sort of on subject, but off subject, too...Why did Tampa and Miami lose their MLS teams?

For those of you who live in Europe (or know the answer), can the different soccer clubs go from First Division to Second Division from one year to the next? Seems like I heard this happens...if the First Division has 20 teams, then maybe the top 17 teams remain and then 3 teams from the Second Division move up...it's based on the team's record and attendance. Is this correct?

One reason the stadiums are being built in the suburbs is because that's where most young people play soccer. As for Houston, I'd like to think the Dynamo (I still prefer Houston 1836) can play in and fill to near capacity Robertson Stadium.

I've heard talk of making Delmar Stadium their home field and I think this is a bad idea...Houston Independent School District stadiums suck. Top quality football stadiums in Texas are found in the suburbs or out in West Texas, not in the inner cities.

Anyone know why soccer stadiums tend to have an overhang over the seats?

[Swede]

For those of you who live in Europe (or know the answer), can the different soccer clubs go from First Division to Second Division from one year to the next? Seems like I heard this happens...if the First Division has 20 teams, then maybe the top 17 teams remain and then 3 teams from the Second Division move up...it's based on the team's record and attendance. Is this correct?
Almost right. Attendance has nothing to do with it, it's all about how good the team plays. The exact way to decide who goes down and who moves up differs from league to league (of course) - in Sweden it's (iirc) the worst 2 teams move down automatically while the 3rd worst gets to play the 3rd best from the 2nd division (confusingly named the 1st, top llevel is the "All-Swedish"). As a result no team ahas lasted all the way from the first season (1924/25) til today, but 6 teams who were in the first season are playing this season.

[Tex1899]

Swede, thanks for the info. Are the 2nd and 3rd division teams regarded as minor league (ie developmental) teams or are they often found in smaller and/or less wealthy markets?

I think this concept could be applied in the US for basketball and maybe hockey. Maybe even for football.

[Tex1899]

Do the same teams generally vie for the worst spots in the 1st division? What is the attitude of the fans if/when their team falls from the 1st division to the 2nd division? I assume the clubs are privately owned and not publicly owned.

[SteelCity15]

I love soccer, and I still can't see how it still hasn't had a large fan upbringing. I still think it's one of the better sports out there.

[Swede]

@tex - the lower leagues aren't developmental, they're just usually from smaller towns or (3rd? it goes down to 7th or 8th afaik, but those are of course local leagues say, provinces or smaller). Tho sometimes talent is spotted and "bought" by the big teams.
Being moved down to 2nd is a real defeat but staying there for more than a year or two is real hard on the fans. To then dropp to 3rd... the horror! but the fans are loyal even so. The teams are mostly run as clubs (see Barcelona's team) but a few are (partly) privatly owned. don't know of any that are owned publicly...

[AtlanticaC5]

^^ That's correct. Our local team, IK Brage, is currently playing in the 4th division (which is, quite confusing, called Div 2 here since the first division is the All-Swedish and the 2nd division is called the 1st. The division under 1st is called Division 1, even though it's the third one. To make it worse, it is also divided into a North and South Division 1. Yes it's a mess, I know). However, to get back to the point, the first 1 or 2 teams in each Divison moves up to the Divison above, and the 1 or 2 last teams in each Division drops down. Here is how it works:

Allsvenskan
#1: Winner of Swedish soccer league
#1-11: Stays in Allsvenskan
#12: Has to qualify in best of two games against #3 from Superettan. The winner plays in Allsvenskan next season.
#13-14: Drops down to Superettan

Superettan
#1-2: Moves up to Allsvenskan
#3: Qualification against #12 in Allsvenskan, the winner plays in Allsvenskan next season
#4-12: Plays in Superettan next season
#13-14: Qualification against #1 in Div 1 North and #1 in Div 1 South
#15-16: Moves down to Division 1 (which really is Division 3)

And so on...

[Tex1899]

AtlanticaC5, that's almost as bad as high school (American) football in Texas.

There are 5 classifications: A, AA, AAA, AAAA, AAAAA...the classifications are based on the student population of each school: 5A schools usually have 1,975 or more students, 4A is 975-1,974, etc.

