USL LV Lights FC looking for new home

[LadyStanley]

 

[Takuto Maruki]

I have to keep reminding myself that Joey Bats is indeed the public facing owner, down to doing press hits like this.

That being said...realistically, we're reaching a critical mass WRT soccer development in the US where city governments see SSS's as the be all end all for urban development. Especially in smaller scale cities who see an easy way to gentrify and beautify potentially distressed or stagnant downtown cores. Considering where Las Vegas is in the sports market, is there any real desire to stretch even more dollars to building specific stadiums for different sports teams, especially when, by this point, teams like the Aviators, Lights, and even the Desert Dogs of the NLL are effectively sideshows now that the pros have penetrated the market, instead of in the lead position like they could have been in the early 2000's?

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Did they tear down the old UNLV stadium yet? I was told they have not. Seems like almost perfect match.

 

[PCSPounder]

Did they tear down the old UNLV stadium yet? I was told they have not. Seems like almost perfect match.

Not perfect. Location didn’t help UNLV, either.

A lot of USL teams have figured out less expensive stadium solutions. There’s plenty of land in Las Vegas to put something together. I can’t 100% discount a Sam Boyd solution (a more limited footprint with surrounding development potential, probably). However, I note that Clark County bought that property last December and speculation is they will tear it down and create a park.

 

[LadyStanley]

teams like the Aviators, Lights, and even the Desert Dogs of the NLL are effectively sideshows now that the pros have penetrated the market, instead of in the lead position like they could have been in the early 2000's?

Aviators are the only pro league (currently) on the west side of the valley. NLL Desert Dogs are in Henderson (sharing venue with HSK, Knighthawks football and Thrill women's volleyball).

MLS seems a pipe dream (and would benefit from resort corridor location). So USL might be what is filling the locals soccer desires.

I cannot see Raiders/UNLV sharing Allegiant Stadium with USL team. (Especially the NFL grass.) Maybe if using turf.

Maybe southwest valley? Or maybe the badlands golf course?

 

[PCSPounder]

I will also post this in the current USL thread. The main point here is that forces are at work to upend the “which level should Vegas shoot for” argument. Whether they succeed will be another matter, but we’re coming to the dreaded “inflection point.”