Flames to announce plans to announce arena plans in the... future...

[Muta]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The bottom half of the list of cities largely have no sports competition other than minor league hockey. Calgary has NHL, CFL, WHL, NLL, plus university sports, plus winter sports nearby, plus some baseball.

I think as well that the southern Ontario cities have more per capita immigration from soccer loving countries. I may be wrong about this, but I don't think so.

Don't forget, as well, that Calgary likely has a higher annual household income than the majority of those cities listed - especially now with how our economy is doing. That means easier access to funds to buy season tickets. This matters.

I hope people don't think this is oblivious to the MLS or to the Flames ownership group, because it's not. We may not be top of the list of short-term MLS destinations, but I am confident that we're really not as 'far down' as others are suggesting. Personally, I could see something happening within the next decade or two.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by DirtyMike

No chance IMO of getting an MLS team in Calgary. Calgarians aren't the greatest sports fans and pro/semi-pro soccer teams (Calgary Storm/Mustangs) haven't had any succcess, neither has baseball or basketball and the Dinos draw poorly, even relative to other CIS teams. If a new stadium is to be built, it's going to be for the Stamps.

There is absolutely no reason to build a new stadium and not accomodate future growth into soccer. That is short-sighted and a hugely missed business opportunity. I'm pretty sure any new arena/stadium plans are going to include the growth of soccer in this city. In fact, I would put money on it, considering a future pro soccer team is likely going to involve the Flames ownership group.

It also doesn't help that we're behind on field houses in this city. Infrastructure development has been a serious problem for growing the sport. Edmonton already has three.

If lacrosse can get going in this city with a proper stadium, soccer most definitely can too.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by DirtyMike

No chance IMO of getting an MLS team in Calgary. Calgarians aren't the greatest sports fans and pro/semi-pro soccer teams (Calgary Storm/Mustangs) haven't had any succcess, neither has baseball or basketball and the Dinos draw poorly, even relative to other CIS teams. If a new stadium is to be built, it's going to be for the Stamps.

Well it's when, not if. And no one is disputing that a new Stadium would be for the Stamps. That doesn't mean that it can't have the ability to be transformed into a good soccer stadium. Despite the issues with FIFA, it would be awesome if the Qatar '22 games got move to North America and Calgary could be part of it. Right now, if that happened, Edmonton -- EDMONTON -- would be represting Alberta/Canada as one of the only viable stadiums. As proud Canadians, we just can't allow that to happen.

[SuperMatt18]

Personally I would become an MLS season ticket holder, but probably wouldn't for the PDL or NASL, unless there was some type of agreement where that team would become an MLS team over time.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Muta

Don't forget, as well, that Calgary likely has a higher annual household income than the majority of those cities listed - especially now with how our economy is doing. That means easier access to funds to buy season tickets. This matters.

I hope people don't think this is oblivious to the MLS or to the Flames ownership group, because it's not. We may not be top of the list of short-term MLS destinations, but I am confident that we're really not as 'far down' as others are suggesting. Personally, I could see something happening within the next decade or two.

A new, soccer-friendly stadium would certainly be part of the missing link. It would allow Calgary to sustain a lower division team, which I still believe to be an important precursor to MLS. And it would also allow us to host larger, one-off soccer events. We can't do that right now with McMahon because a) it a poor place to watch soccer, and b) it is always covered with permanent, bright football lines, which is a big no-no for proper soccer events, particularly if televised. And they're not going to install a more versatile turf without the prospect of more than just the CFL and CIS football.

I still think that the MLS is a long shot, but it is an even longer shot (read: impossibility) with our existing facilities.

[1stLand]

I think we should get an NFL team before we get an MLS team.
So many NFL fans in this city. My facebook newsfeed is littered with people's posts of them wearing seahawks jerseys and driving down to seattle for games.
Keep the Stampeder name but throw them in the NFL.

I am not particularly a football fan at all, but think Calgary is ready for the bright lights of the NFL

[Fire]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Personally I would become an MLS season ticket holder, but probably wouldn't for the PDL or NASL, unless there was some type of agreement where that team would become an MLS team over time.

Calgary will never get a MLS team if they can't support the lower levels.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by DirtyMike

If a new stadium is to be built, it's going to be for the Stamps.

If a new stadium is built, with a covered roof, you better believe Flames ownership is going to do whatever it takes to get a second professional team in there to help cover costs. This will not just be a venue for football.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Muta

If a new stadium is built, with a covered roof, you better believe Flames ownership is going to do whatever it takes to get a second professional team in there to help cover costs. This will not just be a venue for football.

