Detroits New Silverdome

[Prodigal Son]

So, like I mentioned in the random thoughts thread, some guys bought the Silverdome for like 600k. Now they're trying to get it redone to have 3 different venues inside of it. a 20k seated hockey rink, a 20k seated concert venue, and a 30k seated soccer field.

http://www.kckrs.com/behold-the-insane-silverdome-plans-that-could-bring-mls-to-the-motor-city/

 

[Fappin Raptor]

Bring us an MLS team please! But I don't see the point in a hockey rink.

 

[Chrispy]

So the soccer stadium is going to be above the other two rinks?

 

[Fappin Raptor]

So the soccer stadium is going to be above the other two rinks?

Yea, a two story stadium with three venues in it. It seems like a great idea. You could essentially house three events in a night.

 

[NAHSTE]

That is a pretty awesome idea. Hope they get an MLS team soon.

 

[wr50l]

Holy shit that's an innovation right there. Eat your heart out Jerry Jones.

 

[Chrispy]

It sounds sick, can't wait to see it finished, if they ever do it.

 

[BigHouseUSA]

The owners have gone through on everything they've promised so far. They're definitely serious about doing this. I never expected this much progress since they bought it. I'm not as confident as us actually get awarded a team.

 

[NAHSTE]

The owners have gone through on everything they've promised so far. They're definitely serious about doing this. I never expected this much progress since they bought it. I'm not as confident as us actually get awarded a team.

It would be cool if this gets used for more than just an MLS team. Obviously something this state of the art could possibly become a huge revenue stream for the city.

Could the Pistons maybe move into this building? It'd be awesome to have them back in downtown Detroit, and it's be incredible to see two sport-specific arenas exist within the same structure.

 

[Fappin Raptor]

The Palace is still relatively new and actually a really nice stadium.

 

[NAHSTE]

The Palace is still relatively new and actually a really nice stadium.

I thought I read something about the owner wanting a new venue. If it's still viable then it may not be as pressing of a thing, but I always prefer to see teams play within the city they represent rather than in the suburbs.

 

[mgoblue2290]

It would be cool if this gets used for more than just an MLS team. Obviously something this state of the art could possibly become a huge revenue stream for the city.

Could the Pistons maybe move into this building? It'd be awesome to have them back in downtown Detroit, and it's be incredible to see two sport-specific arenas exist within the same structure.

The Silverdome is in Pontiac, not Detroit. It'd be closer to Detroit than Auburn Hills but not in the city.

 

[Ravin]

I thought I read something about the owner wanting a new venue. If it's still viable then it may not be as pressing of a thing, but I always prefer to see teams play within the city they represent rather than in the suburbs.

Kind of like how the NEW YORK Giants/Jets play in NEW JERSEY. Always found that to be goofy.


If they were smart they would try to get the Pistons and Red Wings on board. The Joe is getting old as well, and although it's a landmark, the Wings will need a new building soon. Put them all in one place, and let it go.

 

[NAHSTE]

The Silverdome is in Pontiac, not Detroit. It'd be closer to Detroit than Auburn Hills but not in the city.

I totally knew that. Forget I said anything. But as Ravin said, it would be cool to see an MLS team sharing a venue with the Wings and Pistons.

 

[BigHouseUSA]

It can't be too long until the Wings announce something on an arena. They've been wanting out for a few years, Pistons might have a harder time, though. But really, who gives a shit about the Pistons?

 

[Prodigal Son]

If they can get this approved within the next year or so, I wouldn't be surprised to see Detroit be named the 20th team. MLS really wants the Cosmos, but with them being unable to secure anything in New York, it's not working out for them.

 

[NAHSTE]

If they can get this approved within the next year or so, I wouldn't be surprised to see Detroit be named the 20th team. MLS really wants the Cosmos, but with them being unable to secure anything in New York, it's not working out for them.

If I may veer this thread into the topic of MLS expansion for a moment, what are the other realistic choices? I know before the whole Madoff thing hit Wilpon, there was a lot of mutual interest to put a team in Flushing, and Arthur Blank has vaguely expressed an interest for putting a team in suburban Atlanta, but it seems like Detroit is the front runner. They have as strong of a history with US soccer as any other city.

Still, even without Wilpon, there is still a possibility of a 2nd New York team, and Atlanta remains perfectly viable due to the available space and money with which to build a SSS.

I would hate to see Brotroit get screwed over but I think all three options could work.

 

[killgod]

Does Atlanta actually have people who would support soccer?

Outside of American football, their fan support seems "meh" at best. The Braves have been a competitive franchise for what feels like decades now, were in it till the final day of the regular season and yet they were 16th in attendance filling out only 60% of Turner Field.

The Thrashers couldn't get fans to save themselves, so for the 2nd time in 30 years a hockey team leaves the city.

The Hawks finished 5th in the East last year, but were 22nd in attendance.


MLS is 3rd tier football at best right now when you look at things globally. You really need true support for this to work because what's seen is not always easy to appreciate and it's going to be some time before the quality really gets better.

Blank might be interested, but he may be much like Bob Kraft where he uses the team to simply add more dates to Gillette's calendar and skimp out on taxes from what I've read, that's not an ideal situation to grow a fan base and it shows in NE.

I don't see Atlanta as a fit at all.


Detroit seems like a much better option as they'd have a natural rival in the Chicago Fire and could develop a good rivalry with Toronto as these cities are intertwined in other sports as well.

 

[Sharkweather]

Does Atlanta actually have people who would support soccer?

Not likely. The south is 1. College football, 2. Spring football, 3. NASCAR.

 

[Blade]

Not likely. The south is 1. College football, 2. Spring football, 3. NASCAR.

That cracks me up..........only in the south do people go bat shit crazy about Spring Scrimmage Football.