Steve Malik provides an update on Raleigh’s MLS hopes
The USA friendly on Tuesday night provided a perfect platform for the North Carolina FC owner and his #919toMLS bid.
During halftime of the USMNT’s win over Paraguay on Tuesday night, North Carolina FC owner Steve Malik and NCFC President/GM Curt Johnson spoke to the press about this week with the national team. They, of course, used that chance to talk about their #919toMLS bid and give fans some updates on how the process is going.
Both men thought the week here with the US men’s national team had been a success, including the sellout crowd of 9,895 the night of the game. Despite cold and damp conditions at WakeMed on Tuesday, the crowd put on a great atmosphere for the 1–0 victory.
Two key strengths of the #919toMLS package that Malik and Johnson discussed were the NC Courage and the massive youth program that NCFC has.
The Courage are one of the very best women’s professional teams in the country, and have continued the long tradition of the Triangle being a force in women’s soccer.
As for the youth, Malik thought that the fact that 14,000 young people “grow up playing in our jersey” would develop lifelong fans from people who had defended the badge as kids.
While there were no confirmations given, it also appears that Malik and his group are working to bring Women’s CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers to WakeMed later on this year. That will certainly be something to watch.
In one of the more interesting moments of the halftime interview, Malik was asked about his thoughts on the comparison between the MLS bids in Charlotte and in the Triangle. Malik affirmed his appreciation for Charlotte and the quality in how they do things, and he is excited to be able to play against them in the league again. Rivalries help grow the sport in our state.
But Malik also pointed out that given the Triangle’s history with the game (both collegiately and otherwise) and also the organization’s tremendous youth set up, there are several reasons why he believes NCFC has been ahead of Charlotte in their MLS bid.
Further, Raleigh “not having the Panthers or the NBA” leads to a market whose attention can be “more focused on soccer.”
The key, according to both men, for finding success in #919toMLS will be the plans for a new stadium in downtown Raleigh. As great a venue as WakeMed is, it only holds about half the capacity that an MLS stadium would, and it struggles with full-capacity crowds.
Malik was asked if he thought changes in elected officials involved in the process would help, but he had no interest in the idea that NCFC would or would not benefit based on who left or did not leave office.
For Malik, the key is simply to work hard to show whoever is in office that more soccer, a downtown stadium, and a higher level of competition is not only good for his business interests but also good for the city of Raleigh, and he clearly believes that this would be the case. After seeing the nation’s best come to the Triangle on Tuesday night, it’d be hard to argue against him.
