Ideally, the team could play at UA's new digs...but it won't happen. 

 

This complex needs to be closer to Cleveland than to Akron, and Macedonia is pretty much equidistant...on a similar note, Philly gets a team...see link below.

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=512016&cc=5901

 

Why do you feel it absolutely needs to be closer to Cleveland? It doesn't appear that the soccer officials and investers feel that way. I'm sure they know what they are doing and have done research.

 

In my humble opinion, Cleveland is not a big Soccer Team Town and I fear the project would get little "Fanfare" and attention. In The Akron Area; it would be huge and it would draw from a The Southern Cleveland Metro and South through Akron to possibly Canton. It may not happen, but I think Visionaries could make it happen.

 

I am a Clevelander/Akronite. I was born and raised in Akron and spent quite a few years in Cleveland. It kind of bothers me that few people from Cleveland give Akron credit for he ability to support anything on a big scale. Even though Akron is definitely no Cleveland in size or scope, it is still a major part of this Northeast Ohio Metropolitan Area. Without the 1.6 million people in The Akron-Canton Area, plus The Industry, Trucking  and Additional Attractions, etc., Cleveland would never have become anything near what it was or is now. How about a little credit. Akron, with the support of Cleveland, can support big things. The more big things that happen in Akron, the more that will happen in Cleveland. The sooner we all get on the same page and regionalize llike other growing metropolitan Areas, instead of fighting each other for everything, the better.

 

I will visit that site.

^MLS in Akron: Big Fish in Little Pond Scenario? (not trying to criticize akron here, just numbers-population)

My personal opinion.. If Akron had a professional team in a sport that gets some national attenion on espn.. I would most def attend.. If it were in cleveland I would not even think about going. Its not just about soccer.. People in Akron love sports and would cheer on a mid-level profile pro team. Plus I have alot of friends who have children into soccer that live around Akron. One of the main sports for akron area youth is soccer.

 

It would def be a lower level sport in the Cleveland area.. but would take Center stage in Akron. I think a great location would be on rt 8 right where all that vacant land is at the perkins st exit. they use to have apts there and a gas station if my memory is correct. That location is close to downtown and easy access from I76/77 and would even draw people south west of Akron like medina.. wooster.. Perhaps people would even drive up 71 from the Ashland area. What I'm saying is that it would draw more people in Akron than it would in Cleveland.!!.

There are dozens of potentially good soccer stadium spots throughout Summit County.  Perhaps the Rubber Bowl, Rolling Acres area, Chapel Hill area, Summit Fairgrounds?, and many other locations that offer inexpensive land options.  Richfield is the equivalent to Macedonia as far as central location-wise with easy access to a multitude of highways.  They could easily use one of the large empty truck terminals. 

Not like Richfield hasn't been used before for a major sports team in a growing league..

^MLS in Akron: Big Fish in Little Pond Scenario? (not trying to criticize akron here, just numbers-population)

 

Akron is spelled with a capitol A.

 

You, obviously, don't even know what the numbers and population are. Check your statistics. There are roughly $700,000 people in The Akron Metro Area and roughly 1.6 million in The Akron-Canton Area. Within a 50 mile radius of Downtown Akron, which does include Cleveland, Youngstown, Medina, Canton and Massilon; there are approximately 4.5 million people and only 6 other metros in the United States have a greater population in a 50 mile radius. Fifty miles is an acceptable ride time to attend a major sporting event. Many people in this country commute much further to work each day. The question is not if the population is there, at all. Richfield is a suburb of Akron and The Cavs were adequately supported for quite a few years. The question is are there enough soccer fans? The question is also: When will you and many other Clevelanders stop letting your egos get the best of you and recognize that Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Massilon and Youngstown are all in the same boat. When one sinks, we all sink. All local governments and people need to unite, support each other and pool our resources. Regionalism is the key.

 

That elitist attitude that Cleveland is the only legitimate city in Northeast Ohio that should be the location of any new company, event or anything and all of the other little specs on the map should step aside, is detrimental to Cleveland and the whole region. Each city in this region, rather large, medium or small would devastate the others if wiped off the map, tomorrow. This is common sense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, I forgot to mention that Cleveland won't have the numbers or the population if it doesn't stop bleeding profusely. The city has lost something like $500,000 people. At this rate, it'll be a little hick town like Akron, soon.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love Cleveland! I just think Cleveland could show the rest of Northeast Ohio some love and get off it's high horse and work with the rest of us.

