SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums College, Pro & International Soccer MLS In The South

I think the top 5 cities in the Southeast based on soccer support/teams already in play would be as follows:

1. Charleston
2. ATL
3. Cary/Charlotte
4. Va Beach
5. Miami

I am in complete agrement w/ the football stadium thoughts......just plain bad for the game

I dont think Charleston is really number one, due to the fact that they are not as big of a city or have a large stadium already built for a franchise to move to.

ATL is big they prolly have the best chance.

Cary NC is really nice that is where the US Nationals is going into training camp before the World Cup i believe maybe that will provide and influence. (US vs Jamaica also being played there, that will help)

Va Beach...OK i dont consider that really the south but they do have a huge soccer following in that area.

Anywhere in Floridia you think would do well (Latin influence) but i guess it has failed 2 times so I wouldnt see another team trying there soon.

Actually there are 4 MLS teams with their own soccer specific stadiums:

1. Crew
2. Galaxy
3. FC Dallas
4. Chivas USA(Share with LA)

Red Bull New York is next and I believe Chicago is right after them.

Stadium Capacities

Stadium Capacity Club(s)

D.C. United Stadium 30,000 D.C. United (future; to open in 2008)

Home Depot Center 27,000 Los Angeles Galaxy and C.D. Chivas USA

Sandy Stadium 25,000 Real Salt Lake (future; to open in 2007)

Columbus Crew Stadium 22,555 Columbus Crew

Pizza Hut Park 21,193 F.C. Dallas

Bridgeview Stadium 20,000 Chicago Fire

Red Bull Arena 20,000 Red Bull New York (future; to open in 2007)

Silverbacks Park 19,500 Atlanta Silverbacks (future; to open in 2007)

Rapids Soccer Stadium 18,000 Colorado Rapids (future; to open in 2007)

PAETEC Park 17,500 Rochester Raging Rhinos

Liberty Bank Stadium 16,500 Des Moines Menace (future; to open in 2009)

Virginia Beach Sportsplex 10,000 Virginia Beach Mariners

SAS Soccer Park 7,047 Raleigh CASL Elite

Kuntz Stadium 6,000 F.C. Indiana

Legion Stadium 5,300 Wilmington Hammerheads

Blackbaud Stadium 5,113 Charleston Battery

Invaders Soccer Complex 4,985 Indiana Invaders F.C.

Kraze and Krush Stadium 3,666 Central Florida
Kraze and Central Florida Krush

Lusitano Stadium 3,000 Western Mass Pioneers

Starfire Sports Complex 2,500 Seattle Sounders

Busch Field 2,271 Williamsburg Legacy and William & Mary Tribe

City Park Stadium 1,845 Westchester Flames FC

Ezell Park 1,317 Nashville Metros


..pretty interesting stuff.

OK The Fire's new stadium is awesome! check it out:

Fire Stadium

ATL has now tied Charleston for first in the SE.

wow that is interesting. But the point is it is possible to start from a small or NFL stadium, many MLS teams have done so and then build their own specific stadium

What about Greenville? I think that it would be a good place for an MLS team. You could always use one of the D II football teams satidums for play. There are enough choices for that there.

i like smaller stadiums (25,000 40,000(at the most)) especially when it comes to soccer.. it makes the atmosphere much better im my opinion

There are alot of options but the main thing is it takes someone (rich) to start the franchise. I think most MLS teams are owned by like 3 people? Anyone know about that?

Don't know about owners but THIS is a pretty interesting article.