MLS season runs March to October. With a covered stadium you aren't worried about the crazy Calgary weather in March and April (or any month really). Adding 20 more days that the building wouldn't be dark is a no brainer.

[Zarley]

It would be nice if they could build the stadium with the ability to have a real grass playing surface, at least on a temporary basis.

[Ozy_Flame]

Almost certainly there would have to be a retractable roof. A world-class facility requires this, especially for natural light, grass field (if that is the plan), and (possibly) expandable seating arrangements for playoff games.

Not one of those things you can just decide to accommodate at a later time, I'm hoping they include it in the designs. How many people love having the CFL Grey Cup in Vancouver because it will be indoors? Most Canadians, I think, would prefer it. Unless you're from Saskatchewan, then the watermelon juice is clouding your judgment.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Robbob

MLS season runs March to October. With a covered stadium you aren't worried about the crazy Calgary weather in March and April (or any month really). Adding 20 more days that the building wouldn't be dark is a no brainer.

Exactly. Building a stadium, and a covered one at that, in the hundreds of millions of dollars is a lot more justifiable if you are able to use it more often. Fans will come if they are kept out of the cold, wind and precipitation. BC Place is a highly enjoyable venue to watch a game for that exact reason.

Considering the NFL isn't expanding into Calgary anytime soon, MLS is the most realistic, and feasible, option for another sports team in Calgary.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by DirtyMike

No chance IMO of getting an MLS team in Calgary. Calgarians aren't the greatest sports fans and pro/semi-pro soccer teams (Calgary Storm/Mustangs) haven't had any succcess, neither has baseball or basketball and the Dinos draw poorly, even relative to other CIS teams. If a new stadium is to be built, it's going to be for the Stamps.

The Dinos (especially in terms of football) have small crowds for a number of reason. One important reason is because of the nature of the UofC. The UofC is largely a commuter university which serves students from the immediate area. As such, campus life has always been fairly tame compared to other Universities. Students commute to the school, do their classes and commute home. There are ~30,000 student at the UofC and only about 3,000 live on residence. I was a commuter student and coming back up to the UofC/McMahon on a Saturday for a Dinos game had little to no priority. Another important factor is that the alumni community really doesn't care that much about the school post graduation. For a vast majority of the students a bond or connection just isn't established while studying there and that leads to poor alumni relations with the school.

Speaking of Dinos, if a joint facility is built in the downtown area I wonder if the Dinos will play there as well. I would assume they would stay at McMahon otherwise the UofC would have to sign some sort of new usage agreement with the facility owners.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Fire

Calgary will never get a MLS team if they can't support the lower levels.

Agree with this 100%. If folks want MLS here, they will have to get out and support the teams we get first, and maybe, just maybe, MLS will look to Calgary. So that means, every person here that says they will support MLS when they come to Calgary needs to get out and support the Calgary Foothills PDL team first.

If you want to see the model Calgary would have to follow to get to MLS, you would have to look south to see a few blueprints where support for lower level clubs basically forced MLS' hand to getting a team. Orlando City is a good example. The Austin Aztex club from USSF Division 2 moved to Orlando in 2011, and were immediately the most popular draw in the new USL Pro (division 3) league. After 3 years of drawing consistently higher crowds (5265 in 2011, 6606 in 2012, 8053 in 2013), they were granted a team.

Look back a few years and the same model of very loyal support for lower division soccer got Portland an MLS team in 2011. If you want a current example, you can look to Sacramento, who were granted a USL Pro team this year and have drawn in excess of 20000 to games this year, and are now trying to get an MLS team.

Also, people seem to be unaware that MLS Commissioner Don Garber has stated that there will be no further expansion into Canada for the time being, so taking this into consideration hurts Calgary's chances even more.

What might be a more realistic shot at professional soccer in Calgary would be an all-Canadian league as part of the NASL setting up shop. There have been rumours that the NASL, CFL, CSA and TSN are in talks to get an all Canadian league starting up in the next few years...

[nik-]

I hope when the Flames bring MLS here that they start a great youth academy and bring in great people to run it too.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Agree with this 100%. If folks want MLS here, they will have to get out and support the teams we get first, and maybe, just maybe, MLS will look to Calgary. So that means, every person here that says they will support MLS when they come to Calgary needs to get out and support the Calgary Foothills PDL team first.

