MLS possibly in Portland

Any interest at all?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=620334&cc=5901

 

no.

 

I don't live in Portland anymore, but that would be sooooo awesome. Besides an NBA team the only sports team I'd want in my city is a soccer team. I could care less about any other sports.

 

I've never been a soccer fan myself, but i would definitely be willing to give it a try to tide us over til we get an mlb team lol

 

I hope it happens. I'd love to have another team back home to root for.

 

I don't have any pre-teen daughters, so no.

 

too late for me. I've already abandoned a Portland MLB team and became a Dodger Fan.

 

MLS would thrive in Portland

 

I tried to get into the LA Galaxy, but never could....just wasn't fun. Portland Timbers looks fun.

 

Love the Timbers, but would love a move to MLS. We've definitely got the fanbase in town to support an MLS team. Hopefully the city can get the financing worked out.

 

Mid-March to November.

 

A game a week. 30 games.

 

I'm old enough to remember the NASL. I freaking loved the Timbers growing up, and would love to see MLS make a move back to Portland.

 

It seems just like Portland to push for a team in a league that will be out of business or dramatically restructured in a few years.

 

why do you think that?

 

I usually agree with you and think you are pretty level headed about the Blazers... But the above is a pretty uninformed opinion to be fair.

 

In MLS's 14th year, prospective owners are lining up to pay 40 million dollars to join the league. The only restructuring over the next few years will be adding new teams and increasing the salary cap. Seattle has sold 20,000 season tickets and Toronto is sold out for a third consecutive season with a 10,000 strong waiting list. Most teams are on their way to having it's own soccer specific stadium.

Where you coming from Spiderman?

 

I'm a huge soccer fan, and I've been following this process pretty closely since the bid was announced. This would be a great success in Portland, and the Timbers Army would quickly become the darling of the MLS in terms of talking about fan support. They've been talking up Toronto, but let's be honest ... they wouldn't even touch Portland in terms of atmosphere and support.

Anyone who's ever been to a Portland Timbers match (which is a USL-1 team, a notch below MLS) in the past several years and witnessed the Army in action would agree with this sentiment.

As for MLB ... I wouldn't get your hopes up any time soon. Just not enough corporate support. Selling the rights to those luxury boxes and premium allotments is how you stay in business in sports. Portland doesn't have the critical mass of huge companies here who would shell out the bucks and fill the premium seats 81 dates a year.

We'd have a much better shot at success with a NFL team (only 8 home games), but that isn't happening any time soon.

-Pop