Calgary to launch bid for NASL team

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

MRU is such a great location too, with ample parking on site.

Totally. They could also eat into that crappier middle field, put up some serious seating, and a concession area underneath. It's in a central location, and by golly, as if we haven't stressed enough, that field is EASILY the best pitch condition in town. EASILY.

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by troutman

SAIT has a beautiful field (view of downtown and the mountains) but is not grass.

Not enough seating, or seating potential there unfortunately. That field gets so friggin hot if you play there in the summer too!

Love the view from there though.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

Not enough seating, or seating potential there unfortunately. That field gets so friggin hot if you play there in the summer too!

Love the view from there though.

I feel that location is mostly novel, and short-lived excitement.

Balls are lost over the netting, it gets stupid hot, and parking blows goats.

[cam_wmh]

Also, there's the Majors Field at U of C. (I've only played Prem there, and that was sparingly as a call-up )

Possible potential for that location also.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

I feel that location is mostly novel, and short-lived excitement.

Balls are lost over the netting, it gets stupid hot, and parking blows goats.

Considering the field is on top of a parking structure, that might be like rain on your wedding day.

[shermanator]

Turns out that the supporters meeting was actually a press conference. So, that was awkward for me. But, there was some really good info there:

here's what I retained:

- Pathway for local players defined is USL PDL --> USL Pro --> MLS.
- Plan is to be in PDL 3-5 years to build the base and give local players a chance to take the next step
- Games will be at Hellard. A couple dates may not work out thsi year, and if so, those games would be at Calgary Rugby Park on grass. (My opinion, hell yes that would be awesome!)
- Calgary Foothills is looking to field a W-League team in 2016. Will do the same type of dry run in 2015 as the men's PDL side did in 2014.
- New training ground just outside the city on 6 acres of land. Full indoor pitch, offices
- Some sponsor stuff. They listed 5 active sponsors and mentioned they were looking for a kit sponsor.
- There was a shout out to the Foot Soldiers in the press conference. Good stuff.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Turns out that the supporters meeting was actually a press conference. So, that was awkward for me. But, there was some really good info there:

here's what I retained:

- Pathway for local players defined is USL PDL --> USL Pro --> MLS.
- Plan is to be in PDL 3-5 years to build the base and give local players a chance to take the next step
- Games will be at Hellard. A couple dates may not work out thsi year, and if so, those games would be at Calgary Rugby Park on grass. (My opinion, hell yes that would be awesome!)
- Calgary Foothills is looking to field a W-League team in 2016. Will do the same type of dry run in 2015 as the men's PDL side did in 2014.
- New training ground just outside the city on 6 acres of land. Full indoor pitch, offices
- Some sponsor stuff. They listed 5 active sponsors and mentioned they were looking for a kit sponsor.
- There was a shout out to the Foot Soldiers in the press conference. Good stuff.

Yes!

I think I may have to support this. How do you get tickets?

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Locke

Yes!

I think I may have to support this. How do you get tickets?

Here's the link to tickets. https://foothillssoccer.powerupsport...asp?page=LOGIN

Since I'm not a Calgary Foothills member, I had to sign up. Then under the registration you have to click the ticket icon.

Also, the supporters group got a mention in the paper today. Pretty impressive since I simply created the Twitter account on a whim 2 weeks ago.

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Also, there's the Majors Field at U of C. (I've only played Prem there, and that was sparingly as a call-up )

Possible potential for that location also.

Not sure how that would be for seating either, and the field is just 'ok'.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Turns out that the supporters meeting was actually a press conference. So, that was awkward for me. But, there was some really good info there:

here's what I retained:

- Pathway for local players defined is USL PDL --> USL Pro --> MLS.
- Plan is to be in PDL 3-5 years to build the base and give local players a chance to take the next step
- Games will be at Hellard. A couple dates may not work out thsi year, and if so, those games would be at Calgary Rugby Park on grass. (My opinion, hell yes that would be awesome!)
- Calgary Foothills is looking to field a W-League team in 2016. Will do the same type of dry run in 2015 as the men's PDL side did in 2014.
- New training ground just outside the city on 6 acres of land. Full indoor pitch, offices
- Some sponsor stuff. They listed 5 active sponsors and mentioned they were looking for a kit sponsor.
- There was a shout out to the Foot Soldiers in the press conference. Good stuff.

Where were you sitting/standing there? I was in the back near the coffee.

