Gauging Interest

In the previous post I discussed working on developing an Atlanta Soccer Supporters Club.  With the upcoming World Cup Qualifier taking place in Nashville this is the type of event that I could envision the organization renting a van and taking 50+ of our closest friends. But how interested would you be?

Change is Here

A few months ago when I started this blog we had a much different soccer scene.  The Silverbacks were still around, WPS was coming, and MLS was still a possibility.  Shortly after starting the blog we received the news that the Silverbacks were taking at least the 2009 season off, if not longer.  Then the MLS bid failed to make the progress necessary due to the economic climate so AMB group withdrew their bid.  Hopefully we still have the WPS but even that isn’t a guarantee.  It’s still only a letter of intent at this point.

ATL Soccer was created to focus on the pro teams in Atlanta but started to morph into a more general Georgia soccer blog.  I still want to be involved with helping support the game in Georgia but I have decided to do that as a member of the Peach State Soccer team. The new site is up and running at:

http://www.peachstatesoccer.com

So what will come of ATL Soccer? I don’t know.  I’m mulling a few idea’s over.  I’ve considered trying to facilitate the creation of an Atlanta Soccer Supporters Club.  My initial vision was one overarching organization that would have several chapters in cities surrounding Atlanta.  To have an organization that would support the US National Teams, WPS, USL, and MLS.   A way to pull supporters together and have a unified voice the next time a bid takes place for MLS.  To organize road trips to games like the USMNT vs Trinidad and Tobago in Nashville. 

So what do you think? Are you interested in a supporters club? Happy to just watch soccer on TV and not see the game live?

Change is Good!

Like Seal says in his recent hit “… a change in gonna come.”  And I hope you’ll be a part of it.  More coming soon!

Expansion Rumors

I’m not sure if there is anything to it but the following story came across this morning on MLS-Rumors.net.  The following is reported to have come from a reliable source within US Soccer media.

It may be the same source as you already have but I heard yesterday that Miami Barca is a done deal. The announcement will be made separately from the other expansion team (s). Miami will enter with Philly in 2010. The other piece of news is that Jeff Cooper’s St Louis group is not being taken that seriously by the league and it is likely Portland enters in 2011 with Vancouver potentially in 2011 or 2013. Both cities according to my source are basically guaranteed entry in either 2011 or 2013, with Portland probably going first. I’m also told MLS is still interested in Atlanta for 2013 despite Arthur Blank’s withdrawal for 2011. The League will not be capped at 20 or 21 teams but my source tells me expansion may be put on hold for the next several years after 2013. The competition for number 20 is between Atlanta, St Louis and potentially Phoenix if they get their act together before bidding for 2013.

Time will tell but MLS should begin to announce the teams soon. I would expect the city’s to be names separately to get more bang for the buck. What do you think about Miami playing on fieldturf?  Does Atlanta still have a shot at this thing?

What’s in a name???

We’ll Atlanta’s Women’s Professional Soccer team wants your help in deciding it’s name.  And yes, the Beat is an option.  This round consist of 7 suggestions with the ability to write in your own name.  Well, not really your own name. A team name. You know what I mean.

The names are: Attack, Beat, Blaze, Fury, Rush, Stingrays, & Storm.

So hit the link and cast your vote. http://www.atlantawomensprosoccer.com/

Usually tradition wins out on these types of things.  Any chance this team will Blaze a new trail? Will they Attack the old Beat name with a Rush of Fury that could only be quenched by a Storm of Stingrays??? Okay, I’m going to admit the sentence with Blaze just happened. But once I realized that I had done I couldn’t stop myself.  I’m not saying you should condone my cheesiness, I just hope one day you’ll find it in your heart to accept it.

Are there any names you think were overlooked?

Goodbye Silverbacks, Hello Blackhawks

No not the USL1 team.  When the Silverbacks shut down the men’s teams they took with them the Premier Development League team.  That vacancy is what allowed FC Atlanta Blackhawks to come in and fill the void.  A few weeks ago I expressed my concern on a post that Georgia may never be home to a high level men’s college team.  This may be the best opportunity to see some homegrown talent come home and play during the summer before they go back off to school.  The FC Atlanta Blackhawks schedule has been announced but that’s the extent of the details that are currently available.  More to come soon.

Massoud Roushandel, Head Coach and Executive Director of the Blackhawks had this to say.

