When one looks at potential expansion cities beyond the almost pre-ordained second team in the New York metropolitan area there are not a lot of “slam dunk” choices as Toronto, Seattle, Philadelphia, Portland, Vancouver and Montreal.
One area of the country that can boast the kind of young, tech-savvy, soccer connected demographic that has helped make MLS a major league in the cities mentioned above is “The Research Triangle” of North Carolina. A team there would also serve to spread MLS’s national footprint to the Southeast without the risk of failing in a larger market like Atlanta.
While perhaps not being a Seattle, or Portland right away, The Triangle could be a place like Salt Lake City or Philadelphia where a solid core of support, large corporate sponsors, a community which already embraces the sport at lower levels (such as college soccer) and a dedicated ownership group could help to build up a head of steam (and future investment) to power Railhawks FC down the track towards a successful future in MLS.
Our good friend at MLSR partner, MLS Reserves got to sit down and interview RailHawks President and MLS management veteran Curt Johnson to look into what the organization is doing both on and off the field as well as their vision for the future.
Here is an excerpt focusing on expansion from a much longer article which you should read:
The Possibility of Moving to MLS
With the success of the team on the field and success at the gate rising, many have wondered about the possibility of the entire franchise moving to MLS in the vein of Seattle or Montreal. Consider that they took their teams’ successes as a second division side and used that to parlay a role in Major League Soccer.
“I certainly wouldn’t be telling the truth if I said I hadn’t thought about it. I don’t think any of us; fans, business people, players or owners that care about the RailHawks should ever put limits on what this could be.”
Carolina currently plays at WakeMed Soccer Park, which seats a standard 7,500 and can be expanded to roughly 10,000. In terms of MLS stadiums, it certainly isn’t top amongst available seating. However, I pointed out to Mr. Johnson that the San Jose Earthquakes have been residing at Buck Shaw Stadium, which seats the same, for the over half a decade. The possibility seems to be there.
There may not have been a more accurate statement in the entire interview. The Triangle is a hot bed of potential. Between the collegiate talent in the ACC for both soccer and basketball, the attendance and interest of the game when US Soccer has played in the area and there is obvious evidence of potential.
In the end, Curt Johnson’s message to fans, owners, sponsors and players was simple: No Limits.
If the message is indeed no limits, then fans of soccer in Carolina and around the country can look to the future and be excited.
“I don’t think we should limit ourselves as to what the potential of the sport is.”
“There are people here in this community that have done research into it. Plans and facility-wise yes. At the end of the day it comes down to an owner that is committed, a facility and a fanbase. There is no reason this community cant have something like that.”