Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunderball
Edmonton lacks the corporate backing for MLS, I suspect they don't get a serious look unless they market themselves as "FC Alberta," and make a serious effort to be a shared team with several matches in Calgary. Only way there's MLS in Calgary is also as a shared team with similar treatment to Edmonton, and in a refurbished/rebuilt McMahon.
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I don't disagree with the Calgary being too large for minor pro / too small for major leagues, but I can't see an "FC Alberta" or a similar variant working. Sharing a team between Calgary and Edmonton would fracture and inhibit a very fragile fanbase - Alberta fans are far more fickle with their urban-centric rivalries than say, the "Saskatchewan Roughriders" sort of scenario. We have different NHL, CFL and various other teams that, over the course of sports history, has created a dichotomy-based relationship between two cities that IMO would not receive a joint-team very well.
Add that to the fact that Calgary would get what - 8 to 10 games tops on a home field, and you have a fan base that barely gets to see a home game every year, has a distant relationship with the players and the team brand, and can't easily go up to Edmonton to support the squad due to distance and time.
"Team Alberta" works for curling because its a niche sport; the same cannot be said for soccer. There is just too much rivalry/territorial/extreme marketing and management issues to go that route.