We want to first congratulate you on the job you have done thus far in creating a truly wonderful league. As supporters of the MLS, we see improvement in the quality of play, fan experience, and overall value. 

We the members of the Crocketteers, San Antonio’s Premier Soccer Supporters, are writing you this letter to state our intentions to support MLS in San Antonio.

We state our commitment to continued growth.

We state our commitment to creating a festive atmosphere that both the City of San Antonio and Major League Soccer can be proud of.

Today, we have over 350 members including over 180 paid members.  We wear our scarves with pride and we exist to see the establishment and subsequent support of professional soccer in San Antonio.  We have sold out our initial order of 200 scarves and will have 200 more on the way in the coming weeks.

Our growth has been tremendous over the last year and half of our establishment. In fact on this very day, 50+ members of the Crocketteers will be in Houston to cheer on the MLS All Stars and to proudly wear our supporter colors.

As you may or may not know, San Antonio’s new mayor, Julian Castro seems to be very open to the idea of professional soccer in San Antonio based on limited public comments he has made. We would like to believe that he is not unlike previous mayor Ed Garza in his willingness to see the MLS in San Antonio. And we are hopeful that this change might put the unfortunate events of 2005 behind us and that this change might also be an opportunity to reopen the dialogue between MLS and San Antonio.

In addition, the parent company of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, San Antonio Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) has recently indicated that they are interested in getting into the professional soccer business (perhaps MLS).  And while SS&E is interested in the prospects of our very own Soccer-Specific-Stadium, many of us believe that the Alamo Stadium with its storied history is certainly viable at this point in time. The success of the Sounders in Qwest Field and the prospects of seeing the Vancouver franchise in BC Place drive this point home nicely. 

We were very pleased to learn that Major League Soccer has continued interest in the San Antonio market. Your statements the past few days mentioning San Antonio as an expanision market for MLS reaffirms our establishment. We feel we are the largest supporters group without a team. We hope that is not always the case as we look forward to the day we see our team finally take the pitch.

Commissioner, the Crocketteers humbly ask you to strongly consider San Antonio once again. Perhaps you and your league are already in talks with Mayor Castro and a potential ownership group.  We hope all sides realize the tremendous potential of the MLS/San Antonio partnership.

If there indeed exists advanced discussions with your league and our city, I can assure you that the Crocketteers will support it’s future hometown team and all that MLS brings to our great city.

Lastly, I invite you to share in our vision for what could be the day MLS finally calls San Antonio home. We can make this happen!

Thank you again for all that you have done for the beautiful game in America and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours Sincerely,

The Crocketteers

Back inside, you wipe the sleep from your eyes and pull your Alamo FC jersey over your head. A quick look in the mirror confirms that you are, in fact, awake. You walk out of your building and grab a coffee from the shop on the corner.

Drinking in the first sip of invigorating morning caffeine, and burning your tongue in the process, you emerge back onto the pavement just in time to catch the River North Streetcar that climbs up Broadway. You hop on, give “the nod” to the dozen or so others in their Alamo FC garb and allow the morning breeze to further awaken your senses.

Once at your stop, you and the other supporters exit the streetcar and join the throngs of folks just like you making their way toward the pubs lining the northern edge of the Museum Reach of the Riverwalk. There is an electricity in the air as you find yourself knee-deep in the pulsing pre-match festivities.

Supporters from The Upper Room and Puro 33 gather at Vito’s Sports Bar, where the michelada flows and the smell of chorizo soaks the air. You and the Crocketteers gather in your traditional spot, filling the old tavern with singing, shouting, and Freetail brews. Bands play as the supporters prepare to give a full 90 minutes to the home side just a short walk away at Alamo Stadium.

Match-time approaches and you begin the trek with the other supporters towards the stadium. The spirit of revelry is thick amongst the group. You smile as some around you wave scarves in the Texas sun, blow on parade horns, and generally swim in the pool of anticipation that is an old-world match-day. You think to yourself, “This is why I love soccer. This is what I waited so long for…”

Alamo Stadium is particularly lively this afternoon, the glorious old bones of the stadium made new with the fresh renovation. ABC is here to televise the MLS Match of the Week. All eyes (and cameras) are trained on Thierry Henry, as he warms up in his first San Antonio appearance as a member of Red Bull New York.

