New USL PRO Team in Phoenix will be called Wolves FC
The Phoenix Business Journal is reporting that the USL PRO franchise in Phoenix now has a name and logo. The new team will be called Phoenix Wolves FC and its mascot, which is affixed to its logo, is the Mexican wolf.
The Wolves will be the 12th team in USL PRO and will join the LA Blues as the only two teams in the west in a mainly East Coast league. However, USL President Tim Holt has previously said the USL is anxious to expand to the west as well.
The Wolves are expected to kick off in the spring of 2013. The team is owned and operated by BDR Sports, LLC, a consortium of Phoenix-based investors led by local developer Tim Thomas. Rui Filipe Bento, a longtime Phoenix soccer entrepreneur, will serve as its General Manager.
It was also announced that former Scottish player David Robertson, who played for Aberdeen, Rangers and Leads United, has been signed on to coach the team. Robertson has coached Elgin City FC and Montrose FC, both of the Scottish 3rd division.
The team has a website but no content as of now. Phoenix Wolves FC do have a Facebook page with content including notification for an open house which will take place tonight. It has also announced team tryouts in Phoenix on September 21st and October 26th.
Last spring the North American Soccer League also talked about the possibility of a new expansion team in Phoenix for their league, but no announcement was ever made.
Comments are closed.
Chupacabra?
I apologize if I missed something, but where are they going to play their matches? I know a lot of people enjoy Phoenix for its great winter weather, but I have not heard of a lot of people traveling there to catch some rays during the months of May, June, July and August, when the lows are in the 90s. 500 people per match in the University of Phoenix stadium might not give the best impression.
A lot of folks enjoy the milder climate of winter in San Antonio as well, but it is amazing that even during the brutal Texas summer, SA has been able to bring in a crowd.
Rather than be skeptical, see how it plays out.
The tend to push the matches in SA to 745… once the sun goes down behind the hill and the breeze picks up about 15 mins into the match it is actually quite nice… at least for the fans… the players however are still suffering in the humidity… but the temps tend drop into the mid 80′s once the game starts…
games can start as late as 8:30-9pm, if necessary; still hot, but, not nearly as bad as during the day.
It’s routinely over 100 here even at midnight in the middle of the summer. I don’t believe that happens in Texas, though I know Texas gets really hot. (And what the Scorpions can do has no bearing on what a team in Phoenix can do.)
The difference I’ve found – having lived in both – between Florida and Arizona is that it DOES cool off at night in Florida. It’s still balls hot here at night.
Many different stadium options have been mentioned. Might be one of the spring training baseball facilities (Peoria – where the Padres and Mariners train – is one, but Phoenix Muni – where the A’s train – would be a better location). U of P Stadium is out of the question, as is Chase Field. Other than that, you’re looking at a high school, small college (Grand Canyon University) or junior college stadium (Phoenix College or Scottsdale CC or something). There is no great option.
“games can start as late as 8:30-9pm, if necessary; still hot, but, not nearly as bad as during the day.”
Not if you intend to draw families you can’t.
well if NASL still wants to expand to phoniex they can talk to the Real Phoniex owner that has stated he wants to field a pro team in the future
NASL can tell USL Pro the score is even after the Tampa Crisis
I like Real Phoenix mascot a double headed phoenix
Tampa is not a “crisis.” Some small-minded people wanted to make it into one.
Real Phoenix is not an issue. A total non-starter. They might have enough money to do their “pro” futsal team, but that’s about it.
And you’re right, Brian…not only are you not going to get families for a 9pm start, you’re not going to get much of anybody.
Here’s the thing….EVERY little roadblock you throw in people’s way erodes some small portion of the potential ticket-buyers. Play in Peoria, lose some folks. (To be fair, there’s no optimal location, but you’re going to throw a roadblock on a certain percentage of folks whether you play at Phoenix Muni or GCU – which is actually the most centrally-located spot – or the East Valley or the West Valley or Tempe.) Play in a high school or JuCo stadium with few amenities, lose some folks. Baseball stadium? Lose some folks. No beer? Lose some folks. Bad parking/access situation? Lose some folks. USL? Lose some folks. High of 118 that day? Lose some folks.
Each one of those little things isn’t necessarily, by itself, going to cost you 1,000 people, but a USL Pro team in Phoenix isn’t starting from a huge base of people. It just isn’t. Erode a little here and a little there and some more there, you’re looking at a significantly-low average crowd. And if you don’t have the resources or the experience to actually sell the game, it’s not setting up as a great situation.
