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[Kastrioti]

I hope MLS surpasses Baseball, aka the worst popular sport in America.

Agreed but either way we'll see a huge surge in Soccer talent and popularity in America inevitably as parents see the dangers of playing Football.

I grew up playing Football and love the game to death but I don't think I'd let my kids play. Brian Dawkins (Pro Bowl Safety) and Lebron James have said the same.

 

[NoRéN]

Ditch the cap and "designated player" BS and other dumb rules + make it more like the European leagues and the MLS should be in great shape for the future.

Unfortunately that doesn't look like it will happen anytime soon.

Also, one quick look at Chivas and their current state of affairs and it becomes clear that Cubo didn't want to go back.

 

[Joe]

Recent Harris poll asked US Adults (who watch more than one sport) if they had to pick ONE sport as their favorite which would they pick....

 

[Azuran]

Ditch the cap and "designated player" BS and other dumb rules + make it more like the European leagues and the MLS should be in great shape for the future.

Yeah man, I would love for the league to go bankrupt as well and have the same 2 teams win every single year! Hell, let's hope add promotion and relegation while they're at it. Excitement!

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Unfortunately that doesn't look like it will happen anytime soon.

Also, one quick look at Chivas and their current state of affairs and it becomes clear that Cubo didn't want to go back.

And Vergara's cheap ass likely didn't want to pay him anyway so it was a win for both sides.

MLS is growing but I have a hard time seeing it grow out of being a lower tier league any time soon. Right now they are probably competing closer to the level of LigaMX than realistically going after something like the EPL or La Liga. Not sure if that will ever happen. It would be like expecting the spanish basketball league, despite how big it's become, to ever be on the same level as the NBA.

 

[Kastrioti]

Recent Harris poll asked US Adults (who watch more than one sport) if they had to pick ONE sport as their favorite which would they pick....

Eh, this is for a separate thread but "Auto Racing" is not a sport and those people should be forced to pick a real sport that involves physical conditioning and physical skill.

Still interesting to see baseball decline in popularity by 7% and soccer gain 3%.

 

[shira]

I hope MLS surpasses Baseball, aka the worst popular sport in America.

They need a shot clock and no passing backwards or going back past half. Either that or remove some players and open up the game. This is not interesting enough for me. I get why the World Cup is so popular with national pride on the line, but Seattle vs Salt Lake City has no bearing on me at all.

 

[outunderthestars]

MLS really is on the rise.

 

[Suite Pee]

Salary caps need to stay. Also, keep Jerseys about the teams.

 

[Joe]

Eh, this is for a separate thread but "Auto Racing" is not a sport and those people should be forced to pick a real sport that involves physical conditioning and physical skill.

Still interesting to see baseball decline in popularity by 7% and soccer gain 3%.

steroids and the strike (and IMO the increasing ticket costs) really did a number to MLB. they're slowly creeping back up though.

 

[ryseing]

Salary caps need to stay. Also, keep Jerseys about the teams.

Agreed. Parity is a good thing. It's nice to see teams like DC United pull off a worst to first.

I've always found European soccer to be boring since the same handful of teams seem to dominate.

 

[Aesius]

Never. People love the NFL too much.

Plus, don't see how MLS can pass the NBA, NHL and baseball.

People love the NFL, yes. But parents are going to stop letting their kids play football and the pool of players will drop. The CTE evidence is just too damning right now. MLB was king for decades and is now on a major decline, and the same will happen to the NFL but for different reasons.

The influx of immigrant/minority populations in the USA from countries where soccer is king will also contribute to its rise. It's biggest competition in 25-30 years will be the NBA, IMO.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

steroids and the strike (and IMO the increasing ticket costs) really did a number to MLB. they're slowly creeping back up though.

It's not creeping it's all the way back. Revenue is insane and they are getting crazy tv deals. It might not be the national pastime anymore, as Football has taken that place, but baseball is probably as healthy as it's ever been

 

[hodayathink]

Eh, this is for a separate thread but "Auto Racing" is not a sport and those people should be forced to pick a real sport that involves physical conditioning and physical skill.

If you think driving at 150+ MPH for 2-3 hours at a time with minimal breaks doesn't require conditioning and skill, then go and run a couple laps at a track around where you live (doesn't even have to be a race, just laps).

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Eh, this is for a separate thread but "Auto Racing" is not a sport and those people should be forced to pick a real sport that involves physical conditioning and physical skill.

Still interesting to see baseball decline in popularity by 7% and soccer gain 3%.

a real sport that involves physical conditioning and physical skill.

physical conditioning

 

[Dead Man]

Eh, this is for a separate thread but "Auto Racing" is not a sport and those people should be forced to pick a real sport that involves physical conditioning and physical skill.