You slide into Row 6 and greet the familiar faces around you as the chants of your fellow Alamo FC supporters echo off of the limestone walls of the historic venue. An overflow crowd of 26,000 buzzes while the teams take to the pitch, flashbulbs popping away.  You look around and drink in the atmosphere, the revelry, the beautiful game.  What a moment for San Antonio…

The referee’s whistle blows, the ball is played in. You take a deep breath and survey the surreal scene one last time before throwing yourself fully into the match. This is real. The MLS is home in San Antonio.

Reminder: MLS Watch Party at Freetail Brewing Co. tonight May 13, 2010 8:00 PM

EPL Race remains tight. Chelsea climbed back to the top of the Premier League as Salomon Kalou’s hat-trick lead a 7-0 win over Stoke on Sunday which sent the Blues one point clear of Manchester United. The big test comes this Sunday at Liverpool. A win against 7th place Liverpool will only leave a home game next week against 16th place Wigan. Manchester United, one point behind league leader Chelsea, plays at Sunderland and finishes at home the following week against Stoke.

Dynamo fall on road to Fire. Lose Geoff Cameron for the season. Baggio Husidic scored in first half stoppage time, and Peter Lowry added one in the second half as the Chicago Fire defeated the Houston Dynamo 2-0 at Toyota Park on Saturday night. Already beset by injuries, the Houston Dynamo got an extra dose of bad news on Monday when midfielder Geoff Cameron was diagnosed with a ruptured right PCL suffered in Saturday’s game against Chicago. Cameron will undergo surgery later this week and will miss the remainder of the season. The Dynamo will host Kanas City Wizards at home this Saturday.

FC Dallas earns 2-2 draw with the Seattle Sounders on questionable penalty. FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham scores two penalty kicks, one the 27th minute and one in stoppage-time, The second spotkick came in the 94th minute, after rookie sub Jason Yeisley tried splitting two Seattle’s center backs in the box. The two defenders collapsed on the young striker and he tumbled over causing referee Terry Vaughn to point to the spot. The Sounders got goals Steve Zakuani and Fredy Montero, who blasted in a stunning 41-yard freekick. FC Dallas plays DC United in the US Open Cup on Wednesday and travels to New England to take on the Revolution on Saturday.

Rhinos Derail Aztex. A furious first half of action left the Austin Aztex and Rochester Rhinos knotted at one goal a piece on Sunday at House Park, but a goal in the 65th minute by the Rhinos Anthony Hamilton gave Rochester a 2-1 win.

Austin stays home for one more exhibition match on Wednesday before heading on a two-game road trip to NSC Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Wednesday’s match is against the Haitian National Team and is free to all fans. All proceeds from the match will go to benefit the earthquake relief effort.

Tickets for the Crystal Palace Baltimore match on May 16, as well as season tickets are available now. All season tickets are flex tickets and can be used in any combination for any regular season game. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.austinaztex.com, call 512-335-8881.

Soccer on TV. Courtesy of Soccer America. Http://www.socceramerica.com
WEDNESDAY, April 28

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
UEFA Champions League BARCELONA-INTER MILAN (live) 1:30 pm.
Concacaf Champions League PACHUCA-CRUZ AZUL (live) 7 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
UEFA Champions League BARCELONA-INTER MILAN (live) 1:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores UNIVERSITARIO-SAO PAULO (live) 5:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores FLAMENGO-CORINTHIANS (live) 7:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
UEFA Champions League BARCELONA-INTER MILAN (delay) 4 pm.

TELEFUTURA
Concacaf Champions League PACHUCA-CRUZ AZUL (live) 7 pm.

THURSDAY, April 29

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Copa Libertadores BANFIELD-INTERNACIONAL (delay) 1:30 am.
Copa Libertadores CRUZEIRO-NACIONAL (live) 5 pm.
Copa Libertadores ALIANZA LIMA-U DE CHILE (live) 7 pm.
Copa Libertadores ONCE CALDAS-LIBERTAD (live) 9:30 pm.

