Group of Death: Opposition to NYC FC Mounts

In the previous Group of Death post I outlined the field of contenders for the next three MLS expansion slots. Well this week had some potentially bracket-busting information.

Miami now has to be considered as a possible franchise even though two previous Floridian teams have failed. There have been preliminary talks for the state to allocate around $100 million to build a soccer-specific stadium next to a new Marlin stadium.

While scary for a NYC FC because it will be hard for the league to turn down a free SSS, I am calling bullshit on this news story. The reporter said that soccer officials agree that the Little Havana neighborhood would allow the league to "closely connect to our core soccer audience." I'm half-Cuban and know that futbol-loving Cubans are about as common as Fidel Castro not wearing fatigues.

Another stadium that looks like it will happen is in Kansas City. "But Kubah, KC already has a team." Yes, but there have always been rumors that if they did not get a stadium the Wizards might relocate. I guess this alternative is out for a NYC FC. WVHooligan has the story.

WVHooligan also has a Philly story. It appears that the state money was not approved before the legislature went home for the holidays. No money equals no stadium which equals no MLS. It looks like bad news for the Sons of Ben, but supporters in St. Louis have to like their chances about a 2009 opening season.

So where does that leave NYC FC? Let's go to the map:

That's a lot of red dots. The league is currently 8 Western teams and 7 Eastern teams. Either Philly or St. Louis would make it an 8-8 split. When the league expands to 18 teams, it looks like it will have to be one new team for each division. The Western front runners look to be Portland, Vancouver, and maybe Las Vegas(?). The Eastern teams look to be Philly/St Louis, NYC, and Miami(?).

From the this week's news, St. Louis looks like it is going to be the 16th team. As for 2010, Philly is going to be hard to beat if they get a stadium and a NYC FC ownership situation has not even been announced.

An option that will allow for a NYC and Philly/St Louis to make the next cut is moving KC to the Western Division. There are two drawbacks to a KC realignment for the league . A KC-St. Louis rivalry would appear to be desirable and the new Seattle franchise has topped 10K in season ticket sales. You don't think the MLS sees that and wonders what their USL-1 rivals, Portland and Vancouver, can draw?

Obviously this situation is very fluid and I will update the Group of Death as news filters in.