We're supposedly getting a football team here in san Antonio. Two of the teams already in the league are Carolina Railbirds and Crystal Palace Baltimore -- good sides with good records in the US Open Cup.
We've still got two years to love it up, but perhaps we'll really have a team in 2012.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/North_American_Soccer_League_coming_to_SA_104308314.html (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/North_American_Soccer_League_coming_to_SA_104308314.html)
crysta palace,that rings a bell :011:
Come on Hatter, keep the faith. That'd be great if San Antonio got a Club down there; Spurs in the winter, Soccer in the Summer.
Two major concerns here, Steve:
1. The SA Spurs are also persuing a USL franchise for San Antonio. A clash between the two groups would pretty much guarantee NO franchise.
2. If MLS ever makes nice with USL, the NASL goes away completely -- also leaving us high and dry.
As for being positive, I remember attending a match at Alamo Stadium on a Saturday night in 75 or 76 where Ward Lay [yes, the Frito's guy] took the PA microphone at half time and said to ignore reports that the San Antonio Thunder [captained by Bobby Moore] franchise was in jeopardy. He said that as long as he was the owner, the Thunder would stay in San Antonio. We all cheered loudly. On Tuesday of the following week, the franchise was transferred to Hawaii. :031:
Well here's hoping that that guy fails, SA Spurs get their USL franchise, and W.Lay never steps foot in San-An-Tone ever again!
In the meantime, go FCD!
the problem you have,and all US football has, is the reforming of the world famous New York Cosmos-if your not an American this is the only game in town,this will be America's Man United-they have the glamour, they have the history, and they have Pele-that's game over as far as I'm concerned :doh:
Better news on this front. The guy pushing our NASL franchise is local philanthropist Gordon Hartman. He has proposed to the city that he build the stadium on his own dime -- make it expandable from 12k to 30k, GIVE it to the city once the franchise is established, and use the income from the gate receipts, etc., to fund Morgan's World, a park he's created for kids with disabilities.
On the basis of this proposal, and of his long-term philanthropic endeavors, he's enlisted the help of one of San Antonio's billionaires, BJ (Red) McCombs. Yes this is the same guy who owned the Vikings for quite a while. When SA had a shot at the MLS franchise that, instead, became Chivas USA, McCombs helped hill the deal because he didn't see how being part-owner of an MLS franchise could bring him any profits. In business, the Red Man is all about the bottom line, but he's also a philanthropist and -- in that role -- he's all about doing the right thing. When we were taking part in the radiothon for SA's Elf Louise Christmas Project on Saturday, he was talking up the franchise. With both Hartman and McCombs pushing, I think we might just have that NASL gig in Spring 2012.
Like our friend, Ag, I have voted in the "name the franchise" competition for the name Alamo City FC.
Hatter "escaping Beamerland and going full-bore Blingo isit" Don :045:
Best of luck getting a franchise Hatter. I hope it comes off. SA is neat city who has proven they can support professional sports.
One day I hope we get the same here in Sacramento. At the youth level, it is a soccer mad town but who knows if we could support a MLS team but if SA can do it, I think we are about the same size. Who knows....maybe some day.
Quote from: RidgeRider on December 11, 2010, 03:56:38 PM
Best of luck getting a franchise Hatter. I hope it comes off. SA is neat city who has proven they can support professional sports.
One day I hope we get the same here in Sacramento. At the youth level, it is a soccer mad town but who knows if we could support a MLS team but if SA can do it, I think we are about the same size. Who knows....maybe some day.
Thanks, Jack. I'll keep everyone posted on this. San Antonio, however, is much larger than Sacramento. It's the nation's 8th largest city. But it's only about 33 in "metropolitan statistical area" ranking, which is why we only have one "major league" franchises, while cities like Oakland, Dallas, Denver, etc., which have less of a population, have multiple franchises.
Upon further review -- and lets hope we never hear that phrase in soccer -- San Antonio was #9 in population after the 2000 census. The 2007 "estimate" had moved us up to 7th. It'll be interesting to see where we lie after the 2010 census figures are published.
Quote from: HatterDon on December 15, 2010, 03:29:38 PM
Upon further review -- and lets hope we never hear that phrase in soccer -- San Antonio was #9 in population after the 2000 census. The 2007 "estimate" had moved us up to 7th. It'll be interesting to see where we lie after the 2010 census figures are published.
