Statement by Gordon Hartman Concerning Roadblocks to Soccer for a Cause
Michael Macias on 28 January 2011 in Crocketteers.com, General, Gordon Hartman, NASL, San Antonio, Stadium, STAR Soccer ComplexNow that Soccer for a Cause is rapidly gaining momentum, it’s disheartening when all of a sudden various and sundry roadblocks have appeared in the pathway to pro soccer for the benefit of Morgan’s Wonderland. The most surprising and puzzling of these roadblocks is a non-compete clause that protects Spurs Sports and Entertainment from any other professional sports team setting up operations in San Antonio.
Those of us who are dedicated to helping the special-needs community are certainly accustomed to roadblocks. We had to overcome plenty of obstacles to create Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first ultra-accessible family fun park designed for special-needs individuals of all ages, their families, friends and the public at large. We take our inspiration from those who everyday must struggle with all sorts of physical and cognitive challenges.
The purpose of Soccer for a Cause is very simple and straightforward – establishing a viable pro soccer franchise and have all profits go to the long-term financial health of Morgan’s Wonderland. We’ve requested $8 million to create a venue for our team, the Scorpions, that will compete in the North American Soccer League (NASL), just one step removed from Major League Soccer (MLS). Contrast that to the $415 million in public funds that have been expended to create other sports venues such as the AT&T Center, the Alamodome and Wolff Stadium where other pro teams play.
Some have questioned the financial viability of NASL soccer, but they need to examine the 150-page business plan we have assembled that clearly shows the Scorpions can be profitable. We wouldn’t be pursuing pro soccer if it didn’t make good economic and business sense. Incidentally, my team that put together the plan includes executives who have operated successful MLS franchises.
We’re truly disappointed at the heavy- duty efforts behind the scenes to derail Soccer for a Cause, however we’re not going to let technicalities stop something that offers so many positive benefits to our community. Now more than ever, it’s important for soccer fans, interested citizens and Morgan’s Wonderland supporters to visit http://www.soccerforacause.com, click on the link there and send an expression of strong support to local elected officials. Together we can definitely make a difference!
- Gordon Hartman, Owner San Antonio Scorpions FC
19 Comments to Statement by Gordon Hartman Concerning Roadblocks to Soccer for a Cause
Leave a comment
-
Road Trip: Edmonton
17 May 2012 -
Scorpions On Unprecedented WIn Streak
14 May 2012 -
Tampa Bay Rowdies Looking For Revenge
11 May 2012 -
Scorpions To Host Second Round U.S. Open Cup Game
9 May 2012 -
Oh When The Crocketteers Come Marching In!
7 May 2012
- Chris Hernandez:
Pablo has scored once and has an assist. He's been... - Dark Chicharito:
You are right, it should be fun. I wonder what Ri... - Dark Chicharito:
I hope Campos wears his "lucky" shoes for this gam... - David Casarez:
The US Open follows the same format as Europe's Ch... - Dark Chicharito:
I just checked the schedule, and everybody is play...
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by sascorpions and Jeff, Crocketteers. Crocketteers said: Statement by Gordon Hartman Concerning Roadblocks to Soccer for a Cause (http://bit.ly/hu56Ih) @SAScorpions @RichardCOliver @ChrisDuel [...]
Hoh, boy. Am I going to be the first to say it? I don’t want my soccer to be ‘for a cause’ or have any strings attached to it. I want it to be soccer. And Gordon Hartman is a businessman and understands what business is about. I guarantee you that if the tables were turned, he would be just as intent on having soccer for soccer. For him to act like he’s so upset or hurt or shocked is silly. And having his ’cause’ shoved down my throat is unsavory…to put it mildly. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t be sympathetic, I’m saying that it shouldn’t be used as a ploy to guilt us into jumping on his bandwagon. I don’t appreciate it. Don’t imply to me that I have to be on your side because if I’m not, I must hate the disabled or I’m morally bereft.
I’m also not a fan of the fact that he knew what the Spurs were up to and, in effect, he snaked them by going to the county, private investors, etc. and getting them to back his project…and after all, how could they not? He was holding the fact that it benefits the disabled over their heads. That’s blackmail and I refuse to be a party to it!
Thank you TURK 182!!! Someone willing to say it like it is!!
Apparently I’m less informed. Anyone got a link to some thread where the above accusation of GH is substantiated, in particular what was “known” and hopefully an expl. of his “snake-ing” them? (Which, FYI BTW is totally snake-ist). How does SS&E get away with their pro sports monopoly, and when & how can it be changed? @mwade_13FC
I’ll tell you what, Matt, I’m not CC’d on Leo Gomez’ correspondence but I knew what was going on. You don’t exactly have to be “dialed-in” in this town to be aware of things. And if I knew, it, Gordon Hartman dern sure knew it.
And I still resent having my morality pre-packaged for me and all tied up with a pretty, little bow.
I guess no one’s taken note that SS&E can run a sports franchaise successfully. Do we want to have a second owner in town just for the sake of not having SS&E add a soccer team to their repertoire?
I’m just here to support a pro soccer team. I don’t have the money to make every game for every team but I support SOCCER. I have a special needs sister so I support GH’s ideas but frankly I just want a soccer team here. I’m glad the Crocketteers haven’t taken a side yet. We support the Scorpions cuz they’re owned but I’ll support USL as well
I don’t see why the media is making this such a political battle and Chris Duel’s comment that the Spurs want a monopoly by signing a non-compete agreement with Bexar County somehow prevents any other entity from establishing same. The Spurs have been behind the pro soccer movement for some time because they probably see that it’s going to come whether they like it or not. Don Harris says the Spurs are “bashing” Hartman? I haven’t seen that anywhere. They are criticizing anyone who supports any pro soccer efforts as anti-special-needs and I just think that’s amateur and heavy laden with media bias. These lesser division teams don’t make money so why would the Spurs want to partner with Hartman? Would any businessman want to go into a business with no profit? Hartman’s intentions are great but that doesn’t mean those who sit in Alamo Stadium watching a SS&E soccer game are evil special-needs haters. Bottom line – soccer fans will go where the soccer is good. BTW-All MLS teams and pro teams around the world contribute to non-profits…the Spurs would probably do the same for MW.
Who don’t they try to partner together and cut the profits down the middle? Hartman can use his for Morgan’s Wonderland and the Spurs can do what they want with there money. The two groups combined have potential to triple profits with the Spurs sports marketing ideas and Hartman can make profits grow because he knows business. It’d be a great combination.
SoccerDad, I noticed today that Express-News put on their front page “Negative soccer story”. But they sure as hell didn’t do that when Hartmann was given the NASL, I bet they put the “Positive soccer story” on the last page.
Turk – I don’t buy that crap of “Spurs don’t need competition” I’m 100% against monopolies, and that’s what the Spurs have in San Antonio.
You may not like Soccer For A Cause shoved down your throat, but I don’t like SSE shoved down my throat. If I don’t like it, who can I complain to…the city, the entity that granted them a monopoly? What if the city said only USAA could provide you insurance, or AT&T could be your only phone provider? How would you like that? Monopolies are bad for the consumer which is why they’re often illegal. I’m not comfortable with SSE having a monopoly with sports in my hometown. It’s not a matter of whether they can provide a good product (USAA and AT&T do), it’s that the citizens are forced to not have a choice. You have no voice and you can’t take your business elsewhere. If you use that product (soccer), you’re forced to use their brand whether you like it or not. This is not a knock on SSE, it’s a knock on monopolies and I prefer freedom of choice.
Lots of good points in these comments. Gordon said the no compete agreement with the County has been in effect for about 8 years.
What I don’t understand is how they knew their complex was only for youth/amateur sports. Even if the Spurs did not have a non compete agreement with County, Gordon Hartman could not build that stadium for a pro team at STAR Complex.
So why are people blaming SS&E for that?
And is Chris Duel the official mouthpiece for Scorpions? I never heard so much crap come out of one’s mouth on the radio. He talks about getting the facts yet lets Gordon Hartman dish out all “the facts.”
Chris Duel and Scorpions still fail to acknowledge they are part of a non sanctioned league that half the teams are owned by one Brazilian entity. That same Brazilian entity is saying Div 2 or bust. So what if they quit on NASL… the Scorpions would have bigger fish to fry without a league to play in.
The City should not fund any NASL team stadium until NASL is sanctioned a league.
Ok so my previous bashing on this site of Gordon Hartman were not meant to as Negative PR nor do i work for SS&E in any capacity, in fact i dont even like the spurs, im a mavericks fan and by defaulting hate the spurs and their boring style of play.
But my suspicions are becoming greater by the minute. You dont dish out $750,000 for a NASL team and NOT know that your fields that you got public funding for are covered for ONLY “youth/amateur sports”. it doesnt make sense, Hartman made a calculated move in hopes to use his “soccer for a cause” campaign to bypass “youth/amateur sports” and city officials arent buying it that he didnt know. His intentions are suspect. NASL make a profit? ONLY 3 TEAMS IN THE MLS MADE PROFIT LAST YEAR -Toronto, Seattle and i dont recall the third Team, but i swear it was 3. Even most European clubs dont make a profit. Soccer is not a huge profit since you have to pay players, stadiums up keeps, etc.. NASL just lost its 2nd division status. So i dont expect a “profit” from Scorpions for a while, unless it has public funding to pay for startup/stadium..etc.
