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[Meier]

Chivas making a game of it (unfortunately). Yedlin needs to get another point or two..

 

[xbhaskarx]

I see Marco (Marky) Delgado scored for Chivas... the good thing about Chivas sucking is a midfielder who recently turned 19 can already have played 36 games.

 

[makingmusic476]

Didn't see this posted yet, but the Las Vegas City Council voted to delay their vote on financing a stadium, and its prospects aren't looking good:

The council Wednesday voted 4-3 to delay deciding the nonbinding stadium proposal, which offered preliminary agreement terms of a public-private partnership between the city and the team of The Cordish Cos. and Findlay Sports & Entertainment.

[...]Even if the council approves a nonbinding deal next month, a final council decision on a binding agreement in December would require a super-majority decision — or at least a 5-2 vote — to move ahead on the stadium project because bonds to help build the soccer stadium would have to be approved as part of the deal.

[...]The comments from at least two dozen speakers followed City Manager Betsy Fretwell and economic development chief Bill Arent outlining details about the proposal. The city would contribute more than $150 million in public dollars from bonds, tourism district money and hotel room charges for the $200 million soccer stadium.

Arent said the private partnership and team would repay 59 percent of the stadium costs through $3.5 million in annual rent payments to “minimize the risk” to the city and other payments.

With Beers, Coffin and Anthony opposing the preliminary deal, Cordish/Findlay would have to convince one of those three to change their minds.

[...]Before the soccer stadium discussion, about 100 pro soccer stadium fans marched along Main Street and gathered in a parking lot near Las Vegas City Hall. The pro-soccer stadium fans dressed in blue T-shirts under the “MLS2LV” umbrella — Major League Soccer to Las Vegas. They began filing into the City Hall meeting room at mid-morning.

My impression is that opponents of the stadium share the following sentiments:

• Why should the city put so much on the line for a stadium when an MLS franchise isn't guaranteed.
• Given the above, why a SSS. A more general purpose stadium would be more useful.
• lol MLS

Supporters, on the other hand, aren't very many or very vocal.

 

[smokeandmirrors]

The fact that it would be publicly financed (even initially) is a reason why it should never be approved the first place. Private funds only please.

 

[Zeke]

Hmm sounds like good news for San Antonio one less city in the mix only helps our chances.

 

[Askani]

Hmm sounds like good news for San Antonio one less city in the mix only helps our chances.

Also:

Marcos Breton ‏@MarcosBreton 30m
BREAKING: #NBAKINGS owner Kevin Nagle HAS bought @SacRepublicFC.Nagle preparing a stadium plan ahead of @mls visit to #Sacramento​

 

[Zeke]

Still strong competition from other cities no doubt. Hartman and these unnamed potential investors really need to get something done asap. Was really high on the spurs stepping up since they own all the other teams in SA.

 

[Osorio]

It's all about that MLS-NBA connection

 

[xbhaskarx]

Montreal Impact to field USL PRO team to ease transition to MLS for young players

The Montreal Impact became the second MLS club to create its own USL PRO team, club president Joey Saputo announced on Thursday. The new team, called FC Montréal, is set to start playing in the 2015 season against LA’s sister team and other affiliates such as Richmond Kickers (D.C. United) and Rochester Rhinos (New England Revolution).

This USL PRO team, which has no head coach yet, is part of a broader orientation to better nurture Québécois talent. FC Montréal, Saputo said, will be mostly made up of young, local players from the Impact’s U18 and U23 teams.

FC Montréal won’t have a permanent home in 2015. Their home schedule will be split between Stade Saputo and the nearby artificial training field. The long-term plan is for the team to play at Centre Claude-Robillard, the Impact first team’s current training facility (rendering pictured above). The games will be open to the public to watch for free.

Montreal Impact release plan for new training ground, revamped front office, return of Nick De Santis

In 1915, police officers and firefighters started coming to work at Caserne Letourneux on Notre-Dame Street in Montreal.

Exactly 100 years later, professional soccer players and kids eager to follow their footsteps will take over the premises.

After three years of research and analysis, the Montreal Impact have purchased the historic building – as well as nearby Parc Champêtre – and will transform it into their training center, which is due to open next year, club president Joey Saputo announced on Thursday.

The Impact are set to build four training fields in Parc Champêtre, in collaboration with the City of Montreal and the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough. “Discussions are advanced to finalize the agreement protocol with the borough,” a club statement said.

