Confirming rumors that have been circulating in the New York/Jersey area for years, New York Mets vice president David Howard revealed that the Mets are interested in buying an MLS franchise in New York.
Howard also stated that a Mets-owned MLS team would have its own stadium, and would not share the Mets new Citi Field.
MLS Vice President of Communications Dan Courtemanche told Bloomberg that a Mets-owned New York franchise could be one of the league’s expansion teams in 2011.
What’s my take? I have been saying it for years: A second MLS franchise in New York is inevitable. I know there are enough jokes from folks outside of the area that the market doesn’t even support the team that’s here, but having a second team in the area that plays in New York City could provide a boost for the league as well as the New York Red Bulls by creating a natural rivalry. With Philadelphia set to join in 2010, having a third team in close proximity would create some amazing rivalries and help MLS establish a more visible foothold in the local sports scene.
It is time for a poll:
What do you think about a second New York MLS team? Like the idea? Hate it? Share your thoughts below.
god..i hate the mets
I agree with the “let the red bull settle” idea, I think I’d say yes, in a few years let’s start.
The problem is, if this gets confirmed before the Red Bull have a chance to get a hold in the area, everyone’s just going to wait for the new team instead of giving the red bulls a try.
I think it’ll work out alright, if they do a good job of hyping it up.
Because NYC may have someone willing to pay the going rate for it and a stadium, and the south doesn’t. End of story.
The only thing that really bugs me about a team in Queens is that the prospect brings out such stuck up New Yorkers. I don’t understand why they insist on turning up their noses at Jersey. Flushing is a 1/2 hr subway ride from Time Square and Harrison is a 1/2 hr PATH ride from Penn Station. What’s the real difference for someone living in Manhattan?
I’m glad we can disagree without resorting to childish remarks.
My post is a combination of facetious remarks and underlying frustration of MLS alienating good markets. I’m living in the south here, brother. It’s hard for me to imagine why NYC should get two teams when the nearest MLS franchise to me is a 14 hour drive (and I just double-checked it, so no use calling BS on that)
This would be a great rivalry, as long as RBNY doesn’t play them 3-4 times every season.
Single Table home and away would be epic.
Gonna haveta lay down the Unforgiven smack again. . .
“Deserves ain’t got nothin’ to do with it.”
It’s good business for the league, so if it’s good enough business for Wilpon, it’s gonna happen. And I don’t happen to think it hurts the Red Bulls, either. NY has plenty of soccer fans for two teams (especially on the opposite end of town) if they’re both decent. And whether the Red Bulls become decent has nothing to do with any other team but them. You do them no favors trying to “protect” them.
“Name the team the Mets, put them in New York in a readily public-transit accessible SSS, and move the Fighting Energy Drinks to Montreal.”
You’re half right.
What *should* have happened a few years ago, if RB wanted in so badly, was for them to start a NYC team, and leave the Metros and Harrison alone. Their desire to be associate their brand with NYC would have made some actual sense, they could have started afresh their way without any “curse” or lingering Metro history, and they wouldn’t have pissed off and divided forever what fanbase there was left in Metroland.
Alas.
This would be awesome from my point of view. It would guarantee me attending multiple away matches every single season.
Not for nothing, but the closest two teams are D.C. and New England–great rivalries but it’s not all that easy or cheap to go to multiple away games at these places every single year.
Blake, go suck an egg as hard as you can.
This is great news for the mls. Firstly, New York does not already have a team, its in Jersey. They should put a team in Queens, but not name it the Mets, this would alienate a huge amount of New Yorkers, especially Yankee fans. That being said, rename Red Bull NY, Red Bull New Jersey. I am confident Red Bulls will draw around 17,000 a game, so attendance should not be a problem. Also for those who said New Yorkers wouldnt support the team they are crazy. New York is FULL of immigrants and would love a local team thats accesible.
“I suspect the only folks who like this proposal live in NYC or suburban Long Island and CT.”
That’s a shitload of people and a shitload of money.
Name the team the Mets, put them in New York in a readily public-transit accessible SSS, and move the Fighting Energy Drinks to Montreal.
This won’t ever happen, but it would sweet.
