Commanders Hot Streak May Not Keep Team In Norfolk
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Commanders Hot Streak May Not Keep Team In Norfolk

Billboards such as these calling for a GSL franchise have popped up between Charlotte and the Hampton Roads region. Credit WJZY
The GSL has plans for expansion at the moment, and the city of Charlotte believes it will be getting a franchise in the future. Charlotte had success in the UWFFL with the Swords as the team averaged 27,720 fans in attendance at its games at the Bank of America Stadium, by far the highest in the league.
Charlotte mayor Vi Lyles is confident an GSL franchise is coming to the "Queen City," as the city is ready for the highest level of simulation football. If a team chooses to relocate or the league wants to expand, she wants Charlotte to have the first crack at a franchise.
"I said I think last year or the year before, I think Charlotte is a GSL city within 1-2 years, I still stand by that," Lyles said to Josh Sims of fox46.com. "And that is because of the evolution that's happening within the Gridiron Simulation League, the fact that it too is becoming an international league, particularly with its sights on Latin America."
Charlotte is the fifteenth-biggest city in the country in terms of population and one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. The city is one of the largest in the country without a GSL team, and one of three cities in the top ten to not have an GSL franchise (New York and Chicago). Charlotte was close to landing a team, but the Commanders franchise was using the city as leverage to get a new stadium built in Virginia Beach. The Commanders didn't get a new stadium built, so they remained in Norfolk in 2020.
One current GSL franchise that faces the rumor mill of relocation is those same Norfolk Commanders, and ownership has said the team will not move -- shooting down rumors about relocating despite poor attendance.
In a recent poll conducted by the team it was discovered that most of the Commanders' fan base travels north from North Carolina, and in contrast residents of the Hampton Roads area are fans of the Washington Stars. This was evident on Easter Sunday (Norfolk's only sellout) when the atmosphere was that of a Stars home game.
If Charlotte is going to be awarded an GSL franchise, its best chance is by relocation of the Commanders. There are some goals Charlotte wants to accomplish as the city patiently awaits its chance.
"If there's not that corporate base, pro sports franchises look elsewhere," Lyles said. "And one of the things that has hindered that corporate base for decades in Charlotte is the fact that we didn't have enough workers to fill the positions that they would want to move here
"That's why we're investing in our own people and access to education, access to skills training and workforce development. So when we want to take those jobs that are available, we have the people to do it. And that's improving our economic trajectory."
rbronish- Posts : 309
Join date : 2020-10-25
Rob Holecko, Austin Snelick, NeauXone, 92Mafia, sfcom1 and Rafael Menoncin like this post
Re: Commanders Hot Streak May Not Keep Team In Norfolk
I think the Charlotte Commanders has a nice ring to it!
Rob Holecko- Posts : 708
Join date : 2011-06-10
Age : 47
Austin Snelick and NeauXone like this post
Re: Commanders Hot Streak May Not Keep Team In Norfolk
Moving the team a couple miles over to ODU could help, their facilities are state of the art.rbronish wrote:Billboards such as these calling for a GSL franchise have popped up between Charlotte and the Hampton Roads region. Credit WJZY
The GSL has plans for expansion at the moment, and the city of Charlotte believes it will be getting a franchise in the future. Charlotte had success in the UWFFL with the Swords as the team averaged 27,720 fans in attendance at its games at the Bank of America Stadium, by far the highest in the league.
Charlotte mayor Vi Lyles is confident an GSL franchise is coming to the "Queen City," as the city is ready for the highest level of simulation football. If a team chooses to relocate or the league wants to expand, she wants Charlotte to have the first crack at a franchise.
"I said I think last year or the year before, I think Charlotte is a GSL city within 1-2 years, I still stand by that," Lyles said to Josh Sims of fox46.com. "And that is because of the evolution that's happening within the Gridiron Simulation League, the fact that it too is becoming an international league, particularly with its sights on Latin America."
Charlotte is the fifteenth-biggest city in the country in terms of population and one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. The city is one of the largest in the country without a GSL team, and one of three cities in the top ten to not have an GSL franchise (New York and Chicago). Charlotte was close to landing a team, but the Commanders franchise was using the city as leverage to get a new stadium built in Virginia Beach. The Commanders didn't get a new stadium built, so they remained in Norfolk in 2020.
One current GSL franchise that faces the rumor mill of relocation is those same Norfolk Commanders, and ownership has said the team will not move -- shooting down rumors about relocating despite poor attendance.
In a recent poll conducted by the team it was discovered that most of the Commanders' fan base travels north from North Carolina, and in contrast residents of the Hampton Roads area are fans of the Washington Stars. This was evident on Easter Sunday (Norfolk's only sellout) when the atmosphere was that of a Stars home game.
If Charlotte is going to be awarded an GSL franchise, its best chance is by relocation of the Commanders. There are some goals Charlotte wants to accomplish as the city patiently awaits its chance.
"If there's not that corporate base, pro sports franchises look elsewhere," Lyles said. "And one of the things that has hindered that corporate base for decades in Charlotte is the fact that we didn't have enough workers to fill the positions that they would want to move here
"That's why we're investing in our own people and access to education, access to skills training and workforce development. So when we want to take those jobs that are available, we have the people to do it. And that's improving our economic trajectory."
NeauXone- Posts : 386
Join date : 2020-11-01
Re: Commanders Hot Streak May Not Keep Team In Norfolk
The GSL front office has also had their eyes on Charlotte. There are a few target cities the GSL has been hoping to expand to, Charlotte being one of them, and Vancouver being another. There have also been rumors about a new owner planning to base a team in Montgomery, AL (AKA, an email I got form some one trying to jump the gun on the 2022 season. We will find out in September if there is anything behind these claims).
Austin Snelick- Posts : 1273
Join date : 2020-10-24
Age : 28
Location : Maryland
NeauXone likes this post

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