Mr Hatter,
Are they running a Bug's Bunny Marathon every weekend down there? You guys are making rabbits blush... :dft012:
well, Mr. Finn, there's feck-all else to do down this way :drums:
Quote from: HatterDon on December 15, 2010, 03:29:38 PM
Upon further review -- and lets hope we never hear that phrase in soccer -- San Antonio was #9 in population after the 2000 census. The 2007 "estimate" had moved us up to 7th. It'll be interesting to see where we lie after the 2010 census figures are published.
Much bigger than I thought....wow. I was going based PURELY on my impressions of its size as I have driven into San Antonio a couple of times from Austin to spend the day. Downtown was quite small I thought but impressions are not always correct obviously. :)
I really liked it SA and thought it unique in a Texas way.
Don, as a gesture of the season, we here in the city of Lost Angels will be happy to let Chivas move to your fair city. :005:
Well I wont shed one tear for San Antonio if they dont get a pro soccer team. It's sour grapes ville here in Cleveland as we had a very nice and successful pro club in the City Stars and they were taken from us. And Drew Carey says he still cares about Cleveland - bah, he's a traitor.
Well, the San Antonio NASL franchise has been named. Unfortunately, my vote and Ag's vote for Alamo City FC didn't sway the powers that be from naming it San Antonio Scorpions FC. Yah, I'll learn to live with it. In addition to the corporate names I've mentioned before, our most beloved retired relilgious leader is supporting the new franchise as well as our former mayor and cabinet member [who also owns a huge Spanish-language TV network], and our very own Elf Louise.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Scorpions_FC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Scorpions_FC)
The only potential fly in the ointment is the San Antonio Spurs, who haven't given up on their plans to get a USL-2 side into a highschool stadium with artificial grass. I can't believe that they see it as "good business" considering that the Scorpions franchise has pledged to use its gate receipts to help fund a theme park designed for special needs kids. There is no upside for them in going, "no no, pick us! Our franchise will be for profit and will be one step lower than the Scorpions."
All things being equal, I hope to be at opening day in the Spring of 2012. I'm gonna see if The Tim and Bob Show can do the national anthem at one of the matches.
Don, Good luck on getting your franchise. My Carolina RailHawks would relish a match with you "Texicans". You, Matt and I could have some friendly wagers for beer of course, and hopefully one day we'd all get promoted to MLS. Too bad the alarm clock always goes off when I have that "promotion dream."
Fantastic News Don! I saw this info on SB Nation and wanted to post it but you beat me to it.
It's not fair is all I can say. We have the best soccer in the nation here in N. Ohio :012: :012: :012:
I miss the City Stars
The name thing is tough to swallow but I'll be a season ticket holder for sure. Alamo City FC actually did get the most votes (I'm a marketing genius, I tells ya) but they took the top 10 selections and picked for themselves. Someone else had the idea for Volunteers as the nickname had it been ACFC which I rather liked. Again, oh well, but at least we're progressing in the right direction. My only concern is that if the whole thing is not for profit, I don't see them growing it to one day get to MLS, despite that being their stated goal.
No idea what the Spurs group is thinking unless they believe the pecking order in the lower divisions will change again in a few years. SA Scorpions have the better park, in the better location, in a better league. The odd part is that we've gone from people thinking soccer won't work here at all to thinking we can support two minor league teams.
I look forward to matches against teams supported by other US Fulham supporters. Sorry Mo, I understand your pain, but on the bright side you do have what's shaping up to be a college soccer dynasty in Akron.
Bring it on Ag, the Railhawks will be ready!!
Nostra-Don-us was on the right track with his pessimism. NASL had it's 2nd division status revoked due to a shortage of teams meeting the financial solvency barometers.
Don, if I didn't know better, I'd think you penned Buck Harvey's column for him today.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/buck_harvey/article/Buck-Harvey-Why-Spurs-should-slow-on-pro-soccer-972657.php (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/buck_harvey/article/Buck-Harvey-Why-Spurs-should-slow-on-pro-soccer-972657.php)
About two weeks ago, the Superintendent whose school owns Alamo Stadium -- the venue the SA Spurs were looking to use in establishing a USL-2 franchise here -- replied when asked about those plans: "That stadium belongs to SAISD. There's no way that it'll ever belong to a professional soccer team."
Late this past week, the San Antonio city council reviewed the bid for the NASL Franchise -- the stadium to be built as an investment of the city. Instead of a profit of over $50k a season, the city's analysis indicated that it would more likely be a loss of about $15k a season. For that reason the council decided it was bad business to underwrite professional soccer here. Some study done somewhere indicated that San Antonio has no interest in professional soccer. Nobody asked me.