There are 32 districts in each classification. Each district has schools from a surrounding area, and most districts have 8 schools...a few have 6, 7 (that makes scheduling fun), 9, or even 10.

The top 3 schools in each district then go on to the playoffs. Here's where it gets weird. In each classification there's a Division I bracket (64 teams) and a Division II bracket (32 teams). Each district sends its two largest (student enrollment) schools to Division I and it's smallest to Division II. Schools in the suburbs tend to be bigger, so the Division II rep from a particular district might have more students than the Division I rep from other districts. It might look something like this:

Division I
1-5A School A 2,375 School B 2,875
2-5A School A 2,542 School B 2,601
3-5A School A 3,875 School B 2,960
4-5A School A 3,365 School B 3,450
5-5A School A 3,250 School B 3,300

Division II
1-5A School C 2,100
2-5A School C 2,200
3-5A School C 2,900
4-5A School C 3,105
5-5A School C 2,850

1990 was the first year this format was used (tested in Classification 5A); the large-school representative state champion had fewer students than the small-school state champion. And now each classification has 2 state champions...10 in all (2 in each of the 5 classifications).

Here's my editorial: what irritates me the most is a 3-7 team can get into the playoffs (playoff representatives are determined by their district record...a 6-team district would have 5 district games for each team). Let's say a team plays in a 6-team district and loses their 5 non-district games; but then they go 3-2 in district play...they can wind up as the 3rd place team and then make the playoffs. I know the playoffs are determined by the best teams in each district, but a 3-7 team really doesn't deserve to be in there...and 95% of the time they lose in the first round.

[jamesinclair]

For those of you who live in Europe (or know the answer), can the different soccer clubs go from First Division to Second Division from one year to the next? Seems like I heard this happens...if the First Division has 20 teams, then maybe the top 17 teams remain and then 3 teams from the Second Division move up...it's based on the team's record and attendance. Is this correct?



Anyone know why soccer stadiums tend to have an overhang over the seats?

Most leagues use this system. It allows for more teams to play, as well as another level of excitement. Not only are the teams playing for 1st, but also to not be relegated.

In Brasil, it works like this:

1-4: Qualify for Libertadores Cup (Mexico and South American cup)
5-11: Qualify for Copa Sudamericana, 2nd more important cup
17-20 Relegated to Serie B

Positions are based on points.

In Serie B, top 4 teams move up, and bottom 4 go to Serie C.

Serie C doesnt operate like A and B, which each have 20 teams playing one home and one away game. Instead, its a much larger set of teams playing by regions. Serie C teams usually cant afford to travel as much.


And I dont understand what you mean by an overhang? Are you refering to the roof?

[whit_x]

imho the MLS tries to keep travel expenses down by playing within divisions. remember that cross contintent travel in the u.s. is a much greater distance than the premiership or la liga or ligue 1.
Besides, in the states, we don't subscribe to the concept of relegation, because of having minor league farm systems (in baseball and hockey) or colleges serving the role of lower division teams. Maybe if we did, it would be possible to rid ourselves of the Arizona Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.


Added at 8:20 PMForgive me, I didn't see the relegation portion of the thread before writing this.

[whit_x]

Sort of on subject, but off subject, too...Why did Tampa and Miami lose their MLS teams?


Attendance, since it would be too hot and rainy to draw well in Florida, especially in the summer. In Miami, there were also stadium problems, since the stadium that the team was playing in (in Broward County) was far away from the fan base (Mostly in Dade County).

[wrendog]

just FYI, Real Salt Lake just broke ground yesterday in Sandy for their new SSS

very exciting!

[beehorn]

THE University of Texas at Austin

Mike Meyers Stadium... its used for both track and field and soccer. Has held The NCAA Womens Soccer Championship in its past.

http://www.utexas.edu/athletics/jpg/tf-sc_stadium.jpg

[GreatTallNorth2]

The European system of relegation is far superior to the systems we have in North America in pro sports. What it means is that a team from nowhere can move up from the lower leagues and gain entry into the best league purely based on performance. It gives teams in the top league an incentive to play the best they can and it makes for exciting soccer/football even at the lower level.

