Hari Seldon
Member
Not a fan of the sport, other than watching the Women's national team due to all of the hotties on it. No sport compares to hockey for me. The grace, the speed, and the violence are unmatched imo.
MLS overtakes NHL and NBA as third-most attended league
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user8503492
Banned
Plus he's a product of the MLS
sold by NE for 4mil lol...bet Fulham could sell him for a bit more now.
It was posted earlier in the thread, but is it true that the salary cap on MLS teams is 3 million?
Doesn't that mean that anyone who's awesome in the USA is going to get poached by a European team capable of paying a higher salary? I have no idea what the caps are in Europe, but I gotta imagine it's way more.
Doesn't that mean that anyone who's awesome in the USA is going to get poached by a European team capable of paying a higher salary? I have no idea what the caps are in Europe, but I gotta imagine it's way more.
user8503492
Banned
Yeah, but many teams and fans accept that and honestly we wish it for our guys.
This past winter during the off-season the Unions top guy, Le Toux, was on trial with Bolton. Here in the MLS I think he was making 400k but so rumors had him being sold for 1mil. Sure as fans we loved him and didnt want him to leave, but as fans we understand and want our guys to go make it big. Plus on top of that rumors also have said his sale was to also fund new training grounds.
He actually left the trail early, his heart and body werent into it and he was a part of the city and loved the fans...
Kinda crushed Phillys front office plans and angered the coach...so they sold him to Vancouver..
Alot of quality guys have gone on too Euro teams, its good for the league finacially as well as adding some respect to the league.
bean breath
Member
Hockey is definitely fun to watch live but I'm going to have to disagree with you about their crowds. I don't know, maybe this is just in San Jose but they are are strict as fuck.
You can't get up at all until play is whistled dead. The ushers are stationed at the entrance to the concourse, so if you wait for the whistle, go take a piss, and play resumes before you make it back, they'll make you wait on the stairs below the stands. This is fine I guess.
However, if the game hasn't resumed yet and the usher let's you threw but then the ref whistles for play to begin before you make it to your seat, the people in your row will not get up and make you stand/sit in the aisle (usually sit because all the people behind you will be cursing and throwing shit at you). I couldn't believe it when I saw it the first time but it's pretty funny to watch people arguing to be let threw.
I've seen people almost get into a fight once because some guy's girlfriend got up and left while the game was going on and a guy in the back heckled her while she was walking down the aisle because she was blocking the view.
Also, you can't lean forward in your seat, lol. When I went to my first game my view was blocked and I was so far up that I had to lean, I wasn't even conscious of it until the guy behind me let me know. Apparently there's a disclaimer on the scoreboard before the game but I missed it that time. So then I had to sit back and barely be able to see the rink. I've had people lean forward in front of me several times but I'm too much of a pussy to say anything. One time it was a guy with an Aryan Nation tattoo on his neck. Didn't even know there were white supremacists in San Jose.
So if anyone is reading this and thinking about going to a Sharks game for cheap, do what I do and buy tickets for the very last row. You can lean forward, stand up, stand and lean against the wall, whatever. Plus you get a better view than the people 5-10 rows in front of you as a result.
Yeah, anyone who is worth a shit gets sold to Europe fairly quickly. Everton would have bought Landon Donovan a long time ago, but MLS has a huge price tag on him because he's pretty much the face of the league. Most American internationals now playing in Europe were in MLS at one point or another.
Smiles and Cries
Member
I took the time since I last posted to read wiki and MLS websites
I got side tracked on NYC2 expansion saga aka The Cosmos
dayum now I'm a Cosmos fan
I got side tracked on NYC2 expansion saga aka The Cosmos
dayum now I'm a Cosmos fan
I took the time since I last posted to read wiki and MLS websites
I got side tracked on NYC2 expansion saga aka The Cosmos
dayum now I'm a Cosmos fan
I know that having the Cosmos back would be good PR for the league, but I'd prefer they expand in other areas before adding another NY team. It's inevitable, though.
Smiles and Cries
Member
I'm not sure if it's that good for the league. Hardcore fans may understand and get over it, but for more casual observers it's kinda demoralizing.
I follow a local AAA baseball team, and it rather annoys me that everytime we get a star player we know he will be gone to the major leagues next year (or sometimes they even leave after the All Star break). It's not enough to keep me from going to games, but it keeps me from really following them avidly.
No salary caps at all in general in Europe.
There are a few major differences between the two situations.
Those AAA prospects are owned by MLB teams, who can call them up at any time. MLS has contracts with their players, so they only have to let them go to bigger European leagues if it makes economic sense. And that means they get money in return, money they can reinvest in the league and use to develop or buy new players. And sometimes they keep guys if it doesn't make economic sense to sell them, for example Landon Donovan and Dwayne DeRosario are two of the best MLS players over the last decade, but the league has kept them both so far, probably because of their prominent roles with the US and Canadian national teams.
Most MLS fans are probably also fans of the national team, so they're happy when a young guy gets bought by a European club as that will be good for his development.