Yay Beer!  Well there is only one person that is deciding where to locate this stadium: Scott Wolstein.  Unfortunately he probably doesn't own any wetlands in Richfield or Akron so he probably won't build there.

You, obviously, don't even know what the numbers and population are. Check your statistics. There are roughly $700,000 people in The Akron Metro Area

 

Just thought I'd reemphasize your statistics and research. Even better is when you did it again in your next post.

I grew up in Cuyahoga Falls, and I would also call MLS in Akron a "big Fish in Little Pond Scenario." It has nothing to do with insulting Akron, it's just a statement of fact. Akron is a smaller city with no pro-franchises. That's not insinuating that Akron sucks, it's just a market fact like saying you want to open a grocery store but one street already has 12 and another has none.

 

Anyway, by the time you get down to Macedonia, where this team has been postulated, you might as well call it Akron because I certainly wouldn't consider it Cleveland.

1.6 million on Akron-Canton?  So Canton's like what, almost a million people now?  Whatever, but I'd be happy to see MLS land in Downtown Akron, but why is it then when every other league has realized the visibility and spinoff benefits of central, usually Downtown locations that MLS is all of a sudden hot for wetlands and cornfields?  I mean all over the country, not just here.

ideally downtown in akron would be better than a burb, but it sounds like wolstein doesnt own anything there.

 

i hope they build it in akron or cleveland, but please wolstein don't repeat the richfield mistake.

 

hmm i noticed on the link that the new philly team will be in chester.

 

You, obviously, don't even know what the numbers and population are. Check your statistics. There are roughly $700,000 people in The Akron Metro Area

 

Just thought I'd reemphasize your statistics and research. Even better is when you did it again in your next post.

 

my fav was, "This may be a mute point."  :wink:

 

 

I think that the rolling acres area would be better for like Firestone to move to. The rubber bowl could be a good spot but then again its not really close to a major traffic artery. I still think that spot at perkins would be great. driving on rt 8 south or the all american (y) bridge into downtown and see the stadium add to the skyline.. plus it be neat to see the soccer staduim at one exit then see the UA stadium at the on on rt 8..

Just thought I'd reemphasize your statistics and research. Even better is when you did it again in your next post.

 

If you comprehend it the first time, then I don't have to repeat it. Repetition is is one of the best and most recognized teaching tools.

 

1.6 million on Akron-Canton?  So Canton's like what, almost a million people now?  Whatever, but I'd be happy to see MLS land in Downtown Akron, but why is it then when every other league has realized the visibility and spinoff benefits of central, usually Downtown locations that MLS is all of a sudden hot for wetlands and cornfields?  I mean all over the country, not just here.

 

Akron's statistical area is listed as Summit, Medina and Portage Counties. Canton is listed as Stark and Wayne Counties. There are 1.6 million people in those 5 counties. Check your Almanac. That is what my figures are based on. Also, when discussing High Speed Rail from Columbus to Cleveland, the backers considered skipping Akron-Canton and it was said to make no sence to skip the 1.6 million people in The Akron-Canton Area to save 15 minutes. That extra 15 minutes added to missing that population, killed that deal.

 

And I still say that if Major League Basketball wasn't a Big Fish in a Small Pond then Soccer definitely won't be. Evidentally, Scott Wolstein didn't think it would be, either.

 

Sporting events draw from a certain, reasonable distance. That distance, depending on the popularity of the sport and the team in that area, will vary. For a popular sport and team, in a specific area, an hour drive is quite reasonable. Going to a major sporting event is considered a special occassion, for most people. On special occassions, people regularly drive 1 hour or less to a lake, an amusement park or a major sporting event. The population to support the team is within a reasonable radius of Akron and especially it's northern suberbs; like Cuyahoga Falls, Macedonia and Richfield. The question, once again, is not the population. Take it from a person who is in the field of Marketing. It is: Are there enough Soccer Fans?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The further south and west it moves the more it competes with the Crew. MLS hasn't put two teams in markets that close that either aren't massively bigger (the East Coast) or massively Latino (Los Angeles).