It definitely was a presser but not a bad event. Cool to see the ambitions with timelines and all for future growth/"promotion". Definitely was happy to hear about Rugby Park as a backup for games with scheduling conflicts.

Originally Posted by shermanator

Here's the link to tickets. https://foothillssoccer.powerupsport...asp?page=LOGIN

Since I'm not a Calgary Foothills member, I had to sign up. Then under the registration you have to click the ticket icon.

Also, the supporters group got a mention in the paper today. Pretty impressive since I simply created the Twitter account on a whim 2 weeks ago.

I didn't realize you set that up (rather than finding it). If you want any help with supporters related stuff, let me know for sure.

[shermanator]

Alright folks. First meeting of the Foot Soldiers is March 30 at Fiddler's Courtyard. I know there has to be a couple folks interested in a supporters group...

[Party Elephant]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Alright folks. First meeting of the Foot Soldiers is March 30 at Fiddler's Courtyard. I know there has to be a couple folks interested in a supporters group...

Shermanator, I know you're also in the voyageurs since you post under the same name. I used to live right by there and would catch games with the local V's back in the day. Good on you for putting this supporter's thing together!

[shermanator]

Thanks! I think the following quote sums up my thoughts on building a supporters group from scratch. Courtesy of Ottawa Fury supporters group Stony Monday Riot:

"We don't have the luxury of a history but we have the privilege of making one."

[shermanator]

Okay, so we're one week away from the first meeting of the supporters group. Also, thought that this was a very important tweet with regards to the club:

Foothills FC‏@FoothillsFCU232h2 hours agoManzanillo, Colima
@sean_clarke7 @footsoldierssg If we fill the stands & show demand for high level soccer in YYC, then a soccer specific stadium will be built


IMO, to get a better level of soccer in Calgary, you need to have the right, appropriately sized stadium (ie. to not share a new stadium for the Stampeders). To get the right stadium built, you need to show Calgary Foothills that there is a business case for it (ie. sufficient support). So, get out and support this club or else we will be in another 10 year gap without any professional soccer in this city.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Okay, so we're one week away from the first meeting of the supporters group. Also, thought that this was a very important tweet with regards to the club:

Foothills FC‏@FoothillsFCU232h2 hours agoManzanillo, Colima
@sean_clarke7 @footsoldierssg If we fill the stands & show demand for high level soccer in YYC, then a soccer specific stadium will be built


IMO, to get a better level of soccer in Calgary, you need to have the right, appropriately sized stadium (ie. to not share a new stadium for the Stampeders). To get the right stadium built, you need to show Calgary Foothills that there is a business case for it (ie. sufficient support). So, get out and support this club or else we will be in another 10 year gap without any professional soccer in this city.

I think you guys (Foothills) might want to speak to Ken King and the Flames group if there's any discussion about stadiums and getting something going for a pro team. There is a very likely chance you'd be on the same page for wanting a soccer facility.

[Resolute 14]

Given how woefully under utilized they are, you could tear down Foothills Stadium and Foothills Athletic Park, put a decent 5,000 seat soccer stadium (with room to expand to around 10k), and rebuild a smaller baseball park for the minor system for probably not a crazy amount of money.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Given how woefully under utilized they are, you could tear down Foothills Stadium and Foothills Athletic Park, put a decent 5,000 seat soccer stadium (with room to expand to around 10k), and rebuild a smaller baseball park for the minor system for probably not a crazy amount of money.

Those lands have probably been tagged for redevelopment but you could probably include at least one small scale stadium in the redevelopment. It could be pretty quaint.

[Ozy_Flame]

Those grounds are university land. Would it be worth it if the Uni has control over the planning and execution, as well as revenue sharing (parking, concessions, etc.?)

Don't know for sure of any details, but just speculating. My suspicion is that the Flames are going to be getting out of the University partnership thing, as well as with the Stampede for some of these reasons.

[Resolute 14]

The Flames, yes, but I doubt the Flames are planning to put a soccer stadium into their arena complex plans. Though, like the Seaman brothers did for the Dawgs, they could possibly get an individual owner or two to help out a team with demonstrated support and a need for better facilities.

As far as the university goes, there is really nowhere Foothills FC can go where they will control the facility in its entirety. But a partnership with the U of C would make sense since it gives the school better facilities for their own soccer program as well.

Incidentally, Foothills Stadium is city owned, so they would be involved as well.

[Addick]

I'm not sure if it is wide enough but I've started to think that the common area between Lot 32 and the train station could be a solid location for a small ground.