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101955Bennu OP t1_je24n94 wrote

Reply to comment by Proof-Variation7005 in Reviving Rhode Island's Sporting Legacy: A New Era With Rhode Island FC by 101955Bennu

I understand people’s concerns about our tax dollars. I like this project because it’s something I support. I’d have voted yes if it had come to that. Our state motto is “Hope” and like many of my fellow Rhode Islanders, I’m excited to have a soccer team we can call our own! I have all the hope and faith in the world for this

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Proof-Variation7005 t1_je2h4be wrote

I'd be a little wary on the project right now until the financing seems to be in order. At the very least, 2024 seems ambitious.

On a more long-term note, the more I've dug into the USL, the less confident I am in the long-term viability. A league that's been around a decade and has more former teams than active ones just strikes me as not a model for long-term success.

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101955Bennu OP t1_je2rf6g wrote

The USL has actually been around 1986. USL Championship, its first division, is only a decade old, though. Its more successful teams tend to be poached by MLS

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Proof-Variation7005 t1_je334ft wrote

It looks like a whole lot of defunct in the middle. A league going from 12 teams to 36 to 24 in a decade just doesn’t scream sustainability to me. I really am wishing for the best but that makes it hard to inspire confidence. Even accounting for COVID killing a lot of that growth, there’s just ponzi scheme vibes

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101955Bennu OP t1_je34qze wrote

I understand your concerns, but the USL Championship has been relatively stable, at least compared to other minor soccer leagues in the US, and again the teams that performed well tend to be poached upwards, where there’s more money and more stability. Rhode Island is a top 10 television market for soccer and the team has already set the League record for season ticket deposits, and I think those markers taken together with soccer’s rapidly increasing popularity (now even with ice hockey and expected to outpace both hockey and baseball by 2040), the potential for this team is huge.

At the end of the day I understand people’s concerns, but I love the idea of a professional soccer club in Rhode Island and I’m going to be there on opening day, hopefully with 10,000 other fans, to cheer this team on.

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rhodyjoe401 t1_je7ctiw wrote

There’s teams like Orlando, Cincinnati who were directly bought by MLS. Austin Bold and Charlotte Independence who self-relegated/went on hiatus when MLS’ Austin & Charlotte FC came around.

The 8 teams that left over the last 2 seasons are MLS reserve sides whose departure is ultimately great for USL. Everyone else folded due to financial issues of their own and not the league

USL is where many MLS markets got their start and teams like San Diego, Sacramento, Louisville + more will be looked at the same way. They aim to include underlooked soccer markets and we’re perfect to be an inclusion. If you’re gonna have reservations don’t take it on USL, they’re a solid league

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[deleted] t1_je33l40 wrote

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101955Bennu OP t1_je33z0f wrote

I understand your issues, but I’m a taxpayer here too and I’m glad we’re funding something I love. Our tax dollars often go to things we don’t care about or even that we don’t like, but again I am happy to help build this and excited for what it could bring to Pawtucket and to Rhode Island as a whole

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[deleted] t1_je347z4 wrote

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AFTERMIDNIGHTRI t1_je36ozq wrote

Just say you hate soccer It's easier then just complaining. The state loves its soccer and the numbers shows. It's never gonna please everyone ( you included ) So just keep it to the point. You hate soccer Move along.

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[deleted] t1_je3pa9n wrote

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101955Bennu OP t1_je3uiss wrote

I think that’s significant hyperbole. I’ve had to be seen in the emergency room twice in the last year at Miriam and was seen in under an hour both times. I also hardly think a privately owned hospital shutting down without negotiating with the city or state or following proper procedure of notifying the state boards before closing departments can be equated with building a soccer stadium, and frankly I don’t see how they’re related, considering a hospital was never an alternative competing proposal. We just love soccer, we love the team, and we want to share our excitement and hopefully get other people excited, too. If it’s not for you, it’s not for you, but we’re gonna be there cheering either way!

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Proof-Variation7005 t1_je552y0 wrote

>You know what I hate? Having to wait 12+ hours to be seen at RI hospital emergency room.

I'm not sure how soccer impacts that. You ever watch one of those games? Those guys break bones and tear every ligament and then heal themselves like Wolverine within 90 seconds.

I can't see them impacting the hospital capacity one way or another.

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101955Bennu OP t1_je34zqp wrote

I’ll be showing up to support them wherever they play. I hope construction goes to plan and this stadium opens in March, 2024. I know that can be a big ask for a state like Rhode Island but I believe in it wholeheartedly!

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[deleted] t1_je3pdh8 wrote

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101955Bennu OP t1_je3pm2y wrote

Maybe you’re right, I’m choosing to hope for the best but I’ll show up wherever they play so it’s almost immaterial for me

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