Hidden in Ben Rycroft’s article this morning about the impending purchase of USL was news that Ottawa is a prime candidate for USL expansion. It shouldn’t be news that surprises those that have followed the city’s stadium battle and failed MLS expansion attempt. However, it still is exciting to see the city mentioned as a possible destination for a team.
Earlier this year I received an anonymous tip that Jeff Hunt, the man who leads Ottawa’s CFL bid (and therefore controls the successful stadium bid), had been seen in a meeting with USL officials. Although the details of the meeting were unknown, it stands to reason that the two sides were talking about the possibility of bringing USL soccer to the capital.
During the stadium battle the Hunt group had mentioned that “pro soccer” could be a part of the new stadium. What league the “pro soccer” team came from was never made specific.
Certainly the USL seems to fit in Ottawa. MLS always seemed like a step too far – at least until the market had proven itself – and the second tier appeared to offer a more tangible possibility.
If the city is awarded a team there could be worse owners than Hunt. For those unaware, he is the owner of the Ottawa 67s, a very successful junior hockey team. Hunt has direct experience successfully selling a sporting product that is not at the highest level. You can expect that if Capital City FC is to become a reality that he would tap into that expertise.
Although Montreal and Vancouver can’t get into MLS fast enough that doesn’t mean we should ignore the second tier. It provides young Canadians with a chance to develop and exposes more fans to the live game (which , in turn, makes more people follow the game closer, which, in turn, means more people pay attention to the CSA, which, in turn, makes more people demand that the CSA be accountable).
So let’s hope “pro soccer” is coming to Ottawa.
Monday, August 17, 2009
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8 comments:
USL in CFL stadiums 20,000 and larger with artifical turf and with football lines is not the way to grow the game in Canada
So you'd rather have no team then?
Pro Soccer has one chance in a place like Ottawa. If it is at Lansdowne, then the best case scenario you will have a half empty stadium because the best USL markets are lucky to break 10,000 attendance.
That will not keep casual fans interested or be sustainable in the long run.
In other CFL markets it may work if there is a plan to build a more appropriate facility like the talk in Hamilton. But in this case, it will only be Lansdowne.
Pro soccer in this country is what this country needs. Not every team needs to be an MLS squad. And it won't be, the MLS isn't going to expand to 30 teams and outside of Montreal, there are too many American markets to expand in for the MLS. So that leaves USL, and USL in cities like Ottawa, Hamilton, Victoria and perhaps other places like Quebec City or Edmonton and Calgary. Those are the places that can build grassroots interest in this country While Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal build it both on a grassroots level and nationally.
I hope Hunt gets a team in Ottawa. And the growth of soccer continues.
Hunt would be a fantastic owner for the USL. He not only runs a successful OHL franchise but he was responsible for its rebirth after years of benevolent neglect under the previous owners. Before Hunt bought the team in 1998, attendance was hovering around 3,500; the team had little marketing (and no dedicated marketing department); and the team was slowly dying as the Senators began their run of regular season success in a newer and shinier arena.
After buying the team, he put his full effort in marketing the product and in winning the bid for the Memorial Cup in 1999 (even though it had been hosted across the river in Hull only 2 years earlier). He was successful in both endeavors, increasing attendance to over 10,000 per game and hosting what was a record-breaking Memorial Cup tournament at the time. He has maintained the team's profile in the market and the 67's, despite a number of years of mediocrity since their surprising playoff run in 2005, have been one of the best draws in junior hockey.
Some might argue that he is taking on too much but owning OHL, CFL, and USL teams would allow for a cross-promotional gold mine. While Frank Clair Stadium might be seen as too big for USL, look for him use only the north stand for games and focus on providing a superb game-day atmosphere (much like the 67's in the Civic Centre and the old Ottawa Bootleggers of the late 80's who also used the north stand only). As Duane mentioned, a flawed venue is still better than no venue.
(Hamilton would also have the same problem as the proposed Pan-Am Games stadium will be expanded to about 30,000 in order to host the Tiger Cats following the completion of the Games.
A venue like the Ottawa Lynx stadium would make more sense. Capacity is like 10,000 and playing out of AAA stadium has worked well for the Portland Timbers
The Ottawa Stadium is a fantastic venue for baseball but wouldn't site lines be an issue? Parking might also be an issue if the team is popular. It was already tricky getting a spot in the lot when the Lynx were there (and before the attendance decline). Since then, the hotel and convention centre have expanded to take up far more of the lot.
I guess the question is which flawed facility is preferable. Until the redesign of Lansdowne is finalized it's hard to judge the facility's merit as a USL venue.
Duane, I'd wager that there will be at least one current MLS team that will be looking for a new home. If Ottawa can deliver on a stadium sometime in the near future, plus scrape together 30 million as a relocation fee to the league, Ottawa could still be alive. Because lets face it, Garber cares about the money. In a single entity league, the more teams that are profitable and conversely the fewer teams that are bleeding red ink, results in a bigger bottom line for the owners to spilt.
THE REAL QUESTIONS IS; Can Ottawa be as successful as Toronto FC?
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