The upshot is that we're not going to get football here. Lack of interest or competing egos really have nothing to do with it. When teachers are losing their jobs and public schools may only have funding to stay open four days a week, it's difficult to convince anyone to underwrite professional sports.
Bad timing a ticka ticka ticka bad timing.
Don, I won't sugar coat it......that sucks.
Sorry Don. I empathize. I started a nice rant but cyberspace sucked it away.
Quote from: HatterDon on March 14, 2011, 01:14:47 AM
About two weeks ago, the Superintendent whose school owns Alamo Stadium -- the venue the SA Spurs were looking to use in establishing a USL-2 franchise here -- replied when asked about those plans: "That stadium belongs to SAISD. There's no way that it'll ever belong to a professional soccer team."
Late this past week, the San Antonio city council reviewed the bid for the NASL Franchise -- the stadium to be built as an investment of the city. Instead of a profit of over $50k a season, the city's analysis indicated that it would more likely be a loss of about $15k a season. For that reason the council decided it was bad business to underwrite professional soccer here. Some study done somewhere indicated that San Antonio has no interest in professional soccer. Nobody asked me.
The upshot is that we're not going to get football here. Lack of interest or competing egos really have nothing to do with it. When teachers are losing their jobs and public schools may only have funding to stay open four days a week, it's difficult to convince anyone to underwrite professional sports.
Bad timing a ticka ticka ticka bad timing.
I know municipal budgets needs to be trimmed and balanced and times are hard. However, why pick on the teachers? Here in NYC alone they are laying off some 5000(!) teachers this year. I thought the message from the President was to invest in education? I obviously have missed a few points, but why not start laying off the lazy people in the Dept of Sanitation who are incapable of clearing the roads of snow as well as not picking up garbage? I don't want to hi-jack this thread, but every child has the right to a good education why f*ck with the teachers? :035:
Quote from: finnster01 on March 16, 2011, 10:58:02 AM
Quote from: HatterDon on March 14, 2011, 01:14:47 AM
About two weeks ago, the Superintendent whose school owns Alamo Stadium -- the venue the SA Spurs were looking to use in establishing a USL-2 franchise here -- replied when asked about those plans: "That stadium belongs to SAISD. There's no way that it'll ever belong to a professional soccer team."
Late this past week, the San Antonio city council reviewed the bid for the NASL Franchise -- the stadium to be built as an investment of the city. Instead of a profit of over $50k a season, the city's analysis indicated that it would more likely be a loss of about $15k a season. For that reason the council decided it was bad business to underwrite professional soccer here. Some study done somewhere indicated that San Antonio has no interest in professional soccer. Nobody asked me.
The upshot is that we're not going to get football here. Lack of interest or competing egos really have nothing to do with it. When teachers are losing their jobs and public schools may only have funding to stay open four days a week, it's difficult to convince anyone to underwrite professional sports.
Bad timing a ticka ticka ticka bad timing.
I know municipal budgets needs to be trimmed and balanced and times are hard. However, why pick on the teachers? Here in NYC alone they are laying off some 5000(!) teachers this year. I thought the message from the President was to invest in education? I obviously have missed a few points, but why not start laying off the lazy people in the Dept of Sanitation who are incapable of clearing the roads of snow as well as not picking up garbage? I don't want to hi-jack this thread, but every child has the right to a good education why f*ck with the teachers? :035:
Because, Mr. Finn, teachers salaries is the reason the country is in a financial crisis. Now you might think it's Wall Street gamblers or unaccountable billions in cash that disappeared just about every week for 4 years on airfields in Iraq, or you might think it was just too much government spending concurrent with idiotic tax cuts. Turns out, however, that it's all because school teachers make too much money. Everything will be fine once many of them are fired, we're up to 76 or 80 kids in a class, and the school week goes to four days.
Hey, Jack. Card me; lock me. The man asked. I had to answer.
Don, everything I'm seeing just says public funding is dead. Hartman insists he's moving forward with private funding to build a lesser stadium, but still meeting the NASL minimum of 5k capacity, on property located near Morgan's Wonderland.
I wouldn't start shoveling dirt on the grave just yet. He was asking $8M from city/county funds. However, if he's as serious about it as he states, he could easily cover that himself; nevermind finding business partners and/or corporate sponsorship. Fwiw, they already have financial commitment for 1000 season tickets. Not bad considering how up in the air this thing has been portrayed.