…at least it is a “dry heat” in Arizona, right? Seriously, I was down in Arizona a few times this summer and the heat is borderline oppressive any time of the day/night. I guess they can use it for training a 2022 team to play in Qatar.
John beat me to the NASL talk (man that guy is fast).
They already have a tryout session scheduled.
I know I just like the Real Phoenix mascot-double headed phoenix-especially in color
its fricking sick
I think this team would survive lets hope fc tuscon enter the usl pro league in the west
while USL is expanding and creating a western divison
i dont know what NASL is doing
the only good news that saw a positive feedback was the introduction of the NY Cosmos in July
Either then that NASL has been in Limbo
Wow, you’re no smarter here than in the other place, are you?
@John: Just Wednesday Mr. Downs stated in an interview that the NASL is looking at Phoenix for possible expansion. You might get that western, USLPRO-NASL duel that you are hoping for.
@yankiboy
Wait a minute! Is it fair that NASL is going to poach on what is now USL Pro territory? I thought that the yahoos on this site were infuriated that USL (in spite of it’s headquarters being in Tampa) even THOUGHT to have a USL PRO team in Tampa, or anywhere else where NASL might have a team. Maybe I misunderstood, but I was of the impression that no market had room for two teams from different divisions.
Can’t we all just get along?
NASL – USL Pro can get along. NASL needs to even the score
USL went into Tampa now NASL goes into Phoenix
After that now they can get along I even set up where both leagues can expand without marking each others territory after NASL makes even with USL
@ John
I happen to live on planet Earth, I am hoping that you were not beamed back by Curiousity on Mars. This is not the wild, wild, west, and there is no need for any vendettas to be acted on.
We all know that NASL is far superior in intellect, body fat content and spiritual awareness than those whining cry babies at USL Pro.
Ask your self a question, from a Hindu perspective, is it good karma for the vastly superior NASL to kick the baby in the carriage? Is vengeance that which you really want?
Truth is if NASL wants a team in Phoenix they will have it. We as fans do not want NASL-USL trippin over the same cities for expansion
@Bart: Yeah. Kinda funny how the “how dare they invade Tampa!!!” doesn’t illicit some of the similar outcries from SOME (key word) of the same types who have seen The Commish aka “D2″, Mr. David Downs state the NASL’s interest in Phoenix…
Bart,
Your exciting and passionate rhetoric makes the comments threads on this site incredibly richer. Keep it coming!
Let’s be serious here, we’re not talking about 2 major league teams going to Des Moines, IA; rather about 2 (very) minor league teams going to the metro area of Phoenix, AZ. Phoenix and the entire surrounding area is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country. There’s no reason why the NASL & USLPro can’t come to an understanding that one team will concentrate on one the West (and NW) Metro somewhere near Peoria and the other on the East (and SE) Metro near Tempe or perhaps even as far as Mesa. That metro area is said to have around 4 million people. C’mon now…
…and if the NASL does get a team in Phoenix imagine how much better it’ll be for them and everyone else now that the NASL have approved the brilliant split season idea.
Sorry, I couldn’t help myself but bring the split season into this conversation…lol
@fotbalist: Bro, you had me going until that part about “…No reason why the NASL & USLPRO can’t come to an understanding…”
Good stuff. Not just the comedy but the helpful Phoenix area info, as well.
I was thinking that Downs had stated somewhere that Phoenix was an expansion target a few months ago and then a few weeks later a team was announced there by USL and true enough I went back to that post (http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2012/07/02/usl-pro-announces-new-franchise-in-phoneix/) and that seems to be the case. I don’t see how NASL would be “invading Tampa” when they were talking about it months before there was anything about Phoenix from USL??
Dear commissioner downs
I say san Diego sockers and las Vegas and alburque wanderers 2014
Rust Belt Derby Team 2015
Then tusla roughnecks and okc 2016
I propose that we ‘elect ourselves’ as an impromptu Board of Advisers to The Commish (Downs, of course, not Chicklis) and then everything will be perfect. LOL.
On a serious note though – @ John – Las Vegas might just work in a few years. There have been talks and attempts in Southern Nevada for more than a decade. A new club is set to join the NPSL this month, but they have some really big plans in the very NEAR future. Of course, this could be just another one of those ‘attempts’ but the national soccer climate is very different now than it was 10 or 15 years ago. The other teams you’ve mentioned are possibilities. I’m hopeful.
are you talking about the las vegas stallions
Hmm, that logo looks very similar to one of my hometown minor league teams.
http://www.chicagowolves.com/
I thought they were calling themselves Phoenix City FC. I like Phoenix Wolves better.