Montreal’s first team and Academy teams will share two natural grass fields and two artificial grass fields. The agreement protocol would allow local soccer associations to use the artificial fields, one of which the club could cover with a dome for use in the winter should the borough approve.

The club will cover the entire $10-million investment.

 

[Askani]

.

 

[NoRéN]

Where do you guys hope MLS expands to? New areas with no teams as of now? Viable markets?

 

[xbhaskarx]

^ You'd think Mormons would be better behaved

Brian Straus ‏@BrianStraus

Don Garber: MLS now spending more on academies than it was spending on player salaries 5 years ago.

Dan Dickinson ‏@GothamistDan

Garber tells me the discussions to sell "the second team in LA" are moving along and he expects the sale to complete by the end of the year.

Beckham in talks with Genting for stadium at old Herald site

Genting once had plans to build a luxury destination casino resort, but state lawmakers haven't allowed the kind of gambling to make that happen. Despite intense lobbying, a scaled-down version is now in the works, which may involve soccer superstar David Beckham.

"I've invited Beckham to have a discussion with them because if you wanted to create a downtown stadium, that is a place where you can accomplish that," said Sarnoff.

Sarnoff said the plan to unite the Genting Group with Beckham's proposed Major League Soccer stadium has been in the works for two months and that Beckham has met with Genting executives at least twice in New York.

A Genting representative wasn't immediately aware of any exploratory meetings but said current plans for the site involve a mixed-use project to include a 500-room hotel, two luxury condos and a variety of high-end retail shops and restaurants.

Anyone familiar with the location?

 

[xbhaskarx]

Looks like it's just a few blocks north of the previous two stadium locations...

 

[makingmusic476]

Where do you guys hope MLS expands to? New areas with no teams as of now? Viable markets?

I favor expanding to new areas, as that has a greater potential to create more MLS fans and attract more viewers. This is why I think Chivas should eventually be moved elsewhere, as it's not making soccer fans out of anybody that wouldn't just follow the Galaxy.

Though expanding in areas like Sacramento will get butts into stands more immediately than focusing on newer markets. It's certainly easier.

I just fear that if we end up with 4-5 teams in California and Texas each, MLS's popularity will be very regional.

Edit:

I suppose that could be a good reason to take a hiatus on MLS expansion once team 24 is selected. Give the smaller leagues time to grow in newer areas, then start expanding again as the potential for MLS teams in those areas becomes viable.

Have they hinted at going past 24 any time soon at all?

 

[xbhaskarx]

Envision RX co-founder, CEO and Sacramento business leader Kevin Nagle to lead MLS ownership group for club

Nagle led Envision RX to $4 billion in revenue in 2013 in addition to local land holdings including El Dorado Hills Town Center.

Sacramento Republic FC announced today that Sacramento business leader and co-founder of national pharmaceutical benefits powerhouse Envision RX, Kevin Nagle, will lead its prospective Major League Soccer (MLS) ownership group. If the club is selected for expansion by MLS, Nagle will be its single largest owner.

“I love Sacramento – its community, resilience and potential,” said Kevin Nagle. “Early on, I admired Republic FC’s success and efforts to galvanize this region; its bid for MLS is not only about sports, but also a shared vision for Sacramento. I am honored to work side-by-side with Mayor Kevin Johnson and Republic FC President Warren Smith to procure MLS for Sacramento and demonstrate why this region is built for MLS.”

Nagle will immediately integrate into Republic FC’s business strategy and efforts to procure MLS for Sacramento. He represented both Republic FC and Sacramento Kings during Mayor Johnson’s meeting with Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott on August 6, 2014 at MLS All-Star Game. In addition, Nagle will work closely with Republic FC on the continued structuring of the club’s MLS ownership group and the building of a privately-financed soccer stadium.

“Kevin’s leadership and investment in Republic FC positions us as one of the top ownership groups in the sport,” said Republic FC President Warren Smith. “His success, credibility and financial wherewithal provide us the capability to succeed with our MLS bid. But what first endeared me to Kevin and what I love most is his passion for Sacramento.”

Nagle is the largest local shareholder and executive voting member of the Sacramento Kings (NBA). He served an integral leadership role in retaining the franchise in 2013. He worked tirelessly to recruit businesses as team sponsors and was recognized by then NBA Commissioner David Stern for his record setting efforts by selling more season tickets in one day, compared to all other NBA teams, following the sale of the team in 2013.

