(New England and DC fans, avert your eyes. &nbsp;This could hurt).
The Columbus Crew hold the distinction of opening MLS’s first soccer specific stadium when Crew Stadium was opened in 1999. &nbsp;Since then, the stadium has hosted one MLS championship and two All Star games; more importantly, however, it has become an absolute fortress for the U.S. men’s national team. &nbsp;The Yanks are 6-0-3 all-time in Columbus including three wins over Mexico. &nbsp;The 20,000 seater is one of MLS’s jewels but it also could begin the next wave in MLS’s development as a league.
In an interview <a href="http://www.thecrew.com/news/2013/03/crew-president-mark-mccullers-discusses-possibilities-crew-stadium" target="_blank">posted on the team’s website</a>, president Mark McCullers was very blunt about where his team and its stadium stands&nbsp;economically. &nbsp;The money quote:
<blockquote>“The stadium is 15 years old now,” he said. “We don’t want to throw good money after bad. We need to start having the discussions about a longer term facility solution for us and that could take a variety of forms.
“We always want to stay competitive. We don’t want to give anybody any opportunity to think that USA-Mexico should be anywhere but our stadium for any reason,” he added. “That would be&nbsp; a return on an investment to do some things to make sure we continue to be the frontrunner for this match.”</blockquote>
Despite being an original MLS franchise, the Crew have struggled financially in a mid-sized market hit hard by the most recent recession. &nbsp;Although the team’s jerseys are sponsored, the stadium is not, which leaves another source of revenue off the table. &nbsp;Additionally, as part of the team’s financial three-year plan, they are still trying to achieve the 10,000 season ticket holder mark.
It is increasingly hard to look at Crew Stadium in the modern MLS landscape and still consider it state-of-the-art. &nbsp;In fact, if it wasn’t for the home field advantage the stadium provides over some CONCACAF foes, I suspect the U.S. Soccer Federation would have awarded the most recent Mexico match to somewhere like Kansas City, who’s new stadium is very modern and a place MLS wants to show off as the future. &nbsp;Despite have 20,000 seats, Crew Stadium has few luxury suits and fancy amenities, making it not as much as a draw for casual fans.
If the Crew are able to secure a site for a new stadium (say downtown Columbus), this would begin the next phase in MLS’s development. &nbsp;For the first time, a modern soccer-specific stadium built for an MLS team would be replaced by another modern soccer-specific stadium. &nbsp;This&nbsp;phenomenon&nbsp;is not unknown in other American sports but for a league whose goal for so long was to secure stable, unique locations for its clubs this is an interesting issue. &nbsp;Unlike convincing a locality to build a stadium for a specific sport and team, MLS will now be going to local government to ask to build&nbsp;another stadium specific for the&nbsp;same sport. &nbsp;Such conversations are not easy – that’s why MLS was <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2013/03/major-league-soccer-lobbies-big-for-flushing-stadium" target="_blank">the top lobbyist</a> in the New York government last quarter. &nbsp;This process will be the next step in MLS’s development, but I think most long-time MLS fans will welcome it as a very positive step for the league.

Columbus Could Kick Off MLS Stadium Project 2.0

Columbus Could Kick Off MLS Stadium Project 2.0 - World Soccer Talk

<div style="width: 408px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://rsltothecore.com/rslblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/ussf-logo-3.jpg" alt="USMNT Head Coach Bob Bradley annouces roster for January Camp" width="398" height="467"></figure></div>USMNT Head Coach Bob Bradley annouces roster for January Camp</div>
A pair of Scandinavian stand outs as well as few MLS emerging stars headline Bob Bradley’s 30 man roster for the annual January training camp.&nbsp; Rising MLS stars, Omar Gonzalez, Chris Pontius and Kevin Alston will have the opportunity to show their skills to Coach Bradley ahead of the opening of camp on January 4th. The camp leads up to the first match of a vital year for the US Men’s National Team, against Honduras on January 23rd.
The January camp typically includes the best players from MLS as well as the Scandinavian leagues which are on winter break. Although typically made up of players from MLS and Scandinavia, the January camp allows the brightest stars of the past MLS camp, a chance to show their worth with the national team. This year, such stands outs include MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Zach Thornton, MLS Champions Nick Rimando, Robbie Findley and Kyle Beckerman as well as MLS Golden Boot winner Jeff Cunningham among others. In addition to their MLS compatriots, several Scandinavian players join the mix including, Marcus Tracy and Alejandro Bedoya who have earned a place on Bradley’s radar with strong seasons in their respective leagues.
Here’s the complete roster:
GOALKEEPERS: Kevin Hartman (Kansas City), Troy Perkins (Valerenga), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)
DEFENDERS: Kevin Alston (New England Revolution), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC), Brandon McDonald (San Jose Earthquakes)
MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Jeff Larentowicz (New England Revolution), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Chris Pontius (D.C. United), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
FORWARDS: Justin Braun (Chivas USA), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake),&nbsp; Marcus Tracy (Aalborg)
What are your thoughts on this roster? Who do you feel should have been included? Who should have been excluded?
Testify in the comments below.

Bradley announces United States' January Camp Roster

Bradley announces United States' January Camp Roster - World Soccer Talk

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Columbus Could Kick Off MLS Stadium Project 2.0

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Bradley announces United States' January Camp Roster