Done Don: Major League Sleaze

(by Bill Archer bigsoccer.com 10-31-07)

Twenty some-odd years ago there were two bright young sports marketing executives toiling for the NFL; Roger Goodell and Don Garber. Everyone knows that they each ended up as the commissioner of a professional league; Goodell at the NFL and Garber at MLS.

But until last week nobody suspected that it was MLS who got the stupid one.

First of all, let's dispense with Garber's patent lies about how Anthony "Fratboy McTrustfund" Precourt is simply "exploring his options in Austin" but that "no decision has been made":

In 2013 when Precourt bought the team, he was granted the legal right to move the Crew to Texas. He has decided to exercise that right and nobody can stop him. Garber arranged it, Garber got the owners to approve it and Garber has worked hard to make sure it happens.

Is that plain enough for you?

There's no real point in rehearsing the litany of lies and deceits that Precourt and Garber have engaged in: how in 2013 Precourt registered his sports company in Austin, not in Columbus. Or how in 2014 he switched the Crew's USL affiliate from Dayton (90miles away) to Austin (2000 miles away) where no team even existed. Or how Precourt signed a TV deal that made it impossible for most fans to ever see a game. Or how he cancelled all team advertising, fired most of the office staff and cancelled the traditional team promotions which had been highly successful for years and replaced them with: nothing.

It's hardly surprising that when Twellman and Delacamera invited Fratboy to the booth at halftime last Thursday to explain what is going on he refused to speak with them. Hard to blame him.

Then of course there's Garber himself whose only comment has been the aforementioned "nothing has been decided" lie and the claim that he himself will be meeting with officials in Columbus "in the next couple of weeks".

Except that "officials in Columbus" have been unable to get him to actually commit to a meeting or set a date. His only apparent response to their request for a meeting has been to inform the "Columbus Partners" group that if they didn't stop talking to the media about all of this he would refuse to EVER talk with them.

So they shut up but Garber is still refusing to respond to their requests.

Meanwhile, Garber and other MLS staff have met with officials in Austin on numerous occasions over the past year while Precourt has spent so much time there that he's going to have to get his driver's license changed over. Now they're promoting a fan event in Austin tomorrow called "An Evening with Dave Greeley", the utterly creepy Grima Wormtongue of Precourt Sports Ventures and the man whom Peter Wilt famously called a m**********r to his face before stomping out of a meeting in Chicago.


I ran across this picture last week.

It's a photo of a "fan meetup" in support of MLS2ATX, the Astroturf supporters group that PSV created last August before any of this was made public.

I'll leave aside the snark about the massive outpouring of support (this was immediately after Precourt announced the move; there must be literally a dozen people there), or the Austin "hipsters" we keep hearing about who seem to be out taking a leak (probably from all those ultra-hip cans of Coors) and instead focus on the brand new scarves that were apparently for sale.

Something about them look familiar?

It displays an MLS trademarked logo - try that yourself and see how long it takes their lawyers to send you a threat - that's been professionally adopted for Austin, it's identical to the "split logo" style used for MLS teams and from the obvious quality and heft it would appear to actually be an adidas-made, MLS designed and approved licensed product for MLS Austin.

Which didn't happen in the 3 days between the announcement and the event.

Wanting to be fair, I contacted numerous normally quite responsive MLS officials inquiring as to whether this was indeed MLS merch. Today marks a week with no reply whatsoever.


So how bad a "PR disaster" (to borrow a phrase from Taylor Twellman) has this whole thing become?

Bad enough that #savethecrew was the theme of ESPN College Football Gameday last Saturday.

Bad enough that the Men in Blazers show used a Crew logo as a backdrop for their entire show this week. (They even used the old Construction Workers version which has become a fan symbol of resistance since Precourt got rid of it).

Bad enough so that every single MLS stadium had #savethecrew signage up last weekend and broadcasters weren't at all shy about showing them. Other fan groups wore black armbands or yellow hardhats or shirts.

At least Goodell can get the networks to break for commercial during National Anthem protests, but Garber doesn't get anything like that kind of deference from his TV partners.

Which brings us to tonight's game in Columbus. How hard was Garber pulling for the Five Stripes last week to make going back to CBus unnecessary? Fortunately for him of course he can - and certainly will - be absent this evening. But one wonders how Precourt can possibly show his fat, smirking little crapweasel face anywhere in the building.

That, as much as anything, is Garber's current legacy in all of this: he has cleverly arranged it so that an MLS owner doesn't dare show up in his own stadium.

Great work Don.


Still, when it comes to weapons-grade stupid, nothing can top Don's self-inflicted problem with San Antonio, which will surely end up in court, generating even more bad PR and probably costing the league a fortune.

Last December, with the deadline for expansion applications looming, our boy Don assembled a committee to evaluate the bids and, inexplicably, he made Precourt one of the members.

He then solicited, encouraged and accepted a bid from San Antonio, who - based on Garber's assurances of good faith - committed five million bucks to the purchase of Toyota Stadium. Garber also assured them that the league would not be taking teams from both Austin and SA.

What they weren't told was that a member of the committee responsible for evaluating the bids was a guy who already had a signed contract with MLS allowing him to put a team in Austin. In other words, before they ever spent a dime on a bid for a team, they had already lost.

This is known politely as "not negotiating in good faith". Not so politely, it's called fraud.

Apparently Garber thought San Antonio would overlook the fact that he had stacked the deck against them. He was mistaken.

A powerful Judge and politician in San Antonio - he's a former member of the Texas house and senate as well as a former Mayor of SA - Nelson Wolff, has instructed the district attorney to explore this whole deal with a view to filing both civil and criminal charges against MLS in general and Don Garber in particular.

He feels they were cheated and lied to. And he's entirely correct: they were.

Yesterday, the Mayor of San Antonio announced that his legal people would be conducting an investigation as well. And that's not even getting into the fact that the City of Columbus and the State of Ohio may also have grounds for a lawsuit.

You can't just go through life lying to everybody about everything because you're determined to rid your little league of a town in flyover country that your Queens New York ass doesn't feel adds to your personal perception of "Major League".

MLS issued a brief response yesterday saying that they disagree that San Antonio was ever promised a team. Which is not, of course, what San Antonio is claiming, but never mind. It's lies all the way down.

So what the hell happened here?
Well, it's not really complicated.

Garber made this secret deal with Precourt to mug Columbus and move their team to Austin Texas but he didn't want anyone to know about it.

Then, when they opened up the bidding process for expansion teams and San Antonio wanted in, our man Don was stuck between a rock and a hard place. So Garber actually sent league officials, including Dan Courtemanche - I can recommend a good lawyer, bud - to meet with local government and Spurs officials, tour the facilities and say nice sounding things about SA landing a team.

It was all a lie. A fraud. Call it Expansion Kabuki.

Garber couldn't tell SA that Austin was already going to get a team since that would let the cat out of the bag vis a vie Columbus and he wasn't ready to play that card. Apparently he planned on waiting until after the expansion process was completed, SA had been turned down for some reason they would make up when necessary and then, when the dust had settled, they'd go ahead and have Precourt announce that he was going to "exercise his option".

Maybe they planned on claiming that Precourt had held off on his move out of respect for San Antonio's bid. Once you start lying to everybody,it all starts to come easily.

Apparently, Precourt jumped the gun. We have no idea why.

