more turmoil:
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/ore...n_mls_bid.html
more turmoil:
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/ore...n_mls_bid.html
You are viewing it from a Canadian soccer fan point of view.
Garber will have pressure from many sides, xenophobic cunts being one of them.
Marketing being another. (Canada is not a US marketers dream.)
US Soccer.
The networks.
FIFA.
Team owners.
The players union.
How these view Canadian bids is anyone's guess, but I think you are fooling yourself if you think all of them will be onside with more Canadian teams.
I have lived in Ottawa my whole life and few people are criticizing the bid per se. The location in Kanata definitely... that issue has always been divisive and seems will always be.
People know Melnyk is a smart businessman and if anyone can make this thing work in Ottawa it is Eugene Melnyk and Senators Sports and Entertainment.
The question is will he ever get the chance?
The city government is locked up in "analysis paralysis" (which is their usual state) with multiple bids and lobby groups regarding any new stadium complex.
funny how the hockey fans can make it out to Scotiabank Center but they figure the soccer fans won't be able to make it out there
Fack get Montreal back onboard!! I would love a Derby!
If the team moves to Kanata, next to the Sens stadium the team will fail. Anyone who's been to a Sens game knows the atmosphere around the stadium is terrible, your in a massive open space with just a parking lot and fields.
The atmosphere around stadiums in soccer is a lot more important than in hockey. hockey is in winter and people don't hang around the stadium/tail gate/ walk from pubs. But in soccer in NA they do and it is vital to attract the young, energetic fans like what TFC has.
There is major space at Lebreton flats, right along major bus routes, beside the river, and where they plan to put the subway. It is also close to pubs and restaurants. They should seriously consider this.
Give the Senators a few years of not making the playoffs and the fans will stop going unless they price the games correctly.
It's hockey... Canadian fans love it and will go to great lengths to see it but not everyone will. I know of many who go to only a few games a year because thay can't stand the queensway slog to the corn fields.
It is getting better with the traffic infrastructure being improved upon.
They had their chance... and blew it.
There are just too many levels of bureaucracy involved with Lebreton.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) has final say and they will not allow the stadium / arena / convention centre / hotel / commercial centre that should have been built there many years ago.
As the NCC is unelected they are hard to pressure to make a decision that the residents want.
I'm hearing murmors that something is coming down the pipe Wednesday
http://tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=27108...headlines_main
Looks Vancouver is officially in for 2011
garber has no reason not to introduce Vanny now... the cash is there, the owners are solid as can be, the stadium renovation plans are in place, the SSS plan is still in play.
there's no need to wait.