The fact that MLS can be a stepping stone to Europe has actually increased the talent level in the league, despite the current rapid expansion (almost doubling in size in the last half dozen years) that you would expect to dilute the talent level, as it has drawn quality young players from Latin America who are looking for exposure. In fact the New York Times had an article on the phenomenon just today:
MLS Seen as Steppingstone to Europe for Promising Young Players
Pollux
Member
Thank God. I'm always thrilled when the Reds are doing good. Already go my tickets bought for a couple games in August including one against the Cards.
My college basketball team has a higher average attendance than all but two MLS teams.
Para bailar La Bomba
Banned
When you can hit a baseball 450ft, or throw one at 100mph, feel free to criticize. Until such time stop talking out of your arse.
entremet
Member
I took the time since I last posted to read wiki and MLS websites
I got side tracked on NYC2 expansion saga aka The Cosmos
dayum now I'm a Cosmos fan
I'd love a documentary on the North American Soccer League. Crazy that is died.
. But nice to see MLS take up the torch.
Dude Abides
Banned
I don't see how the ability to do those things means that a person is not fat.
"I ain't an athlete, lady. I'm a ballplayer." - John Kruk
Para bailar La Bomba
Banned
The suggestion that all ballplayers are fat is a stereotype. If Jose Reyes fat and not an athlete?
Atlanta has a shit club, terrible facility and apathetic fanbase. The MLS would do well to avoid them like the plague. South Florida would be better. They should really look at San
Antonio (yeah yeah, I know TX already has 2 other clubs). The S.A. market is arguably the best place for expansion due to the high number of soccer fans.
Each team has 3 exceptions (designated players) that allow them to spend more on a player's salary.. these exceptions can be traded in exchange for players, cash, etc. This came about when Beckham joined the league. The inability to pay top wages in comparison to La Liga, BPL, Bundesliga, Serie A, etc. has an affect on leagues all over the world.
MLS had two teams in FL over 10 years ago that folded. I think Orlando is more likely to get a new franchise due to Orlando City's desire and the local support that the team has been receiving. I can't imagine that San Antonio would get a team but it's possible. The Scorpions there have some very passionate fans I know.
The Elite
BOSS
You're not going to draw that for Soccer here so there is no need to build stadiums that large.
Dude Abides
Banned
Who said they are all fat?
Pollux
Member
Considering our obsession with basketball that's not a fair comparison :jnc
Para bailar La Bomba
Banned
People who don't understand baseball.
LegendofJoe
Member
I agree with everyone saying that DC United needs a better place to play. RFK is a shit hole, but its location isn't bad. The area needs some money pumped into it badly and remaking RFK would be a great way to do that. It either needs to be massively renovated or torn down so something else can be built in its place.
I'd also LOVE it if MLS expanded into Hampton Roads. It's the largest metro area in the country without a professional team and the area has had a strong focus on youth soccer for a long time. An MLS team in Hampton Roads would flourish, I guarantee it.
I'd also LOVE it if MLS expanded into Hampton Roads. It's the largest metro area in the country without a professional team and the area has had a strong focus on youth soccer for a long time. An MLS team in Hampton Roads would flourish, I guarantee it.
JJDinomite
Banned
Not surprised that is passed the NHL, but shocked that it sold more than the NBA. Might have to do something with the Heat having a monopoly over the league.
The Internet
Member
What I did kind of like was sitting here in my office in Calgary and getting a phone call a couple of weeks after I attended that MLS game is Frisco. It was a representative from FC Dallas asking how my experience was and what they could do to make the fan experience better.
It kind of shows that they are really to get people to come out. We sat 2nd row and it was only $18 USD (even though it was in the corner) but it's an affordable night out for a family.
Soccer still sucks though *runs*
Dude Abides
Banned
Well nobody said that in this thread so I'm not sure what you are talking about. Fact is, several positions in baseball do not require a lot of conditioning.
NaturalHigh
Member
Rupp Arena Official capacity: 23,500.
Kentucky basketball 2011 Average Attendance: 23,603.
If we played in a football stadium we would max that shit out and be the highest average attendance across all sports. Oh wait, we did that already.
Ford Field:
Come at me sports.
Pollux
Member
Go Big Blue
Duane Cunningham
Member
I know that there's WAY more interest locally for Sporting KC that there ever has been before. It seems like everyone is on board these days.
dskillzhtown
keep your strippers out of my American football
I have gone to a couple of Dynamo games and enjoyed myself, but MLS doesn't have the mainstream appeal yet. MLS has a dedicated fanbase, but hasn't broken through just yet. The fact there aren't commercial breaks to put ad campaigns into hurts the sport. Those ads are where the money is made. As long as MLS doesn't try to expand to rapidly and remember to cater to that dedicated fanbase, they will continue to grow. Though if they do grow, they are going to have to adjust player salaries eventually.
Like I said, I enjoyed it big time. The only thing I didn't like were some of the fans. The arrogance of fans was similiar to a indie music fan who looked down on anything that was popular, though they were just one of thousands of fans in a sold out stadium.