Garber told the Spurs that Precourt had "gone rogue" and Merritt Paulson Tweeted that "nobody is happy about this", but what it really amounted to was that Fratboy decided he didn't want to wait for permission. He has a contract that says he can move the team and thats what he's going to do.

So what's the end game here?

Well, there aren't a lot of good options.

They can't make Precourt stay in Columbus. He has a contract that says he gets to move to Austin and that's what he is going to do. Anyone tells you different or that nothing has been decided, they're - yes - lying.

They could try and force Precourt to sell the team to Columbus Partners, who offered to buy it and, failing that, offered to buy half of it for $75 million. Since Richie Rich paid $68 million for the thing four years ago that's a pretty healthy return.

They also offered him an immediate $ 2 million sponsorship package, land for a stadium and much more to come on top of that. This is the offer which Precourt rejected as "not serious".

If they can't make him sell, then it's likely they're going to have to pay a big stack of money to San Antonio to settle a case which is a sure loser in court. This will undoubtedly infuriate the other owners, but they're the ones who let Garber run this game and they're stuck with him.

Either way, Garber's contract only has a little over a year left to run, and when this is allover his credibility with the entire soccer community will be so shot to hell that he'll almost certainly decide that he needs to spend more time with his grandchildren.

Which will be cold consolation for Columbus, who deserved much better than this public knifing from a couple of liars who set them up four years ago, and that includes, sadly, Clark Hunt.

Betrayal is an ugly thing.

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http://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/done-don-major-league-sleaze.2077566/

Zack Steffen makes a huge save during PK shootout in Atlanta

Zack Steffen performed heroically during the Crew's PK shootout in Atlanta last week.

They have an even bigger game tonight in Columbus. Good luck tonight Zack, we are all pulling for you.

Precourt Sports Venture e-mail hoax reveals information on relocation

A hoaxer sent Massive Report an e-mail exchange with PSV President Dave Greeley discussing #SaveTheCrew.

 

(by Pat Murphy massivereport.com 10-31-17)

 

An e-mail hoax is now a part of the ongoing saga as Precourt Sports Venture considers moving Columbus Crew SC from its 22-year home to Austin, TX.

This week, Massive Report received copies of an e-mail exchange between President of Precourt Sports Venture Dave Greeley and a hoaxer discussing the recent #SaveTheCrew movement that has gained momentum since Precourt’s announcement of the possible move on Oct. 17.

Using a Gmail account to masquerade as Major League Soccer President and Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott, the hoaxer sent Greeley an email asking if PSV was sending anyone to Crew SC’s home playoff game on Tuesday.

“AP nor I will be there,” Greeley replied. “While AP has said he may never go back to CBus, he did not say it per se, but I kind of know it. I will be back in ATX.”

The hoaxer was surprised to receive a response and elected to continue the conversation.

“Probably for the best,” the hoaxer replied. “This Save the Crew thing is getting way more attention than I initially expected. I suspect you and AP feel the same?”

Greeley’s response: “Yes. We have done prelim analytics ­ very vocal minority making large share of noise. The irony is that this group ­ inch wide and a mile deep ­ is the one being let down by the broader community and corporations. PSV is the easy target. Kind of think we have not done well with getting facts and findings out there...what do you think?

On moving, this has not been a plot all along or an epiphany one morning. Few know why.”

The hoaxer: “For sure. There is a lot of misinformation and confusion out there.

Maybe this coming out via Wahl did this? They seem to be expecting a white knight to come in and buy the team to keep them in Cbus.”

Greeley: “What from Wahl?

No white knights, but in fairness to Cbus, they are REALLY GOOD at organizing. Maybe there is a scenario where they could "save the team," be the heroes, and PSV still goes to ATX? Local, local, local is everything in Cbus...exceptionally parochial.”

Hoaxer: “Wahl broke news first, so wasn't very controlled.

Cbus fans would be happy with that scenario, what about PSV?”

Greeley: “Yes ­ the broken embargo from the Dispatch. (Referencing The Dispatch releasing a now updated story on the potential move on Oct. 16 following Wahl breaking the story despite a deal to wait until PSV’s announcement the following morning)

Interesting concept maybe. Suppose everything and anything could be on the table, right?”

Hoaxer: “I don’t think the expansion cities would be happy with that solution, especially SA (San Antonio). But they weren’t getting a team this round anyway.”

This is when Greeley stopped responding to the hoaxer.

The takeaways from these e-mails are multiple. Greeley states Precourt, who was rumored to be at the knockout round win in Atlanta, may never come back to Columbus. He also says the plan was not always to move the team to Austin, nor was it a quick decision and left the door open for a potential savior for the team in Columbus.

But what this should really teach anyone is be certain you know who you are interacting with on the Internet, especially when the subject is sensitive.

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https://www.massivereport.com/2017/10/31/16578996/exclusive-e-mail-hoax-on-precourt-sports-venture-reveals-information-on-relocation-columbus-crew-sc

Would you sell your soccer soul?

Happy Halloween from MLS.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich says Crew SC 'hasn't created the spark' in Columbus

(espnfc.com 10-30-17)

Ohio Gov. John Kasich says Columbus Crew SC "just hasn't created the spark" in the state as the MLS team contemplates a potential move to Austin, Texas.

Club owner Anthony Precourt has cited an inability to increase revenue streams, with attendance ranking 20th out of 22 teams this season, and Kasich told reporters on Friday that the team hasn't generated the same interest as other local sports teams in the state capital.

"The thing about the Crew that I think sometimes is missed in the business community here is the attraction of the Millennials," he said, according to Columbus Business First. "Soccer is a game of the young, and I think, I don't know if it's because of Ohio State, if it's because of the [NHL's] Blue Jackets -- I just don't see the total enthusiasm. I mean, maybe you can't be enthusiastic about everything."

Despite Kasich's skepticism, a grassroots push to keep the club in Columbus has gained momentum in recent weeks, with #SaveTheCrew signs taking over ESPN's "College Gameday" football program on Saturday morning. A week earlier, hundreds of fans gathered in front of city hall.

The signs are likely to return for Tuesday night's playoff clash against New York City FC, the first game at MAPFRE Stadium since Precourt announced his Austin plans two weeks earlier.

Precourt wants Columbus to come up with a plan for a new downtown stadium, but Kasich said the team's current home, which opened in 1999, was still sufficient.

"I happen to think that their... stadium is great," Kasich said. "I guess they disagree with us, with me, it's up to them. I'd love to see them stay, but you know, look, that's probably a bidding war with another city and who knows what another city would offer?

"I'm not involved in the negotiations here, but I saw there's going to be meetings. I'll do what I can. But look, at the end of the day it just hasn't created the spark that we would have loved to see here. And it is exciting, it's a young people's sport. We'll see. Nothing's over until it's over."

Meanwhile, a county judge in San Antonio has asked a criminal district attorney to investigate whether MLS broke the law in encouraging Bexar County to buy a local stadium in 2015 and bid for one of four expansion teams that the league plans to add.

Nelson Wolff, who oversees the county's governing body, met with MLS deputy commissioner Mark Abbott before buying Toyota Field from defunct NASL team San Antonio Scorpions for $18 million in public funds.

Wolff said in a letter sent to MLS commissioner Don Garber on Friday that Abbott told him that the league would not put teams in both San Antonio and nearby Austin, but MLS did not make Bexar County aware of Precourt's reported clause allowing him to move the Crew to Austin -- and that would have changed the government's plans.

