What Does The Future Hold For The Baltimore Bohemians?
The Baltimore Bohemians local soccer squad are in the 3rd year of existence and playing in their 3rd stadium. What are they going to do in the future?
The Bohemians play in the USL Premier Development League (USL PDL), part of the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The USL PDL is primarily comprised of collegiate level amateur players that play on professional caliber teams and organizations. Louis Angelos, son of Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos, is the owner.
With high caliber ownership one would assume that they have their sights set for higher than just college players. The next ladder up the soccer pyramid has to be the goal. USL Pro has teams in Arizona, Dayton, Charleston (SC), Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, as well as a local potential rival in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.
The league is also seen as a stepping stone to the MLS, as Montreal previously made that jump up a few levels. And the Orlando City Soccer Club is doing the same thing. Orlando will get a MLS team run by the same organization, while moving their USL Pro team to Louisville to act as a minor league affiliate.
The Bohemians do have their work cut out for them. Paul Angelo Russo Stadium at Calvert Hall is their current home. It does not function well as a pro stadium as it is better suited for high school football. Their original home at Cedar Lane Park in Harford County offered better atmosphere but little amenities and was far removed from the city. And finally, their “in-between” home at Loyola’s Ridley Athletic Complex did not fit either.
The team should look at the Harrisburg City Islanders and Pittsburgh Riverhounds situations for guidance.
The City Islanders play in a terrible stadium, Skyline Sports Complex located on City Island. But they have managed to create a great atmosphere while still offering some great amenities. And they hope to replace the current stadium with a new one located in the same place by 2015. The City Islanders are also helped by their being an official affiliate of the Philadelphia Union MLS team.
And the Pittsburgh Riverhounds have the 3,500-seat Highmark Stadium, located in Station Square, as an ideal soccer stadium. It also offers great city views and wonderful fan amenities. They also are an affiliate of a MLS club, the Houston Dynamo.
Whatever happens in the future, we know that Baltimore with its longtime love of the Baltimore Blast is a good home for soccer. But will the Bohemians stick around, move up or disappear like the former Crystal Palace Baltimore soccer team?