STADIUM

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Chivas' HDC reconfiguration augers future new stadium


CARSON, Calif. – If fans noticed anything during Chivas USA's First Kick loss to 2011 MLS Cup finalists Houston this past weekend, it was that the club has worked on being tighter at the back in 2012. They also might have noticed that matches are a much more intimate affair.

The club announced last on Saturday, on the eve of their opener, that they would alter the capacity of The Home Depot Center from 27,000 to 18,800 seats for all home matches in 2012. In order to limit capacity, the stadium’s east side upper deck and the entire north end stand (pictured, in background) are covered in team banners.

Chivas' HDC facelift made its debut on Sunday during the club’s 1-0 defeat to the Dynamo and was met with complete support from MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

“[Eighteen thousand] will be the size of their new stadium,” Garber said. “Whatever stadium that they build is going to be 18,000 seats. So I believe that they’re going to make progress on that stadium over the next couple of years, and their view was why not get started with a manifest that will replicate what that stadium will look like. The league was very supportive of the move.”

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/03/14/chivas-hdc-reconfiguration-augers-future-new-stadium

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Watch:
Commissioner Garber on new LA downtown stadium


As we wait for more details from Chivas USA's new sole owners, Chivas Guadalajara's Jorge Vergara and Angelica Fuentes, here's something for Goats fans to get excited about.

In a video interview with Sports Business Journal, MLS Commissioner Don Garber makes mention of an "opportunity to build a stadium for them in downtown Los Angeles."

Garber says that Chivas USA is "a team we want to see rise up and create more excitement in the local market."

In addition to that news, there are plenty of nuggets for MLS fans to chew on, including expansion, a rivalry in New York, ownership in Columbus and the regular season Cascadia derby between Seattle and Portland that is "arguably the biggest and perhaps the most important event that we've had."

www.mlssoccer.com/blog/post/2012/10/22/watch-commissioner-garber-new-la-downtown-stadium

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Vergara takes full control

The Chivas USA owner spoke about changes in the club and getting the team to MLS Cup final

“We want to tell our fans that we’re investing money in the club and retaking the control of Chivas with the goal that they will be part of the local community, and that we give Chivas back to the fans. We want the club to become what we all want it to be, a successful team, and I’m sure fans are going to give it their all to support us,” finalized Vergara.

www.cdchivasusa.com/news/2012/11/vergara-takes-full-control

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City of Los Angeles wants a downtown soccer stadium, team to fill it


The City of Los Angeles wants to build a soccer stadium, and subsequently wants to land a Major League Soccer franchise to inhabit its new downtown digs. At least, that's the inference being taken from a recent community draft report seeking to elevate the city's collegiate and professional sports profile and bring tourism dollars downtown.

The report states that Los Angeles Convention Center officials will assume a "leadership role in working with the Mayor and City Council to identify a [soccer] team, a potential site and a viable business plan prior to the end of calendar year 2013."

A third MLS team in LA seems extremely unlikely at this point, given that New York just received a second, Orlando City SC continue to make the push to jump from USL PRO to MLS and rumors of David Beckham purchasing a Miami franchise seem to be creeping slowly toward "that's more than a rumor" territory.

Which, of course, leaves one potential downtown target for the City of Los Angeles: Chivas USA, currently sharing the StubHub Center with the Galaxy. They've lived in the Galaxy's considerable shadow for their entire existence, and have long talked of the need for a home of their own.

A move to central LA seems to check every single box for the Goats. New home, new location, but still close enough to keep their current fanbase turning out.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/06/19/city-los-angeles-wants-downtown-soccer-stadium-team-fill-it-sideline

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Five stops on Chivas USA's search for a home of their own in LA


LOS ANGELES – Chivas USA have long desired a home of their own, and with their lease agreement to play at the StubHub Center expiring following the 2014 season, they need to do something about it.

They've been looking around for a good five or six years now, surveying possibilities in and around Los Angeles, and if there isn't a hard deadline to make a decision of some sort, a soft deadline is soon approaching.

Club management would like to have a more clear idea of things before the end of the year, but options are limited and somewhat complicated. They range from a chance at a new stadium adjacent to the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum all the way to the eastern suburb of Pomona, where there’s land potentially for the taking, but no stadium in site.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/10/04/five-stops-chivas-usas-search-home-their-own-la-word