OT: Carolina RailHawks to Rebrand, Push for MLS Bid

[DaveG]

The mental image of a fleet of scooters dodging traffic on 401 just warmed the cockles of my dark heart...

The South Park scooters clip comes to mind.

I f***ing hate those things from living downtown last year before Winston-Salem wised up and banned them

 

[garnetpalmetto]

The South Park scooters clip comes to mind.

I ****ing hate those things from living downtown last year before Winston-Salem wised up and banned them

@JustHereForTheFights and I were in downtown Durham on Saturday checking out Pour and also getting our ice cream on at The Parlour. We saw several people on them and not a single one of them was following the rules they're supposed to follow - all of them were on the sidewalk and not a damned one wearing a helmet. I think I'm officially "get off my lawn" years old. I invite @DaveG, @tarheelhockey, @Boom Boom Apathy, and @Navin R Slavin to join me in starting the HFCanes League of Grumpy Old Men.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I think we should ban motorized scooters and provide public incentives for motorized skateboards

 

[MinJaBen]

@JustHereForTheFights and I were in downtown Durham on Saturday checking out Pour and also getting our ice cream on at The Parlour. We saw several people on them and not a single one of them was following the rules they're supposed to follow - all of them were on the sidewalk and not a damned one wearing a helmet. I think I'm officially "get off my lawn" years old. I invite @DaveG, @tarheelhockey, @Boom Boom Apathy, and @Navin R Slavin to join me in starting the HFCanes League of Grumpy Old Men.

How old does one have to be to qualify? Asking for a friend...

 

[garnetpalmetto]

How old does one have to be to qualify? Asking for a friend...

@JustHereForTheFights and I were in downtown Durham on Saturday checking out Pour and also getting our ice cream on at The Parlour. We saw several people on them and not a single one of them was following the rules they're supposed to follow - all of them were on the sidewalk and not a damned one wearing a helmet. I think I'm officially "get off my lawn" years old. I invite @DaveG, @tarheelhockey, @Boom Boom Apathy, and @Navin R Slavin to join me in starting the HFCanes League of Grumpy Old Men.

See above.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

@JustHereForTheFights and I were in downtown Durham on Saturday checking out Pour and also getting our ice cream on at The Parlour. We saw several people on them and not a single one of them was following the rules they're supposed to follow - all of them were on the sidewalk and not a damned one wearing a helmet. I think I'm officially "get off my lawn" years old. I invite @DaveG, @tarheelhockey, @Boom Boom Apathy, and @Navin R Slavin to join me in starting the HFCanes League of Grumpy Old Men.

Durham wanted bike shares. The bike share companies said "nope we're all scooter companies now." Durham rolled their eyes and said "fine". I give it a year before they say "nah".

 

[Svechhammer]

I think we should ban motorized scooters and provide public incentives for motorized skateboards

A scooter is just a skateboard with somewhere to put your hands

 

[Chrispy]

@JustHereForTheFights and I were in downtown Durham on Saturday checking out Pour and also getting our ice cream on at The Parlour. We saw several people on them and not a single one of them was following the rules they're supposed to follow - all of them were on the sidewalk and not a damned one wearing a helmet. I think I'm officially "get off my lawn" years old. I invite @DaveG, @tarheelhockey, @Boom Boom Apathy, and @Navin R Slavin to join me in starting the HFCanes League of Grumpy Old Men.

I think I can get there from Cary with a little work.

 

[Svechhammer]

Not MLS related, but Raleigh in general, since we're on the topic

Crabtree just unveiled a $290m plan to renovate the space vacated by SEARS to build up outdoor retail space, hotel space, and 30 story office building

As if the traffic through that area wasn't bad enough...

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Not MLS related, but Raleigh in general, since we're on the topic

Crabtree just unveiled a $290m plan to renovate the space vacated by SEARS to build up outdoor retail space, hotel space, and 30 story office building

As if the traffic through that area wasn't bad enough...

Just because I'd like to read more about it, a link would be awfully nice.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Here's the proposed Raleigh BRT map for 2027:

https://www.newsobserver.com/latest-news/9arqhi/picture210163994/alternates/FREE_1140/Bus Rapid Transit.jpg

The proposed stadium location is on 3 proposed BRT lines.

I know it's not as sexy as Light Rail, but at least Raleigh has a plan and is moving forward on it. First BRT line is slated to break ground in 2020, and they get constructed a lot faster than Light Rail lines.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Not MLS related, but Raleigh in general, since we're on the topic

Crabtree just unveiled a $290m plan to renovate the space vacated by SEARS to build up outdoor retail space, hotel space, and 30 story office building

As if the traffic through that area wasn't bad enough...