"It has been widely reported that Mr. Precourt, whom you appointed to the Major League Soccer expansion selection committee, obtained a legal right to relocate the Columbus Crew to Austin when he purchased the franchise in 2013," Wolff wrote.

"If these reports are accurate, this presents a clear conflict of interest. Had Bexar County officials been aware of such a right, we would not have invested in Toyota Field."

MLS said in statement it was reviewing the letter, but noted: "We strongly disagree with Judge Wolff's assertion that we misled either him or any public official about the prospects for San Antonio acquiring an MLS expansion team."

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http://www.espnfc.us/columbus-crew-sc/story/3251067/ohio-gov-john-kasich-says-crew-sc-hasnt-created-the-spark-in-columbus

The plot thickens

Wolff asks DA to investigate MLS in Toyota Field deal

(by Brian Chasnoff expressnews.com 10-30-17)

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff has asked Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood to investigate whether Major League Soccer officials violated any criminal or civil laws when they encouraged the county in 2015 to purchase Toyota Field and submit a bid for an expansion franchise in San Antonio — two years after Anthony Precourt, chairman of the Columbus Crew, had obtained a legal right in 2013 to relocate the crew to Austin.

Wolff sent a strongly worded letter on Friday to MLS Commissioner Don Garber informing him of his request to LaHood and expressing deep concern that Precourt and the University of Texas at Austin have now reached an agreement to use UT facilities in 2019.

County officials were taken by surprise two weeks ago when they learned that Precourt was exploring relocating the Columbus Crew to Austin. Two years ago, Wolff and Bexar County Manager David Smith met with MLS Soccer President Mark Abbott, who encouraged them to purchase Toyota Field — an $18 million public investment — and submit a bid. Wolff and Smith also were told that MLS would not establish franchises in both Austin and San Antonio.

It has since been reported that Precourt, upon purchasing the Columbus Crew in 2013, obtained the legal right to relocate the franchise to Austin.

"If these reports are accurate, this presents a clear conflict of interest," Wolff wrote to Garber. "Had Bexar County officials been aware of such a right, we would not have invested in Toyota Field."

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http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Wolff-asks-DA-to-investigate-MLS-in-Toyota-Field-12316966.php?t=75298560d4bc83a41f&utm_campaign=twitter-premium&utm_source=CMS%20Sharing%20Button&utm_medium=social

A couple of comments from BigSoccer about the Columbus situation

(bigsoccer.com 10-27-17)

Minnman

This process was never going to be easy, or short. What the team has done is gift fans and the city an opportunity to stay in the news, to further ramp up support for keeping the club here in town, to engender opportunities for fans (and owners) of other clubs to take notice of the backstabbing character of Tony Precourt, see what they'd be losing if Columbus (and all of the history we own) is cut out of this league as if it were a cancerous growth. The cancerous growth, of course, is Precourt.

As we've already noted, on its merits, a relocation to Austin makes no real sense: no stadium deal; no obvious reason to think there'd be particularly strong support for MLS in that market; the headaches it causes with an expansion franchise in San Antonio; a market that is almost a carbon copy of what exists here in Columbus so, in other words, all this trauma for a lateral move; the long history of a venerable club here in Columbus - and its associated history with the national team - that simply won't, can't transfer to another city. The fact that the plan to move persists, in effect, peels back the veneer of plausibility and deniability that often covers these kinds of actions, and exposes the backchannel, old boy network corruption that, in truth, is driving it. While Precourt and Garber bemoan the mysterious (and secret) financial 'metrics' that they claim doom a franchise here (while showing nothing that implies things would be any more rosy in Austin), it might not even be that much about the money, in a bottom line sense. The Crew are being treated like a loss leader. Yeah, maybe PSV takes a $10 million bath on a relocation, so what? It's his money, just as it is with TFC's owners, who certainly don't turn a profit on that club's operation. Trust Fund Tony wants to move the team to Austin. Period. All the countervailing facts in the world don't add up to much when, in the end, he considers the team his t do with what he pleases, an he pleases a move to Texas.

So this is a battle, not one of merits, but one of perception and publicity. I've always felt that the only way out of this mess rests with the business and public leadership in central Ohio and with the attitudes of the other owners. As fans, it may not seem as though we can have much effect on that dynamic. But, of curse, we do. We're the ones that are seen cheering on TV. We write the letters. Show up on social media. In short, we're the only ones that can keep this cockroach infested process out in the glaring, purifying sunlight of public opinion. We - and the wave of fans, players, and commentators that support us - can make this very unpleasant for MLS. This was never supposed to happen out in the open. The longer we keep it in the public eye, the better our chances.

GoCrew1996

I'll try to elaborate a little on what I was told and why I am not happy:

1) Garber said they would all meet "in the next couple of weeks", but wouldn't give a specific time, which makes me worried he is just stringing them along to try to let the bad pub die down.

2) Along those same lines, MLS had the balls to tell the CP leadership that in order to meet with them they were going to have to tone down the push-back they were giving because they (the MLS) were not happy with how it was being perceived nationwide. Much to my chagrin, the CP agreed to do it in order to get the meeting. However, when it took the MLS 9 hours to respond to a memo that the CP was going to have circulated (don't ask me why the CP agreed to send the MLS their press releases before they got them out) members got frustrated and decided they weren't dealing with a party who respected them, and thus you saw the Mayor's statements and Alex's statement last night where the gloves came off. Now, I'm not even sure if a meeting will happen. We'll see.

3) The biggest reason I am being a pessimist is this: I was told that they have 10 or so new corporate sponsors willing to get on board for 5-10 million sponsorship if the team stays in Columbus (which is great) but not one group is willing to step up to the plate and throw down the real $$ that we need to buy them team or a new franchise. CP estimates that if the MLS were to allow them to have a new franchise (a huge if) it would cost around $350 million (150 for team, 200ish for stadium) and they have completely struck out with the big fish here that would have enough money to really make this thing work. They also don't think they have the support to get any real public $ based on some market research and lobbying they have done (they do have a plan for land, at least).

So basically they are worried they have no real good option for keeping the team if the MLS doesn't decide that we should get a lowered franchise fee or they can luck into an owner and somehow buy out AP.

I don't see either of those two things happening so I hope when they meet next they come up with some better ideas. As of today the CP is still trying to lock down a meeting with AP and DG and go from there. I told them that they better have a lawyer at the meeting or at least video tape it due to the fact that both are pieces of garbage that will go back on their word in a heartbeat. Will keep updated as I hear things.

Stay Home, Crew

(by Dan Loney bigsoccer.com 10-17-17)

Serves me right for dawdling. Few things are more amusing to me than someone trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, and failing miserably. That was Sunil’s press conference. Sure, he brought a lot of it on himself, but still.

“I don’t think Bruce’s resignation will be enough, sir. They want you to resign, too.”

“Hm. Time to turn on the ol’ Gulati charm!”

But we’ll have plenty of time, sadly, to discuss Sunil Gulati. There’s a bigger issue in MLS right now. Anthony Precourt is talking about moving the Columbus Crew to Austin’s city limits.

“Despite our investments and efforts, the current course is not sustainable,” Anthony Precourt, chief executive officer of Precourt Sports Ventures and chairman of Columbus Crew SC, said. “This Club has ambition to be a standard bearer in MLS, therefore we have no choice but to expand and explore all of our options. This includes a possible move to Austin, which is the largest metropolitan area in North America without a major league sports franchise. Soccer is the world’s game, and with Austin’s growing presence as an international city, combined with its strong multicultural foundation, MLS in Austin could be an ideal fit."

