36 replies to this topic

[DJ MC]

http://www.baltimore...0,7866996.story

 

Hale said the departed MISL teams are looking to combine with teams from the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) and possibly bring in new franchises to form a new league.

 

Negotiations are continuing, he said, and nothing has been finalized. The PASL has 20 franchises, including the Harrisburg Heat, San Diego Sockers and Dallas Sidekicks.

 

Be nice to meet some old friends.

[DJ MC]

They're switching again. In fact, Ed Hale's building his own league: the Indoor Professional League.

 

http://www.baltimore...0218-story.html

[BSLChrisStoner]

Baltimore Blast:
http://www.baltimoreblast.com/

 

Roster:
http://www.baltimore...om/team/roster/

 

Coaches / Front Office:
http://www.baltimore...m/team/coaches/
http://www.baltimore...m/front-office/

 

Twitter: @BaltimoreBlast

 

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.../baltimoreblast

 

Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia...Baltimore_Blast

 

Major Arena Soccer League:
http://www.maslsoccer.com/

 

MASL Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia...a_Soccer_League

 

 

[DJ MC]

Finally decided to start talking about the most accomplished team in the city?

[BSLChrisStoner]

BSL: Stephen Cooke Reflects On Time With The Baltimore Blast

http://baltimorespor...altimore-blast/

[Mark Carver]

Goodbye to the old, decrepit 56 year Civic Center. You can rename, put a new coat of paint on it, but it's still a useless piece of crap.

 

Blast find new home at Towson University's SECU Arena

 

http://www.baltimore...0831-story.html

[DuffMan]

Heard this on the radio this morning.  When the Blast decide to play elsewhere it's time to start working on a replacement for RF Arena.

[DJ MC]

The two big things they always said about why they wouldn't shut down the arena to build on the same plot were the Blast and the circus.

 

Well...

[Mike B]

I used to go to a lot of Baltimore Bullet games as a kid, and the place was a dump then.  

 

 A replacement, has been needed, for a long time, but with all the problems the city has, I am not sure it is in the cards.

[Mike B]

The other factor, that was not mentioned in the article, but is becoming a bigger concern every day is the safety factor in the area.

[mweb08]

It's interesting that the playing field will be smaller at the Towson arena. You would think that wouldn't be flexible. 

 

It sucks that they're moving as Kelly and I would occasionally go to the games, but oh well, it's not that big of a deal to us.

[mweb08]

The other factor, that was not mentioned in the article, but is becoming a bigger concern every day is the safety factor in the area.

 

I think that's more a perception issue than anything else. 

[BSLMikeLowe]

One of the points I've regularly seen against building a new arena is that the current one has mostly been profitable for the city for several years now. News like this begs the question of whether that will be the case much longer.

[Mike B]

I think that's more a perception issue than anything else. 

I am downtown a good bit, and it is more than perception.  The restaurants down in the area, are noticeably less crowded before games.

[mweb08]

I am downtown a good bit, and it is more than perception.  The restaurants down in the area, are noticeably less crowded before games.

 

That sounds exactly like a perception issue.

 

BTW, I live right by Camden Yards. 

[NewMarketSean]

The other factor, that was not mentioned in the article, but is becoming a bigger concern every day is the safety factor in the area.

Building a new arena, and the surrounding business boom that would come from that, would fix a lot of the safety issues. I also agree that it's probably more perception than reality but crime has been popping up more frequently downtown this year. A new arena is a want for the city at this point, has been for 30 years, but there are so many more needs that it'll probably never happen in our lifetimes. Very good chance RFA turns 100.

[DJ MC]

Building a new arena, and the surrounding business boom that would come from that, would fix a lot of the safety issues. I also agree that it's probably more perception than reality but crime has been popping up more frequently downtown this year. A new arena is a want for the city at this point, has been for 30 years, but there are so many more needs that it'll probably never happen in our lifetimes. Very good chance RFA turns 100.

 

Then they'll make it a landmark and we're screwed

[Mike B]

That sounds exactly like a perception issue.

 

BTW, I live right by Camden Yards. 

I am not trying to insult you or anyone else.  It maybe a perception thing, but it is one that I think is keeping people away.

BTW, I go to every Ravens game, try to get as many Oriole games as possible, so it is not keeping me or my group from going down there.

I do not go to many Arena events, but that is because the place is a glorified land fill.  

 

Again, not trying to insult anyone, or the place they call home and   I apologize if I did.

[mweb08]

I'm not insulted at all so no worries.

I just feel that the crime stuff is very overblown, at least when used to talk about any area in Baltimore where white people predominantly live and visit.

I do agree that perception is an issue though.

[NewMarketSean]

RFA still does good business for an arena of its size and age so the location is  not keeping anyone away. Yeah, there's a metro station there and a major bus transfer, so it's crowded with city folk. That doesn't make the area unsafe -- in fact that probably makes it more safe. But I will agree that that immediate surrounding area to the north isn't the most attractive. Lots of boarded up buildings, empty storefronts and otherwise razed buildings.  I park on Park Ave a lot for O's and Ravens games so I know the area pretty well.