WPS franchise here?

Have often wondered if you think a WPS franchise could work here in Portland? Could the city support it to make it feasible to have a team here?

Pros:
1. Great fan base knowledgable of women's soccer.
2. WPS season does not conflict with the UP soccer season.
3. Could use Merlo Field for the home games (revenues could help improve the stadium, and benefit both the WPS team and U of P).
4. So many U of P players would be available to play on the team and would help create a strong buzz in town. Plus, to have access to so many other great players to help build the team.
5. With the success of the Timbers, you would hope sponsors would be more than willing to get on board.
6. 18,000+ fans at the WNT game can not be wrong can they? How many of those never went to a Timbers game.
7. Strong ties to both Adidas and Nike in the local area.

Cons:
1. Lack of an ownership possibility. Maybe it could be done like the Packers of the NFL, and sell shares to help with start up costs.
2. No other team on the West Coast. Hopefully this would change in the next year or two.

Would be interested to hear feedback from all of you about this idea.

I'd see travel costs as the HUGE issue... Especially considering 2 of the major markets on the coast have already had their teams fold, where are you going to find those other venues? I suppose Seattle and Vancouver, as both already have women's equivalents of their MLS counterparts (well the Seattle one was attached to the old SSFC franchise, I'm not sure the connection remains beyond sharing the Starfire facility).

Plus are the other franchises on the east coast even solvent enough to handle multiple west coast leagues? I mean without some serious travel sponsorships, I don't really see how that would work. You have to remember that Portland being a good franchise base, doesn't change the fact that much of the rest of country isn't.

I don't know, it seems like, for the time being, regional leagues are going to be the best option, (similarly to the way baseball started out) and as those leagues get stronger and more financial basis they can merge. Or have league champions from each region play in a playoff. I just don't see the funds in the league as it is right now..

And for the record, the WPS was rejected by both nike AND adidas when they went for sponsorship due to their complete and utter lack of a long term plan. They just wanted money now, and enough to last a season or 2.

I like the idea of it, but I have to agree that the execution is not easily done. Plus, in a town so devoted to the Timbers during the summers I don't think that many people apart from the UP faithful would take a genuine interest in the team.

Remember what happened ALL of the years ago in 2002 with the WNBA's Portland Fire? It's a different situation I know (mismanagement issues), but you mentioned the lack of an ownership group. I don't think Paul Allen (too busy counting money and wishing Seattle had the NBA... I mean busy with the lockout) or Merritt Paulson (too busy with Timbers) would go for it.

I like the idea of extra revenue coming in for Merlo Field! Yes, please!

Maybe there's the possibility of a NW regional league, if there's interest in the Seattle and Vancouver markets.

I don't think it's realistic. Maybe Portland would be able to support a franchise, but the league has tried and tried again to make it all work and time and time again the league has not worked. Even if Portland has a successful franchise, there might be no teams for it to play against

How about a W - League team? They seem to do okay in LA. It would give the players some place to play in the summer. College players across the country do this. Is it more regional?

Portland actually has a competitive women's amateur soccer team, the Portland Rain, that plays in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL). The WPSL is an independent national league whose main focus is on the development of highly competitive amateur women's soccer teams. Last year, my daughter and I saw one of their games as they were playing against the California Storm, a team that had a former USNT player Brandi Chastain.

If I recall correctly, a number of the teams in the W-League are affiliated with MSL clubs, example Seattle and Vancouver. While this may be on the Timbers roadmap for the future, my guess is this would be a lower priority as their near term focus seems to be on developing a youth program similar to those found in Europe. And given the WPS' 3 year history of instability, I'm not sure if the Timbers would take the leap at this time.

While it would be great for the WPS to have a west coast presence and it would be great to see a number of the former pilots playing, I tend to agree with the sentiment that they will be challenged to succeed.