“As attendance League-wide continues to grow on a record-setting pace, and markets across the country seek to join MLS, Columbus’ situation is particularly concerning,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “Despite PSV’s significant investments and improvements on and off the field, Columbus Crew SC is near the bottom of the League in all business metrics and the Club’s stadium is no longer competitive with other venues across MLS. The League is very reluctant to allow teams to relocate, but based on these factors, we support PSV’s efforts to explore options outside of Columbus, including Austin, provided they find a suitable stadium location.”​

In the words of Talleyrand, “Worse than a crime, a mistake.”

Usually I'd want to wait until the goldfish actually dies before flushing the toilet, but just announcing this publicly has done a lot of damage. This is an ugly milestone in Major League Soccer – a viable team leaving one market for another. What tiny moral obligation there was for American soccer fans to support MLS for the sake of the sport has evaporated. If you have a favorite MLS team, have a favorite MLS team. But if the soccer gods are capricious, Mammon is even more so. Holding cities hostage for public stadium money is something only the very biggest and greediest teams and leagues can even consider. I’m happy for Garber and Precourt that they think the Crew and MLS are in that category.

But I think Garber should be taking Mr. Precourt aside gently and telling him Aesop’s fable of the The Boy Who Wrecked Himself Because He Didn’t Check Himself. Precourt is one of Garber’s bosses, but he is only one of Garber’s bosses, and Precourt is more likely to be screwing things up than not.

In fact, with some care, attention, resources and hard work, it’s possible that this might even do more damage to the league than the US men’s national team missing the World Cup.

Garber and Precourt at least have the sense to cry poverty, but that doesn’t wash. Wimbledon had no stadium. Spartan Stadium was a poor (but hilarious) stadium for soccer even by 1996 standards, and as I remember San Jose State was sick of the Earthquakes messing up their turf anyway.

Meanwhile, Columbus Crew Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium. Pretty sure I read that somewhere. Hey, here are some fun facts. It hosted an MLS Cup in 2015, and a World Cup qualifier in 2016. If Yankee Stadium is suitable for Major League Soccer indefinitely, then so is Columbus Crew Stadium.

Another reason moving teams around is a short-sighted idea is that we’re currently in the middle of an expansion luau. Why should anyone pay an expansion fee when they can just skank an existing team? This may be good for individual owners in middling markets, but owners in more secure markets shouldn’t put up with it. Itinerant teams are less valuable than stable teams. Ask the Spanos family how much the Los Angeles Chargers are pulling in drawing less than the Galaxy.

This should also go without saying, but just because an immediate dollar value can’t be placed on fan loyalty does not mean that there won’t be financial consequences for abusing that loyalty. There is an event horizon to how much fans will pay for private entertainment at public expense, let alone public expense that continues after the private entertainment leaves town. Again, the Los Angeles Chargers leap to mind – but so does St. Louis, proud owners of the Whatever It’s Called Now Dome.

If Austin falls through – and these things do have a tendency to mash the undo button – then how does Precourt imagine he will sell any tickets in Ohio? Or, for that matter, in Texas? Overnight Anthony Precourt has taken fan loyalty that was way out of proportion to America’s mainstream acceptance, and tossed in the In-Sink-Erator. If this can happen to Columbus, the league’s first franchise, it can happen to anyone. Everyone’s stadium will be twenty years old someday.

There are a couple of other fairly obvious business considerations. I don’t know if Precourt has checked the Hexagonal standings, but the quadrennial World Cup bump has been postponed on orders from Bruce Arena and Román Torres. We’re about to find out whether the league can survive without oxygen being pumped in from the US men’s national team, and here’s this freaking guy acting like he owns an NFL team.

I’m also not sure if Precourt was clued in on the legal front, but the NASL is currently suing MLS as a conspirator to create a monopoly. Precourt moving his franchise states away based on a more attractive stadium deal is providing aid and comfort to the enemy. Even the NASL should be able to get some mileage out of this.

Even if you buy the premise that this is desirable, there’s no reason to aggravate literally thousands of fans in the middle of a lawsuit, a week after the lowest point in the history of the sport in America. The shortsighted clumsiness of it all is baffling. Toying with the loyalty of fans presupposes the loyalties are there to be toyed with. In 2017, that’s no longer a given, let alone for Major League Soccer. MLS might not be tall enough for this ride.

If Anthony Precourt wants a team in Austin, then let him have a team in Austin. Right after he sells the Columbus Crew and pays the expansion fee out of the proceeds.

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http://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/stay-home-crew.2075355/

Soccer in the 70's

Old school American soccer

New York Cosmos supporters

SUM’s $5 Million Offer to Purchase New York Cosmos IP Comes to Light, Raises Questions

(by Steve Hamlin midfieldpress.com)

In the NASL’s most recent filing for injunctive relief against the United States Soccer Federation, current New York Cosmos owner Rocco Commisso claimed that Soccer United Marketing – a partnership between Major League Soccer and its regulatory body, USSF  – attempted to buy the club to “with the intent to terminate the franchise and eliminate the organization as a competitor.” Commisso’s allegation was first reported on by Brian Straus of Sports Illustrated. The full offer from SUM was later made public on Twitter by Miki Turner.

For the average fan, it’s a lot to digest, but there are a few big points worth noting. First, Soccer United Marketing would be acquiring all of the assets listed, not sending them to the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame. This is an essential distinction as negotiations during the 2016 off-season stated that the USL’s term sheet to essentially absorb the NASL last offseason insisted that all NASL-related IP would be transferred to the Soccer Hall of Fame, and not kept by said clubs. Second, the agreement requires that New York Cosmos, LLC not operate a soccer team in the MSA for a period of 10 years following the agreement to “avoid consumer confusion in the marketplace”. Third, the agreement forbids New York Cosmos, LLC from publicly disclosing the sale of the intellectual property to SUM.

Additionally, it’s worth noting how wild the timing of the offer from SUM is. The morning of the e-mail sent from Jon Patricof, December 15th, Seamus O’Brien, then owner of the Cosmos, was set to accept an offer from GF Capital Management, a private equity firm, for $3.5 million. The offer would have shut down the brand and the team. The night before O’Brien, then owner of the Cosmos, was contacted by Commisso about possibly buying the team. The two men would meet for 12 hours on the 15th, eventually reaching a deal for the club.

Commisso has alleged that SUM intended to eliminate the Cosmos as a competitor and called this a move to kill the club. While the agreement certainly would have killed New York Cosmos, LLC and the club’s participation in the North American Soccer League, the intentions become more muddied upon further inspection. What would Soccer United Marketing do with the Cosmos intellectual property and no team behind it? Further, why was the intellectual property worth $5 million?

It may be helpful to first look at what Soccer United Marketing actually does, outside of broadcasting deals. SUM currently offers partnerships, but the “authentication” arm of SUM seems to be a bit more interesting. Soccer United Marketing offers “to authenticate your products with the Official Marks of Major League Soccer, The United States Soccer Federation, The Mexican National Team and other top clubs in the world”, as well as “allow fans to show the depths of their passion and loyalty through the products they purchase every day.” Further, the email was sent by NYCFC President Jon Patricof and copied to MLS Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott. Abbott, who also is MLS’s President, “leads a new business development group to address new areas of opportunity for the League and Soccer United Marketing” according to MLSSoccer.com.