I don't own an almanac.  According to the census, these are the most recent definitions of Akron and Canton's MSAs and their 2000 census population count:

 

15940 Canton-Massillon, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area

Principal Cities: Canton, Massillon

Carroll County, Stark County

 

Population: 406,934

 

10420 Akron, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area

Principal City: Akron

Portage County, Summit County

 

population: 694,960

 

http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metroarea.html

 

15940 Canton-Massillon, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area

Principal Cities: Canton, Massillon

Carroll County, Stark County

 

Population: $406,934

 

10420 Akron, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area

Principal City: Akron

Portage County, Summit County

 

population: $694,960

 

 

there, fixed your research.

As we all know, depending on who's opinion you you subscribe to, you get different figures. And I admit that my Almanac is 2 years old. I'm sure we can agree that at-least 1.1 million people reside in the area. A Soccer Stadium in the northern portion of The Akron Metro Area would tap into even more people. I'm sure we are talking about 25,000-30,000 seats, max. My point is: The population is there to fill a stadium of that size. My skepticism is based on the amount of Soccer Fans in this area. I feel that the stadium would do better near Akron because even if there aren't as many Soccer Fans as the planners might like, Akron is a smaller market that would rally around a pro sports team and do there best to become fans just for the sake of making such a project a success. The idea of any pro sports team in Akron would generate enormous excitement. I feel it would draw at-least some real Soccer Fans from The Cleveland and Canton Area, which would only add to the possibility of success. If we are fortunate enough to have a winning team; There you go. In Cleveland, the team would have to endure Fourth Place; behind Football, Baseball and Basketball. It wouldn't generate nearly the excitement that it would in this area.

 

A project like this, added to the other positive things going on, could be a real boost to this area, which would benefit Cleveland, in the long run. I feel that it would, in the long run, become another underpatronized and failed venture in Cleveland and when they leave, it would cause more Down Syndrome. I could be wrong, but this is my opinion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have some questions.

 

Does the area offer currently in terms of off site amenities?

What concrete plans does the area offer upon being named franchise?

What gaurantee to the league can a team in Akron make?

Where is the corporate sponsorship coming from?

What is the revenue breakdown?

Sponsorships (Akron only - not NE Ohio)

Licensing of merchandise

Non Share Revenue  (Akron only - not NE Ohio)

demographics - total market, segment market (Akron only - not NE Ohio)

venue ownership or lease terms

venue revenue

local television agreements/national broadcasting rights/TV Household reach 

Payroll

Projected venue Capacity

Projected venue Attendance

Ticket Price cascade

Company's within 7 miles with more than 500 employees.

 

there, fixed your research.

 

<----- [pope $ joke]

:roll:

[Master's head]

hmm.. for some reason I can see my girlfriend as a soccer mom.. lol

thats kinda hot..

I have some questions.

 

Does the area offer currently in terms of off site amenities?

What concrete plans does the area offer upon being named franchise?

What gaurantee to the league can a team in Akron make?

Where is the corporate sponsorship coming from?

What is the revenue breakdown?

Sponsorships (Akron only - not NE Ohio)

Licensing of merchandise

Non Share Revenue  (Akron only - not NE Ohio)

demographics - total market, segment market (Akron only - not NE Ohio)

venue ownership or lease terms

venue revenue

local television agreements/national broadcasting rights/TV Household reach 

Payroll

Projected venue Capacity

Projected venue Attendance

Ticket Price cascade

Company's within 7 miles with more than 500 employees.

 

 

What the hell is all that! I simply said that a pro "Soccer Team" might work in The Akron Metropolitan Area, with regional support, at-least from fans. In general, if the region worked together, I think The Cleveland-Akron____________ Soccer Team could draw from the multitude of corporate sponsors in the region and fill 30,000 seats, if we can find enough Soccer Fans. I think the cities, counties and state could put together an incentive package Akron would rally to make it work if it were in the metro area.

 

Come on guys! Just admit that in my wildest dreams, theoretically and hypothetically, it could work.

those are some basic questions that need answers.

 

If a professional league will be successful, in the NEO market, I personally think it needs to be in cleveland proper.

those are some basic questions that need answers.

 

If a professional league will be successful, in the NEO market, I personally think it needs to be in cleveland proper.

 

Its probably a fair assumption that those questions have been answered by Wolstein or whomever is trying to pull this together. Average forumer on the street? Ha, funny.

those are some basic questions that need answers.

 

If a professional league will be successful, in the NEO market, I personally think it needs to be in cleveland proper.

 

Its probably a fair assumption that those questions have been answered by Wolstein or whomever is trying to pull this together. Average forumer on the street? Ha, funny.