GOL TV
Europa League LIVERPOOL-ATL. MADRID (live) 2 pm.
Europa League FULHAM-HAMBURG (delay) 7 pm.

FRIDAY, April 30
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SATURDAY, May 1

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
England MANCHESTER CITY-ASTON VILLA (live) 9 am.
England PORTSMOUTH-WOLVERHAMPTON (delay) 11 am.
Italy AC MILAN-FIORENTINA (live) 1:30 pm.
WPS SKY BLUE-GOLD PRIDE (live) 5 pm.
MLS HOUSTON-KANSAS CITY (live) 7:30 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
England MANCHESTER CITY-ASTON VILLA (live) 9 am.
England PORTSMOUTH-WOLVERHAMPTON (delay) 11 am.
Italy AC MILAN-FIORENTINA (delay) 6 pm.
MLS HOUSTON-KANSAS CITY (live) 7:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England TOTTENHAM-BOLTON (live) 9 am.
Italy PARMA-ROMA (live) 11 am.
England STOKE CITY-EVERTON (delay) 3 pm.

TELEFUTURA
MLS D.C. UNITED-NEW YORK (live) 3 pm.

MLS DIRECT KICK
MLS NEW ENGLAND-DALLAS(live) 6:30 pm.
MLS CHICAGO-CHIVAS USA (live) 7:30 pm.
MLS REAL SALT LAKE-TORONTO (live) 8 pm.
MLS SAN JOSE-COLORADO (live) 9 pm.
MLS LOS ANGELES-PHILADELPHIA (live) 9:30 pm.
MLS SEATTLE-COLUMBUS (live) 9:30 pm.

SUNDAY, May 2

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
Italy CATANIA-JUVENTUS (live) 8 am.
England SUNDERLAND-MANCHESTER UNITED (live) 10 am.
Italy LAZIO-INTER MILAN (live) 1:30 pm.
FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
MLS HOUSTON-KANSAS CITY (delay) 11:30 am.
Italy CATANIA-JUVENTUS (live) 8 am.
England SUNDERLAND-MANCHESTER UNITED (live) 10 am.
Italy LAZIO-INTER MILAN (live) 1:30 pm.
Argentina INDEPENDIENTE-BOCA JUNIORS (live) 4 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England LIVERPOOL-CHELSEA (live) 7:30 am.
England FULHAM-WEST HAM UNITED (delay) 9:30 am.
Italy LAZIO-INTER MILAN (delay) 4 pm.

We’ve addressed in this space already that soccer is a sport that is built on anticipation. That anticipation, when cultivated in the proper atmosphere, can give way to absolute euphoria.

For San Antonio, soccer all of the sudden seems closer than ever to being a professional reality, as the perfect atmosphere for “The Beautiful Game” in South Texas has emerged. The supporters of soccer in San Antonio can only hope that this hopeful atmosphere, this raised level of anticipation, leads to eventual euphoria in the form of a top-flight pro soccer team calling San Antonio home.

A recent article in the San Antonio Express News revealed that San Antonio Independent School District and Spurs Sports & Entertainment have in fact had discussions about venerable Alamo Stadium being placed in the managing hands of SS&E.

Alamo Stadium is a legendary local sports shrine that has fallen into various levels of disrepair as the cash-strapped inner-city SAISD struggles to maintain the facility. In its 70 years of existence, Alamo Stadium has hosted high school sports of all kinds in addition to college and professional football.

The beauty of the talks between SAISD and SS&E is that the Spurs organization (which has been itching to get into professional soccer) would not have to build a stadium for any proposed team, but simply would renovate an existing jewel that happens to be just the right size and in just the right place.

Some of the most revered (and well-attended) stadiums in Major League Soccer share a common trait: an urban location.

Seattle’s Qwest Field and Toronto’s BMO Stadium are the two oft-cited urban jewels of the league, each drawing capacity crowds and each famous for an incredible gameday atmosphere. Each also happens to be in the shadow of their respective city skylines. Alamo Stadium, for those keeping track at home, is a mere 4 miles from the front door of the Alamo.

