Re: Railhawks trying for MLS
Couple of things to fill in the gaps in this conversation
- MLS did a market investigation with the previous owners of the Railhawks two years ago. Bottom line, they liked the market, hated the Cary location and STRONGLY suggested that a 20,000 seat soccer-first stadium with at least 5,000 pre-sold FULL season ticket commitments would be the primary entry point for the league to even consider placing an MLS team here. For the record, MLS has informally but firmly made the soccer specific venue a requirement under President Don Garber ... with a couple of NFL tie-in related exceptions that would work for Charlotte, but not Raleigh. Don't get sidetracked thinking that they can play in Carter Finley for awhile. That's just not going to happen. Also, none of the central NC universities have a soccer specific facility with anything like a 20K capacity.
- For those not familiar, MLS doesn't operate like other pro leagues where the franchises are individually owned and operated. It's more of a consortium with STRONG central operations control. The franchises are "investors" in the league, not owner/operators. That's why when people talk about promotion/relegation in US pro soccer, they betray that they just don't understand how MLS works. It's also why transfers and recruitment can be so weird and seem so "rigged" sometimes. The league makes decisions based on what's good for the whole, which sometimes isn't what's good for one individual franchise. Being one of the smaller markets in that league would be ... let's call it frustrating, especially when it comes to attracting designated player level talent or keeping a budding star who eventually wants to play in a bigger market.
- MLS is already committed to 24 franchises. 20 playing now, and 4 approved expansion markets. Atlanta and Minnesota will join next season while LA's replacement for the defunct Chivas USA team and Miami are scheduled to come on line in 2018. I say scheduled because there seem to be some hiccups in Miami despite the involvement of David Beckham in their birth ... rebirth really, as MLS had a team in Miami that failed in 2001. That award is being called "unofficial" right now, which means that they aren't sure of the stadium issue and appear to be looking around for possible southeastern US replacements. THAT is Raleigh's opening IF they can get a stadium deal cobbled together. To think that MLS will expand past 24 ... yeah, that ain't even close to a given and probably defies logic. You could always be ready to be an option if another market struggles ... which happens in this league.
- Here's what I'm hearing on a stadium ... Hawks owner Steve Malik is looking for proposals for land on the fringes of downtown. There are suitable parcels available, I think. Not actually in downtown mind you ... think fringes. Look. I've seen a mockup site plan that would work but I'm not comfortable sharing the actual site. Suffice to say it isn't suburban. He is also seeking input from the State sports development office (forget it under McCrory, yet probably supportive under Cooper) and also the County. Understand that the County has funds from that local sports and entertainment fund that they HAVE to burn and all these little park upgrades are a pain to administer. They like a nice big chunky outlay and could well be a partner. Malik has a fair amount of ready cash to invest having made a mint (twice) in medical software, but he can't and probably shouldn't pay out of pocket. I could envision a scenario similar to what the Columbus Crew ended up with in Ohio ... an MLS facility that is also used as a regional municipal venue for State HS championships in both football and soccer. The NCAA already has hosted several soccer Final Fours at Cary and would love this venue as well ... HB2 issues aside of course. You can run a regional facility and not have the giant resource suck you'd get from a pro soccer only stadium that gets used for 16 league games and a few Cup matches and friendlies. I think it's fairly likely that a deal can be struck after the new year. How far after is a question, as is how long MLS are going to let Miami dangle.
- There will also likely be talk of a possible NWSL (women's pro) franchise, and while this is as good a market for that as any in the country understand that those things are cash black holes and thus aren't relevant other than as a sales point to help seal the deal with a public entity. In terms of the MLS thing ... this would be a non-factor. Also there is absolutely no guarantee that the NWSL even survives more than another year or so. Their financial model just doesn't work at all.