 

Exactly. And evedintally, based on considerable research, I'm sure, they thought that his property in the northeastern suburbs of Akron could be a feasible location.

 

Evidentally, his team and other supporters involved, didn't agree with you that Akron is too much of a hick town to consider for the project.

 

Don't feel bad, I do agree that Cleveland is a bigger city. I just don't think Akron is as small as you do. And I think that Cleveland will continue to get smaller and smaller until they get off of their high horse and help to promote this region instead of trying to be the only city that matters around here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both cities do matter (and both are shrinking unfortunately), but Macedonia doesn't matter to me.  That's where the freakin thing was going.  And Macedonia is about as split as it gets between being a Cleveland suburb and an Akron suburb.  Kind of like Richfield.

Both cities do matter (and both are shrinking unfortunately), but Macedonia doesn't matter to me.  That's where the freakin thing was going.  And Macedonia is about as split as it gets between being a Cleveland suburb and an Akron suburb.  Kind of like Richfield.

 

 

I think that Macedonia and Richfield do matter. I think that every little city, township, etc., has something different to offer people, companies, sports teams or whoever. Some people like sprawl, some like quaint, some like traditional or historic and some like contemporary. When Cleveland markets and supports Cleveland only and when Akron markets and supports Akron only, they can only offer what they alone have to offer. By regionalizing, we offer every thing that every square inch of this region has to offer. We can pool resourses and really promote the area, as well as offer better incentives for business relocation. Who cares who gets the business or the sports team? Some will choose Akron, because it offers them something in particular, some will choose Cleveland and some will choose Parma or Barberton. In the long run, we will be more competitive and economically feasible as a region than we are as individual localities who think each other don't matter. This is how cities like Atlanta and Dallas have done so well.

 

Macedonia and Richfield do matter. One is a retail and industrial power house where Clevelanders and Akronites work and shop and another is a the location of quite a few trucking operations like Ward and Yellow, etc. People from all areas of the region work there and businesses ship and receive through those companies. There is a reason that each of those cities attract those types of development. What ever those reasons are, we need to support them and help them use those reasons to attract more of the same.

There is a reason that each of those cities attract those types of development. What ever those reasons are, we need to support them and help them use those reasons to attract more of the same.

 

Yep, the reasons are government funded sprawl and the resulting penchant for those who can to take advantage of it.  Suburbias time will run out, and I refuse to support it and its destructive consequences.

I appreciate the spirited discussion on this board...if you are so inclined, you can also join in at bigsoccer.com...there is a special forum for any/all discussion on Cleveland MLS expansion.

 

All are welcome...the more 'noise' the better - IMO.

 

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=1121

Don't feel bad, I do agree that Cleveland is a bigger city. I just don't think Akron is as small as you do. And I think that Cleveland will continue to get smaller and smaller until they get off of their high horse and help to promote this region instead of trying to be the only city that matters around here.

 

And you need to get off of your cross.

I here you jam40jeff. Peace!

 

The core cities will always compete in the long run because they have the population, resources and incentives to offer. Mid-western cities are temporarily loosing to the burbs because of their long reliance on manufacturing, which has and still is bailing. As the core mid-western cities re-invent themselves, they will become the centers for economic development, again. I happent to think that regionalization will help that happen faster. I could be wrong. Cities like Cleveland will still have quiet suburbs, they will just be further out. The inner ring of suburbs are doomed to be urbanized.

 

Hey pope,

 

Are you sure you aren't the one on a cross?

 

 

 

I here you jam40jeff. Peace!

 

The core cities will always compete in the long run because they have the population, resources and incentives to offer. Mid-western cities are temporarily loosing to the burbs because of their long reliance on manufacturing, which has and still is bailing. As the core mid-western cities re-invent themselves, they will become the centers for economic development, again. I happent to think that regionalization will help that happen faster. I could be wrong. Cities like Cleveland will still have quiet suburbs, they will just be further out. The inner ring of suburbs are doomed to be urbanized.

 

Hey pope,

 

Are you sure you aren't the one on a cross?

 

 

 

 

Oh for cryin' out loud!

I think Cleveland needs to act like it's the only city around here that matters-not regarding some fictional MLS team/stadium-but with everything.  But this is for another topic and another time.

 

Oh, and:

Mid-western cities are temporarily loosing to the burbs because of their long reliance on manufacturing, which has and still is bailing...Cities like Cleveland will still have quiet suburbs, they will just be further out. The inner ring of suburbs are doomed to be urbanized.

