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Post by greenmonkey on Oct 22, 2019 14:05:57 GMT -5
Bummed for ATL but glad the league is strong enough to grow.
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced today that Louisville will
become the League’s fourth expansion team. Louisville is set to begin play in the 2021 season at Lynn Family Stadium, the soccer-specific venue with a capacity of nearly 14,000 set to open in Spring of 2020.
“We are very excited to welcome John Neace and Louisville City FC into the NWSL,” said NWSL President Amanda
Duffy. “With the club’s growing, passionate fanbase, coupled with its strong ownership group, and its significant
investment in a soccer specific stadium in a downtown location, we are thrilled to bring the highest level of women’s
professional soccer to the area.”
The expansion marks the first time the city of Louisville has had a top-tier pro sports team since the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association ceased operations in 1976.
The announcement comes at an exciting time for the NWSL and women’s professional soccer, which is seeing
unprecedented interest and success. Earlier this year, the U.S. Women’s National Team won their record-setting fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup, and this Sunday the NWSL will crown their seventh league champion when the North Carolina Courage take on the Chicago Red Stars in the 2019 NWSL Championship game at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Also, earlier this week, NWSL announced a new multi-tier consulting partnership with Octagon’s Global Media Rights Consulting and Marketing.
“We are incredibly honored to be joining NWSL, the greatest women’s soccer league in the world,” said Louisville City Football Club President Brad Estes. “We can’t wait to welcome these incredible athletes with open arms and support them in their mission to win championships. This market is hungry for more pro soccer, and we know our NWSL team will be a shining star in this league and in our community.”
The addition of Louisville also marks the sixth NWSL team to affiliate with a men’s pro team. Soccer Holdings, LLC, the ownership group of Louisville City FC will operate the NWSL team using the existing management group, headed by Estes. Louisville City won back-to-back USL Championship titles in 2017 and 2018.
“As an owner, we jumped at the chance to join this exciting league,” said John Neace, Chairman of Soccer Holdings, LLC. “The athleticism in the NWSL is second to none while attendance is growing. This is a sound business decision as we complete the new soccer-only stadium and expand the entertainment district around it.”
Soccer Holdings will announce the team’s logo, crest and colors later this year. The NWSL expansion draft for the 2021 season will take place towards the end of 2020. Louisville will commence an international search for a top-level coach and technical staff before bringing in players.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Oct 22, 2019 14:31:05 GMT -5
One would think Atlanta would be the best place for a NWSL club.
Is there no true interested investors stepping forward? Surely NASA/Tophat can come up with the estimated expansion money....
find a stadium to rent and bam -- done
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Post by greenmonkey on Oct 22, 2019 14:44:46 GMT -5
One would think Atlanta would be the best place for a NWSL club. Is there no true interested investors stepping forward? Surely NASA/Tophat can come up with the estimated expansion money.... find a stadium to rent and bam -- done [ All the new franchises are MLS aligned and I’m pretty sure Uncle Arthur’s kid played at Concorde He needs to sell the Falcons and bankroll one kickass NWSL team LOL |
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Post by mistergrinch on Oct 22, 2019 14:45:48 GMT -5
One would think Atlanta would be the best place for a NWSL club. Is there no true interested investors stepping forward? Surely NASA/Tophat can come up with the estimated expansion money.... find a stadium to rent and bam -- done Just not the fraction stadium where AU2 plays... that eliminates a LOT of people from wanting to go. |
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Post by atlfutboldad on Oct 22, 2019 16:06:50 GMT -5
But would the rest of the ATL soccer market get behind a bigger NTH? There's some bad blood already there. I think it would be more successful if it was a new organization.
The fraction stadium is a long ways away indeed. Seems like a nice stadium though.
Georgia State's stadium in the old Ted would likely be a logical choice. But then there will be the old concerns about parking and gameday safety.
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Post by soccerloafer on Oct 22, 2019 18:11:39 GMT -5
AB's kids have been at both TH and CF.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Oct 22, 2019 18:22:50 GMT -5
Was the Atlanta beat more a victim of a poorly ran league with no TV revenue?
I only went to a few games, but enjoyed them for sure.
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Post by Keeper on Oct 22, 2019 23:16:21 GMT -5
Can’t remember where I read this but I thought the biggest reason the NWSL won’t come to Atlanta is we lack a soccer stadium. They tried to to use places like Silverbacks and Grady Stadium which are far from from ideal. Then there’s 5/3 Bank which is decent and okay but used to much by KSU and for some too far. SunTrust and Coolray are baseball specific and just not right dimensions for long term soccer, Bobby Dodd has been great but is too large and GaTech Football has never wanted a soccer team in their long term. Then there’s that massive indoor arena downtown, but it’s not for outdoor soccer and way to large and expensive for a low budget soccer team which is what almost all NWSL teams are.
If Atlanta is a true soccer town then we gotta build in actual soccer stadium, til then Atlanta is still just a baseball/football town.