I have been following Portsmouth (Pompey) F.C. in the Premiership and last year they were close to being relegated...very close. This year they made some transactions and are now at the top of the Premiership. It makes every game count and fans travel all over the place to cheer on their team when it is close.

I like this system far better. Your team will never leave town. It has to be beaten out of the league.

[Owlhorn]

why does that mean superior? Perhaps the US system works best in how it has developed. These systems didn't just happen overnight. They are evolutions.

[Cirrus]

New renderings of the Poplar Point stadium for DC United. Still not a done deal, but looks pretty darn cool.

http://dcunited.mlsnet.com/images/2006/08/07/ZSPwAvaZ.gif

http://web.mlsnet.com/t103/imgs/stadium/2006/rendering_bowl_sw.jpg

http://web.mlsnet.com/t103/imgs/stadium/2006/rendering_bowl_seating.jpg

[CTroyMathis]

That looks pretty damn good.

[Tex1899]

Tuy, given soccer's popularity in the US, I don't think MLS should/would expand beyond 20 teams. I personally would like to see a 20-team first division, and then a second and (if demand warrants it) a third division. I'd set it up to where the second division has more teams than the first, and with the third, I think those clubs would be the least stable. And I'd set it up like over in Europe...top 17 teams stay in the first division, and teams 18-20 drop to second division, top 3 in second division move up, etc.

Jamesinclair, a quick look at Houston's schedule shows this year 4 games against Dallas, 2 against Chicago. So it appears you play teams in your "conference" 4 times, and teams in the other "conference" twice. NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB all do something similar...I guess that's an American thing. I'm sure part of it also stems from the size of our country. I recall European players complaining about having to travel through 4 timezones during the Cup back in '94, that it was the equivalent of going from far western Europe to far eastern Europe. I guess if all the games were played in California, or New York, or Texas (my preference), then they'd quit complaining.

Part of the tight control MLS holds over the teams is its effort to see the league succeed, and not collapse on itself like NASL did. Or to see a team (or two) outspend everyone (NY Yankees) like what happened with NASL (NY Cosmos). MLS hoped the teams would be more stable at this point in their history than what they are. I believe with the orignal 10 teams that 2 owners (Lamar Hunt and Philip Anschutz's AEG) owned something like 5 or 6 of the teams. It will take time to develop. Keep in mind the leagues in Europe have been around for over 100 years.

Americans can be fickle sports fans. Certain cities are passionate regardless of how their team performs, but many will stop supporting their team if the team doesn't play well. Probably as a result of this, professional sports leagues in the US have revenue sharing and/or salary caps. Think about the NFL...32 teams. Since 1967 (Super Bowl I), I think all but 5 or 6 franchises have played in the Super Bowl, many in the last 15 years. You can make an argument that the salary cap has helped prevent a handful number of teams sign the top talent. Think about the 70's...you basically had 6 top teams...Dallas, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Oakland, Miami, and Washington (this was in large part due to coaching). Salary caps have a stabilizing effect. But I'm like you, I like the idea of a free market system.

Building soccer-specific stadiums is smart. Building them to seat 20,000-25,000 is smart. Designing them to be easily expanded is smart. Putting them in areas where there are a lot of soccer-playing fans is smart. I personally would like to see the stadiums in more urban environments, but then again I'd also outlaw mascot names that don't end in an s (ie Galaxy).

[Cirrus]

There are some dumb names out there (Galaxy being one), but I'd be against the sans-s rule. Anything "FC" is great.
Red Bull New York is goofy, but I have no problem with it.
DC United is fine, though I don't like Real Salt Lake - They speak English is Salt Lake. If you want to honor Real Madrid then make it Salt Lake Royals and no one will think it's too contrived.
I actually like New England Revolution. Fits perfectly.

