MLS is The New No.3 Sports League in America

[Henrik Larsson]

I wish i could see that game. I just had a look at ESPN there and it starts at 02:00. I'll watch any game of football that's on and would definitely have watched that one. The First leg of the NY Red Bulls vs LA was on at a reasonable time here. Like 2 in the afternoon or something.

In terms of the atmosphere. Watch one of the big derbies in Europe like the Old Firm, Barcelona vs Real Madrid etc etc. The atmosphere is electric.

Next time an old firm game is on you should watch that. The atmosphere is so amazing in those games that it sends shivers down my spine. There is so much passion and emotion it is unreal

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

No question it's soccer. The type of wrestling they do isn't a sport especially since the outcome is already predetermined. The WWE is entertainment not a sport.

... I wasn't being serious.

 

[Ace Bandage]

Being a football fan in Scotland is fun.

I love the huddle, that we celtic fans do. It is so much fun

Yeah, the University of Wisconsin has been doing this for years. Doing it better. Doing it louder.

Fuck, even the opposing team and fans do it when they play in Madison. It's epic.

 

[Jobwell Dunn]

The MLS has a long way to come before it gets acclaimed by FIFA. Let's face it: the quality of players and teams is poor, there aren't enough teams, it's centered around money and not passion for football, etc. If they really cared about the sport, they'd make it a promotion-type tournament where the last let's say 4 teams in the standings at the end of the season get demoted to a 2nd division and the top 4 from the 2nd division get promoted.
And speaking of the skill level of the average MLS player: they're at around the same level as a 3rd division player in Europe...

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

The MLS has a long way to come before it gets acclaimed by FIFA. Let's face it: the quality of players and teams is poor, there aren't enough teams, it's centered around money and not passion for football, etc. If they really cared about the sport, they'd make it a promotion-type tournament where the last let's say 4 teams in the standings at the end of the season get demoted to a 2nd division and the top 4 from the 2nd division get promoted.
And speaking of the skill level of the average MLS player: they're at around the same level as a 3rd division player in Europe...

Everyone says regulation would be good for MLS. But that's not how North American sports work. The fans would NOT show up in, say, Kansas City if Sporting FC got regulated down to another league; they'd rather spend money watching the Chiefs or Royals than watching their team play in a league with even worse competition than MLS. Besides, there is not enough money in soccer in North America to warrant the building of 20,000-seating soccer-specific stadiums in cities across the continent. USL is the current second-flight league in the States and they get something like 4,000 people to their games. If one of those teams made it to the top league it would make MLS look like a complete joke on the international stage.

It doesn't matter what FIFA thinks is best for the league. They know very little about what makes soccer work outside of the places where it is already established. Leave running our soccer league to the people who actually know something about the US and Canada.

 

[Straight Shooter]

Everyone says regulation would be good for MLS. But that's not how North American sports work. The fans would NOT show up in, say, Kansas City if Sporting FC got regulated down to another league; they'd rather spend money watching the Chiefs or Royals than watching their team play in a league with even worse competition than MLS. Besides, there is not enough money in soccer in North America to warrant the building of 20,000-seating soccer-specific stadiums in cities across the continent. USL is the current second-flight league in the States and they get something like 4,000 people to their games. If one of those teams made it to the top league it would make MLS look like a complete joke on the international stage.

It doesn't matter what FIFA thinks is best for the league. They know very little about what makes soccer work outside of the places where it is already established. Leave running our soccer league to the people who actually know something about the US and Canada.

I think you mean relegation and not regulation

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

I think you mean relegation and not regulation

Thinking you know better than a mod... That's a ban. :nono:

 

[enndaley]

I was thinking "Wait-isn't MLS what Lou Gehrig died from?" Then I remembered that it's ALS-not to be confused with CJD or BSE or WTF.

 

[Straight Shooter]

Yeah, the University of Wisconsin has been doing this for years. Doing it better. Doing it louder.

Fuck, even the opposing team and fans do it when they play in Madison. It's epic.

Yeah that's cool but you can't beat this though

 

[Straight Shooter]

Check out the MLS Final tonight on ESPN. The atmosphere in the stadium is crazy.

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

Check out the MLS Final tonight on ESPN. The atmosphere in the stadium is crazy.

You know what's fucked up? I don't even know who is in the game or even that it was on tonight. :dunno:

 

[STDiva]

You know what's fucked up? I don't even know who is in the game or even that it was on tonight. :dunno:

I think State won.

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

I think State won.

The Bills sure as hell didn't.

 

[domshooter]

soccer fucking blows. boring as shit.

 

[Straight Shooter]

soccer fucking blows. boring as shit.

I respectfully disagree. To each his own though:hatsoff:

 

[YumiYumi_1988]

Check out the MLS Final tonight on ESPN. The atmosphere in the stadium is crazy.

