Vancouver, Portland so close to MLS their fans can taste it

[EPJr]

Vancouver, Portland so close to MLS their fans can taste it
(Seattle Soccer Examiner)

You might think Sounders FC would want the whole region to themselves like the Mariners have for pro baseball and the Seahawks have with the NFL. Soccer, though, is a tribal game that thrives on rivalries ("derbies") and the ability of fans to travel to away matches in support of their clubs. Village against village.The entry of either Vancouver or Portland or both would be a boon for Sounders FC fans, too. Close rivals and a return of the historical derbies that began in the 1970's when all three clubs played in the old North American Soccer League.
________________________________________________________________________________________
http://www.examiner.com/x-413-Seattle-S ... n-taste-it

[dbackjon]

It will be an exciting time for NW soccer fans coming up.

[polsongrizz]

I can't wait for those cities to get a team up and running. both places are great to party in, Portland being the craft beer capitol and Vancouver being the green bud capitol of the west coast.

[slycat]

They are going to have one heck of a derby up there.

[EPJr]

http://forum.vancouversouthsiders.com/defaultnext.asp

[EPJr]

http://www.ptosc.com/

[EPJr]

Portland Timbers Army
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbP3x...eature=related

Vancouver MSL 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVbz36wAyPs

[dbackjon]

These updates are great.

I really wish Phoenix had an ownership group that could get a franchise - with the heavy hispanic population here, I bet they could be very successful

[polsongrizz]

http://forum.vancouversouthsiders.com/defaultnext.asp

Were blue we're white, ??? what the hell is that supposed to mean. I am sure there is a reason behind this but this is the lamest design I have seen in awile.

[DukeJack]

These updates are great.

I really wish Phoenix had an ownership group that could get a franchise - with the heavy hispanic population here, I bet they could be very successful

Depends on who the ownership is - look at Dallas. Heavy hispanic population, but a suburban stadium marketed towards families and their attendance suffers.

It takes more than the ownership group being place and fronting the entrance fee, MLS also requires that any city wishing to get a team must have funding in place for a stadium, just look at some of the troubles Portland is going through.

Were blue we're white, ??? what the hell is that supposed to mean. I am sure there is a reason behind this but this is the lamest design I have seen in awile.

Not really sure what you're referring to, but blue and white has always been the colors of the Whitecaps, from NASL to the USL and now almost certainly to MLS. Canada tends to identify itself more as European, who often refer to their teams as "the Reds" or the "the Clarets and Blues". That's what I took from it, anyways. Yeah, the supporter's logo doesn't do much for me, but then again it's not supposed to be for me. I wouldn't be surprised if Vancouver tweaked the teams' logo once they jump, however.

[dbackjon]

These updates are great.

I really wish Phoenix had an ownership group that could get a franchise - with the heavy hispanic population here, I bet they could be very successful

Depends on who the ownership is - look at Dallas. Heavy hispanic population, but a suburban stadium marketed towards families and their attendance suffers.

It takes more than the ownership group being place and fronting the entrance fee, MLS also requires that any city wishing to get a team must have funding in place for a stadium, just look at some of the troubles Portland is going through.

True - and Phoenix would really need sometime of natural grass surface enclosed stadium for summer play.
The one proposal that was out there originally had the stadium in a more central location, with the intent to market to both the suburban soccer families and the nearby hispanic areas.