[Tex1899]

Yes, FC anything (or anything FC) is good. If I could establish a few clubs, I'd establish the following:
San Antonio - Alamo FC
McAllen, TX (or somewhere down in the Valley) - Club Rio Grande
I'd establish Texan FC, too...probably in Houston, since that is where I live, and I think long-term Houston can support 2 teams....will it support 2 teams, that is a different question.

Hopefully MLS is here to say. Obviously there's better soccer outside the US, but it's a start. I'm 27 and I played soccer growing up, as did a lot of other kids back then. And it seems soccer continues to grow in popularity, so hopefully this will bode well for US soccer in the future.

[Qaabus]

Dynamo Houston...
A commy name for a Texas club :haha:

[danger_doug]

LA Galaxy is a reference to the old NY Cosmos... even their logo echos it.

Red Bull New York is a horrible horrible name and sets a terrible trend for US sports.

[Tex1899]

Red Bull New York is a horrible horrible name and sets a terrible trend for US sports.


I'm surprised more corporations haven't purchased teams and renamed them based on their company's name...Chicago United (Airlines) might not be too bad.

[Kent76]

Is true that there is a project to found a new team in New York called New York City FC by a new stadium in 1 of the 5 borough of the city and by the objective to partecipate to the MLS in 2011?

[skrish]

Is true that there is a project to found a new team in New York called New York City FC by a new stadium in 1 of the 5 borough of the city and by the objective to partecipate to the MLS in 2011?

You should check out this thread if you want to know more about it. I highly doubt it will happen so soon.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=10060616#post10060616

[CONative]

It has just been announced that the new MLS Colorado Rapids 18,000 (soccer) seat / 26,000 (full capacity) seat stadium and adjoining 24 full-size playing fields will be....

Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

The massive soccer sports complex opens in a few months.

[Stockbroker]

Well this is my first post on the board, i have been a guest for way too long! I am really happy to see the MLS teams invest in these new stadiums so that true soccer fans can enjoy the game like the Euro's. I like the addition of Toronto to the league too, now they need to let Chivas USA move to Mexico so the league can expand its fanbase. Hopefully we can have a league like Premiership someday. Galaxy Fan Here :O)

[bedir than average]

As a resident of a city that has a USL-1 squad, the Sounders, I'm wondering if anyone knows of some quality renderings and acreage requirements for both 10,000 seat SSS and 25,000 SSS. If we are to get an MLS club it seems obvious that the 20k mark SSS is a requirement.

[SLC Projects]

Work on the Real Salt Lake 20,000 seat stadium began last Monday in Sandy Ut. ( just 10 mins south of Salt Lake City ) RSL hopes to have the Stadium open by Summer or Fall of 2008.

Here is a video of some of the work being done. ( Remember they just started last Monday so not too much to see yet, but there's a rendering. )


RSL Site work video link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuY1rMoguzA



:banana:

[cornholio]

Regarding the Vancouver stadium it will now be built above the existing seabus terminal which will be moved therefor the stadium will be on the ground level instead of above the rail way tracks, west coast express and two skytrain lines(actualy next to it instead of below). Its still going through city council but it looks like this is whats going to happen, the owner originaly wanted to build it for the 2007 fifa world youth championships but obviously that wont happen...now the plan is before the 2010 olympics which could hapen but it will be a tight schedule. Not sure if this has been mentioned but the stadium will seat 15,000 expandebel to 30,000 and there was some talk of a retractabel roof(most likel wont happen). Also its to be the most transit friendly stadium in NA(believabel being within a 2 minuit walk of two sktytrain lines, a comuter rail station, seabus terminal, future street car line(should be built some time after the olympics), countles bus routes, NA largest float plane terminal, the harbour lynx(fast pasenger ferry boat to vancouver island), and hopefully a future expanded future seabus terminal to other locations in the harbour(translinks plan...though nothing is official).

Also last I heared the cost of the stadium was $60-70million, all privately financed by a avid soccer fan. The land is all purchased already so that cost is excluded.

Had a few drinks so hopefully i got everything...cheers.

Also there are renderings of the new plan out there but i am in no shape to find them and post them right now.

[thebestdillweed]

does anybody know whos designing the Houston Dynamos stadium?