 

1.  I really don't think that Westlake and Avon are attracting all of the people who have lost their manufacturing jobs in recent years.  If by burbs you mean Sunbelt or something, maybe?

 

2a.  I really wouldn't call Vermillion or Lodi a suburb of Cleveland if you're predicting that a dying/struggling city will be able to maintain a metro area 2-3 mil people with a 50 mile radius.

 

2b.  I think Cleveland and other "Rustbelt" or WHATEVER you want to call it cities are losing people to the suburbs b/c a lot of the people in the respective metros think that moving 15-20 miles away is enough of a buffer zone to live this utopian life where the problems of the evil city can never reach them. :roll: 

 

3.  When I think of inner ring bubs I think of Lakewood, Shaker Hts, Cleveland Hts, and yes Parma too and they are urbanized.  They're urban b/c they were the first suburbs but back in the day, suburb didn't mean 1/2 acre lot and no sidewalks.  Urban doesn't solely mean abandoned houses and boarded up storefronts.  Towns in the middle of nowhere Ohio have the same things and do we call those places urban? Come on now. 

 

 

Why are urbanized areas doomed?  Why are you on Urban Ohio?! :wtf:

 

Now I'll get off my cross.

 

 

It is interesting to see people promote dense urban living, lobbying for support from those in the oulying areas to help redevelop and revitalize the urban core while chastizing those same people for living in the suburbs in at the same time.  Because if I live in Macedonia and am listening to this argument about how my city (Macedonia) doesn't matter and my lifestyle has contributed to urban decay, is unsustainable, and destructive, the first thing I am going to do is put my house on the market and move into Slavic Village.  Because if the entire population of Macedonia and all its industry moves into Cleveland proper, there will no longer be any people living in Cleveland making bad life decisions and jeopardizing my quality of life.

 

And we can have an MLS stadium too!

 

"Some people like sprawl"

 

Some people like unsustainable lifestyles and living patterns. Some people like using resources to develop outlying land at the expense of the already built infrastructure that as we've seen, has been neglected thanks to decades of auto-centric suburban sprawl. Let's see, a new interchange on I-90 so people in Avon can shave five minutes off their commute, or money that could go into maintaining and/or improving existing highway infrastructure closer to the city.

 

If you want this region to stagnate and/or decay even further, go right ahead and encourage the auto-centric growth patterns that places like Macedonia have adopted in a region with little to no population growth. Go right ahead and encourage this region to spread itself EVEN more thin - I mean, if that's what people "like", who are we to suggest otherwise? :roll:

 

 

 

 

I'm mesmerized by the names of all those cul-de-sacs.  Can't decide if my favorite is "Shepard Hills Blvd" or "Heron Glen Ct."

 

Anyhoo, I would just like to again say that MLS should just get over its fear of empty seats and let teams play in football stadiums.  Can't we just stretch some fabric with big pepsi logos over the upper deck of CBS to hide the seats?

It is interesting to see people promote dense urban living, lobbying for support from those in the oulying areas to help redevelop and revitalize the urban core while chastizing those same people for living in the suburbs in at the same time.  Because if I live in Macedonia and am listening to this argument about how my city (Macedonia) doesn't matter and my lifestyle has contributed to urban decay, is unsustainable, and destructive...

 

Truth hurts huh? 

 

It's not a question about Cleveland developing a superiority complex or arrogant attitude but the burbs acknowledging their inferiority w/o the mother city. And if Macedonians want a future tomorrow, they better invest/support Cleveland now! Maybe not today, but just b/c there's a Banana Republic and Cheesecake Factory in Westlake now doesn't mean the city is safe from the outside forces.

 

People have choice to live wherever they want for whatever reason-blah blah blah this is America  :roll:-but there are A LOT of people out in BFE who live there to escape w/e torments people in the "inner city" AND end the sentence/thought process at that point.

Let me rephrase that:

 

I understand it's a two-way street, we all need to work together but the guiding principle needs address investment, fortification-in a sense, progress of central, urban core which will allow the surrounding areas to reap the benefits way more than the current "prosperity" enjoyed out there.

Hey Mayday you got a pic of my house in that second pic! 