“This is a big win for Republic FC and our efforts to secure an MLS franchise,” said Mayor Kevin Johnson. “Kevin’s success in business speaks for itself. But his love of this community – borne out by his heroics during the Kings fight, and now, his bold action on MLS, speak volumes to how much he believes in Sacramento and how ready he is to play to win.”

 

[Osorio]

Where do you guys hope MLS expands to? New areas with no teams as of now? Viable markets?

Boston. MLS is missing a valuable opportunity by being in Foxborough.

Also, it'd be a shame for St. Louis to be left out considering it's contribution to the sport in this country.

 

[xbhaskarx]

With deadline approaching, Vancouver Whitecaps say plan to have USL PRO team in 2015 still on track

With the deadline fast approaching for the approval of the Vancouver Whitecaps' preferred location for their new USL PRO team, prominent members of the local community are rallying around the plan.

The Whitecaps signed a Memorandum of Understanding in July with the nearby community of New Westminster, just 12 miles away from their current MLS home at BC Place, marking their intent to launch a USL PRO franchise in time for the 2015 season.

The plan is currently nearing the end of its public consultation phase and while Whitecaps President Bob Lenarduzzi isn't counting any chickens just yet, with the importance of a USL PRO team to Vancouver's future player development, he confirmed that the 'Caps expect to field a side in the league next season no matter what.

I wonder how many MLS teams will have their own USL Pro teams by next season, looks like it could be as high as half a dozen...

 

[Meier]

Boston. MLS is missing a valuable opportunity by being in Foxborough.

Also, it'd be a shame for St. Louis to be left out considering it's contribution to the sport in this country.

There is no way they'll ever add a second team to Massachusetts. Isn't about the entire population of the state in or around Boston where Foxborough already falls? I can barely name another city in the state if I'm honest. Springfield... and uhh, Amherst? I think the college is there.

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

With deadline approaching, Vancouver Whitecaps say plan to have USL PRO team in 2015 still on track



I wonder how many MLS teams will have their own USL Pro teams by next season, looks like it could be as high as half a dozen...

Yep, I fear for the future of the NASL. As a sports and minor league junkie, ai hope these teams come up with proper names and Westminister Whitecaps or u21 Montreal or RSL Academy.....

 

[Osorio]

There is no way they'll ever add a second team to Massachusetts. Isn't about the entire population of the state in or around Boston where Foxborough already falls? I can barely name another city in the state if I'm honest. Springfield... and uhh, Amherst? I think the college is there.

I wasn't serious about expansion to Boston

Kraft just needs to flex his muscles and get that stadium up on a T line.

 

[xbhaskarx]

I think MLS will end up with 30-32 teams like every American sports league...

20 New York City FC (23 million)
21 Orlando City (2.9 million)
22 Atlanta (6 million)
23 Miami (6.3 million)
24 Sacramento Republic (2.4 million)
25 Minnesota United (3.7 million)
26 Las Vegas (2.2 million)
27 Indy Eleven (2.3 million)
28 San Antonio Scorpions (2.2 million)

that would leave room for up to four out of these twelve:

29 St Louis (2.9 million)
30 Detroit (5.3 million
31 Phoenix (4.3 million)
32 San Diego (3.1 million)
33 San Francisco (8.3 million - second team)
34 Tampa Bay (2.8 million)
35 Pittsburgh (2.6 million)
36 Baltimore (2.7 million)
37 Charlotte (2.4 million) or Raleigh (2 million)
38 Milwaukee (2 million)
39 Nashville (1.8 million)
40 Austin (1.8 million)

 

[smokeandmirrors]

Once we get to 30 teams i would love to see 3-10 team leagues. Cut down on travel time as it would be balanced by region.

 

[xbhaskarx]

Gothamist Speaks With MLS Commissioner Don Garber

In July 2013, Major League Soccer declared that the league would expand to 24 teams by 2020. Where does the league's expansion plans stand?

Don Garber: You know there’s more interest than ever before in investing in Major League Soccer, and I think that’s a function of the sport just becoming more and more popular. The league beginning to show that it’s a good, long term investment, although we have like a lot of new businesses, no shortage of short term issues. We’re excited about New York and Orlando coming in, both seem to be having a reasonably good launch of its season tickets and driving commercial revenues. There are challenges in facilities in many markets, challenges in New York. We’re in discussions in Las Vegas, discussions in Sacramento, discussions in Minneapolis, discussions here in El Paso, and it’s all very positive.