All indications from what I've seen are full steam ahead. We have a name, a logo, and they're about to put uniforms up to vote. Not saying you won't prove correct in the end, but Hartman seems pretty strong in his assertions that this will happen (as of 3/12/11).
Quote from: HatterDon on March 16, 2011, 02:03:04 PM
Quote from: finnster01 on March 16, 2011, 10:58:02 AM
Quote from: HatterDon on March 14, 2011, 01:14:47 AM
About two weeks ago, the Superintendent whose school owns Alamo Stadium -- the venue the SA Spurs were looking to use in establishing a USL-2 franchise here -- replied when asked about those plans: "That stadium belongs to SAISD. There's no way that it'll ever belong to a professional soccer team."
Late this past week, the San Antonio city council reviewed the bid for the NASL Franchise -- the stadium to be built as an investment of the city. Instead of a profit of over $50k a season, the city's analysis indicated that it would more likely be a loss of about $15k a season. For that reason the council decided it was bad business to underwrite professional soccer here. Some study done somewhere indicated that San Antonio has no interest in professional soccer. Nobody asked me.
The upshot is that we're not going to get football here. Lack of interest or competing egos really have nothing to do with it. When teachers are losing their jobs and public schools may only have funding to stay open four days a week, it's difficult to convince anyone to underwrite professional sports.
Bad timing a ticka ticka ticka bad timing.
I know municipal budgets needs to be trimmed and balanced and times are hard. However, why pick on the teachers? Here in NYC alone they are laying off some 5000(!) teachers this year. I thought the message from the President was to invest in education? I obviously have missed a few points, but why not start laying off the lazy people in the Dept of Sanitation who are incapable of clearing the roads of snow as well as not picking up garbage? I don't want to hi-jack this thread, but every child has the right to a good education why f*ck with the teachers? :035:
Because, Mr. Finn, teachers salaries is the reason the country is in a financial crisis. Now you might think it's Wall Street gamblers or unaccountable billions in cash that disappeared just about every week for 4 years on airfields in Iraq, or you might think it was just too much government spending concurrent with idiotic tax cuts. Turns out, however, that it's all because school teachers make too much money. Everything will be fine once many of them are fired, we're up to 76 or 80 kids in a class, and the school week goes to four days.
Hey, Jack. Card me; lock me. The man asked. I had to answer.
No worries. It's not a requirement that every question asked has to be answered. :dft012:
Quote from: Ag on March 16, 2011, 03:10:32 PM
Don, everything I'm seeing just says public funding is dead. Hartman insists he's moving forward with private funding to build a lesser stadium, but still meeting the NASL minimum of 5k capacity, on property located near Morgan's Wonderland.
I wouldn't start shoveling dirt on the grave just yet. He was asking $8M from city/county funds. However, if he's as serious about it as he states, he could easily cover that himself; nevermind finding business partners and/or corporate sponsorship. Fwiw, they already have financial commitment for 1000 season tickets. Not bad considering how up in the air this thing has been portrayed.
All indications from what I've seen are full steam ahead. We have a name, a logo, and they're about to put uniforms up to vote. Not saying you won't prove correct in the end, but Hartman seems pretty strong in his assertions that this will happen (as of 3/12/11).
I think he's whistling in the dark, Matt. He's got all this interest predicated on the city largesse and he's not going to drop everying all at once, but I think the San Antonio Scorpions are as dead as Julius Caesar.
and, beating my good friend Ag to the post [he loves to tell me how wrong I am], there's this in SA's biz journal:
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2011/04/hartman-nets-stadium-and-president-for.html?ed=2011-04-27&s=article_du&ana=e_du_pub (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2011/04/hartman-nets-stadium-and-president-for.html?ed=2011-04-27&s=article_du&ana=e_du_pub)
Heroes Stadium is a recently built High School [American] football stadium. In Texas, that means it's a PALACE. There's plenty of parking, fantastic sightlines, and great access. Of course, being in Texas, it's a concrete surface covered with plastic grass for a pitch. So it's going to take some serious refurbishing before football can be played there well.
We got a name [a crappy one, but never mind], we got a league [still breathing], and we've got an owner ready to go for 2012. I also have dozens of friends who want to go with me to see what exactly has captured my brain lo these many years. All Hartmann and the Scorpions have to do is to beat back the SA Spurs organization. We'll see.
