Today’s roundtable questions find us looking at Major League Soccer’s stadia. Who’s got one, who needs one, and who’s gonna get one. We are also making some predictions on which teams will be most improved this year, and who’s gonna slump. Read on after the jump to find our pearls of wisdom.
New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia, Kansas City and Houston have built/are building their own soccer specific stadiums. Will attendance this season inspire other teams to look at building their own stadiums?
Kevin – I didn’t actually realize how many teams already have their own stadiums. I think the next team that “needs” to build a stadium is San Jose. I also wonder if Chivas USA’s days in Los Angeles may be numbered. Where they move to may be determined by who can provide a stadium. Phoenix or San Diego maybe?
Magnakai – Right now, most of the teams involved have soccer specific stadiums (whether planned or built); I don’t see Seattle (who love Qwest Field and get good attendances there) building one anytime soon, and I doubt DC United has the backing to build one either.
Georger – I think it will come down more to the books than the attendance figures themselves. If it’s feasible to build a soccer-specific stadium and keep your head above water in the process, it will be very appealing for some of the franchises. The financial margin of error is so much thinner here that nobody can really afford to gamble on a stadium but if the new ones come off as a success, hopefully it will see the number go up. As long as the clubs are renting space they’re going to be seen in a lesser light, and while soccer-specifics are not the only step, they are a vital step in the league being taken seriously at home and abroad.
Green Eggs – MLS is finally coming to a point where most of their teams either have or are in the process of building their own facilities. The only clubs which aren’t currently in a new soccer-specific stadium are San Jose, D.C. United, Houston, New England, Seattle and Vancouver – and half of those clubs either have a stadium planned (Houston), are having a stadium remodeled for their use (Vancouver), or are having no problem filling the seats in their cavernous NFL domicile at this time (Seattle).
Fuse – No. Of the current clubs without SSS (or plans for one) I think there are internal factors that supersede any external “inspiration.” In Seattle’s case I think the club is waiting to see just how many fans are going to stick around for the long haul before they commit to a stadium. Right now they have no way of knowing whether a new stadium would have to hold 20,000 or 40,000 supporters. In D.C.’s case, they have been trying for years, but politics seem to keep getting in the way. As for New England, it’ll happen when the Krafts feel like spending the money, and right now it doesn’t look like they want to.
Which team will be most improved this year?
Fuse – I know a lot of people are picking KC for this, but when I look at their roster I just don’t see it. They were okay last year and may be slightly improved (Teal Bunbury is only going to get better), but that’s about it. My pick would be D.C. United. They won’t have to do much considering how woeful they were last year, but the addition of Charlie Davies (even if he never regains his past form), Dax McCarty (who really impressed me with the USMNT), Andy Najar, and the return of Fred should make a big difference for this once great side.
Kevin – I am going to predict Houston. A bit of a homer vote I know, but I think getting moved to the Eastern Conference will see them having an “easier” road to playoffs. Plus they ended last season doing pretty well, in part because I think they were already looking to who will playing this year.
Magnakai – Sporting Kansas City; I think they’ll open up Livestrong Park to a nice season.
Georger – New York. Yes they finished first in the East. But they were awful in the playoffs and losing to Harrisburg City Islanders wasn’t exactly a feather in the cap. I think they will be the most improved because I think Henry and Marquez step up this season after settling in. If Agudelo and Ream can continue to progress I think they are the clear class of the East this year.
Green Eggs – Philadelphia Union was a fine surprise in 2010 with Sébastien Le Toux (#LeTouxForUSMNT) emerging as a goal-scoring dynamo and PPL Park slowly turning into one of the toughest locales to earn any points from – but their away form was slightly worse than horrible, with the Union only gaining 7 points on the road, worst in MLS. I believe they will find a way to maintain their excellent home field advantage and improve on their road form by at least 7 points, possibly 10 – I’m not certain there’s another team that was on the low end of the MLS table last season that can produce that type of improvement.
Which team will drop the farthest?
Green Eggs – Columbus. I know that Jeff Cunningham will find enough goals to keep himself in the race for the Golden Boot, and Columbus won’t be embarrassed this season in the Eastern Conference, but I don’t see how you can replace the creative force of Guillermo Barros Schelotto and succeed right away. The Crew will miss GBS desperately, and they could fall down the Eastern table if they don’t find a new playmaker quickly.
Fuse – I don’t think they’re going to be “bad,” but I think it’s going to be a tough year for the Columbus Crew. I feel like the cracks were beginning to show last year, and now they’ve lost their conductor (Barros Schelotto) and their engine (Frankie Hejduk), as well as several important roll players in Stevie Lenhart (San Jose), Duncan Oughton (retirement), and Brian Carroll (Philadelphia Union). With those players gone I think it is going to ask a lot of Robbie Rogers, Eddie Gaven, and Chad Marshall to get this team into the playoffs. They may make it, but if they do I don’t think they will go far.
Georger – Columbus. But they’ll still make the playoffs.
Magnakai – Columbus. Sporting KC and New York improved, and Houston’s now been added into the mix in the East; I think it’s possible that Columbus could miss out on the playoffs entirely, which would be quite a blow to them.
Kevin – Perhaps it just easiest to say “Ditto.”
Please add your thoughts to ours in the comments section. Tomorrow’s final round table will look at players to watch and our predictions for the various awards.
