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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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Posted: 06/30/22 3:16 pm ::: |
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With the amount of interested ownership groups, I don't see them stopping at 14 teams. Probably will get to 16 by 2026 once Chicago and Orlando get moved
Utah and Atlanta for '24
Chicago relocates to Cincinnati
Orlando relocates to Austin
Bay Area and Toronto join in '26
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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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Hawkeye
Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 768 Location: Houston, TX
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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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Posted: 12/03/22 8:27 am ::: |
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Based on what's recently come out, I'll say:
Utah and Bay Area for '24 [14 teams]
Chicago relocates to Cincinnati in '24
Atlanta joins in '25 [15 teams]
Toronto joins in '26 [16 teams]
No expansion in 2027
Probable expansion again in 2028 [18 teams]
*Orlando potentially relocates as well
With over 30 potential ownership groups interested, it's simply a matter of how the league paces itself and doesn't over-expand. If only the WNBA was so lucky to have this issue.
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Twitter: @TBRBWAY
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scullyfu
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 8888 Location: Niagara Falls
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Posted: 12/09/22 10:31 am ::: |
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I live in WNY & would love a weekend trip to Toronto. Rochester, NY was never a hotbed of soccer, at least not enough to pull in the number of fans that they have the ability to in Toronto. I just wish it would be sooner than 2026.
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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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Posted: 12/09/22 10:54 am ::: |
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Toronto probably doesn't happen for the NWSL as their will be a women's soccer league in Canada beginning in 2025. I'd say replace Toronto with Austin for 2026. League probably splits into two conferences once they hit 16 teams
EAST: Gotham FC, Washington, Atlanta, North Carolina, Cincinnati, Orlando, Louisville, Kansas City
WEST: Reign FC, Portland, Bay Area, Angel City, San Diego, Utah, Houston, Austin
_________________ LET'S GO LIBERTY!!!!!!
Twitter: @TBRBWAY
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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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Posted: 03/11/23 8:43 pm ::: |
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Utah Royals are officially back, returning in 2024.
_________________ LET'S GO LIBERTY!!!!!!
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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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johnjohnW
Joined: 11 Aug 2020 Posts: 1977
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Posted: 04/04/23 9:07 am ::: |
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I haven’t followed the league much in recent years but why is Orlando ripe for relocation? Weren’t they leading in attendance for a while? The relocation and expansion of this league seems wild. Good for them that they have the interest to do so.
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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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Posted: 04/04/23 6:47 pm ::: |
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johnjohnW wrote: |
I haven’t followed the league much in recent years but why is Orlando ripe for relocation? Weren’t they leading in attendance for a while? The relocation and expansion of this league seems wild. Good for them that they have the interest to do so. |
in their early years, yes. Portland has always lead the league in attendance, but Orlando was up there as well. Between Chicago & Orlando, both likely get relocated soon. Chicago has a stadium issue and nowhere else to play. Orlando has crappy ownership. I'd expect team #16 and these two franchise to be added/relocated to MLS owners in Atlanta, Cincinnati & Austin. Austin is being strongly rumored at team #16. The league probably splits into two conferences when this happens.
EAST: Boston, Gotham, Washington, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Louisville, North Carolina, Kansas City
WEST: Reign FC, Portland, Bay Area, Angel City, San Diego, Utah, Houston, Austin
_________________ LET'S GO LIBERTY!!!!!!
Twitter: @TBRBWAY
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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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Posted: 09/08/23 4:03 pm ::: |
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NWSL's commissioner confirmed today that the league will expand again by adding two more teams for the 2026 season. It should be Boston + another city joining that year. Meanwhile, Cathy Engelbert keeps delaying expansion for the WNBA.
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Hawkeye
Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 768 Location: Houston, TX
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Posted: 09/12/23 10:00 pm ::: |
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Is the WNBA delaying expansion or are there just not the ownerships coming forward? Although attendance is up for the league, it does hurt that some teams are playing in tiny arenas or, like Indiana, can't draw much at all. I would expect better from a basketball state like Indiana, they just haven't really been able to catch on with Indianapolis folks. The Fever drew 8,575 in 2016 and went down ever year, finally falling off the cliff in 2022, drawing just 1,776 a game. They have rebounded "a little" this season with 4,067 but that just isn't going to cut it. Something has to give there---what are the marketing people doing--or more to the point NOT doing?
I was surprised with Seattle and Sue Bird's last year, dropping by almost 2,000 a game. Everyone else went up by close to 1,000 a game or so. Hopefully the trajectory continues in 2024. The league needs more teams--namely Houston and a Portland to draw against Seattle. Charlotte, Nashville, Boston would be good additions. I just don't get what the WNBA is up to. We shall see.
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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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Hawkeye
Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 768 Location: Houston, TX
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Posted: 09/19/23 11:33 am ::: |
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Good to have a club back in Boston. I'm hoping they give it real name and not Boston FC or FC Boston or Boston City. As well, I'd rather not see Boston Breakers...that name is tired and failed. Boston Monarchs (after the investment group) would be kinda neat.
Next up is making the "stadium" into a legit place to play and not just a field with stands on either sideline. The track needs to go as well. Currently it holds enough folks, but it just looks run down. They have a couple years, so I'm looking forward to what they do with it!
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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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toad455
Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 22513 Location: NJ
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