This raises the question of whether Soccer United Marketing and Mark Abbott are primarily focused upon the business of fostering and growing intellectual properties rather than the sport itself.  This creates the possibility that SUM would purchase the Cosmos IP and use it for a rebrand of NYCFC, merchandise, or other marketing opportunities instead of fielding a unique team. With the head of MLS and SUM, Don Garber, stating numerous times (either genuinely or out of respect) that the Cosmos were a great brand, it would make financial sense to bring the Cosmos brand into the marketing umbrellas. This again raises the questions of why MLS and the SUM partnership seemed to find more value ($5 million, to be exact) having the brand and IP under their umbrella, than on the shelf of a private equity firm.

While there is nothing illegal or conspiratorial about approaching a brand on life support about a possible purchase, the SUM offer may prove to be one of the most controversial filings to come out of the NASL’s case against USSF.

The NASL’s motion for a preliminary injunction will be heard in civil court on October 31st in Brooklyn.

------------------------

http://midfieldpress.com/2017/10/24/sums-5-million-offer-to-purchase-new-york-cosmos-ip-comes-to-light-raises-questions/

Markets NASL Should Target That MLS Won’t – Part II: The Untapped Markets

(by Chris Kivlehan midfieldpress.com 2-16)

This article is Part II in a series covering markets that could be excellent fits for NASL that MLS is unlikely to enter.  In Part I, we discussed Big League Cities that NASL could enter.  These are markets that have a NFL, MLB, NBA or NHL team and would raise the league’s “major league” profile as it seeks to become “Division 1A” in US soccer.  Along with placing clubs in underserved sections of the top 10 metro areas in the country that also have MLS, these markets help NASL build credibility for a TV deal, which is an important source of revenue for sports leagues.

However there are plenty of great markets across the country that don’t have a team in one of the big four sports leagues, and that could be assets to NASL as it provides the only “big league” show in town when the quality of play and star power in the league progresses.  The Untapped Markets are either markets similar in size to the big league cities or promising metro areas that the traditional big sports leagues have neglected.

As in Part I, when we look at each city or region, we will try to find the ingredients of a successful NASL team in them.  These essential pieces are market size, competition, potential investors, soccer support and a suitable place for the team to play.  We will also look at any relevant history or news related to the market that could provide some color its suitability for NASL.  Due to the nature of these being lower profile markets than the big league cities covered previously, the puzzle pieces are a little more difficult to fit together.

http://midfieldpress.com/2016/02/16/markets-nasl-should-target-that-mls-wont-part-ii-the-untapped-markets/

River - esta noche tenemos que ganar

RSL uniforms, 2017 (new away jersey)

Detroit City FC

Meet Jack Harrison - BBC Sport

How would Austin feel about taking Columbus' MLS team? It is complicated.

(by Arch Bell espnfc.com 10-25-17)

Matthew Gray still remembers what it was like in late October 2010, when the news leaked that the Austin Aztex were planning a move to Orlando, Florida. Gray headed up Chantico's Army -- later renamed Eberly's Army -- the biggest Aztex supporters' group during their brief two-year tenure in USL Pro.

He scrambled to rally Aztex fans, but in the end it was a lost cause. Days later the Aztex left town, bound for central Florida, where the promise of a possible MLS future awaited.

Five years later, there was a disappointment all over again when the second version of the Aztex, established in 2012 as a Premier Development League team and later a USL team in 2015, had suspended operations.

So when Gray woke up last Tuesday morning and saw the news of Columbus Crew SC exploring the possibility of relocating to Austin, his first thought was with the fans in Columbus.

"It brought back the emotions of October 2010 and also October 2015," Gray says. "My immediate reaction was, 'What about the Columbus fans?' I really wanted Austin to get an MLS team someday, but not in this way. It feels dirty. My mind knows this is a business, but my heart wonders if [Crew owner] Anthony Precourt is really an owner I want to support."

But people like Gray are in the minority. Most Austinites have no clue that a USL-based team existed at one time and that its fans were crushed when it relocated to Orlando. They don't know the long, storied history of the Crew in MLS, Columbus' important role in U.S. Soccer lore and how it was the first city to have a soccer-specific stadium in the league.

For the past week this unexpected news has been on the lips of residents in the Texan capital, who routinely rank high in World Cup viewership. The topic of soccer is not something one usually hears at tailgates before a University of Texas football game, but before last Saturday's game against Oklahoma State, many a conversation was had about the Crew potentially coming to town.
Outside of a few snarky "I wish a pro team from a real sport would come instead" comments, Austinites far and wide are excited about the prospect of MLS in Austin, and why wouldn't they be? A team could soon be dropped in their lap.

As coldhearted as it sounds, Austin would welcome the team without giving a second thought to Columbus' predicament. American sports teams move all the time. What's the difference?

But it's one thing to welcome and quite another to support.

There are many things to consider. First, Precourt has correctly assumed that no public money would be used to construct a new stadium. That's just not going to happen. So everything is all rosy, considering it'll be privately built, right? Hardly. While public dollars may not be used to build a facility, it will be interesting to see if Precourt approaches the city about receiving tax breaks. In his favor, the City of Austin seems willing to talk about it.

"I can only speak for myself and not the entire Council, but at this time I don't think we'd commit to any incentives but we'd be open to discussion," said Austin City Council member Alison Alter. "We would want to see what they would come to the table with."

There is also the topic of the location of the stadium. A downtown stadium, while assuredly attractive, would be enormously expensive. Dreamers point to the space where the Austin American-Statesman is located, on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake opposite of downtown, but that 19-acre site would probably have a price tag north of $200 million.

There are a couple of options that fit Precourt's "urban core" objective. There is scuttlebutt of placing it at Guerrero Park, located on the east edge of Lady Bird Lake, but that would be subject to public approval as it is a city park. There is also the Mueller area in east Austin where the former airport was located and has been transformed into a growing neighborhood of family homes, bars and restaurants.

Both are areas that have become increasingly popular as Austin's population has surged 19 percent, adding a total of 330,000 residents since 2010. The numbers are staggering. A March 2017 report stated that Austin gained 159 residents per day in 2016, a trend that has likely continued into 2017. The area's economic forecasts are also positive, giving Precourt a desired demographic of a fan base in a city that has well more than 2 million residents.

Yet, despite all these positive indicators, there are many reasons to be skeptical, and no one knows that better than longtime Statesman sports columnist Kirk Bohls.

"Austin is the largest market in the country without a pro sports team, so there must be a reason for that, right?" Bolhs said. "This is a recreational town, this is a town that likes to be outdoors, that participates in sports, people spend time on the lake or listen to live music. I think MLS can work, the prospects of a pro franchise are tantalizing to outsiders, Precourt seems smitten with Austin, but when you peel back the layers, it's a lot more complicated."

That's the fear behind this potential move. It is likely that in years one, two and maybe even three that an Austin team would draw good crowds and people would come because of the novelty. But once the shine wears off, would the team still have the same support? Would an MLS team in Austin realistically be able to compete and draw 20,000 the same night of a Texas football game and the Austin City Limits Music Festival?

Those who have been around soccer in Austin for years all believe it can work, as long as it is done right, starting with the crucial aspect of marketing.

