Crystal Palace USA / Future of Soccer in Baltimore

Crystal Palace Baltimore was founded in 2006, and during the 2007 through 2009 seasons competed in United Soccer League at the Division 2 level.

You can find the Crystal Palace website at:

http://www.crystalpalaceusa.com/

The hierarchy of professional leagues in the US has been Major League Soccer, USL Division 1, and USL Division 2. Teams at all three levels compete for the US Open Cup.

During the 2008 season, CP Baltimore secured their marquee victory as a franchise, with their win over the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.

At the end of the 2009 season, it was announced that CP Baltimore would leave USL Division 2, to join the upstart North American Soccer League. The NASL is comprised of 9 former USL Division 1, and 2 teams, along with an expansion effort in St. Louis. The NASL has applied to the United States Soccer Foundation, and the Canadian Soccer Association to be sanctioned as the premier league right below MSL, essentially taking the place of USL Division 1.

CP Baltimore has an existing relationship with Crystal Palace Football Club in the UK. Crystal Palace UK operates in the 24-team Coca Cola Football League Championship, which is the first-level below the English Premier League. The top two teams in the Football League Championship earn automatic promotion to the Premier League. Teams finishing 3-6 compete in a playoff, with the winner also gaining promotion to the Premier. The bottom three teams of the Football League Championship move to Coca Cola Football League Championship League 1 (there is also a League 2).

In addition to CP Baltimore, and St. Louis, the other NASL teams expected to begin play in April 2010 are the:

Atlanta Silverbacks

http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/pro/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Silverbacks

Carolina Railhawks

http://www.carolinarailhawks.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_RailHawks_FC

Miami FC

http://www.miamifc.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_FC

Minnesota Thunder

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Thunder

Montreal Impact

http://www.impactmontreal.com/flash.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Impact

Rochester Rhinos

http://www.rhinossoccer.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochester_Rhinos

Tampa Bay Rowdies

http://www.tbrowdies.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies_%282010%29

Vancouver Whitecaps

http://www.whitecapsfc.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_Whitecaps_FC

I attempted to ask a few questions directly to Crystal Palace Baltimore today, but was informed by their Communication Director Mr. James Calder, that the franchise is under a gag order from the United States Soccer Federation until further notice.

When that gag is removed, I will again direct these questions to the franchise.

Until then, my open questions to CP Baltimore are below.

Question 1: Is the United Soccer League incorrect when they state that Crystal Place Baltimore has a contractual obligation to the USL to play in their Division 1, for the 2010 season?

Question 2: This North American Soccer League is comprised of a number of major markets. Will the goal of this league be to create a system where promotion to Major League Soccer is possible? Or, beyond promotion, is there interest in a merging of the two leagues?

Question 3: Do you expect the NASL to have any presence on at-least local TV in the individual markets? Has Crystal Palace Baltimore had any discussion with Comcast Sportsnet, or the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network about airing their games?

Question 4: The Vancouver Whitecaps are scheduled to join Major League Soccer in 2011, and MLS continues to discuss adding Montreal. Is there trepidation about starting a league with teams that will be departing quickly?

Question 5: Crystal Palace Baltimore announced in October, they were close to finalizing a deal to build a 7,000 seat stadium by 2012 in the Carroll Camden Industrial Area near M&T Bank Stadium. The following Soccer Specific Stadiums have been built, or are being built across the country:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Crew_Stadium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Depot_Center
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_Hut_Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Park_(Bridgeview)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick%27s_Sporting_Goods_Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull_Arena_(MLS)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Stadium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Houston_Dynamo_stadium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trails_Stadium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Tinto_Stadium

Each of these stadiums meets the Major League Soccer standard of 17,000 to 20,000 seats. If Crystal Palace Baltimore moves forward with building a 7,000 seat stadium, there would be cost associated with that venture (estimated at $25M). When it was created, there would be an attractive stadium that would never be suitable for the highest level of US Professional Soccer.

In July the European Powers Chelsea and AC Milan played to a sold-out M&T Bank Stadium. The indoor Baltimore Blast draw 7,500 a game for a mediocre product that plays indoors. Clearly, an audience for Soccer in Baltimore exists. With Mayor Dixon asking the Maryland Stadium Authority to consider building a Soccer Specific Stadium capable of being the home for Major League Soccer’s DC United; it would appear an opportunity exists for this to come to fruition. Why not dream bigger, and put your efforts behind Baltimore building a Soccer Specific Stadium comparable to any venue in the Country?

Nearly everyone has more soccer knowledge then myself. What other questions do you believe should be asked?