Now my hate affair for the spurs. Do i want SS&E to own a soccer team and control all the sports in San Antonio. Well, im looking around and i dont see any one else stepping up wanting to fork over the millions of dollars (i heard somewhere it was around 35 million for a MLS franchise) i know USL is less than NASL franchise ($150,000), but can we expect Gordon Hartman to upgrade to MLS. I dont think he will ever do that. At least with the Spurs, i think they would and COULD do it if they wish with the financial backgrounds.
Now does GH want to field a competitive field on the pitch? Remains to be seen, but would the Spurs want a competitive team? I dont follow Hockey so i cant say for sure if they try to attract good Hockey players, but i have a gut feeling they would be willing to spend on a DP much more than would GH if they both had MLS status.
Gordon Hartman and his associates are bashing the Spurs. The spurs are bashing Gordon Hartman. But in the end i blame Gordon Hartman for not doing his homework on the “field status of youth and amateur only fields, and the no compete clause” that have been in effect for some time. I dont blame the spurs for that or the city if that was in place long before GH decided to buy a NASL team.
Maybe he should of done a 150 page report feasibility study before he bought the team and started his project for soccer for a cause.
So do i do i want SS&E to be a monopoly?. not really. But do we have a choice with a “no compete” clause? Will we wait another “8 years” to get some sort of soccer team, if that is the case? I dont want to wait, i want to go to a soccer game in San Antonio already and show MLS we have what it takes for a market. I think this town is tired of waiting. So if Spurs pony up for a MLS from a USL team which i would think they would want to do for profit reason. I mean can you imagine David Beckham/Landon Donvan/Juan Pablo Angel and the rest of the Galaxy in SA and the seats that would fill?? (full disclosure HUGE galaxy fan.) Whoever gets to MLS first, im willing to support grudgingly if its Gordon Hartman (who i think is doing it only for money, personal opinion) or SS&E who will have a monopoly on the sports in the city. Ill take the lesser of the 2 evils and take my chances with SS&E who can at least have experience in sports dealings with their other franchises rather than a businessman who doesnt know anything about soccer.
So let the bashing begin for both these organizations which im sure will only get nastier and lets hope for the best. One thing for sure, we have a competition and we dont have a team yet (that has played a game). that is pretty cool
SS&E is NOT A MONOPOLY…because anybody can start a team in San Antonio, Texas, but NOT with county money.
Move to a different county or get private investors to help you.
Dark Chicharito: Fair enough on SS&E not being a monopoly. However, if I understand you correctly, they still monopolized funding from county taxes for pro sports. Your comment to “move to a different county…” is a direct command to everyone except guess who…SS&E. They appear to be the only ones who can tap into the county tax base for funding of pro sports. (I’m curious if the Missions get any of the county tax pie.) I love SS&E because they have an impeccable record, however, it sounds like my county taxes can help fund an SS&E franchise and no one else. That just shows their business acumen to get a deal like that. But as a Bexar County tax payer, I’m not sure I like that deal.
I don’t see why people get upset over the SS&E owning so many teams. So what if they want to branch out into soccer? They’re a basketball team….I know. But if you think about Euorpe [I'm not 100% sure], most of the top professional teams also own basketball teams with the same name. Shoot….Barcelona even beat the Lakers recently. Bayern Munchen’s website has a section for their basketball team. If this is what you’re indicating by “the Spurs are becoming a Monopoly” then you’re wrong. They’re trying to branch out and promote a sport like the Europeans are, only the sports are reversed.
That’s a good point Aaron. I actually like their model…. now I don’t know what to think. I think is cool when a “club” has teams in several sports.
The only difference is that some of those cities in Europe don’t have a “NO COMPETE” clause. That’s the main concern.
SS&E is saying “i can do this better than anybody” Can they really?, of course they can because they won’t let other people compete against them.
If you only compete against yourself you are going to win 100% of the times…In the words of a wise man…”And that is the bottom line” S.C.S.A.
Look, here’s the deal with the no compete agreement. The County signed it a long time ago and I’m sure Gordon Hartman knew that BEFORE he set out on this journey. He knows people at the County…he’s not some outsider in this town. For him to be upset about it now is just silly.
My biggest concern is the viability of Gordon Hartman’s long-term business plan. While entry into the NASL may be easily attained with money provided by private investors, the idea of a non-profit club baffles me. Entry into the MLS is expensive. The cost of joining, staff, promotions, etc. etc. is astronomical. Then take into account the likes of designated players (which every team is vying for) who can have salaries of $500k and above.
It’s not enough to just have a team in San Antonio. It’s to have a team that can compete financially and will stick around. This is why something needs to be worked out with SS&E.