MLS Expansion - If Seattle gets a team, Poulsbo might get the Sounders
If Seattle lands an expansion team as expected, the Sounders might end up staying in the USL. What that means is the MLS team might not take the name Sounders with them and if they do not, at least one member of the Sounders' ownership group want to keep the team alive. Robin Waite would be willing to build a soccer specific stadium in Poulsbo (a city on the Kitsap Peninsula, which is located on the west side of the Puget Sound), for a new version of the Sounders. It is about 15 miles away from downtown Seattle.
"Yes, it's a possibility," said Robin Waite of Tracyton, part of the Sounders' ownership group who has been actively trying to build a soccer-only stadium with the hopes of luring a USL franchise to the region.The team would be very removed from the Seattle home they have come to know, but it might work. Still, the relatively small population density in the area might make it a bit difficult to draw a large crowd.
Waite is zeroing in on nearly 13 acres of land in Poulsbo after a recent attempt to purchase an eight-acre parcel of land in Olhava fell through.
"We're under contract right now on the land," Waite said of the site he's currently zeroing in on.
There are, he said, some wetland issues.
"We can put a stadium on it," he said of the property where he would like to build a 6,500-seat stadium that he estimates will cost him about $2.5 million. "The question becomes what do you do about parking."
But this brings up a different issue, if Seattle lands a team, should they be able to keep the name Sounders? With more and more USL teams getting a look over as possible candidates for MLS, this might be an issue that repeats itself. So provided that all the legal issues are resolved concerning the name, what do you think?
Labels: MLS, MLS expansion, Poulsbo, Seattle, Seattle Sounders, USL, USL First Division
posted by Mike H at 10:55 AM
4 Comments:
Waite is insane to try and build a stadium in Poulsbo. Drove through there on our way out to the Olympic National Park. Yeah, it's an easy ferry ride there, plus a little driving.
But there's no way a team would be supported enough. Far more sensible to work with the Tide owners, and raise the Tide (ha. ha.) up to USL-1.
As someone who grew up on an island in Puget Sound, let me just say that Poulsbo is out in the middle of NOWHERE. It's virtually impossible to get to from Seattle, unless you're willing to drive right into the middle of downtown wait an hour-plus for a ferry, ride of 30 minutes on the ferry, and then drive for 25 minutes on backroads to get there.
Yikes.
It's clear that he has no concept of land development regulations. The site in Poulsbo has both wetland and stream issues, and the proposal is to fill wetland to put in parking. No way that's getting by these days! (Even though the Mayor and Council seem to be panting over this one.) Also the site is WAAAAY too undersized to accommodate anything like the parking necessary, even if all the wetlands were filled. It's a nice idea, but for Pete's sake get realistic and find a site that could actually work.
With the recent talk of moving to a more friendly site, I believe this is a great idea. I am a soccer fan/player/youth coach that thinks all of us soccer crazies in the Kitsap area will support a team without having to rely on fans coming from "across the water". Robin Waite...you have my support!!!
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