"Who is the primary fan base? The team will have to make the decision about who they are courting," says Kit McConnico, host of The Throw In on 104.9 The Horn. "Once the newness wears off, the big question is how they are going to draw."

There is also the question of how Austin would market to its Hispanic population. By 2020 the number of Hispanics in the city of Austin is forecasted to be almost on par with the Anglo population. Nobody expects the Mexican-Americans in Austin who support Chivas, America, Tigres or Monterrey to set aside their allegiances, but as long as the club treats the fans with respect and makes a concerted effort, there is a chance to make inroads.

"I think it is going to depend a lot on the marketing that the team uses toward the Hispanic community," says former local Univision and Telemundo sports anchor Jorge Iturralde. "They will need to try to have a star from [Mexican] football on the squad."

Another factor that has to be considered is the heat. In an interview with the Statesman, Precourt refutes the notion that heat could hamper attendance, pointing out that plenty of people go out to the bars on Sixth Street and Rainey Street during the summer.

That's overlooking the fact that many of those outdoor bars are stocked with cooling fans. Imagine a 7:30 game in late July when temperatures routinely hover between 100 and 105. Are fans really going to want to sit and bake in the sun for the first half? Judging by the attendances of FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo, two cities where it is equally as hot, Austin would suffer the same fate.

Taking all this into account, while it is exciting for Austin to be on the precipice of having its first major professional sports franchise, there needs to be a degree of caution. Precourt is drawn to Austin because of its strong high-tech business presence, its counter culture and its booming population, but in the end what could end up preventing the team from having success in Austin is what makes Austin such a great place to begin with.

The competition for eyeballs is going to come from people being engaged in their own activities: Austin's live music, Texas sports, summer Saturday boat parties on Lake Austin and Lake Travis, swimming at Barton Springs, Rainey Street and Sixth Street, Zilker Park and the hundreds of restaurants and food trucks that permeate the city.

What will happen then, in seven or eight years from now when the shine is worn off and a team with no major stars on it is submerged in mediocrity and attendance is lagging?

"Why wouldn't Precourt move the team again?" Gray asks. "Who's to say it can't happen to us?"
It could be like October 2010 all over again, but on a much bigger scale.

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http://www.espnfc.us/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/3242349/austin-would-welcome-a-relocated-mls-team-but-would-the-city-support-it

Neither MLS nor the conniving owner of the Columbus Crew own soccer in Columbus

Let Anthony Precourt go, Columbus. You’re better off without him.

(by Dennie Wendt whatahowler.com 10-18-17)

http://www.whatahowler.com/neither-mls-conniving-owner-columbus-crew-soccer-columbus/

Columbus Does 180 on '18 Season Ticket Refunds; Garber Comments on Move Prospects

(by Brian Strauss si.com 10-25-17)

The pressure and bad PR that followed Columbus Crew owner Anthony Precourt’s reveal that he’s exploring a move to Austin, Texas, has resulted in at least one small win for a beleaguered fan base. On Wednesday afternoon, the Crew said that season ticket holders now have a nine-day window to seek refunds on their 2018 deposits. Previously, Precourt intended to keep the money even though it was due prior to his Austin announcement.

 

The Crew have said publicly that they plan to play the 2018 season at Mapfre Stadium and then leave for Austin ahead of the 2019 campaign unless some sort of permanent downtown stadium solution can be found. There are those in MLS circles, however, who believe the club's departure is a fait accompli.

 

Considering Precourt’s long dalliance with Austin, as well as the out that was written into his 2013 agreement to purchase the Crew, numerous fans felt mislead. Precourt addressed that issue Wednesday.

 

“I understand that the recent announcement … and subsequent media coverage surrounding the club have created a difficult period for those who have passionately supported Crew SC. I also understand that the uncertainty surrounding the future of the club is of concern to our loyal season ticket members,” he said.

 

The Crew visit Atlanta United Thursday evening in an MLS Cup knockout-round game and if they win, would host either Toronto FC or New York City FC in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

 

Also Wednesday, MLS commissioner Don Garber addressed the Crew controversy during an appearance at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit in New York City. Garber stressed that no final decision to leave Columbus has been made.

 

“It’s not proper to say they want to move,” he said. “What they’re doing is evaluating what their options are to determine whether it not it makes make sense to move to Austin, or whether or not it makes sense for them to have factors that will improve their performance and stay in the city of Columbus.”

 

Garber also said nothing that might imply Precourt wants to stay. The commissioner cited the San Jose Earthquakes' 2006 move to Houston—which officially is considered as the launch of an expansion team in Houston and a two-year hiatus for the Quakes—as a “traumatic decision that long-term…can be beneficial for the sport and the league overall.”

 

MLS always wanted to return to the Bay Area. It’s the country’s fifth most-populous combined statistical area. Columbus ranks 25th, and it’s probably safe to say MLS won’t be back in central Ohio if Precourt leaves a year from now.

 

“No league, and certainly no leader of a league, wants to move a club,” Garber said. “These things are traumatic and I respect and I understand that. The owner is a good guy. He believes in the sport. He believes in Major League Soccer. He very much believes in his team. He wants to be successful. He’s done an incredible job investing on and off the field. It’s one of the most successful teams in MLS over the last number of years. We’re all going to work together to get the right outcome and I’m confident we’ll be able to find the right way to achieve that.”

 

Garber didn’t say Precourt believes in Columbus, but nevertheless it seems the city will get a chance to make its case. The commissioner confirmed Wednesday that there will be meetings with Columbus officials “in the next couple weeks.”

 

On Tuesday, Mayor Andrew Ginther released a statement saying in part, “We are resolved to do our part to keep [the Crew] in Columbus. Over the weekend, we made contact with [Precourt and Garber]. We reiterated our views to each very directly and have requested in-person meetings with both to discuss options for keeping the team in Columbus. They have agreed, and we expect those meetings to occur over the coming weeks.”

 

On Sunday, the final day of the MLS regular season, Crew fans rallied in front of Columbus City Hall. Around 2,000 attended, according to The Columbus Dispatch (the team was playing in New York).

 

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https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/10/25/don-garber-mls-commissioner-columbus-crew-move-austin-texas-precourt

Anthony Precourt could be required to remove stadium if he moves Crew SC

Like a cowardly turtle, the team owner may be stuck with his home even if he tries to flee

(by Josh Mlot massivereport.com 10-24-17)

Although it’s made up of numerous people and working parts, a sports team is a relatively nebulous entity that can fairly simply up and leave its home. That’s what Columbus Crew SC owner Anthony Precourt is threatening at the moment.

But a soccer stadium? That’s not so easy to just up and move.

This is a soccer club, after all, not a turtle.

But a story this week in Columbus Business First indicates that Precourt — more specifically, his business entity Precourt Sports Ventures — may be on the hook for MAPFRE Stadium as well.

According to the CBF story, written by Laura Newpoff, Precourt’s agreement to purchase the team in 2013 also included the stadium lease (specifically, for the land upon which the stadium sits), which won’t be up until June 2023.

The story lays out a few options, should Precourt default on the stadium lease:

1. The lease could be terminated, the organization evicted and the stadium leased out to someone else. (This is the least applicable, considering that the tenant would have already vacated, rather than tried to use the facility without paying.)
2. The lease could be terminated and Crew SC (i.e., Precourt) could be held responsible for “removing all structures at the team’s expense.”
3. Should Crew SC default on said lease, the Ohio Expositions Commission, which owns the land involved in the lease, would not be responsible for any legal fees, Precourt would.

