|
|
Post by Dcmac on Apr 24, 2010 22:45:54 GMT -5
So I was part of a group in facebook looking for people interested in getting a community owned soccer team here in Winnipeg. The USL (United Soccer Leagues) and CSL (Canadian Soccer League) stated interests in Winnipeg way back in 2008. The CSL has yet to establish a western division, and the USL took a hit losing teams to the MLS. I got this message in 2009 but I had yet to post it:
Hello soccer fans, an update from WPS. Our entire business plan is now in the hands of our lawyers. Discussions have begun with the USL and meetings are presently being setup with clubs to visit their facilities and how their operation runs.We are aiming to be on field for the 2012 season.
So I can only imagine where the ownership is at right now but they were traveling and visiting teams (perhaps you've heard of the Montreal Impact) to learn operations and how the league runs. One thing I don't see however, is where the Winnipeg team would plan on playing.
|
|
|
|
Post by gee on Apr 25, 2010 1:39:59 GMT -5
why not university stadium? permanent seating capacity of 5,000 - and some capacity by seating on the grass mounds. natural grass field with the seating capacity inline with that of other USL and USL2 teams.
and what's going on with the North American Soccer League - the edmonton franchise was to play out of the stadium at the UofA
|
|
|
|
Post by pank on Apr 25, 2010 10:12:23 GMT -5
Big soccer fan and would love to see Winnipeg in USL battling for the Voyageurs Cup and CONCACAF champions league. I hope this would fly so I don't need to worry about supporting Toronto FC anymore.
It would do wonders for the game in Manitoba and maybe at some point get a Winnipegger on the national team.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dcmac on Apr 25, 2010 12:04:55 GMT -5
why not university stadium? permanent seating capacity of 5,000 - and some capacity by seating on the grass mounds. natural grass field with the seating capacity inline with that of other USL and USL2 teams. and what's going on with the North American Soccer League - the edmonton franchise was to play out of the stadium at the UofA Wow that reminds me that the USL is losing teams and now I'm wondering where this ownership stands.. Edmonton is playing next year in the NASL |
|
|
|
Post by pank on Apr 25, 2010 19:08:13 GMT -5
why not university stadium? permanent seating capacity of 5,000 - and some capacity by seating on the grass mounds. natural grass field with the seating capacity inline with that of other USL and USL2 teams. and what's going on with the North American Soccer League - the edmonton franchise was to play out of the stadium at the UofA Wow that reminds me that the USL is losing teams and now I'm wondering where this ownership stands.. Edmonton is playing next year in the NASL The USL is essentially the NASL now. The USL basically folded, and came back with two divisions (same calibre) and one is under the NASL banner. The core teams are still there (aside from the ones joining MLS) and they are looking at expansion. Canadian championship games in Winnipeg would be wicked. When you think about it, the winner of CONCACAF goes to the Club World Cup and ends up playing the other regional winners. If Winnipeg were to somehow do this, they could conceivably end up playing Barcelona or Man Utd. one day. |
|
|
|
Post by Dcmac on Apr 27, 2010 18:16:10 GMT -5
www.metronews.ca/toronto/sports/article/477481--nasl-planning-aggressive-expansion-into-canadaAs the eyes of the North American soccer world have been fixated on the MLS labour dispute for the last few months, the NASL, a newly formed second division, has been quietly laying the ground work for the years ahead.
In their sights? Quite simply: Canada.
I was invited, along with Duane Rollins, one of the co-hosts of the It’s Called Football show, to an off-the record meeting with a high ranking NASL official a month ago.
In it, they laid out for us their aggressive plans for Canada over the next two to three years.
Six cities, two in Ontario - all in markets that have a strong soccer communities- are being targeted by the NASL.
How did we know it wasn’t some NASL flack blowing smoke up our microphones? A few days later they tipped us to two things. 1) Edmonton was about to be announced as the newest NASL franchise. My co-host, Duane Rollins, broke that on his website the 24thminute.com. And 2) they told us of a rift in the Vancouver Whitecaps front office over their move to MLS.
Two weeks after that was reported and a week after Whitecaps President Bob Lenarduzzi came on It’s Called Football to dismiss the claims, the Caps parted ways with Residency Managing Director Thomas Neindorf. Coincidence? Maybe, but it played out exactly how the NASL source told us it would.
So what does all this mean? Well, I finally caught up with the man looking to bring the NASL to Ottawa this week and he confirmed what we had been told.
“I attended the NASL AGM last month and we are indeed looking at a franchise in the NASL,” Neil Malhotra said by phone. “We feel the community is interested and the timing is right. But, before we move forward we have to wait on the USSF (United States Soccer Federation) to make a decision on second division soccer in the States.”
Earlier this year, a group of teams split off from the USL-1 and formed a rival second division league. The USSF agreed to sanction both, putting off any final decisions until a later date.
The other name who came up in the meeting is Bob Young, owner of the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger Cats. Young, who co-owns the NASL Carolina Railhawks and whose company has been contracted to re-design the NASL website, has previously expressed interest in bringing a soccer team to Hamilton and while he has declined several requests for comment, it’s all but a foregone conclusion that it’s his group behind the plans.
Calgary, Victoria, Quebec City and Winnipeg are the other cities tagged to be future NASL franchises. But those are less developed than the Ottawa and Hamilton bids.
The timing in all of this is probably the most interesting. As the MLS dances in the wind, waiting for its players to decide if they want to push their dispute to a strike, a hardcore group of soccer-first people are preparing a ground assault on the Canadian sporting landscape.
Things like proper academies, grass pitches and soccer specific stadiums have been laid out as a mandate by the NASL.
And while the NASL would never attract the Saturday afternoon soccer moms if MLS was to go on strike, the hardcore footie fans, who have long railed against MLS’ non-traditional ways, could conceivably find a home as NASL fans.It's too bad the NHL isn't anything like the NASL... 
|
|
|
|
Post by pank on Apr 27, 2010 18:37:44 GMT -5
I'd be there with a season ticket deposit for Winnipeg FC or whatever they want to be called right away. Would love to purchase a jersey and go nuts for the team.
I think if Winnipeg develops a model similar to Vancouver with a strong academy and good scouting, it could be a great boost for soccer in Manitoba and for Canada in general.
Maybe they can bring Pat Onstad back as it seems like he'll be playing until he is 60.
|
|
|
|
Post by gee on Apr 27, 2010 22:19:46 GMT -5
i hate soccer - but i would take the kids in the family - they seem to be into it.
but like baseball, its probably better live.
|
|
|
|
Post by pank on Apr 27, 2010 22:40:06 GMT -5
i hate soccer - but i would take the kids in the family - they seem to be into it. but like baseball, its probably better live. Much better live. You can gain a way better appreciation of the things you don't notice on TV (which are surprisingly plentiful). There are a lot of individual battles and buildup that you get a great appreciation for live. Also, a great supporters atmosphere helps. I'll be at the NCC tomorrow night at BMO between Toronto and the Impact. TFC! |
|
|
|
Post by simplesimon on Apr 27, 2010 23:08:15 GMT -5
i hate soccer - but i would take the kids in the family - they seem to be into it. but like baseball, its probably better live. Why, its almost like ice hockey on grass - Slower, but interesting none the less. A lot of skill required to play well. |
|