“With the number of quality college players coming out of the state of Georgia every year, a PDL team is a necessary part of the soccer landscape in this state. Our team will be a preview of the type of teams that they could put together if schools like UGA or Georgia Tech offered men’s NCAA Division I soccer,”

In the meantime check out the press release: http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/302736.html

Hayes named new Silverbacks Womens Coach

On Thursday the Atlanta Silverbacks named David Hayes as their new coach for the Atlanta Silverbacks Women of the W-league.  With David being named the 2007 Defender of the year and picking up All-league selections in 2007 & 2008 I was expecting to see him signing for a new team.   But it looks like he has decided to pursue a new career path.  Or is he???

I’m not really one for conspiracy theories but I can’t help but wonder if this is a short term assignment.  If I were playing GM for a minute and I was planning to take a season off but then come back I would try to preserve a few building blocks if possible.  After selling Mac’s contract who would be one of the most valuable assets to keep around.  Maybe someone who could provide veteran leadership, has the ability to be an impact player on both ends of the pitch, and gives you a cornerstone for a new team. 

Look, I could be completely off base. Maybe he likes the area , enjoys his gig as Technical Director with the Alpharetta Ambush, and this new responsibility makes it worth while to stay. But maybe, just maybe, there is something more to this signing then meets the eye. 

Can you think of anyone from the 2008 roster that you would rather have around if you were going to rebuild the Men’s Silverback Team?

A matter of time?

SundayPaper.com did an interview with Arthur Blank and Mr. Blank had this to say when asked if the cause of the failed MLS bid was due to the inability to get a group of partners together.

That wasn’t the reason. When you do a deal with MLS, it’s a very complex deal. And the general thinking in Major League Soccer today is that you need a soccer-specific stadium in order to be successful and offer the product in the right kind of environment for fans that are coming and supporting it, in addition to providing a financial model that makes sense for all parties concerned. Traditionally, those have been a public/private kind of partnership. In today’s economy, in this world we’re living in right now in 2009, maybe even 2010, that possibility  is not real, and it’s kind of inappropriate to be thinking about those things right now, in my view. So I just think it’s a matter of timing in terms of when we’ll be able to bring that franchise to Atlanta. It had nothing to do with other people being willing to invest, it had to do really with the timing in the marketplace.

It is disappointing to see the opportunity pass but at the same time it’s difficult to argue his point  need a soccer-specific stadium in order to be successful and offer the product in the right kind of environment for fans that are coming and supporting it, in addition to providing a financial model that makes sense for all parties concerned. Traditionally, those have been a public/private kind of partnership. In today’s economy, in this world we’re living in right now in 2009, maybe even 2010, that with the current state of the economy.  Arthur Blank didn’t become the successful business man he is by making bad decisions. This bid will require a combination of public and private funds and though this project will have a significant economic impact the dividends will be down the road.  The initial cost that would be required over the next two years would be steep and with the current budget cutbacks the decision would be inappropriate, as Mr. Blank said.

I guess we’ve waited this long, what’s a few more years.  Hopefully we can bring MLS to Atlanta and the economy and league will be on better footing then they are today.

World Cup Coming to Atlanta?

FIFA has now started accepting bids for the 2018 & 2022 World Cups.  The US is among 10 countries that are expected to submit bids prior to the February 2nd deadline.  Part of that bid must include plans for 12 stadiums that hold 40,000 people. Last May Sunil Gulati, President of the US Soccer Federation, awed the European press when he told them…

“We have got 50 stadia of 70,000 capacities capable of hosting the World Cup. We could have hosted the competition in 1998 in stadiums that didn’t even exist in 1994, and the same goes for 2002 and not use any stadiums that existed in 1998″

You can’t help but love that. And with addition of New Yorks Jets/Giants stadium and the Dallas Cowboys new $1.3 Billion masterpiece being ready by the end of this year there are several additional facilities to add to that list. 

Now comes the good part.  Although the Georgia Dome can configure to hold a 70×110 yds soccer field it is by no means an ideal site. In fact if may not even exist by the time the 2018 world cup rolls around.  Currently there are at least 2 proposals for new stadiums to be the home of the Atlanta Falcons.  Sembler Co. is considering the Doraville GM site and the Georgia World Congress Center that owns the current Dome is proposing a few different options for a new stadium.  Currently the Falcons are under lease to play at the Georgia Dome until either the bonds are paid off OR the year 2020.  The bonds could be paid off as early as 2015 but it should give some hope to a new stadium being build right in time for either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

What do you think?  Did you make the 1994 World Cup in America?