More frustration, All Stars, and more relocation speculation

More frustration, All Stars, and more relocation speculation

• By John Santos, Chivas USA Examiner

This past weekend again showed why Goats goalkeeper Dan Kennedy was deserving of an All Star Game nod.  Ironically enough, MLS All Star Coach Hans Backe was not paying attention to him.  All this considering that he posted a shut out on Mr. Backe’s regular MLS team, the New York Red Bulls.  Another setback for the Goats was the lack of goals.  Being able to shut out the Red Bulls is nice, but if you can’t capitalize on that and score at least one for yourself, then there’s a problem. 

While Mr. Backe may not have been looking towards Dan Kennedy, he was paying attention to both Goats Left Back Heath Pearce, and Goats Midfielder Nick LaBrocca.  This is a historic first for the Chivas USA organization.  While the likes of Ante Razov (2006), Jonathan Bornstein (2007,2008,2010), and Zach Thornton (2009) have made the All Star Game roster as Goats in the past, two members of the team have never represented the Goats during the same year.  As members of the 2011 MLS All Star Team, they will now suit up and take part in the midsummer classic that will see them face off against Manchester United on July 27th.

Last week this examiner made mention of places in Los Angeles County where he would like to see the Goats move to based on Antonio Cue's commnets.  With that said, here’s another speculative pick for Chivas USA’s potential new stadium:

Long Beach

As a graduate of California State University Long Beach, it goes without saying how biased this round of speculation might sound.  But listen up.  As the 7th largest city in the state with a population of over 400,000 (yes I looked it up on Wikipedia, but I trust its accuracy), Long Beach is a city that could very well stand it ground and support a major sports franchise (yes, MLS franchises are major indeed).  But where in Long Beach could the Goats set up shop?  Could they look into purchasing a large block of land at El Dorado State Park?  In our dreams maybe, but the location would be a good one as it would still be in LA County, but (literally) a stone’s throw away from Orange County.  The 405, 605, and 22 could help in bringing people in, but public transit wise it would be a lot more difficult as there are no trains of the sort to take people there.  Moving on though, where then?

Advertisement How about Downtown Long Beach?  First and foremost, Metro’s Blue Line train services the area with 4 stations.  What’s that?  Tear down the Long Beach Arena and build a new stadium right there?  The cool ocean breeze.  Shops.  Bars.  Restaurants.  The 710 terminus.  Accessible public transit between Metro’s Blue Line and the LBT (Long Beach Transit).  All within walking distance.  But, while the “Corona Stadium at the Waterfront” has a nice ring to it, it might be easier said than done.  For starters, the mural painted all over the Arena could be a hurdle in tearing it down.  A potential PR battle would await the organization.  Perhaps Mr. Vergara and Mr. Cue would be willing to pay for a similar mural to spread across the new stadium?  Some could argue that if one can’t tear the arena down, then there is ample room next to it.  Of course building in that area would cost some their “beach front” property.  It would be another potential PR battle.  And being so close to the beach, you know the environmentalists would be out in full force.

But this is my wish list.  So bring on the art lovers, property owners, and tree huggers.  Downtown Long Beach by the waterfront would be an ideal location for Chivas USA’s new home