@Gael Force: Describing the Phoenix siutation as an “invasion” was purposely exaggerated.
Was it anymore of an invasion than San Antonio seeing as SSE (or whatever the Spurs organization) is called supposedly had USL territorial rights (which they never successfully executed to launch a franchise)? NASL beat them to the punch.
NASL new that USL was looking at Phoenix and had looked to Phoenix before the split. It’s not like the NASL “discovered” Phoenix. Holt and crew had it as potential target for a long time. USL beat them to the punch.
After Islanders broke away, USLPRO suddenly found not just one club viable in Puerto Rico, they actually ended up giving the nod to a three team package deal. Marcos convinced them to reclaim Puerto Rico for the USL. One club, Puerto Rico United, should have NEVER been let in under any circumstances. The other two clubs’ (River Plate PR and Sevilla PR) situations were made worse by not only a fall through in the government funding that they anticipated but also with the very serious illnesses of their founding fathers and driving forces behind them. The last two were temporarily playng matches about 25 minutes (with good traffic–which is a rarity in the Metro area) from Islanders home stadium. It is my understanding that Sevilla still was able to survive in USLPRO financially but they got dropped after the the failure of the 2 “PRSL/USLPRO3″ clubs.
Not a “win” for the NASL or the Islanders but definitely a major fail for Tamper. Had thewy waited a year or two, they may have been able to successfully re-enter the Puerto Rican market with one strong club. But they went in full steam ahead, even though the idea of returning to Puerto Rico was not favored by many of the USLPRO owners (neither was the idea of the inclusion of Antigua). They wanted a piece of Puerto Rico after they had invested so many resources in harvesting it and they really wanted another club that a realistic possibility of qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions League like PRI.
Even with “Tamper”. USL’s headquarters have been there for years. The finally manange to convince someone in their back yard to pony up ofr a franchise and the organization bolts for the TOA and decides to go the NASL route. The USL would really like to have a USLPRO club in their own back yard and VSI came along to help make that a reality. I don’t think Tamper can support two pro clubs but maybe one day we’ll find out. Last time I checked, things were kinda quiet on the VSI pro side. I’m pretty sure I saw where they fielded a W-League and PDL sides this year. Maybe they won’t be ready to launch the pro side in 2013 as they had hoped.
It would have been nice had they told that to the organization leasing the “Rowdies” name and championship star because they could have potentially saved themselves a little bit of coin this year…
GF, don’t take the “invasion” talk to seriously. At least not from me. I’m a big fan of free markets (except they are rarely “free”, G
)!!!
i think tampa can support two teams because one play n st. pete
tampa adjacent city
Yanki – just seems people are willing to go for the whole NASL versus USL route. The whole thing fascinates me as here in Europe the idea of the first, second and third divisions being owned by 3 separate companies seems totally counterproductive. I know here in Ireland the league and the governing body are the same company. Its really time the USSF and CSA got all the leagues organised into a tighter structure. From all the David Downs and Don Garber quotes and interviews I’ve seen, seem to always speak highly of the other leagues yet USL continue with their claim to be the second biggest league outside MLS when that’s clearly not true as they don’t meet the 2nd division requirments. Perhaps now that MLS is so strong and using the concept of simulated promotion by bringing the best teams from the league below them up (ala Montreal, Seattle, Portland and Vancouver and my own opinion is that the Cosmos are in NASL at the request of MLS) that maybe that standard will filter down. Is there a need for the PDL and NPSL for example? Surely one d4 league would do?? LA, Antigua and the PR teams in the start up USL was a mistake but so was AC St Louis. A proper structure would help teams transition between leagues easier instead of what appears to be a case of I’m better than you. Just a few thoughts
Everyone around here knows how much I Love my Strikers and by proxy the NASL. I certainly don’t agree with everything the league does, ahem, stupid-arse split season schedule idea . And if the league truly is pursuing a team in Phoenix still after the USL Pro announcement, I would disagree with that as well. Like Yanki, I’m a BIG fan of free enterprise. However, the pursuit of free enterprise has to also be measured with a bit of common sense, and a glance at the bigger picture. Both an NASL and USL Pro franchise trying to survive in the Phoenix marketplace, already facing all of the obstacles Grand Poobah Kenn has pointed out above, makes all of ZERO sense. The San Antonio situation is a perfect example of how things should go down. Mr. Hartman got his team up and running while SSE dragged their feet for years instead. I think all can agree that to date, this has worked out for the best, and I’d bet SSE isn’t looking real serious at trying to enter the market with a USL Pro team anymore. Makes sense. Doing so would damage pro soccer in the marketplace at this point. No good could really come of it, for SSE, for SA, for anyone. Same goes for Phoenix. Let USL see what they can do to establish a sustainable pro franchise in the market.