Where does the proposed franchise in Miami, to be partially owned by David Beckham, stand with their search for a stadium?

DG: They are still David and Simon Fuller, and his partners are very focused on putting together a stadium plan so that they could execute on their expansion option. They’ve hit a number of obstacles, it’s been very difficult to get anything done there, but I’m not sure Miami is much different than any other large market where the urban core has been fairly developed. They’re going to continue to do everything they can to try to get a stadium deal done, and hopefully if they do, they’ll be able to execute their option and they can join the league.

Has there been any movement with the sale of Chivas USA after the league bought out previous ownership at the end of 2013?

DG: We’re making a lot of progress with the sale of our second team in LA. A lot of progress.

Do you still expect the purchase to complete by the end of this season?

DG: I do.

Are you sad to see longtime MLS executive Tim Leiweke leave Toronto FC?

DG: Well, you know I was to see Tim leave LA. I’m sad to see him leave Toronto. But he loves this game, it’s in his blood, and I wouldn’t be surprised if somehow he gets back into [the game] later. You know, Tim’s a very good friend of mine, and I’ll always be very close to him.

Adam Silver spoke earlier at the event about gambling, and how he didn’t see it as a moral issue, but more of something that could be about the revenue stream and a way to increase engagement for the NBA. Has there been any consideration of legalized gaming for MLS?

DG: Well, I’ve always believed that—and perhaps more so than most—that there’s so much gambling that takes place on games, to pretend that it doesn’t exist is naïve. And I think the question is: how do you have the proper checks and balances in place to make sure that you don’t have any of the negativity associated with things that can provide improper incentives. Gambling is an integral part of the game overseas, it’s not an integral part of the game here in the United States, and that’s okay for now, but I don’t know what it will look like in the future. Certainly, it’s something that anything we can do, that can be controlled, that would increase fan connection and engagement with Major League Soccer is a net positive.

El Paso??

 

[Osorio]

I think MLS will end up with 30-32 teams like every American sports league...

20 New York City FC (23 million)
21 Orlando City (2.9 million)
22 Atlanta (6 million)
23 Miami (6.3 million)
24 Sacramento Republic (2.4 million)
25 Minnesota United (3.7 million)
26 Las Vegas (2.2 million)
27 Indy Eleven (2.3 million)
28 San Antonio Scorpions (2.2 million)

that would leave room for up to four out of these twelve:

29 St Louis (2.9 million)
30 Detroit (5.3 million
31 Phoenix (4.3 million)
32 San Diego (3.1 million)
33 San Francisco (8.3 million - second team)
34 Tampa Bay (2.8 million)
35 Pittsburgh (2.6 million)
36 Baltimore (2.7 million)
37 Charlotte (2.4 million) or Raleigh (2 million)
38 Milwaukee (2 million)
39 Nashville (1.8 million)
40 Austin (1.8 million)

Forget Las Vegas

Puerto Rico for team 32!

 

[ZZMitch]

Forget Las Vegas

Puerto Rico for team 32!

I'd be down for some away games in San Juan

 

[xbhaskarx]

Forget Las Vegas

Puerto Rico for team 32!

Vegas isn't dead yet, there are two groups looking to bring a team there.

I'd love to see Puerto Rico with a pro team again, hopefully Puerto Rico Islanders re-joins NASL and makes it work this time (with a better crest).

 

[Osorio]

Vegas isn't dead yet, there are two groups looking to bring a team there.

I'd love to see Puerto Rico with a pro team again, hopefully Puerto Rico Islanders re-joins NASL and makes it work this time (with a better crest).

Understood I'm just not a fan of places that aren't by water.

Plus a fully tri-lingual league spanning from Vancouver to Bayamon would be incredible. Screw the premier league and their away days to Sunderland.

 

[daoster]

Former USMNT Capt Carlos Bocanegra retiring at end of season.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10154715838890438&id=284301705437

 

[Osorio]

Anyone think it would just be better to contract Chivas next year to bring it to an even 20 teams and leave 4 markets to duke it out?

 

[ZZMitch]

Anyone think it would just be better to contract Chivas next year to bring it to an even 20 teams and leave 4 markets to duke it out?