Unlike stadiums in far-flung exurbs (like Pizza Hut Park in Frisco or Gillette Stadium in Foxborough), Alamo Stadium would be accessible by people from all over San Antonio by a simple 20 minute drive. Supporters from Stone Oak and Southtown would have easy access, as would families from the suburbs and young urbanites in the city. And for that growing number of folks living in the urban core, Alamo Stadium is accessible by public transport, with a VIA ride from Alamo Plaza taking a mere 15 minutes. With plans to add a streetcar line on Broadway in the near future, the booming residential area that is about to be River North will be connected to a refurbished, resplendent Alamo Stadium in a myriad of ways.

So the anticipation rises as the atmosphere around the potential for soccer in San Antonio heats up. SS&E is interested enough in bringing high-level soccer to San Antonio that they have entered into talks regarding management and renovation. SAISD is interested enough in staying solvent that they will bend over backwards to allow someone with resources to take over their historic facility. And San Antonio’s starving soccer fans are one step closer to realizing the euphoric dream of having professional soccer in the city. In Alamo Stadium, the beautiful game is as close as it has ever been to finding itself in the shadow of the San Antonio skyline.

Read more San Antonio Soccer articles at Crocketteers.com

Spain is still the favorite to win World Cup 2010: With the World Cup just 57 days away, odds-maker Ladbrokes has tagged Spain as the favorite to win the 2010 World Cup. At 4/1 odds they lead the pack followed by England and Brazil at 5/1. Argentina comes in at 8/1 with Germany at 9/1. Good ole USA comes in at 66/1 and our neighbor to the south Mexico falls in at 80/1. Long shots North Korea and Honduras round out the 32 teams at a whopping 1000/1 odds.

Portsmouth beats Tottenham to reach the FA Cup Final: In what many would call the upset of the year, recently relegated Portsmouth scores two goals in extra time to defeat Tottenham 2-0 last Saturday to reach the FA Cup final. It is a chance for redemption to a miserable season for debt-ridden Portsmouth, which became the first Premier League team to seek bankruptcy protection last month and has a court-appointed administrator trying to find a buyer for the club. They will face Chelsea on May 15. The final will be shown on FSC at 10:00 am.

Philadelphia Union’s home opener draws over 34,000 and leads team to first victory. Union fans were treated to the first victory in club history in a dramatic affair at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday. Sebastien Le Toux scored a hat trick, the first three goals in team history, including the game-winning strike on a free kick in the 80th minute to defeat winless DC United. Philly jumped to a 2-0 lead only to see it go away late in the game by goals by Santino Quaranta and Jaime Moreno. The game seemed headed to a tie until Alejandro Moreno was taken down twenty two yards out. Le Toux stepped up and hammered a shot passed GK Perkins to seal the victory. A crowd of 34,840 witnessed the historic event.

FC Dallas substitute Eric Avila scores goal in stoppage time to steal a point. A stoppage-time goal from substitute Eric Avila helped FC Dallas steal a point from the visiting Columbus Crew in a 2-2 tie at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday. In the 93rd minute David Ferreira shot was blocked by Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer, the ball popped back into the midfield. Avila then hit a low shot toward the far post that went in just inside the net for the equalizer. You can watch the highlight at http://www.mlssoccer.com/content/avila-ties-it-stoppage-time

Houston Dynamo drops game to league leader LA Galaxy. The Houston Dynamo suffered their first loss of the 2010 season Saturday, falling 2-0 to the LA Galaxy at Robertson Stadium. Galaxy forward scored two goals giving him five goals in three games.

Dynamo Stadium wins approval. Harris County officials on Tuesday approved the go ahead for a new Dynamo stadium. The stadium would be located on the east side of downtown, across U.S. Highway 59 from Minute Maid Park and the George R. Brown Convention Center. Construction is scheduled to start sometime this fall with the hopes of opening the stadium in time for the 2012 season.

