DISQUS

Peter · 1 year ago

I agree with your post. People were bashing this on bigsoccer, but you make very good points. Just today I posted something on that site about relocating some teams.
New England and Columbus were the two teams I mentioned, because I look at attendance every week. Those two franchises suck in that department. I think that MLS sees and will hopefully make these teams move. Columbus just doesn't seem to have it and like you said, the Kraft's are failing.
NY gets a pass on my end because of the stadium. I would go to Red Bulls games if they didn't play in the Meadowlands. I will go to Red Bulls games once they open the new stadium. It takes time, but I think the bad markets will eventually weed themselves out.

Liverpool John · 1 year ago

This is an outstanding post. One of the best you've ever written, and a real case for why many like me who previously watched football because of our love of a European club, in my case Liverpool FC need to embrace the culture of MLS.

Jonathan · 1 year ago

Coming from someone who used to work in MLS, and who still works in the sports industry, I must say that while your assessment of the on-field quality isn't god-awful, your analysis of the business of MLS couldn't be more off base.

In short, you know little of what you speak.

And why won't people finally realize that people don't sign on with ESPN/ABC to achieve high TV ratings? It is for the cross-promotional platforms, accelerated media coverage in recap form, branding, and revenue generation streams that ESPN provides that lure sports broadcasts off of network TV. Monday Night Football did it. Are we calling for their heads, declaring the end of the NFL?

MLS teams are turning over profits that the league has never before see; the corporate sponsor base is bigger than ever. The financials of the game are the strongest they've ever been.

For fuck's sake...have some patience. If you love football, then love it. The self-loathing of American soccer fans is getting old, and is one of the reasons I left the league.

Allen · 1 year ago

"Moreover, the amount of European football available to those who do not purchase premium channels is currently at its lowest point since the dark pre MLS days." <--- That's just how the market is changing. The premium channels aren't quite so premium. Sure, they're not part of the basic package. But for $50-60 / month, at least from Direct and Dish, you've got everything other than the Setanta.

Erik · 1 year ago

The Red Bulls are a case of its branding putting off a lot of people, and the franchise hasn't won any honors outside of a La Manga Cup. And that they will remain in New Jersey bothers people as well. There's a lot of reasons people can use to reject this club.

But what Red Bull is doing now will lead to payoffs in the future. They are building what will be the best stadium in the country. They are building what will be the best training center, and an academy pyramid that could become second-to-none.

If everything they are setting this up to be comes to fruition, then how could they not become a popular draw? First, they'd be winning, and everybody loves a winner, second they'd have an awesome home that is also accessible to the 40-odd percent of people in the region who do not own cars, and third, if they do things right over a long period of time, then people will love the name because of its association with that success.

They haven't seen it yet, but I'll play Warren Buffet and make an investment in them now, while the price is low.

Dan · 1 year ago

It is disappointing to see mainstream broadcasts of the mls declining while the quality of play is increasing. The new international players you mentioned Schelotto, Beckham, Gallardo, along with many other great domestic players are a lot of fun to watch.

In my opinion the mls is arguably more watchable soccer from a fan point of veiw than ever before. And it is a shame to see media attention and broadcasts at such a low level. With all the upside of new ownerships and more money and quality players in the league, it is still rarely featured outside of soccer specific media.

The mls needs more media coverage to reach a wider audience. I realize these things feed off each other, more interest and fans attract more coverage, but it requires a great deal of effort for a US fan to even casually follow the mls because of the lack of media coverage. The longer it takes for the the league to obtain media coverage the longer it will take to become mainstream.

RSE · 1 year ago

As someone who lives in Boston, I think the Revs get such low attendance because it is a giant pain in the ass to get to the stadium. I look at Toronto, and their stadium fills up every week because the young, soccer savvy city crowd can get there on public transportation. It takes an hour to get to Gillette from Boston if the traffic is light, and for week night games, the traffic is never light. If the Krafts actually invested in a soccer specific stadium within reach of the T, then I have a feeling that attendance would suddenly be a non-issue for the Revs. Too bad the Krafts have decided to invest so much in making Foxboro bigger to make more money from the Pats, rather than sinking a little cash into building a stadium that would actually benefit the Revs.

My point is, don't suggest that NE should lose its team. MLS just needs to force the Krafts to build a soccer-specific stadium within public transit reach of Boston, or else make them sell the Revs to an owner who is actually committed to making the team a success on its own, rather than just another way to make money off their giant stadium when it's not football season.

Justin · 1 year ago

Patience is key. Lets see where the league ends up after the new CBA is reached after the 2009 season. Many changes will occur that will effect on field performance.

3-5 clubs will be soon moving into SSS within the next 1-4 years which will make the club's viable on a business end.

Agreed, Columbus and New England should be drawing more fans.

MLS is right where it needs to be absent bumping up the developmental/senior min so these players can consider themselves actual professionals.

dave · 1 year ago

I have to agree with Jonathan, a lot of the business criticism here is a bit wide of the mark. Yes it would be better if MLS were getting wider TV exposure, and yes it would be better if average attendance was going up faster, but overall MLS is on much sounder financial ground than it was ten years or even just five years ago, and talk about moving franchises is not warranted.

I can testify from personal experience that the situation in New England is one of benign neglect. There is effectively zero marketing of the Revs. I constantly run into sports fans here who are entirely unaware that the Revs even exist. Yes a soccer specific stadium accessible by Boston public transport would be nice, but the stadium situation is not the only problem.

MLS is getting closer to becoming profitable because of new owners getting into the league (in San Jose, Houston, Colorado, Toronto, Seattle, Salt Lake, etc) and the building of SSS that will make clubs financially viable long term. The problem in New York is simply on hold until Red Bull Park can be finished.

The problems elsewhere aren't due to new owners, but to old owners (Kraft, AEG, HSG, etc) who are more interested in their other businesses (football or entertainment/concerts, etc). I am grateful to HSG, AEG, and the Krafts for keeping MLS going for so long when things looked bleak, but at some point they need to step up with whichever club is their remaining MLS club, and put some real effort into marketing it and running it properly. We know they can do it, they just haven't really bothered to.