MLS Future Expansion Series: Detroit

   With all the talk of the MLS getting bigger I decided to start an expansion series.  Everyday I will post about a different site.  These sites are some of the most talked about in MLS expansion.  I already have talked about Orlando and New York City in a former post so I will not be talking about these two sites again.  They are, however, the two most promising expansion options.  The sites I will be discussing in order are Detroit, Minnesota and Atlanta.  The past few years have seen some very exciting clubs and stadium atmospheres emerge from MLS expansion.  It is very possible that all of these sites could potentially host MLS franchises in the next couple of decades.  I am just here to give everyone a profile of each site and let you decide if they deserve a franchise.  I hope everyone enjoys the series.  Let us start with Detroit.

 

MLS Detroit Stadium Renderings

  The above drawing is a proposed idea of the future home to Detroit's MLS franchise.  Recently, the old Pontiac Silverdome was bought for the bargain price of $583,000.  I must admit that the idea for the stadiums renovations are quite breathtaking.  I just do not really know if these leaked renderings are really possible from an engineering stand point.  What do I really know though?  I was not an engineering major in college and the proposed stadium could be possible.  My main concern has to do with structural support for the field.  How can something that flat and vast be supported without structural columns?  My other initial concern has to do with snow.  The stadium renderings show an open field that is suspended above the concert hall and arena.  How will that hold up to a harsh Detroit winter?  Engineering logistics aside lets talk about Detroit as a possible site for MLS expansion.  The Detroit metropolitan area has a population of around 5.2 million.  This figure alone is more than enough to sustain an MLS franchise and it sustains teams in all of the four major sports leagues.  A big question is if soccer really is desirable in Detroit.  The owners of the Pontiac Silverdome certainly seem to think so.  The area has no teams in lower professional divisions.  Detroit does, however, host the PDL team Michigan Bucks and the NPSL side Detroit City FC.

 It is really hard to get a good look at how Detroit would be as a potential city for the MLS.  In the past, Detroit has hosted international games and international club matches.  AC Milan played Panathinaikos in front of a crowd of 30,000.  It is possible that more people would have come out if AC Milan was playing a more globally known club.  Only the most avid soccer fans would recognize Panathinaikos. This also raises my eyebrows at Detroit's situation.  The proposed stadium holds 30,000 people.  I don't foresee Detroit selling out this many seats if they can't get more than 30,000 people out to see AC Milan.  The renderings are not final and I do think that a reduction in seating capacity could happen.  At the least I could see them only seating 20,000 with expandable seating to 30,000.  I think that some serious probes should be sent to the city to see if the area is crazy for a club.  They do have a quite a movement going with their Motor City Supporters.  I think that are enough passionate fans to warrant a good look at bringing a team to Detroit.  Some proposed names for the club have been Metro Detroit FC, Motor City FC and Detroit FC.  I think a that it would be great for the league to have a northern rivalry with Toronto FC, Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew.