re: Columbus Crew possibly moving to Austin, TX if a stadium deal can&#39;t be reached

Posted by Dr RC

The Money Pit

Member since Aug 2011

58035 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 3:08 pm to hendersonshands

Ahh the old buy a team and pretend to try and make it work while you secretly look for new locations to move it to gambit.

If Toyota Stadium hadn't become the location for the National Soccer Hall of Fame I would fully expect the Hunt's to try this shite with FCD. I've lived in Dallas since 2008 and can count on one hand the amount of billboards and ads I've seen/heard for FCD matches. Even worse, most of them were when Brek Shea was still on the team.

This post was edited on 10/17/17 at 3:25 pm

Posted by Michael Stein

Baton Rouge

Member since Aug 2016

1906 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 3:15 pm to Dr RC

Yeah. It's a shame how bad the FC Dallas ownership is at actually marketing the team. It's been one of the best teams in the league over the past 3 years and the academy system is the envy of every other MLS club, yet attendance is bad. I know Frisco is hard to get to, but the numbers should be much better.

3 ...

Posted by SUB

Member since Jan 2001

Member since Jan 2009

20740 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 4:08 pm to Michael Stein

quote:
I know Frisco is hard to get to,

Probably a big part of the problem. It's a shame because it's a nice stadium.

Posted by uncAUght

Member since Apr 2013

192 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 5:05 pm to StraightCashHomey21

the growth of Cincinnati FC has to be considered here as well. Cincy averaged more fans for USL than CBus did for MLS. They’ve broken every USL attendance record practically. MLS doesn’t need two teams 100 miles away from each other.

Edit to add: Cincy has a billionaire ownership group that has committed $200 million of private money. They still are seeking $100 million in public / private funding which is a big hurdle for a city burned by bad stadium deals.

This post was edited on 10/17/17 at 5:11 pm

Posted by YNWA

Member since Nov 2015

6687 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 5:23 pm to Meursault

Good time to revisit this article:

Is the MLS a Ponzi Scheme

Posted by KosmoCramer

Member since Dec 2007

76450 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 5:24 pm to uncAUght

Columbus got burned badly by Nationwide Arena as well.

Posted by YNWA

Member since Nov 2015

6687 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 5:27 pm to uncAUght

Cincy FC tickets are a fraction of the cost of Crew tickets. They are pretty much giving them away in comparison. So Cincy is going to pay $150 million dollar franchise fee plus another $150 million on a stadium...across the river....in Kentucky!?? This move of Cbus to Austin will start a death spiral of the MLS. Especially when tv rights are up in 2024.

Posted by YNWA

Member since Nov 2015

6687 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 5:29 pm to Michael Stein

quote:
Yeah. It's a shame how bad the FC Dallas ownership is at actually marketing the team

Attendance is low in Dallas and Houston and they want another team in Texas? This is how you grow the sport? By moving the original team out of the midwest? Leaving only Chicago who is struggling as well??

This post was edited on 10/17/17 at 5:39 pm

Posted by YNWA

Member since Nov 2015

6687 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 5:37 pm to Tiger n Austin

Yes. You've guys showed you support soccer in Austin. One club folded and the other can't even get a stadium. Good luck with this owner. He's a real, trust fund baby, POS. Especially taking season ticket holders money two weeks ago knowing this was coming out. No refunds either. People are so pissed I honestly can't see them playing here next year. I would almost bet they will be in Austin next year....

This post was edited on 10/17/17 at 5:38 pm

Posted by McCaigBro69

TigerDroppings Premium Member

Member since Oct 2014

45084 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 5:43 pm to Michael Stein

quote:
I know Frisco is hard to get to, but the numbers should be much better.

I’ve been to like four games and a few USMNT games up there and it’s a fricking madhouse trying to get up there.

Posted by BCLA

Bossier City

Member since Mar 2005

8055 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 5:51 pm to YNWA

quote:
Attendance is low in Dallas and Houston

I don't disagree with you but thats not an argument you should make considering Houston outdraws Crew and Dallas probably would too if one end wasn't closed due to the hall of fame construction.

This post was edited on 10/17/17 at 5:53 pm

Posted by Draconian Sanctions

Markey's bar

Member since Oct 2008

84827 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 6:05 pm to StraightCashHomey21

That THIS of all things is the hill some of you want to die on re: MLS is hilarious.

This post was edited on 10/17/17 at 6:06 pm

Posted by Michael Stein

Baton Rouge

Member since Aug 2016

1906 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 6:18 pm to YNWA

I think we should wait until the end of this season to talk about the attendance numbers for Houston and Chicago. Don't forget, both those teams have been irrelevant for the past few years, and this is the first playoff appearance in a while for both teams. I expect the attendance jumped quite a bit for both.

Dallas and Columbus have alarming attendance despite making the playoffs pretty consistently. I think we'll see the attendance in Dallas rise as that area of Frisco finally develops more, but the owners seriously need to market the team better. Colorado has bad attendance, but like Houston and Chicago, the team has mostly been irrelevant in recent seasons. Last year was clearly a complete fluke.

This post was edited on 10/17/17 at 6:30 pm

Posted by uncAUght

Member since Apr 2013

192 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 6:36 pm to YNWA

Cincinnati has demonstrated USL support that is unparalleled to any city that has moved up. In addition, they drew over 30k for a women’s national team friendly on a TUESDAY night this October. The 7th largest crowd the USWNT has seen.

Posted by uncAUght

Member since Apr 2013

192 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 6:40 pm to YNWA

Btw...Stop being a bitch. When is last time a USL team outdrew a MLS in the same state?