If you want to see the model Calgary would have to follow to get to MLS, you would have to look south to see a few blueprints where support for lower level clubs basically forced MLS' hand to getting a team. Orlando City is a good example. The Austin Aztex club from USSF Division 2 moved to Orlando in 2011, and were immediately the most popular draw in the new USL Pro (division 3) league. After 3 years of drawing consistently higher crowds (5265 in 2011, 6606 in 2012, 8053 in 2013), they were granted a team.

Look back a few years and the same model of very loyal support for lower division soccer got Portland an MLS team in 2011. If you want a current example, you can look to Sacramento, who were granted a USL Pro team this year and have drawn in excess of 20000 to games this year, and are now trying to get an MLS team.

Also, people seem to be unaware that MLS Commissioner Don Garber has stated that there will be no further expansion into Canada for the time being, so taking this into consideration hurts Calgary's chances even more.

What might be a more realistic shot at professional soccer in Calgary would be an all-Canadian league as part of the NASL setting up shop. There have been rumours that the NASL, CFL, CSA and TSN are in talks to get an all Canadian league starting up in the next few years...

I doubt that's happening since you would need Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal to participate, and they would have to relocate their USL Pro teams, all three of which joined this year and the USL Pro has 13 expansion teams this year. MLS entered into a multi-year agreement with USL Pro to consolidate with the MLS Reserve League and have a reserve/affiliation system with all MLS clubs.

You'd either have to convince MLS and these Canadian USL Pro teams to play in a separate league that offers the same level of competition in a Canadian-exclusive zone, or wait until the agreement runs out and hope that an all-Canadian league is viable. This includes convincing Edmonton FC and Ottawa Fury to relegate their positions in Division II American League system, which I'm not so sure they would be open to.

Your best bet, for the forseeable future, is to continue with the Canadian Championship, which plays in parallel to the beginning of the MLS season.

A soccer-ready stadium in Calgary should serve the following purposes upon completion:

- One professional soccer team in PDL, USL Pro or NASL, with attendance expectations at no higher than 10,000;
- Canadian Championship venue;
- FIFA-sanctioned national-team exhibition and CONCACAF-qualifying matches;
- FIFA-sanctioned events, such as the U-23 Mens World Cup or FIFA Women's World Cup;
- CIS-sanctioned playoff games (if in partnership with the U of C);
- Local clubs and events that want to rent a full-sized pitch

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Also, people seem to be unaware that MLS Commissioner Don Garber has stated that there will be no further expansion into Canada for the time being, so taking this into consideration hurts Calgary's chances even more...

That was probably at the same time he was saying that aligning with the European season wasn't a matter of if, but when.

Yup, a guy with teams in NYC, Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Columbus, Philadelphia etc said they were going to play a winter season

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I doubt that's happening since you would need Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal to participate, and they would have to relocate their USL Pro teams, all three of which joined this year and the USL Pro has 13 expansion teams this year. MLS entered into a multi-year agreement with USL Pro to consolidate with the MLS Reserve League and have a reserve/affiliation system with all MLS clubs.

You'd either have to convince MLS and these Canadian USL Pro teams to play in a separate league that offers the same level of competition in a Canadian-exclusive zone, or wait until the agreement runs out and hope that an all-Canadian league is viable. This includes convincing Edmonton FC and Ottawa Fury to relegate their positions in Division II American League system, which I'm not so sure they would be open to.

An all Canadian league has a much greater chance of happening than MLS setting up shop in Calgary.

And you're correct in that TFC, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps would not leave MLS to join this potential league. They wouldn't be approached to leave MLS to join. Based on interviews with the president of the Canadian Soccer association, the league would 'co-exist' with MLS, essentially wanting to get to the standard of play up to MLS' standards, then leave the option to the MLS teams.

This potential (and that's really all it is at this point) league really comes from the fact that MLS does not have Canada's best interests at heart when operating. Some example are the winter schedule mentioned by hulkrogan, and the fact that American players are considered domestics on Canadian teams, but Canadian players are considered international players on American teams.

http://the11.ca/2014/06/18/montaglia...with-mls-nasl/

http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/in...n-league-r4701

Again, the point here is, if you want MLS to even give Calgary a glance, prove to them that there is the appetite for MLS by supporting the teams that are in place.

Might make sense to move this to another thread though.

[Frequitude]

To be completely honest, I would be far less inclined to go to Stamps games if it were a fully indoor stadium. There's nothing better than a Stamps game outside in the middle of the summer.

[bob-loblaw]

The title of the thread needs to be changed. I see the first twenty characters thinking that something actually was announced and get sucked into clicking on it. Probably just me though.