OT: Ford family joins Gores/Gilbert Detroit MLS Bid; Offer Ford Field as stadium
November 2nd, 2017 at 3:58 PM ^
The Fords to get their hands on another pro team in Detroit.
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:48 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:06 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:07 PM ^
if they cover the top like rendering shows
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:45 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:25 PM ^
Depends upon what is meant by covering the second level. Just putting a tarp over the seats is cheesy and unimpressive, of course. But Vancouver pioneered what I consider to be a rather brilliant solution by actually extending fabric awnings over the lower bowl to cut off the view of the upper level and concentrate noise.
It's not perfect, but it's much better than other solutions I've seen.
Which is not to say that I think this is the way to go. I don't necessarily trust the potential ownership to get this right, and in general I think it would be far preferable for Detroit to have a dedicated outdoor soccer venue. It's not like space is hard to come by. Funding, on the other hand, is a challenge.
My preferred option is lamentably long off the table; I think Tiger Stadium should have been refurbished and rehabilitated as a soccer stadium. Alas.
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:25 PM ^
further from the field than a soccer specific stadium? Honest question. I actually assume they would be since football sidelines have hundreds of people standing on both sides and soccer sidelines require far fewer people and only one one side.
Other than getting fans a little closer to the field, I don't see what the big difference would be. Air doesn't make noise in a soccer specific stadium so you still have 20-30k people making noise and one might argue that being indoors the sound would be kept in.
Still I agree that since it's a summer league, it seems criminal to have the games indoors.
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:11 PM ^
the current trend in the NFL is any indication it will soon be 2/3 empty for football games as well.
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:37 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:09 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:16 PM ^
That ratings drop is very small compared to almost anything else on TV.
There are a lot of reasons for the NFL ratings drop, but the biggest one seems to be the expansion of NFL windows resulting in the same number of people watching less NFL on an hours/viewer basis. The NFL still blows away every other sport in terms of fan interest.
November 2nd, 2017 at 7:19 PM ^
Broadcast rights are less valuable if NFL generates lower ratings. The ever increasing salary cap will be a thing of the past with next round of media contracts.
November 2nd, 2017 at 8:46 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 9:09 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:37 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 8:54 PM ^
Ford Field would be a wretched place for soccer. Ugh.
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:07 PM ^
Terrible idea. A soccer specific stadium is the only way this will work. Seattle and Atlanta are the exception, not the rule.
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:21 PM ^
I assume the idea is to only temporarily house them in Ford Field before a stadium is built?
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:35 PM ^
The jail site is now focused for "mixed-use" (retail and office).
Which I support 100% -- I know everyone would like a custom-built stadium for each particular sport; that's the ideal. But downtown Detroit doesn't need another large piece of land that sits dormant 330+ days a year while Ford Field is right there. It is a modern facility (they just spent $100 mil on it) with plenty of parking. I wish it were outside, but the renderings look good.
Plus, I guarantee if there was a new stadium, they would want public funding for at least part of it. I am done with that, also.
November 2nd, 2017 at 6:55 PM ^
Too bad you got "Lost" in Houston.
November 2nd, 2017 at 7:53 PM ^
I'd love a soccer-specific stadium myself. But I think what this comes down to is this: Chances are really bad of having the land-swap deal done in time for the first announcement, which would take Detroit right out of the running immediately. Wayne County dragged its feet too long.
The next round looks bad too; even if that deal gets all wrapped up, city and county governance will pitch a huge fit about public funding and a few months is nowhere near enough time to get it figured out. I mean, how long did it take the county to finally agree to take what is actually a really good offer?
Ford Field is a concession to reality, plain and simple. If the chips are all in on the jail site, we're totally out of the first round and not looking good for the second. I would guess that Gilbert/Gores are having private conversations with the MLS powers that be about a soccer stadium in the long term, but the way this has gone with the county so far, we're not getting an MLS team with that kind of uncertainty surrounding the stadium. In the end, Ford Field is the only path forward.
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:46 PM ^
Using an existing stadium instead of building a new one - in a city that still watches half of its kids drop out of school and is in desperate need of funding on that front.
Yes, yes, this is a terrible idea. /s
November 3rd, 2017 at 1:52 PM ^
I live in Denver and the smaller soccer stadium is absolutely crucial. Detroit would be an absolutely awesome place for MLS, just not ford field.
I'm wondering where we could fit yet another stadium though. Downtown is also crucial IMO.
That said, I heard the game in Atlanta's new dome was actually pretty epic?
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:08 PM ^
at first glance the stadium looked to be rendered half full which would be accurate.
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:12 PM ^
not like the Lions do much with it
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:16 PM ^
Death blow for the bid. Soccer specific stadium is like #1 on the criteria for an approved bid for this expansion group.
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:38 PM ^
Any sports league, particularly one that seems to be focused on expansion fees, would salivate over getting three billionaires involved with their league, particularly if two of them are some of the largest advertisers on sports programming.
Money talks.
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:47 PM ^
No way MLS turns down having Ford associated with it.