Might be better but will probably never happen. MLS believes that LA can support two teams I suppose.

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

Gothamist Speaks With MLS Commissioner Don Garber





El Paso??

Frisco, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso. Sounds great to me.

 

[xbhaskarx]

El Paso is the 58th largest metropolitan area just in the US, with barely over a million people. Garber may be meeting with them, but there's no way MLS is ever putting a team there. They should be shooting for USL Pro or NASL.

Anyone think it would just be better to contract Chivas next year to bring it to an even 20 teams and leave 4 markets to duke it out?

I'll say it again: All these people saying Chivas should be moved or contracted will look silly in 5 years, when the team has new owners, a complete Los Angeles rebranding, and a soccer stadium that's actually in a better location than Carson.

The LA metropolitan area doesn't just have a huge population (13 million), it's also really spread out with bad mass transportation. Carson isn't all that convenient for most people in LA, and even then there was actually a time when both teams were drawing well. Even now after years of declining attendance dragging it down, Chivas' all time average is 14.6k, higher than Colorado, Dallas, San Jose, and KC.

 

[xbhaskarx]

Don Garber: MLS “in a good spot,” unlikely to see promotion/relegation “in the near future”

Gulati's comments on pro/rel:

“People often reach out: 'Why doesn't the federation mandate this?' Because we're not in the business of expropriating assets,” he said. “Don's touched on it: When the system came into play in Europe and the rest of the world, that was the agreement coming in. So if you're an owner and you buy into a system right now and you pay X amount of dollars to get in, and the rules of the game change the next day, essentially expropriating assets that were worth X --that's not something we're going to be doing.”

 

[Osorio]

I'll say it again: All these people saying Chivas should be moved or contracted will look silly in 5 years, when the team has new owners, a complete Los Angeles rebranding, and a soccer stadium that's actually in a better location than Carson.

The LA metropolitan area doesn't just have a huge population (13 million), it's also really spread out with bad mass transportation. Carson isn't all that convenient for most people in LA, and even then there was actually a time when both teams were drawing well. Even now after years of declining attendance dragging it down, Chivas' all time average is 14.6k, higher than Colorado, Dallas, San Jose, and KC.

Seems like a headache at the moment. Why not ship it along to somewhere that has begging owners and expand to LA2 in the future? You know, like San Jose?

Except you're not shipping away a championship caliber team, you're shipping away a burning carcass

 

[Judderman]

I would just like to say that the NFL won't be taken seriously until they get rid of those pesky soccer lines.



So I renewed for next season, upgraded to Red and now have 2 seats! No more loner trips to RBA for me!

 

[xbhaskarx]

Seems like a headache at the moment. Why not ship it along to somewhere that has begging owners and expand to LA2 in the future? You know, like San Jose?

Except you're not shipping away a championship caliber team, you're shipping away a burning carcass

Garber says they'll have new ownership by the end of this year, so there's no need to contract them and then expand back to LA later. Also, contraction looks bad and MLS doesn't want that stain on their record post-2002, especially when so many potential ownership groups are interested in the league. But even if there wasn't an owner by next season I think it would be better to keep them (rebranded) as a league-owned team instead. They have some quality coaches and players and are starting to rebuild from the low point of last year.
More importantly, they actually have a quality youth player development structure in place, and the LA area produces more talent than anywhere else in this country by far. Even though the Galaxy have poached some of their players they still have tons of talent in their academy:

Brian Kleiban Envisions Greatness for the Academy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaQf-DTuYNE

3v1 Possession Soccer training [U14s] (the standard)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeGU4bF5rU0

Others Brian Kleiban has coached:
Ben Lederman
John Kenneth "Xuxuh" Hilton


What does anyone gain by contracting Chivas?
US soccer would lose one of two MLS academies in LA.

Also, your position makes no sense as a fan of one of the soon to be 19 teams that's not in LA. Hell it's in your best interest for MLS to have 4 LA teams to dilute the talent pool. If the LA Galaxy ever get their act together and harness all the talent in SoCal to go along with their willingness to spend on three DPs, they're going to dominate MLS.

 

[Osorio]

RBNY academy is one of the best if not the best academy in MLS, and there's going to be more money poured into it in the near future. I wouldn't lose any sleep over LA having one academy.

If there's an owner with plans for a stadium in another part of LA, sure, that's great, forget I ever said anything.