Good luck to San Antonio! Really hope the Scorpions can pull off the upset & FCD gets their act in gear for a meeting in the 4th round.
If this comes off & the game is in SA, I'm planning on being there...hoping to finally meet the great Hatter & Ag.
http://thecup.us/2012-us-open-cup-bracket (http://thecup.us/2012-us-open-cup-bracket)
Have either of you two made it to a Scorpions game yet?
Quote from: Steve_orino on May 25, 2012, 02:24:28 PM
Good luck to San Antonio! Really hope the Scorpions can pull off the upset & FCD gets their act in gear for a meeting in the 4th round.
If this comes off & the game is in SA, I'm planning on being there...hoping to finally meet the great Hatter & Ag.
http://thecup.us/2012-us-open-cup-bracket (http://thecup.us/2012-us-open-cup-bracket)
Have either of you two made it to a Scorpions game yet?
My local PDL squad the Michigan Bucks take on the Chicago Fire this Tues. I would love to see a couple 4th division teams shock the Big Boys?
Also, out of curiosity what do you think of thecup.us site?
Quote from: AmericanJames on May 27, 2012, 07:57:56 AM
Quote from: Steve_orino on May 25, 2012, 02:24:28 PM
Good luck to San Antonio! Really hope the Scorpions can pull off the upset & FCD gets their act in gear for a meeting in the 4th round.
If this comes off & the game is in SA, I'm planning on being there...hoping to finally meet the great Hatter & Ag.
http://thecup.us/2012-us-open-cup-bracket (http://thecup.us/2012-us-open-cup-bracket)
Have either of you two made it to a Scorpions game yet?
My local PDL squad the Michigan Bucks take on the Chicago Fire this Tues. I would love to see a couple 4th division teams shock the Big Boys?
Also, out of curiosity what do you think of thecup.us site?
Honestly, this is the first year I've visited it so I've nothing to compare it to. 075.gif It seems manageable & has a lot of good info on it from the previous tournaments held.
Good luck to your Bucks - the underdogs are what make the tournament i.e. March Madness, or FA Cup.
Quote from: Steve_orino on May 29, 2012, 12:13:10 AM
Quote from: AmericanJames on May 27, 2012, 07:57:56 AM
Quote from: Steve_orino on May 25, 2012, 02:24:28 PM
Good luck to San Antonio! Really hope the Scorpions can pull off the upset & FCD gets their act in gear for a meeting in the 4th round.
If this comes off & the game is in SA, I'm planning on being there...hoping to finally meet the great Hatter & Ag.
http://thecup.us/2012-us-open-cup-bracket (http://thecup.us/2012-us-open-cup-bracket)
Have either of you two made it to a Scorpions game yet?
My local PDL squad the Michigan Bucks take on the Chicago Fire this Tues. I would love to see a couple 4th division teams shock the Big Boys?
Also, out of curiosity what do you think of thecup.us site?
Honestly, this is the first year I've visited it so I've nothing to compare it to. 075.gif It seems manageable & has a lot of good info on it from the previous tournaments held.
Good luck to your Bucks - the underdogs are what make the tournament i.e. March Madness, or FA Cup.
3-2 in extra time, massive result!!!! Amazing to be there and storm the pitch afterwards!!!
The reason I ask about the site is it's partially run by a friend of mine an I am looking at getting involved and also he likes to hear feedback.
Go San Antonio Go!
http://www.mlssoccer.com/blog/post/2012/06/01/armchair-analyst-stadium-plans-impressive-san-antonio (http://www.mlssoccer.com/blog/post/2012/06/01/armchair-analyst-stadium-plans-impressive-san-antonio)
Armchair Analyst: Stadium plans impressive in San Antonio
By Matthew Doyle
One of the best stories in US soccer this year has been the rapid ascent of the San Antonio Scorpions of the NASL. The first-year expansion club has a roster filled with former MLS players, an owner who cares and a crowd that turns out rain or shine.
They're averaging more than 11,000 per game, best in the second flight, and now they have plans for what looks like a pretty sweet soccer-specific stadium that'll be expandable to more than 18,000 capacity.
It's years away, and they're very careful to say that additional seats will be added only if attendance continues to impress.
But the fact that a second-flight team is even considering such things says quite a bit about how far soccer's come in the last 10 years. Even when it's deep in the heart of football country.
A link to stadium views:
http://sanantonioscorpions.com/stadium/stadium-plans (http://sanantonioscorpions.com/stadium/stadium-plans)