Austin Aztex win home opener against defending champs. Austin opened the season with two goals and a shutout on strikes from Lawrence Olum and Jamie Watson for a 2-0 win over Montreal at Austin’s House Park on Sunday. The next home game for the Aztex is April 25th at House Park in downtown Austin against the Rochester Rhinos. Tickets, as well as season tickets are available now. All season tickets are flex tickets and can be used in any combination for any regular season game. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.austinaztex.com, call 512-335-8881

Former area High School soccer stars make UIL All Century Team The University Interscholastic League, as part of its Centennial Celebration, has announced the UIL All-Century Boys and Girls Soccer Teams as selected by the fans. Congratulations to Jimbo Parks, Matias Allende and Mike Lavergne of Churchill, Michael Strong and Andrew Bailey of Alamo Heights and John Nabors of Reagan for making the first team. Nathan Hughes of Churchill made the second team. Other notables on the list were Clint Dempsey of Nacodoches, Lee Nguyen of Plano East, and Jeff Agoos of Richardson Pearce. On the ladies side Blakely Low of Alamo Heights made the first team and Sandra Miller of San Antonio Madison made the third team.

Soccer on TV this week. Courtesy of Soccer America. http://www.socceramerica.com
WEDNESDAY, April 14

ESPN2
England TOTTENHAM-ARSENAL (live) 2 pm.

ESPN DEPORTES
Spain XEREZ-ATLETICO MADRID (live) 1 pm.
Spain DEPORTIVO-BARCELONA (live) 3 pm.
Mexico PACHUCA-CRUZ AZUL (live) 8 pm.

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
England WIGAN-PORTSMOUTH (live) 1:30 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
England WIGAN-PORTSMOUTH (live) 1:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores EMELEC-INTERNACIONAL (live) 5:30 pm.
Copa Libtertadores RACING-CORINTHIANS (live) 7:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England ASTON VILLA-EVERTON (live) 1:40 pm.

GOL TV
Spain REAL ZARAGOZA-MALLORCA (live) 1 pm.

THURSDAY, April 15

ESPN2
MLS PHILADELPHIA-TORONTO (live) 6 pm.

ESPN DEPORTES
MLS PHILADELPHIA-TORONTO (live) 6 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Copa Libertadores CATOLICA-FLAMENGO (delay) 3 pm.
Copa Libertadores LANUS-CLUB UNIVERSITARIO (live) 5:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores DEP. COLO COLO-CRUZEIRO (live) 7:30 pm.

GOL TV
Spain ALMERIA-REAL MADRID (live) 1 pm.
Spain VALENCIA-ATH. BILBAO (live) 3 pm.

FRIDAY, April 16

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
Italy INTER MILAN-JUVENTUS (live) 1:30 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Italy INTER MILAN-JUVENTUS (live) 1:30 pm.
Copa Libtertadores VELEZ SARSFIELD-DEP. ITALIA (delay) 4 pm.

SATURDAY, April 17

ESPN2
England MANCHESTER CITY-MANCHESTER UNITED (live) 6:45 am.

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
England BLACKBURN-EVERTON (live) 9 am.
England TOTTENHAM-CHELSEA (live) 11:30 pm.
England SUNDERLAND-BURNLEY (delay) 1:30 pm.
MLS LA GALAXY-REAL SALT LAKE (live) 9:30 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
England BLACKBURN-EVERTON (live) 9 am.
England TOTTENHAM-CHELSEA (live) 11:30 pm.
Mexico JAGUARES-CLUB INDIOS (delay) 6 pm.
MLS LA GALAXY-REAL SALT LAKE (live) 9:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England BIRMINGHAM CITY-HULL CITY (live) 9 am.
England WEST BROM-MIDDLESBROUGH (live) 11 am.
Italy CHIEVO-LIVORNO (delay) 1:30 pm.
England FULHAM-WOLVERHAMPTON (delay) 3:30 pm.

TELEFUTURA
MLS HOUSTON-CHIVAS USA (live) 3 pm.