However, it seems like a stretch at the moment. Nobody seems to be fighting for this property, there seems to be one group at best in discussions with Garber while we have multiple groups across the country with a fully laid out plan and interest for other cities. There seems to be a rush to get this deal done because nobody wants Chivas to come back next year.

Contraction looks bad but you also have to look at it like this: without Chivas the league's average attendance this year is 19,612. That number would probably go up from the lackluster attendances they get on the road too. We're about to have two teams with an expansion draft coming up, diluting the talent pool across the league. Soften the blow with some of the talent Chivas has on their squad.

Plus we can start 2015 with a 20 team league, a somewhat balanced schedule for the first time in a few years. All good things in my opinion.

 

[xbhaskarx]

Contraction looks bad but you also have to look at it like this: without Chivas the league's average attendance this year is 19,612.

With Chivas the league's average attendance this year is 19,003. Again, Chivas' attendance will recover when they rebrand and play elsewhere. But in the meantime what's that extra 609 going to do? Bragging rights?

We're about to have two teams with an expansion draft coming up, diluting the talent pool across the league. Soften the blow with some of the talent Chivas has on their squad.

Talent dilution is such a non-issue it's barely worth discussing. NYC will really dilute the talent pool by taking David Villa and Lampard and Man City youth away from an existing team. For the most part the expansion draft is full of replacement level players that are a dime a dozen. Beyond that any short term dilution of the pool is outweighed by the long term benefits of having another MLS team to give playing time to players, and another MLS academy to develop them, given that we're in a country where only roughly half of the cities have soccer teams.

Plus we can start 2015 with a 20 team league, a somewhat balanced schedule for the first time in a few years.

We play 34 games not 38, because we have playoffs and they're not going anywhere.
The last fully balanced schedule we'll have was at 18 teams.

 

[kIdMuScLe]

Once we get to 30 teams i would love to see 3-10 team leagues. Cut down on travel time as it would be balanced by region.

What??? Can you explain more in detail??? It make no sense.

 

[NoRéN]

Seems like most people that think that chivas has failed because L.A. can't support 2 teams aren't too familiar with L.A. in the first place.

The quicker the Chivas brand is gone, the better. This team better have its own stadium as well.

 

[Askani]

Bocanegra is set to announce his retirement.

Link: http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/09/04/14/54/140904-mnt-bocanegra-retiring

Two-Time FIFA World Cup Veteran and Former MNT Captain Carlos Bocanegra to Retire

CHICAGO (Sept. 4, 2014) – Former U.S. Men’s National Team captain Carlos Bocanegra has announced that he will retire at the end of the current Major League Soccer season. The two-time FIFA World Cup veteran and Chivas USA center back finishes a 15-year career for club and country as the USA’s all-time leading goal scorer for a defender.

“I’m still hungry for the game and I want to play, but unfortunately you can’t play forever. I was thinking about this in the offseason, and it took me about six months to come to a final decision,” said Bocanegra. “The timing is right for me. I’ve known for a little while now in my mind and in my heart. I’m happy with it, and I’m looking forward to the new challenges.”

Bocanegra, 35, captained the U.S. team 64 times during an international career that began in 2001 and concludes with 110 appearances. He played a total of 9,222 minutes in the USA uniform, the fifth-most of any player in team history. The Alta Loma, Calif., native played in two FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010), appearing in six matches. He is tied for fourth place among U.S. players with 31 games played in World Cup Qualifying with Kasey Keller, Eddie Pope and Claudio Reyna. Bocanegra participated in four CONCACAF Gold Cups and collected two titles, having captained the team to the 2007 championship.

Bocanegra was a member of the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team that participated in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria and won bronze with the U-23 team in the 1999 Pan American Games. The defender made his National Team debut against Korea Republic on Dec. 9, 2001, and with 110 career international caps, became the 12th U.S. player to surpass the 100-cap mark.

Bocanegra began his professional career with the Chicago Fire after he was drafted fourth overall out of UCLA in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft. He established himself as a starter with the Fire and was named MLS Rookie of the Year. Bocanegra helped lead Chicago to the 2000 MLS Cup final and won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship in 2000 and 2003. He added to his list of accolades as one of the league’s premier players by earning back-to-back MLS Defender of the Year honors in 2002 and 2003.