 

As a "Macedonian", I'm more of a NIMBY on this issue unless they use brownfields like perhaps Northfield Park should that go under or any spot in retail location in Macedonia/Northfield.  I really don't care what city it goes in since I will not be a fan. 

 

To develop more needless sprawl with this project in an area that is already sprawled out is wrong wherever they decide to build this stadium.  This region is not lacking for brownfields.  We probably need to start doing something with taxes on land that hasn't been destroyed.  Perhaps charge half the taxes on land that isn't disturbed.

 

I'm mesmerized by the names of all those cul-de-sacs.  Can't decide if my favorite is "Shepard Hills Blvd" or "Heron Glen Ct."

 

Anyhoo, I would just like to again say that MLS should just get over its fear of empty seats and let teams play in football stadiums.  Can't we just stretch some fabric with big pepsi logos over the upper deck of CBS to hide the seats?

 

I think the fabric idea is a good one.  It could be advertising space or team logo/branding space.

I'm mesmerized by the names of all those cul-de-sacs.  Can't decide if my favorite is "Shepard Hills Blvd" or "Heron Glen Ct."

 

Anyhoo, I would just like to again say that MLS should just get over its fear of empty seats and let teams play in football stadiums.  Can't we just stretch some fabric with big pepsi logos over the upper deck of CBS to hide the seats?

 

I think the fabric idea is a good one.  It could be advertising space or team logo/branding space.

 

but who shares buys a space that large for a crowd that small?  It would cut into media revenue and then there is probably a "revenue sharing" issue with the stadium, team, league and possible city said stadium is located in.

 

I suspect this is why they want soccer only stadiums with a max capacity.  I kind of agree with the league and how it guidelines in regard to "soccer only" stadiums.

Anyhoo, I would just like to again say that MLS should just get over its fear of empty seats and let teams play in football stadiums.  Can't we just stretch some fabric with big pepsi logos over the upper deck of CBS to hide the seats?

 

The MLS says no, because A) they have to pay rent on all those unfilled seats, which I can imagine is pretty pricey, and B) they can't fill all of those seats.  Plus, they lose a chunk of the concessions sold, etc.

The A's and the Marlins do it.

 

The A's and the Marlins do it.

 

Different set of league rules and seating gaurantees.  I understand what you're saying but

a) are those seats apart of the "total number" of season seats available?

b) you see there is no corporate sponsor or branding = no money being made on that space

c) do the A's or Marlin's own their stadiums?  D

c1) is there a min seating gaurantee (seats sold per game) those teams are stipulated to in their lease

d) do they share in the concessions

 

There are probably a ton of variables and gaurantees that each franchise has to secure with the stadium and the league.

 

So saying that two baseball teams do it in multi league stadiums is really comparing apples and oranges. :wink:

^^I guess I'm not as creative as I though I was.  But yeah, that seems to be a pretty easy solution to the aesthetics of empty seats.

 

Considering CBS sits empty for more than 300 (350?) nights a year, I like to think rent, calculated on the basis of usable seats, and concession sharing could be worked out.  CBS is owned by the City of Cleveland, no?  It would sure make a lot more sense than building a new facility.  How many existing MLS teams play in football stadiums (not a rhetorical question- I honestly don't know)?  I saw the Metrostars play in Giants stadium years ago and even though half empty, it seemed to work fine...

Maybe I'm missing something but it would seem easier than building an entire new stadium no?

Maybe I'm missing something but it would seem easier than building an entire new stadium no?

That is the biggest unknown. 

 

I think the MLS league should play in stadiums that are already up and running (whether pro or college) but the economics - the way they present them - of the (MLS) league don't make it viable.  So their only solution is to have franchises build their own stadiums, where they control all aspects of (potential) income, scheduling and use.

^Yeah, funny how the MLS will present economics showing that the public needs to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to build them their own little palace.  Easy for me to say, since I'm not a huge soccer fan, but I'd rather see that part of Summit County not be paved over than see more poorly leveraged corporate welfare shoveled to the MLS and the Wolsteins.

Stadiums

 

When the league was started, most clubs played in stadiums built specifically for NFL or NCAA (college) football. This was based on the record attendances achieved at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. However, this turned out to be a considerable expense to the league because of modest attendance and poor lease deals. To provide better facilities as well as to control revenue for the stadium, a major goal of MLS management is to build its own stadiums, which are often called soccer-specific stadiums.