Like I said, I enjoyed it big time. The only thing I didn't like were some of the fans. The arrogance of fans was similiar to a indie music fan who looked down on anything that was popular, though they were just one of thousands of fans in a sold out stadium.
vas_a_morir
Banned
Even though I am a Cincinnati sports fan, I just can't get excited about Columbus sports teams... because, like, fuck Columbus or something. It feels like I'm supporting an out of market team on the other side of the planet, I dunno.
I guess it's because I'm from Northern KY, and I feel like Cincy reps NKY, where C-bus reps Ohio. You know what I mean?
I guess it's because I'm from Northern KY, and I feel like Cincy reps NKY, where C-bus reps Ohio. You know what I mean?
NaturalHigh
Member
I know exactly what you mean. I don't even like to go up there for work related shit. But I really do want go catch a MLS game and that is the closest one to Dayton.
vas_a_morir
Banned
Right.... I feel like I'm starting fresh here. If Cincinnati has a team, I feel obligated to support them. But, if I end up moving to Washington DC or anywhere else, I would have no problem picking up and becoming one of those people who can see like 6 games a year. If I lived IN Cincinnati, I would go to 40 games a year. As it stands, they have a regional fanbase, which translates to the best TV ratings of any team under the FoxSports umbrella, but mediocre to poor ticket sales.
AND, I'd have season tickets to the Bengals, my favorite sports team on the planet. If the Bengals were to win a Super Bowl, I don't know what I'd do. I might kill somebody, who knows.
NaturalHigh
Member
People in Eastern Kentucky love the Reds. We have no one else to root for. Everyone hates Columbus because of OSU. Cinci is the only logical team to love. Bengals fans are less common, a lot of people just like to bandwagon on NFL teams backs.
shoplifter
Member
I *live* here and hate them. It's a brutal existence.
The Crew actually have a goal of 10k season ticket holders - not sure how far along they are on that, but at least it's a goal. They seemed pleased with ST growth this year, and our attendance is up something like 30% over last year.
As far as media coverage goes, the Dispatch does a pretty decent job of covering them in general, I'd like to see a little more but it's hard to complain too much. Local radio on the other hand typically does a horrible job - they almost never talk about them, and when they do, they're usually either a footnote or a backhanded compliment.
The engineer for the local drivetime sports radio show is a big fan, and they usually give him 5-10 minutes every Monday to discuss. One of the hosts is slowly but surely getting into it, but the other seems to refuse to do so. The local alt rock station has players on regularly, but their market already overlaps with the Crew's demo.
I will say that I have taken lots of folks with me, and every one has remarked at how much fun it was in the Nordecke compared to what they thought it would be like. Most have come multiple times since then.
NaturalHigh
Member
I'm going to have to see if I can get some free tickets for The Crew on base here.
vas_a_morir
Banned
Columbus seems like they are one of the teams most likely to be moved eventually. I'm not sure, but I have that fear. (Among lowest attendance in the league) I want them to do well. The Nordecke is supposed to be one of the rowdiest supporters sections in the MLS pound for pound.
shoplifter
Member
We're hoping that we'll get some local ownership. Honestly, I don't think we're in danger of moving, especially with attendance this year, but having local ownership will go a long way toward making sure it doesn't happen. Lamar did a ton for the league, but Clark doesn't seem as willing to open the wallet. I'm sure that having two clubs doesn't help.
Attendance last season was hurt a *lot* by shitty gameday weather so there wasn't as much walk-up. I'm pretty sure there were quite a few corporate sponsorships that were lost over the last couple years as well. Our TV was garbage (ONN, which was only available on certain cable providers and was in shitty quality) - they've rectified that this year by getting on Fox Sports and appear to be making inroads on a lot of other stuff they've planned.
Unfortunately OSU pretty much dominates the landscape here - generally to the detriment of both the Crew and the Jackets. Local news covers them to a level of ridiculous minutiae.
To be honest, I think a lot of what is holding the league (in general) back is shitty ownership stuck in MLS-circa 1998 like the Krafts. There's no reason that a team that plays in Foxboro shouldn't be drawing more, but it sounds like they just don't care from all accounts.
Just checked, we did just under 20k last weekend and are averaging 14k+ for the season thus far, which is 40% over what we did last year. Also a little factoid from the same attendance thread on Bigsoccer - just as an example of how far we've come.
Saturday, July 8, 2000
Los Angeles at Miami 8,212
DC United at Dallas 9,394
Columbus at Chicago 10,879
MetroStars at Kansas City 5,810
San Jose at Colorado 7,520
hope you choke on your vomit sometime this week
vas_a_morir
Banned
AVG 14000? That's great news. The chart in the OP had a much lower number and showed much smaller growth from last year.
I don't know, it looks like a wikipedia page, so maybe it's not the most trustworthy source. Is it possible that the actual numbers are even higher than this?
EDIT: Well, not a much lower number. I bet the recent games have bumped the average up.
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