In January of 2004, Bocanegra took his talents to the English Premier League with Fulham. In his four years with the London side, Bocanegra appeared in 133 games, scoring eight goals while becoming one of the few players in U.S. Soccer history to captain both his club and country simultaneously. After his time in the Premier League, the defender moved on to the French Ligue 1 where he played for Stade Rennais (2008-10) and later AS Saint-Étienne (2010-12) before signing with Rangers. Bocanegra returned to MLS and his native California in July of 2013 when he signed with Chivas USA.

Bocanegra Career National Team Highlights

• With his goal against Guatemala on Oct. 16, 2012, became the USA’s all-time leading goal scorer for defenders with 14
• Tied for fourth among U.S. players for career World Cup qualifying appearances with 31
• Became the 12th U.S. player to reach 100 caps when he started in the 3-2 win against Slovenia on Nov. 15, 2011
• One of five U.S. players to play every minute of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
• Appeared in six World Cup matches spanning two tournaments
• Played in 15 of 18 World Cup qualifiers in the 2010 cycle, notching game-winning goals in Guatemala in the semifinal round and against Honduras in the final phase
• Captained the U.S. to the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup championship, his second regional title after first winning in 2002
• Became one of the few players in U.S. Soccer history to simultaneously captain both his club side and the national team, which he did after captaining Fulham to a 3-3 draw against Tottenham on Sept. 1, and then took the armband for the USA in its game against Brazil on Sept. 9, 2007, in Chicago

 

[Askani]

USSoccer.com infographic:

 

[Meier]

This is kind of interesting:

Young Manchester City Striker Kelechi Iheanacho Training With Crew

Seventeen-year-old Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho will train with the Crew until mid-October but is not a candidate to join the club permanently, coach Gregg Berhalter said today.

“It’s a guy who is training here for a period and then he’s going to rejoin Manchester City later in the fall,” Berhalter said today at the Crew’s facility in Obetz. “He wanted a place to train, to stay fit, stay moving and we offered it to him.”

Berhalter said Manchester City approached the Crew about finding some time for Iheanacho through Claudio Reyna, who played for Man City, was Berhalter’s teammate on the United States national team and is the current director of football operations for Major League Soccer expansion franchise New York City FC.

“He has good connections with Manchester City and he wanted to place (Iheanacho) at a club that he can train and I guess similar philosophies, similar values in soccer,” Berhalter said. “We said we’d be glad to help out.”

http://www.dispatch.com/content/blogs/covering-the-crew/2014/09/man-city.html

Iheanacho can't sign professional terms with Man City until he turns 18 in October, so I guess he's training with the Crew to stay fit until then. I imagine the club will give him a shot with the first team since we're a striker down now after selling Negredo -- he's expected to go out on loan in January (possibly to NYCFC).

 

[xbhaskarx]

NBA to soccer designs
https://www.behance.net/gallery/18769939/NBA-to-football


Some of those are really well done...

 

[Meier]

Interesting, Odemwingie is out for the year for Stoke. Is this Shea's lifeline perhaps? If this had happened a week ago they may have tried to get Scott Sinclair on loan I'd imagine.

 

[cashman]

El Paso is the 58th largest metropolitan area just in the US, with barely over a million people. Garber may be meeting with them, but there's no way MLS is ever putting a team there. They should be shooting for USL Pro or NASL.

Could be a good idea to put one in El Paso, they have a pretty large hispanic population and absolutely no competition for attention.

 

[Meier]

Could be a good idea to put one in El Paso, they have a pretty large hispanic population and absolutely no competition for attention.

I think they've determined that the market for MLS is pretty white. Chivas relied on the hispanic market and we saw how that went. I think the concern is most hispanics have a team they already support in another country -- probably a lot easier and more efficient to target an untapped market so to speak.

 

[Zeke]

Could be a good idea to put one in El Paso, they have a pretty large hispanic population and absolutely no competition for attention.

No way El Paso gets an mls team before San Antonio

 

[megachao24]

No way El Paso gets an mls team before San Antonio

I'm still not sure why El Paso is even being considered. Places like Austin and Vegas, I could understand, but in a market with less than a million in its metro area? Even though I've only been following MLS for a few years, but I don't think they'll seriously consider El Paso anytime soon.


Unless you count its biggest neighbor (Juarez) south of the border, which is a vicious hellhole to draw from...

 

[DominoKid]

Grand opening Grand closing.

Good job Nasco.