MLS DIRECT KICK
MLS SEATTLE-KANSAS CITY (live) 2 pm.
MLS DC UNITED-CHICAGO (live) 6:30 pm.
MLS NEW YORK-DALLAS (live) 6:30 pm.
MLS SAN JOSE-NEW ENGLAND (live) 9 pm.

SUNDAY, April 18

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
Italy SAMPDORIA-AC MILAN (live) 8 am.
England PORTSMOUTH-ASTON VILLA (live) 10 am.
Italy LAZIO-ROMA (live) 1:30 pm.
WPS BOSTON-PHILADLEPHIA (live) 5 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Italy SAMPDORIA-AC MILAN (live) 8 am.
England PORTSMOUTH-ASTON VILLA (live) 10 am.
Italy LAZIO-ROMA (live) 1:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England WIGAN-ARSENAL (live) 7:30 am.
England STOKE CITY-BOLTON (delay) 9:30 am.
Italy LAZIO-ROMA (delay) 4 pm.
Argentina RACING-VELEZ SARAFIELD (live) 5 pm.

Thanks to Jason Davis of Match Fit USA for finding this information.

The former president of Mexican club Necaxa, Antonio de Alba, tells the paper that he is in “advanced” discussion with MLS to acquire an expansion franchise for the Texas city.

He also indicates that he has discussed the plan with the mayor’s office and the owner of the San Antonio Spurs as well.

http://www.matchfitusa.com/2009/08/san-antonio-mls-rumors-surface.html

He references a Mexican news publication, La Jornada, as the source of these intriguing rumors.

Vamos bastante avanzados en las pláticas con gente de la MLS, porque sería un equipo de expansión, toda vez que en San Antonio no hay clubes.

También ya tuvimos contacto con el dueño de Spurs de San Antonio de la NBA y con el alcalde Julián Castro, quienes están interesados en apoyar el proyecto y en llevar la franquicia a ese condado, aprovechando que hay muchos latinos y es un gran mercado”, dijo De Alba, también ex presidente del patronato de Fomento al Futbol de Aguascalientes.

The original publication can be read here.

Thoughts? It has me excited.

Obviously, SS&E have followed the rich history in San Antonio of thinking small and looks set to short change us again. But would could a possible solution be?

Enter FC Barcelona . . . . here is one of Spain’s most successful football clubs, locked into two more years of appearances in the US, and wanting to brand a club in the MLS. SS&E should partner with them in bringing an MLS team to San Antonio, or the city’s leaders should recognize a huge opportunity staring them in the face and create a partnership.

The city should partner with the Catalan giants. Ok there, I said it; that just happened!

What about the French connection?

Tony Parker is from France, Thierry Henry is from France; Tony Parker and Thierry Henry are friends; Thierry Henry plays for FC Barcelona, Tony Parker plays for the San Antonio Spurs; wink, wink! Se Magnifique!

Until recently, I even had visions of Henry tearing down the left side of the pitch in the Alamodome, cutting inward at the eighteen yard box and finishing a beautiful goal in the top right corner, but he just looks too smitten with New York, so that’s probably not going to happen.

But FC Barcelona to San Antonio could happen.

After all, the club has stated on several occasions they will continue to work on increasing their presence in the USA. I think that would be obvious considering the turn out for their preseason friendlies.

What about Beckham?

Beckham? What about him? Well apparently he wants to buy an MLS franchise, or at least has it in his contract with MLS to purchase a team after his contract expires. This idea is probably crazy, but I don’t mind getting a little crazy, after all, I am a mad footballer.

The other option is to secure a team through relocation, as in, a franchise leaving a city to move to San Antonio. I know this may be cheap, Houston Dynamo, but if a city can’t support their team, perhaps they shouldn’t be there. An opinion that is sound in theory, but it appears that we can’t even support a team, and we don’t even have one.

I guess our last and most desperate choice is to surround the Alamo and fight until our death. Or we can just continue to support the grassroots effort of the Crocketteers. It’s your choice, but I suspect that you value your life a little more than football, at least some of you do, you know who you are.