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:18 PM ^
They need to build their own stadium for soccer. That seems to be what MLS wants all their teams to go to.
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:26 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:26 PM ^
I think you are underestimating the soccer market in Michigan. Are they going to fill up the stadium to the rafters? Probably not, but there is a sizeable contingent of soccer fans in this state.
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:34 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:44 PM ^
Well, I currently have little interest or knowledge in MLS, but that's in large part because there is no local team.
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:02 PM ^
Right. Because people are beating down the doors to come see the Detroit Shock games, even though they didn't give a crap about womens professional basketball before the franchise existed.
The "you just don't know what you're missing" argument is a failure. People don't just becaome fans for soccer because they were unaware of it and then discover how great it is... They watch it every 4 years in the world cup and realize every time that they don't understand it and dont' care.
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:36 PM ^
There is measurable demand for soccer in SE Michigan. People do watch FIFA/European soccer, they go to DCFC games, etc. There is demand for soccer that will translate to MLS (to some extent).
There was no demand for women's basketball before the WNBA arrived. It's not like people were watching European women play. That was truly a build-it-and-hope-they-buy-it strategy that was probably never going to work. Besides, I think there was some sort of requirement/tie-in with the NBA for that.
Big difference.
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:15 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:22 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:25 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 7:05 PM ^
While this may be true regarding Columbus, the people of Austin have a STRONG interest in the Columbus team. Austin is actively courting the Crew and is considering a stadium downtown.
Similarly, San Francisco has formed a committee with the purpose of bringing a dedicated MLS team to the city. A "minor league" team plays at the old Niners stadium in Golden Gate Park, and some land is being considered for a dedicated MLS stadium near the new Warriors arena.
While it's the chagrin of many MGoBloggers, soccer is spreading and its popularity is growing in the US.
November 2nd, 2017 at 7:25 PM ^
yeah, those cities are real sports hotbeds.
November 2nd, 2017 at 10:31 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 4:51 PM ^
5,000 to 7,500 people show up in a crappy neighborhood for fourth division NPSL soccer at Detroit City FC for every game. The players are basically all college kids or recent grads. I think that the quality of play will be able to drive significantly more. There is a big soccer culture among the millenials and among parents with young kids. It will do fine if they find a way to embrace those constituent communities properly. Conversely, the atmosphere of the game seems like it would take a hit being both indoors and in a large NFL stadium.
They also have to keep ticket prices reasonable.
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:58 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 6:47 PM ^
And if it was an MLS team, it would still be a bunch of full grown has beens or never will bes instead of college kids. Until MLS starts attracting real talent, or US soccer does a better job of fostering quality players through our youth programs, the product is going to only be marginally better than 4th division soccer.
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:05 PM ^
Don't forget that the Big House drew a crowd of over 100 thousand for a soccer game. I know it was two of the biggest teams in the world, but there is a soccer market in SE Michigan.
For the 2015 MLS Cup, metro Detroiters were picking up Portland Timbers fans from DTW and giving them a place to stay and then driving them to Columbus for the game.
Their success as a franchise will hinge on hiring a good GM and making the right signings (like Atlanta this year). A competitive team will keep people coming back once the shine of a new team wears off.
And as a sidenote, the Columbus Crew are moving because their jackass owner from California bought the team and thinks Texas will support a third team. Not because of a lack of fan support.
November 2nd, 2017 at 7:34 PM ^
however, it was also just that - an EVENT. Events draw folk who wouldn't necessarily be interested otherwise. I know many people who flew in/drove in for the game.
There's a soccer market in SE Michigan but I don't think I'd extrapolate overly much from that one game.
November 2nd, 2017 at 8:57 PM ^
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:06 PM ^
Don't forget that the Big House drew a crowd of over 100 thousand for a soccer game. I know it was two of the biggest teams in the world, but there is a soccer market in SE Michigan.
For the 2015 MLS Cup, metro Detroiters were picking up Portland Timbers fans from DTW and giving them a place to stay and then driving them to Columbus for the game.
Their success as a franchise will hinge on hiring a good GM and making the right signings (like Atlanta this year). A competitive team will keep people coming back once the shine of a new team wears off.
And as a sidenote, the Columbus Crew are moving because their jackass owner from California bought the team and thinks Texas will support a third team. Not because of a lack of fan support.
November 2nd, 2017 at 6:51 PM ^
The Timbers have a rabid following because it is Portland, not because soccer in general draws well. The Portland women's team, the Thorns, sells out playoff games. No one in North America is as crazy about soccer as Portland.
The big house drew 100,000 fans to see two of the best, most star studded teams in the world. That's a lot different than drawing fans to watch mediocre teams wallowing in a bankrupt league week in and week out.
November 2nd, 2017 at 5:21 PM ^
I don't know....Detroit City FC gets a decent turnout (I've gone myself a few times) even though it isn't really the big time as soccer goes by any stretch. It's a pretty loyal following all the same, and I would think that the Detroit area isn't a bad landing spot for a team. That being said, I don't imagine that you can fill Ford Field, which makes me wonder why they wouldn't hold out for a smaller venue like they had proposed on Gratiot.