Confirmed: Spurs Sports & Entertainment in talks with USL

Michael Macias on 18 April 2009 in Expansion, San Antonio, Spurs Sports & Entertainment, USL

Tom Orsborn, of the San Antonio Express-News, in Saturday’s edition of the paper has provided us with good information about the state of professional soccer in San Antonio.

Officials from the United Soccer Leagues, Bexar County and Spurs Sports & Entertainment confirmed Friday they have discussed bringing a USL team here within the next several years.

S.A. could see soccer for price of a stadium

The article goes on to suggest that professional soccer will come to San Antonio with the building of a new soccer stadium. As a soccer fan, although it would be nice to have a soccer specific stadium/arena here, I do not see it as being a necessity for the USL to come to San Antonio. The Austin Aztex do not have one, nor am I aware of where they plan to play in the future.

With the current economic climate in the spotlight, I believe pro soccer can build an army of opponents in San Antonio if it places a prerequisite of a public-funded stadium on the deal.

It would make more sense to build a stadium for Major League Soccer to come back, but even then with the Seattle Sounders sharing their pitch with the Seahawks of the NFL successfully (so far), I believe the Alamodome can still serve a purpose. For the USL, I would even think – Alamo Stadium might be an option.

I truly believe for soccer to be a reality in the Alamo City, the powers that be should make proponents for their cause. A stadium funded by the citizens of San Antonio/Bexar County for a growing sport in the United States may do the opposite.

Tags: San Antonio, Soccer, Spurs, United Soccer Leagues

18 April 2009 Expansion, San Antonio, Spurs Sports & Entertainment, USL

5 Comments to Confirmed: Spurs Sports & Entertainment in talks with USL

Michael, you’re right about the Aztex. They’re playing in a high school football stadium this season, and for the foreseeable future.

The club definitely wants their own stadium, and mention that often. However, there have been no official announcements or plans at this time.

Aztex owner Phil Rawlins has done really well managing this club so far, IMHO. He’s a smart, canny sports businessman. (And his experience is with the stadiums of English football, so if bright white gridiron stripes on astroturf look bad to us, imagine how they look to him!) In other words, if anyone can pull off a stadium construction project somewhere in Austin, I can’t think of anyone better to be behind it.

Which is back to your point. I think you’re right, it would be hard enough to say, “here’s a successful team that’s been thriving for several years, we need to build them a stadium”. But *far* more difficult would be saying, “let’s build a stadium and hope that we get a successful club to take root in it.”

Best of luck to you guys in getting a USL team somehow, though. We can’t wait to start beating you!!

Chris on 19 April 2009

Good luck with your team’s SSS future. It always seems like a lot of the 10-14k European stadiums are aesthetically pleasing and at the same time pretty affordable compared to American stadium costs.

Michael Macias on 19 April 2009

http://nativeaztexan.blogspot.com/2009/04/soccer-update-from-alamo-city.html

Future foes up north chime in.

Mike on 19 April 2009

We need to get the San Antonio Express to write another article. I believe that article was completely misleading. The best thing would be to write an article in which they interview the owner of the Aztex on what it took for them to get a team.

Danilo/Dopo on 19 April 2009

[...] The first source was the USL itself (see “Confirmed: Spurs Sports & Entertainment in talks with USL”). [...]

“The San Antonio Spurs are actually bringing a team to San Antonio in the next year or two.” | Crocketteers on 24 May 2009