Folks might be interested in reading this quick Q & A with Tim Holt: http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120910/PC20/120919967/1032/two-minute-drill-usl-president-tim-holt
So Holt sees a possible merger with NASL in the future, should their philosophies come together? I think that would be great news, as USL Pro needs a distinguished Commish like the honorable Downs.
Pretty good article actually. BQ, when are you going to do an interview with Holt/USL?
I thought NASL has an agreement with USSF that they have to have 12 clubs by the 2013 season or else they will no longer be able to operate. Which would send most of their teams back into the USL because they obviously would rather play USL than not operate at all.
Also, ive heard rumors around the league (i play in the USL for Charlotte) that the company that owns a bunch of the NASL clubs is apparently going to pull out before the start of the next season, so if that does happen, then that would leave all of those clubs in search of an owner. I think some of the clubs would be able to find them, but if only 3 of the 6 (i cant remember the amount of teams that it would be) found new owners that would put them below the required number of teams for the league to be allowed to operate.
So long story short, the NASL is very close to not existing. The best thing that could happen to US Soccer, is the merging between USL and NASL again, now that they have both picked up new clubs, the league could sit at about 20 teams. I think a perfect scenario would be that the leagues merge, and the teams that pull in low fan attendance/don’t have proper venue (Antigua, Dayton, Charlotte) be put out of the league, and the newer teams who have a reason to not have great support or infrastructure, be allowed a certain amount of years to fix the problem before they are let go.
@Dev – Wow….like…wow, dude….. Not sure where to even begin on that post. Ok, let’s give this a shot… USSF requirements are for the NASL to have 10 teams by 2013 I believe. Assuming no teams drop out, and the Cosmos are the only 2013 expansion team, that will put them at 9. Considering Ottawa is already set to go for 2014, I see no reason for the USSF not to grant a waiver for 2013 on this requirement. If you believe the talk, there will be others joining the league along with Ottawa in 2014 as well.
“The company that owns a bunch of the NASL clubs…” Really dude? Gotta be trolling…but ok, I’ll bite. Traffic my friend. Traffic is the majority owner of three teams. The league itself operates the Stars. Traffic has made NO SECRET of not wanting to run three teams. This isn’t some inside scoop you’re giving people. They have been, and continue to be, actively looking to divest themselves of majority ownership in at least two, if not all three, of their teams. But Traffic will not be dropping out of the ownership business 2 minutes to midnight next season chief. Don’t know where a (alleged) USL player is getting his “insider info” from, but so far you seem, well, less than credible. Unfortunately I think it’s certainly plausible that they might pull the funding on one or two of their teams after next year if they haven’t been sold by then, and we know the Stars are on very shaky ground as well. But I don’t see Traffic just walking away from any teams until more expansion is in place. But at that point, all bets are off.
“…the NASL is very close to not exisint…” Pretty weak brother. Over the last two seasons USL Pro has seen four teams fold…and NO ONE will be surprised if that jumps to six this offseason. The NASL has seen ZERO teams fold. SO why is it the NASL teams should drop into the USL model rather than the reverse? Because the USL model is working SO well? Maybe next time cmoe a little stronger with the posting chief………
@Striker Return
Give @Dev a break. He has admitted to being a player in Charlotte and is only espousing rumors that he has heard, with no foundation to support those rumors.
Why are we back to analyzing each league based upon how many teams have remained with a league or not? NASL, as you so adroitly point out, has a BIG TIME SUGAR DADDY that has kept those vagabound teams alive. If not for that, they would have folded, and the league as well. Not what I call resounding proof that NASL is the better league.
Conversely, USL Pro does not have a Sugar Daddy, so each team is left to survive or die on their own. In fact, the teams that folded were the PR teams, teams that were part of the initial season as an experiment to have an expanded Carribbean league, something that admittedly did not work. BUT, this does not prove that USL Pro is a weaker league than NASL.
If you pull out the puppet master, NASL folds. There is no puppet master at USL Pro.
Why don’t we consider other factors on league strength, such as the size of a team owner’s ego, or which league has the prettier cheerleaders? A lot more entertaining, and a lot less BS involved than which league has lost more teams……
I came across this article Brian, thought you would be interested in it.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-08-31/sports/os-orlando-city-president-phil-rawlins-20120830_1_mls-franchise-orlando-city-soccer-club-usl-pro
Look fact is, NASL is fragile and everybody knows it. BUT, it’s still a worthy experiment that I hope works out. I know my Rowdies are here to stay (4 year extension at Al Lang!!!) and that’s all I care about. Already have my 2013 Ralph’s Mob season tickets!
