Tag Archives: Elk Grove

Elk Grove Soccer Stadium: Cart Before The Horse?

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The Sacramento Business Journal reports that this Wednesday the Elk Grove City Council will be asked to begin identifying up to 120 acres of land that could be purchased for construction of pro soccer stadium.

On the one hand, this is a great long term development for soccer in the area but the goal of the group behind it, Northern California Soccer LLC, is to bring in a Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise.
A noble cause but something of a pipe dream – something akin to thinking that just because you build a racetrack, you’re going to get a NASCAR race. MLS wants expansion cities with a fan base that have shown they are willing to PAY to see soccer – as shown by the likes of Seattle and Portland – not just somewhere that has a lot of kids that PLAY soccer.

The current second-tier North American Soccer League (NASL) was also mentioned in the story, which would make more sense for Elk Grove, but given the recent co-operation agreement between MLS and third-tier United Soccer League (USL) Pro, it leaves the future prospects for the NASL on a shaky footing.

The Elk Grove plan also seems to be at odds with Warren Smith and partners, who have already lined up a USL Pro franchise for Sacramento and have chosen to play at Hughes Stadium starting in 2014. This is a college athletics venue not conducive to soccer and to thrive, the team would need a soccer specific stadium sometime in the near future.

So, we have one group building a team and no stadium. Another group building a stadium with no team.
There are plenty of soccer playing 5th graders in Elk Grove who could work out a logical solution…

– MCZF1

MLS in Sacramento?

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In 2012 the Montreal Impact will become the 19th Major League Soccer franchise and the league doesn’t want to stop there – MLS Commissioner Don Garber has stated as such on several occasions.

Having seen the increase in fan support for regional rivalries between the likes of Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers, the league would dearly love to create its own Manchester United/Manchester City derbies by giving the next expansion spot to the resurrected New York Cosmos, thereby creating an instant cross-town rival for the existing New York Red Bulls.

All looked good when former Tottenham Hotspur vice-chairman Paul Kemsley bought the rights to the Cosmos name in August 2009. With Pele, Giorgio Chinaglia, Eric Cantona and Cobi Jones onboard he boldly claimed they would join the MLS. However, just as NY Mets owner Fred Wilpon’s earlier bid was derailed by loses in the Madoff ponzi scheme unravelled, so did Kemsley’s during 2011 and the Englishman sold his holdings to Sela Sport (a Saudi Arabian sports agency and marketing company) and resigned, “to pursue other interests and commitments”.

This development definitely throws a wrench into Garber’s plan and opens the door, at least a crack, for other cities to bid for the 20th MLS spot. The initial contenders being Orlando, FL (by way of USL Champion Orlando City FC) and Detroit (with a team in the renovated Silverdome). Also expressing a strong interest are a groups in Las Vegas, St Louis and San Antonio.

…and now Sacramento?

Last week the Elk Grove City Council had on its agenda an item to “sign an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Northern California Soccer, LLC for the siting and development of a Major League Soccer Facility”. Northern California Soccer, LLC is owned by former CA Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Sacramento attorney Dick Hyde, who has prior links to the NBA Sacramento Kings.

Should we take this bid seriously? Look for more from me over the coming weeks as I dig into this story and find out if Major League Soccer might really have a possibility of coming to the Sacramento suburb of Elk Grove.

– MCZF1