Sounders Partner with Rainiers to Bring USL to Tacoma

The Seattle Sounders FC (Major League Soccer) and Tacoma Rainiers (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) have reached a preliminary deal on building a 5,000 seat soccer-specific stadium in Tacoma (WA) to host the Sounders 2 USL team.  The Rainiers would run the business side of the team, while the Sounders would handle soccer operations.  Read more here.

Ballpark Development Opportunity for Boise Hawks, Pro Soccer?

United Soccer League President Jake Edwards is keen to place a minor league team in Boise.  Portland Timbers President of Soccer and General Manager Gavin Wilkinson wants to be involved in a USL team in Boise for his MLS franchise.  Read more here.

MountainStar Sports Launches MLS Campaign

PRESS RELEASE – MountainStar Sports Group announced today that it has gone live with initiatives aimed at fostering grassroots support to bring Major League Soccer (MLS) to the Borderplex region. An official website and Facebook page have been developed and members of the public are encouraged to become a part of the campaign.

Baseball Supporters Oppose Pro Soccer at New Westminster (BC) Ballpark

Baseball supporters in New Westminster (BC) are fighting to stop the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Major League Soccer) from placing a minor soccer franchise at a retrofitted Queens Park Stadium.  Read more and watch news report here.  As you might recall, the summer collegiate West Coast League had explored putting a new baseball franchise at the ballpark a couple of years ago.  Read more here.

Chihuahuas Ownership Group Pursuing MLS Expansion Team for El Paso

PRESS RELEASE – MountainStar Sports Group announced today that it has had preliminary and positive discussions with Major League Soccer (MLS) regarding the possibility of adding El Paso as an expansion market for the League.

NYCFC, Yankees Outline Plans for Soccer-Friendly Yankee Stadium

The expansion New York City FC announced Monday that they will open their Major League Soccer (MLS) existence next year at Yankee Stadium.  Officials from both the soccer club and New York Yankees outlined the plans to turn the venue into one that is suited for both baseball and soccer games on a consistent basis.  Read more and watch news conference here.

New York City F.C. to Play at Yankee Stadium for Three Years

New York City F.C., a team that will enter Major League Soccer next year, will play its first three seasons at Yankee Stadium, according to a report in the New York Times.  Read more here.

MLB Raising Concerns About Season-Long Soccer at Yankee Stadium

It’s been assumed that Major League Soccer’s New York City FC would begin their inaugural season playing within the confines of Yankee Stadium.  However, MLB reportedly fears that the playing surface would be damaged from constant usage, leading to player injuries and disruption in play as was experienced in the 70s when the Cosmos called Yankee Stadium home.  Read more here.

Soccer Stadium Envy in Newark?

Newark (NJ) had a chance to build a new soccer stadium for an MLS team but chose the baseball-only route when Riverfront Stadium was built for the struggling indy pro Newark Bears (then Atlantic League, now Can-Am League).  Today, just across the river in Harrison (NJ), 25,000 fans pack 17-month-old Red Bull Arena, home of MLS’s Red Bulls.  Read more here.  View gallery here.

PGE Park Now Jeld-Wen Field, Baseball to Soccer Conversion Nearly Complete

Klamath Falls (OR)-based window and door manufacturer Jeld-Wen has purchased the naming rights to PGE Park, the former home of the Triple-A Portland Beavers, for the next 10 years.  The stadium, now known as Jeld-Wen Field, is undergoing a $31 million renovation to make it soccer-ready for the MLS Portland Timbers.  The team will make its home debut on April 14.  Read more here.  View rendering here.