 

Since 1999, the league has seen the construction and completion of six venues specifically designed for soccer. Lamar Hunt broke new ground in this endeavor by financing the construction of Columbus Crew Stadium. The Los Angeles Galaxy followed four years later with the opening of The Home Depot Center in 2003. CD Chivas USA has shared this venue with the Galaxy since their expansion in 2004. It also played host to two consecutive MLS Cups, until FC Dallas' Pizza Hut Park opened in 2005 and hosted the next two championships. Chicago Fire began playing their home games in Toyota Park in 2006, a venue that witnessed the MLS All-Stars defeating Chelsea F.C. in the All-Star Game, and a US Open Cup championship for the Fire in their first season in the stadium. 2007 saw the opening of Dick's Sporting Goods Park for the Colorado Rapids, and BMO Field for the expansion Toronto FC.

 

Pizza Hut Park, home of FC Dallas.Currently Sandy Stadium which will house Real Salt Lake and Red Bull Park which will house the New York Red Bulls are under construction. Sandy Stadium is expected to open by late 2008 while Red Bull Park earnestly started construction in December 2007. DC United, the Kansas City Wizards, Houston Dynamo, New England Revolution [4] ,and San Jose Earthquakes are actively searching for ways to finance and build their respective stadiums.

 

The move to soccer-specific stadiums has been seen by many as essential to building up attendance and fan support for MLS. So far, every club that has built its own stadium has not only seen its game attendance rise, but also has helped MLS to come closer to the ultimate goal of profitability. Thanks to their new stadium, the Los Angeles Galaxy became the first club to make a profit, and were followed in 2006 by FC Dallas. With the league's new TV rights for the 2007 season, several more clubs are projected to be profitable.

 

Other MLS teams will, in the foreseeable future, continue to play in larger stadiums designed for football. The New England Revolution play in Gillette Stadium, whose primary tenant is the NFL's New England Patriots (the teams have common ownership), and Houston Dynamo play in Robertson Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston. Houston Dynamo has secured an agreement with city officials that has entered them into negotiations to build a soccer-specific stadium in downtown Houston near Minute Maid Park, home of MLB's Houston Astros. The New England Revolution has also expressed interest in securing their own soccer-specific stadium. The new Seattle team will play at Qwest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks, although team management has indicated that it will consider building its own venue under the right circumstances. The new Philadelphia franchise plans to play in Chester Stadium when they enter the league in 2010.

 

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

Get ready....

 

cle2032,

Of-course The Burbs need a strong core to survive. But times have changed and the day of huge 15,000 employee businesses are, mostly, gone. This is due to technological advancement. Computers and Machines can do the work of many people. Because businesses are much smaller, quieter, neater and more ecologically friendly, The Burbs are now willing to accept them in their neighborhoods. People like to live close to their jobs and people who are decisionmakers in business have enough money and prefer to live in The Burbs, these days. So they try to buy their house in The Burbs and locate their small business nearby. Right now, areas like N.E. Ohio's job growth is comming from small business and mostly in the suburbs. There is very little attraction for small business, which is where our economic growth is coming from, to locate in the city. We are, currently, unsuccessful at attracting big business, who we can offer all the incentive in the world, to locate in the city. In order for the inner city to survive, they need the jobs that the suburbs are now providing, until the inner city can get it's act together and attract the big businesses back.

 

I am all for a strong inner core and quiet, quaint suburbs with different personalities. Unfortunately, The Burbs are keeping the inner cities in N.E. Ohio alive, at this time. One cannot survive without the other. The innercity should support anything The Burbs can win for this area, right now, because the inner city is not the strong core that we all would like it to be. Regionalizing will not destroy this area, it will sustain it while the inner cities reinvent. This is being done. It is being done quicker in Akron than Cleveland because Akron is working with it's Burbs through Water Agreements, Joint Economic Districts, etc., and because of it's focus on Education and Quality Neighborhoods. Of-course, t is also smaller and has less decay.

 

I think that a pro stadium anywhere we can get it, is better than no pro stadium at all. Where ever they feel it will work, based on their professional judgement, is where we need to support it being built. We can not afford to loose big projects, simply because of ego (It should be in Downtown Cleveland!). Come on you guys!

 

And every town, city and neighborhood is important. Anyone who doesn't think so, is unimportant to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"There is very little attraction for small business, which is where our economic growth is coming from, to locate in the city."

 

You need to chat with weepingwillow in the "Tyler Village" thread in Projects and Construction.