World Cup

[Coyote]

Since it is now here... And I know there are football fans out there...


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[skinzfan23]

One problem that is not the "real football"....sorry just can't get into soccer.

[guitarguy]

If the U.S. was a serious contender in the WC it would easily catch on here. But rooting for a team that usually gets eliminated really early in the cup is lame.

[Linkin5]

FIFA is the most corrupt organization in modernized sports. Qatar won their World Cup bid from bribes and are building new stadiums with slave labor, its absolutely disgusting.

[Greg S]

I know some are really excited for this. Not me. I played soccer for years growing up (my Mom was born and raised in Liverpool), but I am just not a fan like I am of others sports. It would be fine if the US was a contender but I would still not follow.

I think there is a ceiling on soccer in the US. Where as the best basketball, football, baseball and hockey professional leagues are in the US, for soccer that is not the case. The MLS is a feeder league. I think that has an impact here.

Greg

[guitarguy]

That's so true.. perhaps if the U.S. had a comparable league to the English Premiere League it would be easier to get involved between cups. As far I'm concerned the MLS is basically minor league soccer.

[skinzfan23]

I don't believe in our lifetime that MLS or soccer in the US will have the financial backing that the NBA, MLB and NFL have. Its all about the money.

[MadMartin8]

I think the quality of the MLS has made great strides in the last few years in both talent and even facilities. Is it a tier 1 or even a tier 2 league yet? Heavens no, but it is improving each year which is great to see. Even the fanbases are starting to grow, heck Kansas City has an amazing one (and an amazing stadium).

[Coyote]

Didn't the OWH have an article yesterday about whether Omaha could support a MLS team? I think that would be the only Pro team that could possibly survive a few years in Omaha

[Greg S]

I think the quality of the MLS has made great strides in the last few years in both talent and even facilities. Is it a tier 1 or even a tier 2 league yet? Heavens no, but it is improving each year which is great to see. Even the fanbases are starting to grow, heck Kansas City has an amazing one (and an amazing stadium).

Yeah I think MLS has found it's footing. They were smart to go to 20k stadiums that fit their fan base. I think of them in college terms as a mid-major league.

Sporting KC does have an amazing stadium.

Greg

[MadMartin8]

Didn't the OWH have an article yesterday about whether Omaha could support a MLS team? I think that would be the only Pro team that could possibly survive a few years in Omaha

Creighton's Coach Bolowich thinks that we couldn't support an MLS team. I can't remember which article it was, but the quote was in there. I think it was in Shatel's column/drivel.

[iamjacobm]

We needed to be on the MLS train way earlier. I don't remember the exact numbers, but a few years ago you had to pay the league some $20 million to start a team and that fee is up to $80 million now. There are also a ton of other cities way further in the process than us and I know we think TD might work, but cities across the country are providing soccer specific stadiums for teams and that is what the league wants.

We needed to be proactive about MLS 10 years ago, it wont happen now.

[MadMartin8]

We needed to be on the MLS train way earlier.  I don't remember the exact numbers, but a few years ago you had to pay the league some $20 million to start a team and that fee is up to $80 million now.  There are also a ton of other cities way further in the process than us and I know we think TD might work, but cities across the country are providing soccer specific stadiums for teams and that is what the league wants.

We needed to be proactive about MLS 10 years ago, it wont happen now.

Yeah, the MLS ship has sailed. The only Pro team Omaha would ever have an outside shot at is an NBA one. But that's a .00000000000000000001% chance.

It's not a "Pro" city. I could see a NASL team, though.

[bigredmed]

We needed to be on the MLS train way earlier.  I don't remember the exact numbers, but a few years ago you had to pay the league some $20 million to start a team and that fee is up to $80 million now.  There are also a ton of other cities way further in the process than us and I know we think TD might work, but cities across the country are providing soccer specific stadiums for teams and that is what the league wants.

We needed to be proactive about MLS 10 years ago, it wont happen now.

Yeah, the MLS ship has sailed. The only Pro team Omaha would ever have an outside shot at is an NBA one. But that's a .00000000000000000001% chance.

It's not a "Pro" city.  I could see a NASL team, though.

Pro vs Amateur is less of a question than Tuesday vs Saturday. The pro teams that come here want games on the week nights, so they get shelled when the people with kids look at the cost of a game and decide that perhaps not, especially on a school/work night.

[Greg S]

Miami just bailed on the proposed MLS team that David Beckham was trying to secure for that market. MLS would still be the closest we could get at $80 million. With the Clippers being sold at $2 billion, even the worst franchise for the NBA is now estimated to be above $500 million. I'm not sure though if we got an MLS franchise we would consider it a "major league" one. I think that is still reserved for NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL.

OKC got the Thunder but that was only because they had a billionaire owner that wanted a team. We don't have that here. I'm not sure that's a bad thing. College sports and the AAA are so much more affordable. It's also been interesting to see the impact the NBA has had on the Sooners. I could see the same here depending on the sport with CU, NU and UNO.

Greg

[MadMartin8]

OKC got the Thunder but that was only because they had a billionaire owner that wanted a team.  We don't have that here.
Greg

Ricketts?

[iamjacobm]

OKC got the Thunder but that was only because they had a billionaire owner that wanted a team.  We don't have that here.
Greg

Ricketts?

They already have their toy to play with in Chicago.

[MadMartin8]

OKC got the Thunder but that was only because they had a billionaire owner that wanted a team.  We don't have that here.
Greg

Ricketts?

They already have their toy to play with in Chicago.

You never know, they could want to expand. Haha.

[jessep28]

FIFA is the most corrupt organization in modernized sports.  Qatar won their World Cup bid from bribes and are building new stadiums with slave labor, its absolutely disgusting.

If only there was a way for the workers to get a registered fake passport or VISA so they can escape.

[ShawJ]

'Merica.

[iamjacobm]

Pinnacle Bank Arena is showing the Portugal match with free popcorn, $2 hot dogs and $3 beers.