I think at this point the best idea is to partner with a larger organization and establish a franchise as a joint venture. Even with a USL-1 team in San Antonio, we could still partner with a bigger club or investment group to help fund our eventual promotion into the MLS. I also feel that this would be the quicker way to fund a soccer specific stadium, which I would like to discuss in Part III. In the meantime, let me know what you think.

Football is the sport I began playing in a little known town called San Antonio, where I made my footballing debut at the tender age of six. Who knew that only five years later I would win State with my club team putting SA on the map?

Ok, maybe my team didn’t put SA on the map . . . . . . nor did winning the Under-12 State Championship. In fact, I’m pretty sure the championships my brother’s teams won laid the foundation for footballers in SA; I was just riding the legacy. That is to say, I have been carried by the legacy of all of those mad footballers who came before me, playing a sport they didn’t truly comprehend but played anyways for what the game represented. As Bob Marley so eloquently put it, “football means freedom.”

Regrettably, their legacy has gone unmentioned, unheralded, uncelebrated for far too long . . . . . . until now. Now is the time their sacrifice will come to fruition with the Crocketteers and their efforts to bring a pro franchise to the SA. I am happy to say that I will be lending my services to this effort with the hopes that in the future I am worthy enough to call myself a Crocketteer.

So when you ask this Scouser at heart, clad in Silver and Black: “what it is you value so highly, that you are willing to fight and possibly die for?”

I will call it football . . . . .

-Andres Roberto

One of the best innovation strategies in business is to do nothing.  Sit and wait and allow those around you to innovate.  Sometimes the smart companies pay for the R&D to make incremental changes to someone else’s good idea rather than paying the tremendous R&D to create the idea in the first place.

It is in that spirit, San Antonio, that I invite you to tour Vancouver’s BC Place with me.

As you know, Vancouver is going to begin play in the MLS in 2011.  They will be playing home games at BC Place for the foreseeable future.

BC Place is a 60,000 seat stadium, whose current primary tenant is the BC Lions Canadian Football League Team.  That is to say, BC Place is a 60,000 seat football stadium.  Built in 1983 in part to attract a Major League Baseball team that never materialized, BC Place hosts trade and consumer shows (Boat Shows, Home and Garden Shows) and motorsports events (Monster Jam, anyone?) in addition to the CFL’s Lions.  BC Place, though relatively busy, operates at an annual loss.

Sound familiar?

The Alamodome is a 65,000 seat stadium and is currently lacking a regular tenant.  Built in 1993 in part to attract a National Football League team that never materialized, the Alamodome plays host to annual football games, trade and consumer shows, motorsports events, and annual marching band competitions.  The Alamodome, though relatively busy, operates at an annual loss.

Once upon a time, the MLS had an agreement with the city of San Antonio to bring a team to the Alamodome, much like the deal that they currently have to place an MLS franchise in Vancouver’s BC Place.  Politics quashed the deal as the reins of power changed hands.

Then, this spring, we get word that Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) is interested in bringing professional soccer to San Antonio, provided they have a soccer-specific-stadium (SSS).  An SSS would bring in maximum revenue and the group made the statement that the economics at the Alamodome don’t work.

Perhaps we need to introduce our friends at SS&E to BC Place.  Like the Alamodome’s long, lost twin, BC Place is not only viable for a profitable MLS team, but it is viable and it is TEN YEARS OLDER.  BC Place will be undergoing limited renovations that will create an intimate soccer venue from a 60,000 seat barn.  As you can see in the photo, BC Place would limit the seating to the lower bowl, integrate a centrally hung scoreboard, and project a visually striking image through the use of a translucent canopy that prevents the empty upper bowl from even being seen, giving a fan the impression and experience of a true European-style soccer environment.

The Alamodome could be transformed in much the same way.  It could probably be done even cheaper than the work in Vancouver, thanks to the Alamodome’s relative youth.  It could be done.  And if the economics work in Vancouver, are we really to believe that they wouldn’t work here?

All of this to say one thing: San Antonio could host the MLS tomorrow.  San Antonio has the population, the desire, the corporate base, and the facility.

All we need are leaders that will give it a chance.   More on that soon…

Discuss this blog with the Crocketteers on our forum