Still interesting to see baseball decline in popularity by 7% and soccer gain 3%.

Your ignorance is on display.

 

[Lonely1]

Cubo Torres is bench at Chivas, although he did scored two goals today.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

Basketball and Soccer are going to be the big two sports when I'm an old dude (they're also likely to be the biggest international games as well). Football's safety problems will slowly but surely reduce its talent. It will take a few decades but its already happening in the lower levels.

MLS is growing and producing a big following. There were 63,000 people at the orlando city opening last week. It was insane. And the city is still buzzing.

It won't happen soon but I think in our lifetimes US player will give Europeans a run for their money. And that's great for the sport. I love watching Champions league and the MLS, the more soccer the better

 

[Red Comet]

The World Cup last year really did seem to increase interest here. I saw some people, who previously weren't very interested in soccer, watching UEFA and FA cup matches this week. I'd love to see it go big.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

The World Cup last year really did seem to increase interest here. I saw some people, who previously weren't very interested in soccer, watching UEFA and FA cup matches this week. I'd love to see it go big.

Its pretty big in urban areas. The thing that really needs to happen is for it to break into the heartland. Places like NYC, Miami, DC, LA etc are already pretty soccer crazy.

 

[B-Dubs]

Its pretty big in urban areas. The thing that really needs to happen is for it to break into the heartland. Places like NYC, Miami, DC, LA etc are already pretty soccer crazy.

If Minnesota can get their team bumped up to MLS like they want, I think that would go a long way towards that goal.

 

[zychi]

I've been to a few Chicago Fire games. The people in the stands are some of the most hard core fans I've ever met. It was a great time.

 

[mreddie]

Aren't we racing the 20th anniversary of MLS?

 

[theusedversion]

So if MLS lures all the stars away, I would imagine that there would be a whole lot of salty Europeans.

 

[Rug Monkey]

They need a shot clock and no passing backwards or going back past half. Either that or remove some players and open up the game. This is not interesting enough for me. I get why the World Cup is so popular with national pride on the line.

This stuff will definitely be a step backwards.

Use a video ref to eliminate diving/cheating (flopping) and you WILL attract more fans ...

 

[iamblades]

It's not creeping it's all the way back. Revenue is insane and they are getting crazy tv deals. It might not be the national pastime anymore, as Football has taken that place, but baseball is probably as healthy as it's ever been

Revenue per team is actually higher for the MLB than the NFL. Both are tens of millions higher than the highest soccer league, IIRC.

 

[xbhaskarx]

They need a shot clock and no passing backwards or going back past half. Either that or remove some players and open up the game. This is not interesting enough for me.

People who don't actually like or watch soccer have the worst fucking ideas about how to "improve" soccer... thanks for weighing in but believe it or not the game is doing just fine without your suggestions.

 

[Rug Monkey]

And they wont have to worry about bananas being thrown on the field or racist chants. Welcome to America future soccer stars.

This really only happens in eastern europe these days, and if it does those teams get punished severely (usually having to play 'behind closed doors' i.e. no fans=low income)

 

[Heretic]

People who don't actually like or watch soccer have the worst fucking ideas about how to "improve" soccer... thanks for weighing in but believe it or not the game is doing just fine without your suggestions.

but we need to keep him interested!

 

[HarryKS]

I wonder how Americans would react to the concept of relegation which does not exist in their country.


Also, as foreigners, football connoisseurs often forget that one major impediment to the sport is the immensity of the country. It's twice as large/wide as Europe.

Geography is a big part of how the sport develops in any country.

 

[Mully]

Aren't we racing the 20th anniversary of MLS?

Yes, but it's been about 12 years since the MLS got its shit together and stopped trying to make an American soccer league. No more countdown clocks. No PK shootouts following a draw. No over expansion of the league.

The MLS has become a very different league than what it was 20 years ago. Arguably, the biggest difference has been the amount of owners in the league. When the league started one owner owned over 3/4 of the teams. Now every team has its own owner or group of owners.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

They still really need to stop calling teams "FC" when the league is called Major League Soccer

 

[HariKari]

They still really need to stop calling teams "FC" when the league is called Major League Soccer

Yes, and stop mimicking other leagues/teams in general. Real Salt Lake? Orlando City? ffs.

 

[gutter_trash]

Yes, and stop mimicking other leagues/teams in general. Real Salt Lake? Orlando City? ffs.

lets list them all, the guilty ones that is:
Real Salt Lake.
Toronto FC
FC Dallas
New York City FC
Orlando City SC
D.C. United
Sporting Kansas City

it's not only the name, it's even the fuckin shields

even when the US did away with the British and their monarchy, they still find away to slip a Crown in their crest

 

[WickedCobra03]

I'm in when there's a Milwaukee team.