As for the fate of Red Bull Arena…I dunno…new corporate headquarters of Red Bull’s US division?
Doug, the people who support the Red Bulls don’t live in the city. The people in the city don’t own cars, and aren’t interested in traveling through the city to see brand that they haven’t fully digested. It is easier to get the less involved soccer fan to watch a game if it is on they’re way to the apple store. Rather then in a huge football size stadium that will be empty where they will need to travel a long distance (a long distance to city people).
LET’S GO METS! LET’S GO METS!
I know that there is a majority that recognizes that we shouldn’t* have a promotion/relegation system for the purpose of having a promotion/ relegation system esepcially if it would hurt the league.
KLB, you couldn’t be more wrong. I dunno who this majority of people are that say we won’t have promotion and relegation. I know that there is a majority that recognizes that we should have a promotion/relegation system for the purpose of having a promotion/ relegation system esepcially if it would hurt the league.
The purpose of having promotion/relegation is because there are too many teams/ investors who want in on a league. I understand some people point to the USL divisions and combine that with the 4 or so really serious contenders for an MLS franchises, but you fail to recognize the fact that not all teams want in the MLS. More teams have left the USL 1 to the USL 2 then vice versa.
Terrible idea. I suspect the only folks who like this proposal live in NYC or suburban Long Island and CT. Granted that’s a huge potential attendance, but there is also an enormous amount of competition for the sports/entertainment dollar. I would only support this when Red Bulls sell out crowds are the norm and people throughout the area are CLAMORING! for more MLS.
im from miami, and i want ny to get a team… but not before we get our barcamiamiusabeckhamfusion!
i would have selected after 2011 if that was an option, miami and montreal should get theirs first… portland, st. louis, and vancouver are just as important as nyc2
ron, you’re an idiot. only once did the red bulls attract less than 10k at home, and that was a thursday evening game in june against chivas usa.
http://redbull.newyork.mlsnet.com/schedule/scoreboard/season.jsp?team=t107
the city can definitely support another team.
Mistake #1: Thinking that your personal opinion of which city or region “deserves” an expansion team has anything to do with anything here.
Mistake #2: Thinking that the whole logic of “deserving” a team is anything but a red herring.
Or the same way Microsoft “supports” a standard: Embrace, extend, extinguish.
Not yet, let’s get in the hotbeds first, then re-evaluate.
I like the idea of a team in the actual city, and having their own stadium, but I’m just not sure about the timing.
I don’t think other cities are clamoring to build the Soccer Specific stadiums that MLS needs. I’m all for spreading MLS geographically, but most of the talk about SSS from other cities has just been talk and little in the way of actually building the things.
The Mets — and teams in other pro sports — want to “buy” into MLS for the same reasons the mafia wants to invest in your restaurant / union / garbge hauling / whatever business …
The more that NYCFC appears a fait accompli – and to anyone who can read between the lines, it’s been going in that direction for a while – the more it’s in the best interests of the RBNY fans to see it happen as soon as possible. Next year, not three years from now.
I know it’s not going to happen that way, but what I mean is that the looming specter of NYCFC is just going to hang over the RB experiment, starting with the fanbase. A NJ team with an actual nemesis across the river could draw in some fans on that basis alone; a NJ team pitted against a “coming soon” NYC team will be totally stymied.
Only problem is those people in the northeast don’t want to attend MLS games (NE / NY-NJ-whatever).
EDB – Those other burbs aren’t NJ…yuck.
I don’t think other cities are clamoring to build the Soccer Specific stadiums that MLS needs. I’m all for spreading MLS geographically, but most of the talk about SSS from other cities has just been talk and little in the way of actually building the things.
KLB – I understand your point, but it is makes sense to have more teams in the NE because there are more people there.
A NY Mets owned franchsie will not affect RBNY. RBNY attracts the ‘burbs and a Queens-based team would attract the peeps in the city.
Well put, KLB. With so many deserving cities, it is dumb to put two in one city. While we’re at it, could we do something about LA, too?
And if you New Yorkers can’t bother to go to NJ as if it were some foreign country, tough. At least you have an option.
i hope their colours are black and white vertical stripes.