There is specific language in the contract, Newpoff writes, that states that OEC can require Precourt “to remove all project facilities from the property and to restore the property as near as reasonably possible to its condition prior to commencement of this lease,” all on the team owner’s dime.

In another interesting note, the contract’s language states that: "Lessee shall pursue in good faith those steps reasonably necessary to secure another professional sports team whose use of the stadium would be consistent with the design of the stadium.”

It also states, according to the story, that failure to secure a professional sports tenant for MAPFRE Stadium would not be grounds for termination of the lease, and Precourt would still be expected to pay up.

Of course, Precourt may not care about any of this. He may be perfectly willing to pay out the rest of the lease while he soaks up the sun in Austin, Texas, and the stadium and ground in Columbus goes mostly unused (except, perhaps, for the occasional concert).

But it is another aspect of the ever-growing saga that clearly would punish Precourt’s pocket book in one way or another.

According to the CBF article, the current rent for the stadium is $72,000 a year, a number that is adjusted annually “based on consumer price index.” That’s not a huge chunk of change, considering that getting a player like Gaston Sauro (approximately $600,000 in salary per year) would essentially cover the rest of the lease term.

In reviewing the lease agreement document, it appears, though, that at the time of expiration in 2023, the OEC could still require Precourt Sports Ventures to remove the stadium and return the grounds to their original state.

The irony, of course, is that the one thing Precourt claims he must shed in order to be successful in Columbus might be shackled to him even if he runs off to Austin, Texas.

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https://www.massivereport.com/2017/10/24/16535428/precourt-could-be-required-to-remove-stadium-if-he-moves-columbus-crew-save-mls-soccer

Columbus Crew SC offer full refunds to fans who bought 2018 season tickets

(mlssoccer.com 10-25-17)

With news breaking last week that the club are exploring the possibility of moving to Austin, Texas in 2019, Columbus Crew SC owner Anthony Precourt announced on Wednesday that the team will offer full refunds to supporters who purchased 2018 season tickets.

Season ticket holders who wish to claim a refund will be able to do so until Friday, Nov. 3 at 5 pm ET.

Precourt issued the following statement as part of the announcement:

“I understand that the recent announcement on October 17th and subsequent media coverage surrounding the Club have created a difficult period for those who have passionately supported Crew SC. I also understand that the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Club is of concern to our loyal Season Ticket Members who have pledged support for the Club year-in and year-out. No final decisions have been made about the future of this Club and Crew SC will play at MAPFRE Stadium in 2018.

“I remain hopeful that our passionate supporters will cheer for the Club under these difficult circumstances, but I recognize that some of you would like the opportunity to secure a refund for 2018 MLS regular-season season packages purchased prior to PSV’s recent announcement. Effective today at 2:00 p.m. ET and up until 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday November 3, we will provide 2018 Season Ticket Members with a window to secure a full refund for 2018 Season Ticket Memberships should that be your preference. 2018 Season Ticket Members who previously purchased season tickets for the 2018 season and wish to secure a refund shall be eligible for a full refund prior to the November 3 deadline by following the link in the email that was sent today to Season Ticket Members. Playoff tickets committed for the 2017 MLS Playoffs will not be eligible for a refund. Our players and coaching staff leave everything on the field, match after match, and they are performing at an incredible level as we enter the playoffs. Although I know you are upset with the recent announcement, I hope you will still consider honoring our players with your support during this playoff run and beyond.”

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/10/25/columbus-crew-sc-offer-full-refunds-fans-who-bought-2018-season-tickets

Crew home uniforms 2017

NYCFC fans

NYCFC at Citi Field

NYCFC had to finish out their season this past week with a game at the NY Mets' Citi Field due to the Yankees taking part in the MLB playoffs.

Soccer in a petri dish

Atlanta set a MLS record for attendance a couple of weeks ago, over 70k.

But when you are playing inside of a petri dish, does it matter?

Happy birthday to Sheffield FC, oldest football club in the world

 

 

 

NASL contends SUM tried to 'terminate' New York Cosmos

(by Jeff Carlisle espnfc.com 10-24-17)

The marketing arm of Major League Soccer made a bid to buy the North American Soccer League's New York Cosmos for $5 million with an aim to "terminate the franchise," new club owner Rocco Commisso has disclosed in legal documents.

The NASL's latest response in its ongoing antitrust lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation included a declaration from Commisso in which he disclosed that as he pursued ownership of the Cosmos -- an organization that had laid off staff and stopped paying players, and whose sale was critical to the NASL's survival -- he became aware of a competing offer from Soccer United Marketing (SUM), the marketing arm of MLS and an entity that has a substantial business dealings with the USSF.

In an email from New York City FC president Jon Patricof dated Dec. 15, 2016, with MLS deputy commissioner Mark Abbott included, SUM offered to buy the Cosmos' remaining assets for $5 million.

Among the terms of the offer was that the new owners of the Cosmos wouldn't operate a soccer team in the New York Metropolitan area for a period of 10 years. Commisso stated that offer was made with "the intent to terminate the franchise and eliminate the organization as a competitor."

Commisso's rival offer was eventually accepted, and he completed his purchase of the team in early January. But the existence of the offer from SUM, and any intention to shut the Cosmos down, will likely be used by the NASL to buttress its claim that that MLS, SUM, and the USSF were engaged in a conspiracy to put it out of business.

The NASL's original complaint alleges that the USSF has violated federal antitrust laws through its anti-competitive "Division" structure that divides men's professional soccer for U.S.-based leagues based on what an NASL press release described as "arbitrary criteria that the USSF has manipulated to favor Major League Soccer (MLS), which is the commercial business partner of the USSF."

The division structure is intended to provide a set of minimum requirements for a league, including number of teams, geographic distribution of teams, market size of a team's city and stadium capacity, as well as the minimum financial requirements for team owners.

The complaint alleges that the USSF has selectively applied and waived its divisional criteria to suppress competition from the NASL and benefit MLS and the United Soccer League (USL).

The USSF granted the NASL provisional Division 2 status earlier this year. But in September, the USSF announced it had denied the NASL's application to be sanctioned as a Division 2 league, due to the fact that it could not guarantee it would field at least eight teams in 2018.

Commisso's declaration also details the NASL's expansion plans, which are intended to meet the USSF's Division 2 standards of having at least 12 teams. The plans entail adding six teams for 2018. This is in addition to the teams in San Diego and Orange County that already have been announced. It then plans to add two more squads for 2019, as well as an undisclosed number of additional teams by 2020.

The names of the cities involved were redacted, but previous court documents, including a 78-page declaration by USSF president Sunil Gulati, indicate that two of the cities in question are Detroit and Atlanta. Commisso indicated that all of the interest from the proposed expansion teams is contingent on the NASL retaining its Division 2 sanction.

On Oct. 16, the USSF filed a response of its own, including the aforementioned statement from Gulati, in which he disputed that the standards were intended to suppress competition, since they were formulated years before the NASL even existed.

Gulati expressed concern in August when he was told by NASL interim commissioner Rishi Sehgal that two teams -- Edmonton FC and the San Francisco Deltas -- had not committed to return, but that California teams in Orange County and San Diego would join the league. Gulati also expressed concern that North Carolina FC had not specified what league it would play in for 2018.