Haha. Oddly enough Milwaukee still doesn't even have a pro hockey team which I find weird, but it does seem to have a very strong soccer base with all the club's (young kids and adults), as well as the German beer halls with soccer on 24/7.

 

[Lashley]

People who don't actually like or watch soccer have the worst fucking ideas about how to "improve" soccer... thanks for weighing in but believe it or not the game is doing just fine without your suggestions.

Completely agree. Awful fucking idea, just don't watch the sport.

 

[Mully]

Yes, and stop mimicking other leagues/teams in general. Real Salt Lake? Orlando City? ffs.

It's like that in most leagues around the globe, I don't really see why it's weird here; especially when you consider that these teams are looking to attract fans who already have an interest in soccer.

See the smartest thing the MLS has done in the past few years is market to people who already watch soccer. These are the fans that are most likely to buy season tickets, scarves, team gear, and cheer their heart out at games. They don't need to explain soccer to these people. These fans will do that for the MLS for no expense.

The MLS will continue to grow as quality increases, and in doing so, will attract Eurosnobs who also don't need to be convinced into watching soccer.

Naming a team with FC, Sporting, or Real, is an easy way to market to these people. Yeah it's kind of cheap and somewhat corporate but it's better than the shit early MLS fans had to put up with.

 

[iamblades]

lets list them all, the guilty ones that is:
Real Salt Lake.
Toronto FC
FC Dallas
New York City FC
Orlando City SC
D.C. United
Sporting Kansas City

it's not only the name, it's even the fuckin shields

even when the US did away with the British and their monarchy, they still find away to slip a Crown in their crest

Real Salt Lake is the only one of those I find gross.

All the FC / X City / or Y United can be written off as harmless tradition(if maybe a bit silly), but using a spanish word in your team name? In fucking Salt Lake?

The more NA style team names like LA Galaxy or Portland Timbers seem to be more fitting and less try hard though.

 

[hodayathink]

So if MLS lures all the stars away, I would imagine that there would be a whole lot of salty Europeans.

MLS teams don't have the money of a Manchester United or Real Madrid (not to mention the salary cap), and they won't for at least at least another decade or two. So basically, they're not going to have the money to sign a superstar player directly in his prime, but they are (and will continue to be) able to sign players that are just exiting their prime (and therefore still big names/draws).

 

[Lashley]

I'd like to see a US/European tournament within 10 years, would be great IMO. Maybe Europa League European teams though, can't see the US competing with the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern & Barca just yet.

 

[Mortemis]

Hopefully MLS does get bigger.

A lot of people look at me strange whenever I mention that I'm going to see a Fire game

"We have a soccer team?"

Damn that sucks. Everyone I've talked to at least knows the sounders here in seattle. I'd say the sounders are pretty damn popular here, I know a ton of crazed fans that I try to see games with every once in a while.

 

[Honey Bunny]

"The calls I get on a weekly basis from players from England [saying] 'I want to come here,' you'd be surprised," Bradley-Wright said.

 

[Lashley]

Bradley Wright Phillips.

From Charlton Athletic to the MLS. His agent deserves a raise.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

lets list them all, the guilty ones that is:
Real Salt Lake.
Toronto FC
FC Dallas
New York City FC
Orlando City SC
D.C. United
Sporting Kansas City

it's not only the name, it's even the fuckin shields

even when the US did away with the British and their monarchy, they still find away to slip a Crown in their crest

You do know that's because those teams are owned by their more famous international variants, right?

 

[Lashley]

Madrid is in partnership with Salt Lake, not owned IIRC.

 

[Draxal]

MLS will never catch up to the Euro leagues with a salary cap.

 

[Violet_0]

please don't make me choose between American football and American football

 

[firehawk12]

North American. 3 of the 20 clubs are in Canada.

Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps are 2 and 5 in Attendance. Only beaten (and thoroughly) by the Seattle Sounders. LA Galaxy and Portland is 3rd and 4th.

Man, really? I thought Toronto FC is generally a terrible team like all the other teams owned by MLSE.

 

[Meier]

They still really need to stop calling teams "FC" when the league is called Major League Soccer

In the UK, they have Soccer Saturday and Soccer AM. The terms are interchangeable.

Orlando City was founded by a member of the Stoke City Board of Directors so it's not surprising he stuck with it for tradition.

 

[May16]

And they wont have to worry about bananas being thrown on the field or racist chants. Welcome to America future soccer stars.

You sure about that?
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=589488