It's about time the best team won. I hate the MLS playoffs, some team that lost as many games as they won plays in the opposite conference's playoff bracket (seriously, wtf?) and ends up winning the whole thing usually cuz there is no incentive for doing well in the regular season. I would watch the MLS regularly if I knew the games I'm watching actually mean something. The playoff system has caused me to lose interest in the league.

 

[rogue4]

Here is my two cents. Is soccer and the MLS growing in the States? Yes. Are lots of people turning up in numbers at MLS grounds across the country? Yes. Does it matter on how these numbers compare to already established sporting events? Not really. Are soccer fans better than fans of other sports? No, true supporters are equal across the board. Is pro wrestling a sport? No. Why were Indy and NASCAR numbers left out of this study? I'd assume that they only used team sports when the calculated the numbers. Final thought: The MLS is a pretty good league, one that is more competitive than most Euro leagues, flat out better than others. The quality of player is rising and will probably continue to do so. That said it will never compete with the major leagues in Europe.

 

[Henrik Larsson]

Here is my two cents. Is soccer and the MLS growing in the States? Yes. Are lots of people turning up in numbers at MLS grounds across the country? Yes. Does it matter on how these numbers compare to already established sporting events? Not really. Are soccer fans better than fans of other sports? No, true supporters are equal across the board. Is pro wrestling a sport? No. Why were Indy and NASCAR numbers left out of this study? I'd assume that they only used team sports when the calculated the numbers. Final thought: The MLS is a pretty good league, one that is more competitive than most Euro leagues, flat out better than others. The quality of player is rising and will probably continue to do so. That said it will never compete with the major leagues in Europe.

:goodpost:

However in terms of it being better than other leagues in Europe, i'm not so sure. The MlS doesn't get many fans because football just isn't a big sport in America. Compared with Europe, the fan base is just not the same. For example, if you go pretty much anywhere in Europe, football will be the biggest sport without a doubt. The majority of kids here will aspire to be a footballer if they want to be a sports person, whereas in America it will be something like American football or baseball or basketball(I'm not familiar with what sport is the biggest in America). The sports channels here will show football the majority of the time(Espn and sky being the main two, it is also shown at primetime on the main channels aswell sometimes)

Without a big fan base the MLS will never succeed. I'm sure many europeans would watch it but because of the time difference, it's near enough impossible to do so. Mls games often seem to be on about 3 in the morning here. As i say without the fan base, you have no money to buy players etc. I'd like to see some of the U.S teams play in the Europa and champions league. IT would give more people a chance to see them and would maybe spread fans throughout Europe.

 

[Straight Shooter]

:goodpost:

However in terms of it being better than other leagues in Europe, i'm not so sure. The MlS doesn't get many fans because football just isn't a big sport in America. Compared with Europe, the fan base is just not the same. For example, if you go pretty much anywhere in Europe, football will be the biggest sport without a doubt. The majority of kids here will aspire to be a footballer if they want to be a sports person, whereas in America it will be something like American football or baseball or basketball(I'm not familiar with what sport is the biggest in America). The sports channels here will show football the majority of the time(Espn and sky being the main two, it is also shown at primetime on the main channels aswell sometimes)

Without a big fan base the MLS will never succeed. I'm sure many europeans would watch it but because of the time difference, it's near enough impossible to do so. Mls games often seem to be on about 3 in the morning here. As i say without the fan base, you have no money to buy players etc. I'd like to see some of the U.S teams play in the Europa and champions league. IT would give more people a chance to see them and would maybe spread fans throughout Europe.

One of two things needs to happen for MLS to truly become one of the top sports leagues at least in the U.S

1. The U.S needs to develop their version of Ronaldo or Messi. An American born player that would be considered best in the world. Sure we have star players like Donovan or Howard but no one would consider them on par with some of the best players in the world
2. MLS needs to attract big time star players from Europe and they need to be in their prime.

 

[Henrik Larsson]

One of two things needs to happen for MLS to truly become one of the top sports leagues at least in the U.S

1. The U.S needs to develop their version of Ronaldo or Messi. An American born player that would be considered best in the world. Sure we have star players like Donovan or Howard but no one would consider them on par with some of the best players in the world
2. MLS needs to attract big time star players from Europe and they need to be in their prime.

True. However i'm sure every country would love a Messi or a Ronaldo. The truly gifted players are hard to come by. IF the Mls got more coverage in Europe or the games were played at around 12 Est then i'm sure players would go there. If a league gets lots of coverage then more people want to play there.

The money is also an issue. The only reason the Epl can spend so much money on players is because there are so many billionaires that come and back the team.
If the Mls is to become one of the major leagues, it;s needs to be built from within