Would it be possible and would there be interest if Memphis were to apply for a franchise in the new NASL and revive the old Memphis Rogues? As a Div 2 league it would have some up and coming developing players at a lower cost than it would cost to have a MSL team.

Applying for a franchise in the NASL might be difficult right now. They already have 3 expansion teams(Jacksonville, OKC, and N. Virginia) ready to go. What could be done is to poach the Silverbacks from Atlanta once Atlanta FC starts in MLS in 2 years.

What would be easier would be getting a USL Pro or PDL team. That's how Orlando got their MLS team. They took the Aztex(1st incarnation) from Austin and supported the hell out of it for 5 years. Then got owners with cash and the city to back a stadium. MLS noticed and gave them an expansion franchise starting next season.

Is PDL like AA? I think an AA level would work, develop support and a RBI/Stripes type program for the inner city.

Someone mentioned a year or more ago that Memphis was pursuing a spring training arrangement. Was that bs? Or was it simply that nothing came out of it?

If that was NOT bs, keep pursuing that, either for the east coast (Tucson has spring training for MLS as well) or for the central US (if FL has some spring training for it as well). Get a AA team, with stadium over at Mike Rose. There seems to be a lot of support for soccer though in the city (i.e. viewership in midtown and downtown). So I don't know long term how convenient a Collierville MLS stadium would be, but that's too far down the road.

If NASL is AAA, I'd at least try for PDL.

edit: Actually, from reading about the Minnesota United futbol club (NASL), their stadium is 8,000. Perhaps that's not too unattainable (if NASL is AAA level). http://www.mnunitedfc.com/page/slug/nati...er-stadium

If you think of it like baseball, MLS is the MLB. NASL is AAA, USL-Pro is AA, and USL-PDL is A. Austin has a PDL team and it plays at House Park which is one of the high school football stadiums of the Austin ISD. The Aztex draw about 2000 a game.

A Memphis team could play at CBHS or at Mike Rose with that size crowd.

And I don't think the MLS preseason idea was bull****. Not sure why it didn't happen but I heard it from enough people that are in the loop that there had to be something to it.

(07-20-2014 02:19 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  If you think of it like baseball, MLS is the MLB. NASL is AAA, USL-Pro is AA, and USL-PDL is A. Austin has a PDL team and it plays at House Park which is one of the high school football stadiums of the Austin ISD. The Aztex draw about 2000 a game.

A Memphis team could play at CBHS or at Mike Rose with that size crowd.

And I don't think the MLS preseason idea was bull****. Not sure why it didn't happen but I heard it from enough people that are in the loop that there had to be something to it.

Cool. Has the talk disappeared?

For comparison, the Kino Sports Complex where Tucson hosts MLS spring training is 155 acres. Rose is 136 (both figures based on websites). Stadiums are both 2,000.

Impressively, the National Sports Center where Minneapolis plays is a multi-sports complex with 600 acres. Snowden + Rose + Gameday probably don't reach that, although the Minneapolis center covers other sports that we don't (but probably should). Hopefully Fairgrounds reno includes rec fields.

I know Tim Howard has mentioned he doesn't see himself playing MLS when his career finishes. Perhaps he could be attracted to support Memphis professional soccer in other developmental ways such as either a team, spring training, or both.

It'd be nice and interesting to create or enhance a sports council. I learn more and more about athletes related to Memphis who are in the highest levels of different sports. We should find a way to bring them together, at least once a year, if we don't already. Eliminate barriers of alma maters, sports realms, etc. Maybe that creates, builds relationships to bolster the local sports atmosphere even more... I know there's a Sports Ball... Does that do something similar? I'm envisioning a broad-based purpose, not focused on single events (many local events I am sure attract local athlete support). Maybe something like the Arts Council but made up of pro athletes and for youth sports and facilities of all kinds.

(07-20-2014 09:45 AM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  Applying for a franchise in the NASL might be difficult right now. They already have 3 expansion teams(Jacksonville, OKC, and N. Virginia) ready to go. What could be done is to poach the Silverbacks from Atlanta once Atlanta FC starts in MLS in 2 years.

They are looking at getting up close to 20 teams by 2018. Average attendance in the league is less than 4,000.

Forgive if you consider this a stupid question...would the Grizz have to approve a soccer team coming to town?
I thought they had a say in entertainment venues....

(07-20-2014 05:43 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  Forgive if you consider this a stupid question...would the Grizz have to approve a soccer team coming to town?
I thought they had a say in entertainment venues....

No. They have no say in the matter, unless they played at the FEF. Then, who knows, they may invest in a new team.

Memphis had a PDL team called the Memphis Express

I know it isn't happening today, but could we reasonably support a MLS team at some point?

(07-23-2014 12:33 PM)madtiger Wrote:  I know it isn't happening today, but could we reasonably support a MLS team at some point?

depends on what reasonably is....though I doubt it

that said, it is the only logical possibility for another major pro sports team in Memphis; there are no others

(07-23-2014 12:37 PM)k2tigers Wrote:  

(07-23-2014 12:33 PM)madtiger Wrote:  I know it isn't happening today, but could we reasonably support a MLS team at some point?

depends on what reasonably is....though I doubt it

that said, it is the only logical possibility for another major pro sports team in Memphis; there are no others

That is the main reason i asked about a team in the new NASL. The old Rogues drew around 7,000-8,000 per game. Those numbers could keep a new NASL team afloat. With the money being thrown around in MSL these days i seriously doubt we could make it in the MSL without a major naming partner.

Quote:The old Rogues drew around 7,000-8,000 per game.

True, but I believe a large percentage of those folks got in with promotional tickets. Fogelman lost a ton. The last MSL exhibition here drew fewer than 500 people, but it was in February and very, very cold. Plus, modifications would have to be made to the Liberty Bowl if that would be the venue. The corners basically don't fit. Interestingly, a new youth soccer club has formed and is training at the Liberty Bowl.

(07-23-2014 12:37 PM)k2tigers Wrote:  

(07-23-2014 12:33 PM)madtiger Wrote:  I know it isn't happening today, but could we reasonably support a MLS team at some point?

depends on what reasonably is....though I doubt it

that said, it is the only logical possibility for another major pro sports team in Memphis; there are no others

As well as the definition of "some."

34 games, less expensive than NFL to purchase and attend, And most soccer-specific stadiums are less than 30K. Outdoors, during the summer. Put a overhang to create shade for fans.

I think it's very possible we can build up to a MLS team. And MLS has the most dependable track record of cities ascending into franchises. The threshold is low, granted.

Start with AAA or the AA level, and work up to it...

HOOOOOOSKA

We should make a bid for the World Cup.

(07-28-2014 11:29 AM)poppaslaw Wrote:  We should make a bid for the World Cup.

Would have the same percentage of actually happening.