Syracuse Salty Dogs
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The Syracuse Salty Dogs were a professional men's soccer team in Syracuse, New York. They were a member of the United Soccer Leagues' A-League. The official club name was Syracuse Football Club, under the Syracuse Pro Sports Group, and it was founded in 2003, when the Salty Dogs played their first season, which they ended 11-12-5. Most home games were played at Alliance Bank Stadium (formerly P&C Stadium). The team suspended operations in October 2004 and did not play in 2005 or 2006. Groups have been working to return professional soccer to Syracuse in the future.
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[edit] Financial Difficulties
Despite having the third-highest attendance in the A-League during its two years of play, the team faltered financially. Much strain has been put on its budget as a result of using Alliance Bank Stadium, which is run by the SkyChiefs. The team did not have a good relationship with the SkyChiefs. During their first season, the team was forced to play several home games at a high school football field in Liverpool, NY. During its second season, the team's playoff home games were in Cortland, NY for similar reasons.
During its second and last season, there were proposals to build a downtown soccer stadium near Armory Square. After the team's folding, Matt Driscoll, Syracuse's mayor, stated that realization of such a stadium is only feasible if a team returns. The Syracuse Pro Sports group filed for bankruptcy.
[edit] Monolith Athletic Club
The Syracuse-based Monolith Athletic Club is working to return professional soccer to Syracuse. After over a year of negotiations, the group has cleared two out of the four hurdles necessary to bring USL soccer back to Syracuse. The second hurdle, seen as the pivotal one, involving the Chiefs baseball team, was cleared in April 2006. The final two steps involve a settlement on territorial rights with the Rochester Raging Rhinos and expansion approval from the USL. It is uncertain at this point what name would be used for the new team, although Syracuse Mustangs has been proposed.
[edit] Year-by-year
| Year | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | USL A-League | 4th, Northeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | USL A-League | 3rd, Eastern | Semifinals | 3rd Round |
[edit] References
- ↑ Michael, Matthew: "It's a Deal: Pro Soccer", Post-Standard, 20 April 2006
- ↑ Michael, Matthew: "What's next: Making a deal with Rochester's Raging Rhinos", Post-Standard, 20 April 2006