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Post by Goalkeeper Dad on Oct 23, 2019 6:32:09 GMT -5
Can’t remember where I read this but I thought the biggest reason the NWSL won’t come to Atlanta is we lack a soccer stadium. They tried to to use places like Silverbacks and Grady Stadium which are far from from ideal. Then there’s 5/3 Bank which is decent and okay but used to much by KSU and for some too far. SunTrust and Coolray are baseball specific and just not right dimensions for long term soccer, Bobby Dodd has been great but is too large and GaTech Football has never wanted a soccer team in their long term. Then there’s that massive indoor arena downtown, but it’s not for outdoor soccer and way to large and expensive for a low budget soccer team which is what almost all NWSL teams are. If Atlanta is a true soccer town then we gotta build in actual soccer stadium, til then Atlanta is still just a baseball/football town. The rumor is that Atlanta United has 15-20 acres by the training ground that was earmarked for a small type soccer stadium with parking. This would be perfect for a NSWL team and Atlanta 2 |
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Post by wannabegreat on Oct 23, 2019 9:40:58 GMT -5
I heard we would not be first expansion, but that land purchase was for a possible NWSL location. MHO is we are a more viable choice for 2021. Atlanta is a great location for NWSL.
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Post by atlfutboldad on Oct 23, 2019 9:46:14 GMT -5
Wait, why would Grady stadium be far from ideal? I hadn't thought of that one, but actually, its perfect. Its central, next to Piedmont park so a lot of fans could simply walk/use the beltline.
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Oct 23, 2019 11:26:53 GMT -5
Can’t remember where I read this but I thought the biggest reason the NWSL won’t come to Atlanta is we lack a soccer stadium. They tried to to use places like Silverbacks and Grady Stadium which are far from from ideal. Then there’s 5/3 Bank which is decent and okay but used to much by KSU and for some too far. SunTrust and Coolray are baseball specific and just not right dimensions for long term soccer, Bobby Dodd has been great but is too large and GaTech Football has never wanted a soccer team in their long term. Then there’s that massive indoor arena downtown, but it’s not for outdoor soccer and way to large and expensive for a low budget soccer team which is what almost all NWSL teams are. If Atlanta is a true soccer town then we gotta build in actual soccer stadium, til then Atlanta is still just a baseball/football town. The rumor is that Atlanta United has 15-20 acres by the training ground that was earmarked for a small type soccer stadium with parking. This would be perfect for a NSWL team and Atlanta 2 Cost analysis of bringing all things AU2 under the same roof as the first team and academy. I believe there are also discussions going on about creating more fields to meet the current academy capacity. The futures all the way up to the U19s practice on fields 3-6 since fields 1 & 2 are exclusively reserved for the first team. That doesn't even include ODP, travelling teams who use the facility(college n pro) etc. So it's currently already a pinch. Some of the things tossed about are 4 more fields and potentially some parking facility and an additional structure(meeting rooms, classrooms, locker room, utility, etc.) |
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Post by rudy on Oct 23, 2019 19:21:53 GMT -5
Hope the league makes. However, after another year, the women's team will lose the USWNT momentum. With that comes empty stadiums. No fans, no league unless the MLS keeps it afloat like the NBA does the WNBA.
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Post by Keeper on Oct 23, 2019 23:23:05 GMT -5
Wait, why would Grady stadium be far from ideal? I hadn't thought of that one, but actually, its perfect. Its central, next to Piedmont park so a lot of fans could simply walk/use the beltline. There is like zero parking at Grady. Plus it’s like one of two stadiums/fields that most Fulton County schools use football, soccer, and lacrosse. |
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Post by atlsoccerdad on Oct 24, 2019 7:57:35 GMT -5
If Atlanta is a true soccer town then we gotta build in actual soccer stadium, til then Atlanta is still just a baseball/football town. I would love to see plans for a TRUE soccer complex somewhere ... with the money some of these clubs are making, surely this is possible. Maybe Concorde and NTH should join forces?  Something like the new Inter Miami plans or the LAFC's Exposition Park but on a much smaller scale. While Im dreaming, it should be integrated with the community, close to Marta for easy transportation, have "public" practice fields, and offer food, WiFi etc. Think "soccer-focused mini SunTrust Park"... |
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Post by Keeper on Oct 24, 2019 22:34:36 GMT -5
If Atlanta is a true soccer town then we gotta build in actual soccer stadium, til then Atlanta is still just a baseball/football town. I would love to see plans for a TRUE soccer complex somewhere ... with the money some of these clubs are making, surely this is possible. Maybe Concorde and NTH should join forces? Something like the new Inter Miami plans or the LAFC's Exposition Park but on a much smaller scale. While Im dreaming, it should be integrated with the community, close to Marta for easy transportation, have "public" practice fields, and offer food, WiFi etc. Think "soccer-focused mini SunTrust Park"... But Marta only brings crime and trouble... |
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Post by mistergrinch on Oct 25, 2019 8:36:19 GMT -5
"close to Marta for easy transportation,"
Like Marta makes transportation easy. Unless you're going to the Benz or maybe the airport - it's kind of useless.
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Post by Keeper on Oct 25, 2019 19:03:53 GMT -5
"close to Marta for easy transportation," Like Marta makes transportation easy. Unless you're going to the Benz or maybe the airport - it's kind of useless. Marta would be great if so many people wouldn’t constantly fight them when they want to build and expand the lines. Get rid of the racist losers that want to blame Marta for crime and we could expand it to being as good as most major cities. |
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