Possibilities for MLS soccer-specific stadium in the future?

**Midtowner** · 11-10-2006, 12:34 PM

I still have a few of my old TV news stories I did on the subject. They're on SVHS though and I don't have a player that can read that format.

**boy** · 11-10-2006, 10:48 PM

1) I'm not certain that Wantland stadium would still be in the cards, or that a stadium located downtown would even work. MLS is able to make a profit (only a couple of teams so far, but improving quickly) when then own or entirely control all aspects of a stadium. For instance, in Frisco (Dallas burb), they not only control the stadium but a complex of surrounding soccer fields that are able to host large, lucrative youth tournaments. The new stadium in Denver just got a $2M / per year naming rights deal (see this article) - yes, that is 4X the Ford Center deal for a soccer stadium.

2) Expansion to Oklahoma is no longer in the cards, at least in the near future. From a press conference today: "As he does periodically, Garber updated the media on potential expansion candidates, listing Atlanta, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Rochester, San Diego, San Jose, St. Louis and Seattle as new markets the league could move into and New York as the potential home of a second MLS team." Which could change, of course, with the addition of an owner and a stadium setup as in Frisco, but that seems unlikely, doesn't it?

**Midtowner** · 11-10-2006, 10:50 PM

You're right. But when Oklahoma was in the cards, it was basically for Edmond only. If it happens again, only Edmond has that existing facility, so we'll see.

**Theo Walcott** · 11-12-2006, 11:53 AM

well a downtown soccer-specific stadium needs to be paired with an additional 5 or 6 fields or so, which would allow the city to host lucrative youth soccer tournaments. i also think it should be tied into some other "retail" development in the Triangle/Bricktown area. you throw all these things together, and I believe it to be a recipe for success.

**Theo Walcott** · 11-13-2006, 09:10 AM

don't know if anybody was able to catch it, but the MLS Cup game from Frisco, Texas, was great entertainment. their facility was sold to SRO capacity and the crowd was really into it. it's so clear that we need a team here in OKC. btw, I saw this posted on another site, and it's an incredible stadium, slightly larger in capacity than what would be required here.

**boy** · 11-13-2006, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by Theo Walcott

well a downtown soccer-specific stadium needs to be paired with an additional 5 or 6 fields or so, which would allow the city to host lucrative youth soccer tournaments. i also think it should be tied into some other "retail" development in the Triangle/Bricktown area. you throw all these things together, and I believe it to be a recipe for success.

In order for this to work in Oklahoma, you would need to leverage several things besides just the soccer crowd:

1) Big high school football games could be played there, but this tears up the turf and conflicts with the latter part of the soccer season. No one wants a nice soccer field sullied up with gridiron lines, either.

2) it could also host concerts (this is the model in Frisco) -- however, this might conflict directly with the Ford Center usage, so it is a net loss for the city.

3) Marching band competitions

4) what else?

Originally Posted by Theo Walcott

don't know if anybody was able to catch it, but the MLS Cup game from Frisco, Texas, was great entertainment.

The Extra Time was pretty fun. I didn't like that Houston won.

Originally Posted by Theo Walcott

btw, I saw this posted on another site, and it's an incredible stadium, slightly larger in capacity than what would be required here.

I don't think that the retractable roof would fly

and would quadruple the cost of the stadium from $100M to $400M.

Don't get me wrong - I would be first in line if a team were to come here, but I don't see this happening anytime soon, if ever. As the previous poster stated, Edmond seems like the only real possibility in central OK. At best, we are looking at a 2nd division team (USL), and that has been tried and failed a couple of times already. Heck, we can't even get NCAA Div. IA soccer in central OK -- the best we have is probably OK Christian or OCU Stars NAIA ball.