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MLSNet.comThese two stories come to us from our friends at DynamoPlanet.com
First Vancouver:
They may have once again solidified their MLS expansion bid with not only their ownership group announcements recently, but check out the new rendering released today for what soccer in BC Place would look like.
So, Vancouver released the above new artist rendering of what a Vancouver Whitecaps MLS game at BC Place would look like, with the retractable roof planned for the stadium and appears to be making a strong push for MLS in 2011 according to this Vancouver Sun article.
Here is an excerpt:
Earlier this year, the province announced details of a two-phase renovation plan for BC Place. Phase 1 is now underway, and will be completed prior to the 2010 Olympics. The $65-million renovation plan for Phase 1 includes improved access for the disabled, and the redevelopment of all common spaces, concessions, washrooms, exterior plazas, media facilities, dressing rooms and general public areas.
Phase 2 of the plan is scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the 2011 MLS season. This phase includes the installation of a state-of-the-art retractable roof. A key feature of the roof design includes the installation of a centrally hung, state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard.
"We are excited that the stadium will have the only retractable roof and centrally hung scoreboard system in Major League Soccer," Whitecaps COO Rachel Lewis, who is the primary officer responsible for stadium development, said in a statement. "These are features found in some of the best sports venues in the world and will give our fans a unique North American soccer experience."
And now on to the defending MLS Cup Champions....Houston.
Houston should soon learn the fate of its downtown stadium according to DynamoPlanet and Glenn Davis. Some announcement should come before the end of the year.
Long story short, the only thing holding back the announcement of the stadium is $10 Million in TIRZ waiting to be approved by Harris County, which was requested our mayor to Harris County this summer. Yesterday, Glenn Davis interviewed a Harris County official for around nine minutes to see where things stand on the stadium issue.
Here's a link to DynamoPlanet's article along with the podcast of the interview, and an assessment to the situation.
And in a follow-up, here's what was said in the Houston Chronicle:
............................
Speaking at the team's media day ahead of this weekend's must-win playoff match against the New York Red Bulls, Dynamo president/general manager Oliver Luck said team ownership is ready to look elsewhere if a deal for a downtown venue is not struck soon.
"It almost has to (happen soon)," Luck said Wednesday. "If it doesn't happen by the end of the year, it's the old saying: A no is bad, a slow no is even worse. If there is no resolution by the end of the year, we'll have to go to plan B, whatever that is."
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"As I said at the city today, at the mayor's office, we have a window now up until the end of the year where we can get this thing done despite the economic challenges that exist in the marketplace," said Luck, who called the speed of negotiations "disappointing" but expressed confidence something could be worked out now that the elections are over.
..............................
Chances are that there was a little confusion between the City and County in terms of negotiations. Now that the election's over, the belief is that officials now will have the time to look into the stadium issue.
www.homeforthedynamo.com will be one of the sites that will be leading the way for the new stadium support from the fans.
Gotta admit, I was skeptical about Vancouver playing at BC Place but daaamn that looks like a nice stadium!!! They seemed to have pulled off making it look like a soccer pitch, which I am shocked at, but good for them! Seeing as the stadium issue was previously Vancouver's only weak point, Vancouver is definitely in the MLS for 2011 no question.
It's turning into one of the better ones.
IMO, Portland, Montreal, and Vancouver should be the frontrunners. Best ownership groups in terms of being committed to long-term growth of soccer in America. Already established, proven fanbases. As seen from their USL teams.
Simply put, they best fit the Seattle model of success. Proven, established team in USL making the jump up.
I think that both Portland and Montreal deserve the bids just because the facility at BC Place is artifical turf. MLS can't afford to take on anymore facilities without real grass. From a fan standpoint, it is a much more fun game to watch on grass, as well as the stadium looks better with grass, and from a player standpoint, grass is much better to play on. Just look at all the problems Toronto FC has had landing players, mainly because of the turf they have at BMO field. If Vancouver could find a way to make it real grass, I think they deserve to get the bid.
The USSF has to approve Vancouver and Montreal. From what I've heard, there will be no rubber stamp this time around.
The Bc Place is not a spesific soccer stadium! The Lions of the CFL play there to ans at the same time. The CFL season ( june to november). SO no big deal with this news.
centrally hung score board looks so stupid, and could interfere with play.
BC Place: As a stop gap until the White Caps get their own house built, sure. A 59,000 seat house with a second hand field turf floor as a long term home? Hell No.
Present seating capacity is listed as 59,000, but the 'artists rendering' looks much smaller. Anybody know about that?
I really hope Houston can get it done downtown. the car dependant, suburban soccer mom stadiums can't hold a candle to the in town pitches.
With MLS' TV ratings in the gutter, an all Canadian league with real fan bases would be preferable to continued American expansion.
Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa should all be awarded teams.
lol go ahead.
Thats good news for Vancouver. Soccer fan bases are really important for soccer clubs and competitions and i think mls commission should take this like a serious good point for the bids, especially if you think about how young is the MLS. With fanatic fan bases and full stadiums, the clubs will grow and more fans will show up. I lived in USA and soccer has a huge future there. You guys just have to wait a couple years. Even in my country (which has a big soccer culture) just teams with big crowds have some sorta of success (dont forget how poor is the clubs here compared to Europe). In my opinion, four teams should get the expansion (Portland, Montreal, Vancouver and one more, maybe St. Louis). 20 clubs, playing twice against each other (home and away) would be great for MLS.
Well, the turf might be the reason why some players did not come but i think that is a BULL SHIT excuse. Most soccer players want glory and wont be the kind of grass that will stop them. The main reason is because MLS is a really new competion, USA and Canadá dont have a longer tradition in soccer and the salaries are a little bit low. WIth a salary cap higher and time, MLS has everything to become big, bigger than some european competitions.
^^^I agree with pretty much everything Brazilian wrote. You gotta put teams in the cities with pre-existing fan bases. Toronto was probably a fluke in regards to that, and hopefully TFC fans keep coming to the games.
And I really do think the turf issue has been blown out of proportion. CSKA are a fairly big club, and they play on an artificial pitch...probably a worse pitch than the one at BMO! Nobody complains about that facility (for the most part).
Capacity with this configuration is 22,000. Still don't like it though. I still think MLS should just wait until the waterfront stadium is ready to go.
what a lousy owner, cant even give a simple ten million, the fall of the dynamo is coming
Portland Timbers FC!!!!
What happens if the ball it is punted in the air and hits the scoreboard that is in the middle of the air at the center of the field.
Portland and Montreal should be picked, maybe St. Louis. In all honesty they should just pick four expansion teams in the three mentioned above as well as Vancover, but i must say Miami is a very tempting choice.
all canadian league? we have one and no one goes. Just because one time is succesful doesn't mean any other cities will be. Don't expand to Vancouver.. it's an old football/concert stadium dressed up a bit
Portland and Montreal.
No more plastic pitches!
Does the USSF really have that much sway over who is getting what in these negotiations?
I mean sure they are a part of the league. But when your talking billionaires vs. USSF here i think the first party is going to politely do what they want and tell the federation to stuff it.
Even a club like TFC is fielding more americans in it's lineup than Canadians. But all importantly, it's profitable. Owners are sustaining losses right now because they want to be profitable in the future. If a team like MTL is the best way to put the league in the black, then do it.