MLS To San Antonio: Version 2.0?

Last weeks there were some news relating to San Antonio re-entering the race to get a MLS franchise. My friends at MLS Daily and Match Fit USA post on their blogs about the current situation of soccer in the Alamo city. Plus I know there's a strong base of soccer supporters in the city. In fact there's already a supporters group called The Crocketteers who are trying to get a pro team in San Antonio rather if it's MLS or USL-1. They also have a blog about this situation as well.

This news is big to me since I was born a raised in San Antonio and I know first hand about the politics that goes around in the city. So it took me a while to think about this and I feel that San Antonio is more suited for USL-1 at this moment instead of MLS due to these factors.

1) Past History: Do you think Don Garber wants to give San Antonio a second look after what happened 5 years ago? Personally I don't think so due to the Mayoral candidates thoughts on getting the MLS team. And from what I getting from this, they are more focus on community oriented & educational issues. Yes there needs to be more soccer fields in the community but I would hope that bring a pro team along with it would help. Don't get me wrong, it's a very good market for soccer in the community. The only bad thing about it is that some council members still believe that it won't generate big financial (like they tried to get a NFL team). Plus the cost of getting a MLS team is higher now than it was 5 years ago so that might play against the city councils thoughts.

2) Rivalry: Here in Austin, the Aztex are in need of a USL-1 rivalry. You look at the likes of Houston-FC Dallas, Seattle-Portland-Vancouver, and New England-New York Red Bulls-D.C. United, local rivalries can grow in a instant. By having a USL-1 team, you can start to build the team from the grass roots up. How do you think Toronto, Seattle, Vancouver & Portland started to get a big fan base of soccer supporters? It doesn't come overnight. Besides, USL-1 need new teams to replace Portland & Vancouver in 2011 and San Antonio would be perfect for Texas to have 2 MLS teams & 2 USL-1.

And I for one as a member of Chantico's Army, the Austin Aztex supporters group, would love to have The Crocketteers on the pro soccer bandwagon rather if it's MLS or USL-1.