Gulati also contended that the numerous waivers the USSF had granted the NASL over the years undercut the league's argument that the USSF was trying to put it out of business.

"Given the large amount of turnover in the NASL since its founding and the lack of specific information provided, it was difficult to conclude that the NASL would have even 8 teams for 2018 -- the same number of teams as in 2017, still 4 teams short of the Division II minimum of 12 teams, and still with no team proposed for the Central time zone," said Gulati in his statement.

"In other words, at best the NASL had made no progress towards compliance with the Division II standards and, at worst, it had taken a significant step backwards by losing 2 or 3 teams while proposing 2 replacement teams with relatively little information."

At a Sept. 1 meeting between the USSF and the NASL board of directors, the NASL asked for three years to meet the Division II standards, but that offer was turned down.

In a declaration made by NASL interim commissioner Rishi Sehgal, he maintained that the USSF's decision not to grant Division I sanctioning in March 2016 thwarted the NASL's momentum, and that Gulati never informed the NASL that it had to be fully compliant with the Division II standards in order to receive that status for 2018.

Sehgal also contested Gulati's assertion that the USSF gave the NASL 30 days to appeal the decision to not grant Division II status.

Sehgal's statement read, "On September 1, 2017, in a suite at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, shortly before kickoff of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier between the United States and Costa Rica, Lydia Wahlke, General Counsel of USSF, informed me of USSF's decision to deny the NASL a Division II sanction for the 2018 season.

"I asked Ms. Wahlke if there was an opportunity to have further dialogue about that decision, and she informed me that there was no such opportunity but that the NASL would have the opportunity to have further dialogue regarding the ability to apply for a Division III sanction."

Sehgal concluded his statement by reiterating the NASL's argument that "irreparable harm" would be done to the league by virtue of losing its Division II sanction.

Arguments are scheduled to be heard before U.S. District Court Judge Margo K. Brodie on Oct. 31.

http://www.espnfc.us/north-american-soccer-league/story/3241322/nasl-contends-sum-tried-to-terminate-the-new-york-cosmos

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NASL alleges SUM tried to buy New York Cosmos to eliminate club

(by Brian Strauss si.com 10-24-17)

As part of its effort to establish a pattern of anti-competitive behavior by the U.S. Soccer Federation, MLS and Soccer United Marketing, their $2 billion marketing arm, the NASL late Monday night alleged that SUM tried to buy the New York Cosmos last December “with the intent to terminate the franchise and eliminate the organization as a competitor.”
 

That claim was made in a filing by current Cosmos owner Rocco Commisso, a cable TV magnate who’s now helping to fund the NASL’s antitrust lawsuit against U.S. Soccer. The NASL is seeking an injunction that would prohibit the federation from stripping the league’s second-division sanction, thereby allowing it to operate next year. The injunction hearing is scheduled for Oct 31. at the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn. Commisso’s declaration was part of the NASL’s filing in advance of that hearing.

 

Commisso testified that SUM, a partnership between MLS and the USSF, offered $5 million for the Cosmos to former club chairman Seamus O’Brien. A term sheet, sent in an email from New York City FC president Jon Patricof, outlined the transfer of the Cosmos intellectual property and assets and indicated that, “To avoid consumer confusion in the marketplace, for a period of ten (10) years following the closing, New York Cosmos LLC and its owners shall not own or operate a soccer team in the New York metropolitan area under any name.”

 

The email was dated December 15, 2016. That morning, O’Brien reportedly was ready to accept another offer for his club from GF Capital Management, a New York private equity firm. The Cosmos had lost some $30 million and already had furloughed players and staff. GFCM didn’t intend to field a team, but O'Brien still preferred its offer of approximately $3.5 million. SUM’s intentions are unclear, at least based on the Patricof email (it's also unclear why NYCFC's president was the point man). But O'Brien's reticence may be telling. Commisso contacted O'Brien through intermediaries on the night of the 14th and the next day, they met for more than 12 hours in order to close the deal and keep the Cosmos on the field.

 

Had the Cosmos gone under, the NASL almost certainly would’ve followed. Commisso’s arrival spurred remaining owners to keep the Jacksonville Armada afloat until Robert Palmer bought the club this summer, allowing the NASL to play the 2017 season with provisional D2 sanctioning.

 

That sanctioning was stripped for 2018 in September, however, prompting the lawsuit. The eight-team NASL also claimed in Monday’s filing that it has commitments from six new clubs to join next year and an additional two for 2019—as long as D2 sanctioning is maintained. The cities and ownership groups were redacted from the filing, but Detroit, Atlanta and New Orleans are thought to be among the potential expansion markets. Commisso, Palmer and Miami FC owner Riccardo Silva likely will help buttress those new teams in order to keep the league in business.

 

There doesn’t appear to be anything illegal about the SUM offer. O'Brien wanted out, and it's possible MLS or SUM could've revived the brand. But the NASL hopes to establish at next week’s hearing that there’s a pattern of behavior resulting from the partnership between MLS and the USSF that unfairly limits and inhibits competition. If that's enough to secure the injunction, the NASL can move forward with its 2018 season while waiting for more evidence to come to light during the case's discovery phase.

 

--------------------

 

https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/10/24/nasl-sum-new-york-cosmos-court-filing-commisso-soccer-united-marketing

Queens Borough President: “Let’s consider a soccer stadium at Willets Point.”

Melinda Katz has officially come out in favor of a stadium in Queens.

(by Sam Dunn hudsonriverblue.com 1-27-17)

NIMBY is a real thing. While plenty of local politicians are open to the idea of a soccer-specific stadium for New York City FC, uh, ehhrm, somewhere in the Five Boroughs, next to none of them have called for one within their own jurisdictions.

But today, at a State of the Borough event at York College, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz threw down on behalf of NYCFC fans far and wide. As she told the crowd:

“Let’s consider a soccer stadium at Willets Point.”

The home of the New York Mets’ own Citi Field, Willets Point is an area in significant need of urban renewal and real, lasting investment. Despite repeated calls for community revitalization projects from Queens residents and their elected officials, Katz referred to Willets Point as “still a blight.”

Of course, a new soccer stadium wouldn’t just amount to a real home for New York City FC; it would be a catalyst for the kind of investment that the neighborhood needs to get itself moving in a more positive direction.

There will be plenty of questions about whether or not the city’s transportation apparatus could support such a project, even if it passes muster with economic and environmental impact experts. The 7 Train — a longtime frenemy of Mets fans — would have to be enhanced to account for match day traffic, something the city has almost entirely ignored during these first two seasons at Yankee Stadium. (I mean, can we PLEASE run a couple 4 Trains on the express track on weekends? Thanks!)

Even apart from that, consider how many season ticket holders would find their commute times doubled or tripled. Pull up Google Maps— how long would it take you to get to WP?

Neither can we forget the unavoidable NIMBY scourge: if a groundswell of local residents don’t want a stadium project on their block, elected officials aren’t going to put their necks on the line only to get voted out of office before nary a groundbreaking can take place.

As it stands, we’re long on rhetoric and short on details. Actually, we don’t have any details at all. But to see a prominent local pol coming out in favor of a soccer stadium in her own backyard is a step forward in the ongoing public discussions about a home for NYCFC.

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https://www.hudsonriverblue.com/2017/1/27/14415662/nycfc-stadium-soccer-specific-willets-point-queens