JFC, a 30 story tower at that location seems pretty out of place.

For reference, the tallest building in the Triangle is PNC Plaza downtown, at 32 stories.

 

[sabremike]

"I’ve been asked do I think we’re the next slot. No, I do not. Do I think we’re a top 36 market for MLS? Yeah, absolutely, and every other major league in our country has gone up to 36 teams."

Dude, literally no other major league has more than 32 teams. WTF are you talking about? Can you not math?

MLS is basically a ponzi scheme that uses expansion fees from new members to pay back the previous investors into the scheme. MLS is going to be roughly 6,450 teams by 2030.

 

[Svechhammer]

Just because I'd like to read more about it, a link would be awfully nice.

Crabtree Valley Mall unveils new $290M redevelopment project :: WRAL.com

 

[Navin R Slavin]

MLS is basically a ponzi scheme that uses expansion fees from new members to pay back the previous investors into the scheme. MLS is going to be roughly 6,450 teams by 2030.

Then they'll *have* to support pro/rel!

 

[tarheelhockey]

MLS is basically a ponzi scheme that uses expansion fees from new members to pay back the previous investors into the scheme. MLS is going to be roughly 6,450 teams by 2030.

If true, that's a pretty scary financial situation for them to be in. It's similar to certain minor hockey leagues which relied heavily on expansion fees and eventually folded. Just not a good business model at all, because at some point the gravy train has to stop.

 

[CandyCanes]

No mention of Raleigh

 

[My Special Purpose]

I mean as someone who went to Flyers and Wings games as a kid I hope he gets it. But it really seems like he should get a franchise first. It kind of seems like:

Malik: Raleigh.
MLS: No.
No one:
Malik: $2 Billion development!

To be fair, I was working at The N&O when the news broke that the NHL had rejected Karmanos's plan to turn Detroit into a two-team city, and also vetoed proposals from Columbus, Minneapolis and Nashville (to preserve future expansion fees). Raleigh submitted a bid to Karmanos/NHL based pretty much on the fact that we were building an arena anyway, so why not. There was no demand, no ticket drives, no "we want the NHL" marches on city hall. I was the biggest NHL fan in the area and if you had forced me to bet my life on the NHL working or not working here at that moment, I'd have given it five years, tops.

People need to get on some damned busses. We've turned a perfectly viable means of transit into a thing that's only for poor people. But that's a rant for another time.

I couldn’t agree more.

I don't even own bus pants anymore.

Also, despite my social anxiety, I'm pretty pi$$ed about being left out of the HCanes LGOM.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

No mention of Raleigh

Hey, I think "other potential expansion markets" just screams Raleigh.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

To be fair, I was working at The N&O when the news broke that the NHL had rejected Karmanos's plan to turn Detroit into a two-team city, and also vetoed proposals from Columbus, Minneapolis and Nashville (to preserve future expansion fees). Raleigh submitted a bid to Karmanos/NHL based pretty much on the fact that we were building an arena anyway, so why not. There was no demand, no ticket drives, no "we want the NHL" marches on city hall. I was the biggest NHL fan in the area and if you had forced me to bet my life on the NHL working or not working here at that moment, I'd have given it five years, tops.





I don't even own bus pants anymore.

Also, despite my social anxiety, I'm pretty pi$$ed about being left out of the HCanes LGOM.

Pretty pissed? You're in. Welcome to the club.

 

[Novacane]

Not sure how reputable but interesting nonetheless

 

[HisIceness]

Not a surprise, Tepper has been pushing hard for this and frankly he's a better option for owner than the Bruton Smith family. Will be interesting to see how this market responds to the franchise after the novelty wears off. I'm still of the opinion that long-term they would do better in Raleigh, less competition.

Wonder what this means for the future of the NCAA College Cup in Cary.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I'm still of the opinion that long-term they would do better in Raleigh, less competition.

Choosing between the two markets seems unnecessary to me. Both cities are fully capable of supporting a team.

 

[HisIceness]

Choosing between the two markets seems unnecessary to me. Both cities are fully capable of supporting a team.

Highly doubt it happens though unless MLS decides to stupidly expand to 40 teams or something. It was always going to be one or the other, not both.

 

[Canes]

Choosing between the two markets seems unnecessary to me. Both cities are fully capable of supporting a team.

Probably, especially considering MLS teams don't necessarily need fan support like NFL/NBA/MLB, but there are bigger cities than Raleigh that don't have a team either mostly because another city in the state already has a MLS team.

Will be interesting, I casually watched Atlanta since their games are broadcast here in SC but I can't get over them playing in a dome and on turf. Hopefully Charlotte will have a real soccer stadium.