@Bart, you forgot about FC New York dropping from USL Pro last season.
@Stephen
That does not change my previous post. And frankly, let’s not forget about St. Louis and Baltimore. Had Sugar Daddy stepped up to the plate earlier, they would still be part of NASL. Wouldn’t Cooper be proud?
I tend to think those two franchises were doomed no matter what Traffic did.
Without Traffic, this NASL would never have existed. I have no problem admitting that. But I’d still rather be with NASL than USL. Call it blind faith, but I agree with the way NASL has been run so far (including the split-season format) and have very much disagreed with the things USL does (schedule, teams in the League, etc.).
Now, if Loudon County or another group in Pheonix joins NASL, I’ll be pretty ticked off. Neither are good for our League’s footprint and I don’t think starting a turf war is a good strategy for either League.
@ Stephen
I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I would leave blind faith to a higher deity and a much deeper religion than soccer.
NASL has done some pretty good things, bringing San Antonio in was one of them. Their honeymoon year has been pretty impressive. Now if NASL could only get 7 more teams just like San Antonio…..
@Bart: Yeah, let’s not forget St. Louis and B’more:
USL didn’t vet well on the first one before the TOA blunder. One the second one, it was USL brass who full heartedly encouraged them to move up when the average clown on the street like me knew that it was completely ill-advised. But USL needed to make up the numbers like the TOA did so after everyone ignored the obvious they got brought into the TOA fold.
USL annointed both of those clubs first before the TOA repeated the same blunder.
But you already knew that.
USL management of the MISL/I-League product in the last year doesn’t indicate to me that their learning curve is trending upwards. At all.
@yankiboy
Again, it must be nice to follow a team that is in a league with a bona fide SUGAR DADDY. That is the only difference between one team succeeding and one team failing, in any league.
The issue at the end of the day, and truly the only issue, is that there is simply not enough fan base, corporate sponsorship or television revenue to sustain pro soccer leagues below MLS, including indoor soccer. The idiot visionaries keep throwing well earned money into a black hole with no real light at the end of the tunnel.
The Revolutionary War had a lot of those visionaries as well, but in that case, they were fighting for representative taxation and a right to sit at the table of being a big boy country. I am glad they won, but guess what, you can’t name the majority of those fine souls that died for that effort.
The same holds true in this case, except the cause is nowhere near as righteous or worthy.
If not for USL in the MISL case, there would be no indoor soccer. For Traffic, the same holds true of D2. Let’s not kid each other on reality here.
It’s kinda interesting that Phoenix is already going to conduct try-outs and have a coach. I’m looking forward to the moves the VSI make in Tampa.
Orlando fans are going to love having a club in the league that is so close that they can make a road trip in under 2 hours (easy) by car. Could make for an exciting atmosphere at the Flames home matches when the two clubs face off in Tampa.
Exciting atmosphere? C’mon, it’ll be an Orlando home game! I’m not confident in the Flames having any kind of fanbase. The Rowdies own this region, no matter how disgruntled fans may be at the ownership group. Let’s face it, the Flames aren’t making ANY noise and we’re down to 6 months before the new season starts.
The game I can’t wait for is Rowdies vs Orlando. And I’m hearing rumors from multiple high level sources that game is 100% going to happen in 2013.
Rowdies versus Orlando will indeed be a good game. Probably a profitable one as well, provided it is played in Orlando.
Just as a FYI, the stadium that the Flames will be playing in (USF) has one grandstand that seats 1,000. The other three sides of the field are berms. So for all of the potential Orlando fans making the drive don’t forget to bring a blanket to sit on.
http://www.mybullsclub.com/userfiles/images/USF%20Athletics%20Facilities%201%207-15-11.jpg
@Stephen: The Flames aren’t making any noise. You’re right about that. They’ve been slow as molasses with the pro team but don’t sleep on the fact that they launched their W-League, PDL & Super Y sides.
@Bart: When Orlando invades Tampa to play the Flames It’s going to be the happiest (financial) days of the year for the Flames-and you can take that to the bank.
If the Rowdies face Orlando in the USOC then someone send me an email before the match; otherwise I’m not interested in the least. I don’t get cised for friendlies…
Great photo in the link Brian.
Tom’s right on the money-bring a blanket, in deed.