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
I was born in New York. Still have family in New York. Love New York.
New York hasn’t earned this.
Go down to Nevada Smith’s and watch the Premiership.
MAKE IT HAPPEN
Competition would be good. The only question is the best timing for a second team in New York; may be a bit early.
give “them” their own team… but give us our identity back. Drop NY, Add NJ!
we might as well rename NJ Giants and NJ Jets…just saying..
Holy hell, I hate them so much already. I honestly think I’d have an aneurysm with DC United, Toronto, Philly AND NYC in the league. I’m capable of alot of hate, but that might be asking too much.
The Red bulls are not a NY team, this new team would be and it would draw bigger crowds due to the demographics in the area. Hope its true and i can’t wait.
the whole accessable thing to me doesnt work. Many of these stadiums for other cities are in the burbs and hard to get from teh city as well but they draw better then the red bulls. If people really wanted to attend them they will.. when they have barcelona or when becks comes they have no problems filling it up
This would be FANTASTIC! Anybody that thinks this would be the 2nd New York team doesn’t understand that the NY/NJ Metrostars/RBNY is a New Jersey team that has masqueraded as being from the city. Yes, Metro/RBNY games are somewhat accessible at Giants stadium and will be in Harrison, but they have traditionally been marketed (if at all) to the suburbanites of NJ. A Queens team will play IN the city, be accessible via the subway, and have an owner that already understands how to market a franchise to an urban population.
Im against it.. i think they have a team and it doesnt remotely draw well.. I would rather them buy and move a team like Chivas raher then get an expansion team
Having a team located in the 5 boroughs is a great next expansion. I think part of the reason that the Red Bulls don’t draw as much is that it sucks to trek out to the Meadowlands and watch soccer in a cavernous stadium with field turf that often is lined for American Football. Not a good atmosphere. Once Red Bulls move to their new stadium – on a transit line, sized for soccer, and a grass field – they’ll draw…just as a team in the 5 boroughs will in the same environment.
I think the NYC fans are craving a team of their own. I am not from NYC but I do know that the big European clubs draw 80,000+ fans. They even put 50-70,000 in Giants stadium for Beckham.
If they do it right and have some quality in their lineup, I believe it will thrive.
The future looks bright for MLS.
I don’t really think NY deserves another team when no one cares about the team already here and when there are areas of North America who don’t have a team and would probaly support it.
i fully support the idea of a second team, but wish they would wait until Red Bull has a couple of years under their belt at Harrison. this way they can begin to re-establish themselves in NJ, and maybe get a few fans, before the NY team becomes a hit (which I undoubtedly think it would be)
Red Bulls attract less than 10K in their games. This means there is lack of interest in local soccer in NY area. New team and one more empty studium? This would damage the image of our sports. What would kids watching on TV think of a match with no spectators? An unamerican sports which they should give up.
I like the idea, but I’m not sure I understand the league expanding again. MLS needs to focus on existing teams and their quality…not too mention exposure. What is the rush? I guess I missed something here.
It’s somewhat of a false choice you put in the poll, since you’re stating our reasons for us.
My feeling is America is a massive country, and since we all (well, most of us) recognize that promotion and relegation is not coming, it’s unfair and wrong to keep soccer from other hotbeds just to allow NY a second team.
NY has Boston, Philly, and DC as rivals. Toronto is also only 8 hours away, which is not close, but nothing like Salt Lake.
Sorry Ives, but this is a preposterous idea in my view. Grow the league nationally, or grow a few leagues regionally. But, if we must have the American system of only allowing a fixed (and selected) number of teams, then NYC simply shouldn’t be on the list. Move the NJ team if they want one.
Would this Mets-owned team be located in Queens or Brooklyn? That would be awesome. And hopefully their colors are blue, orange and black too.
I would wait until we see if there is support when the RB move to Harrison. That said, I don’t think a team in Queens would drain too many fans away from the team in NJ.
If they do expand, they ought to call the team the “Mets”. So we can revive the old “NY football Giants – NY baseball Giants” saying with a new “NY baseball Mets – NY soccer Mets” saying.