Beckham signs with LA Galaxy

[Compa]

Maybe MLS simply overlooked the Euro qualifier dates when setting the schedule because they never encountered this problem before.

I agree that MLS should be played during the winter, but I can see at least three reasons why they don't:
1. Competition from other team sports (primarily NFL) is too stiff
2. NFL and/or MLS wouldn't want to share venues with each other for the majority of both leagues' seasons
3. For the same reason Arena football starts shortly after the Super Bowl, MLS may think that their product offers hardcore soccer fans an outlet for their soccer enthusiasm after the Euro leagues end.

I sometimes wonder why MLS doesn't copy what the Euro leagues do (everything from season being Fall to Spring, relegation/promotion, style of TV broadcasting/commentary, etc), because people in the league's main office must know how it's done in Europe. The only practical reason I can think of is that the MLS decision-makers know that soccer fans that like the Euro way already are loyal to their Euro leagues, and MLS is attempting to win new soccer fans, not win over Euro soccer fans.

 

[Zeno]

Maybe MLS simply overlooked the Euro qualifier dates when setting the schedule because they never encountered this problem before.

Euro Qualifier dates are FIFA international dates known well in advance. That date could just as easily be a date when friendlies are scheduled as qualifiers...MLS chooses to ignore that.

As for everything else, I do think MLS is trying to do things their way. Its slowly gaining momentum with all the new soccer only venues popping up, more expansion is on the way too--at the very least to even out the number of teams.

Relegation wouldn't work in the US because of where the team are located. You think NY fans would continue to go to games if they consider them playing in the "minor leagues"?

I realzie MLS doesn't want to try to compete with the NFL but that doesn't mean their season can't start a month or 2 earlier and at least try to adapt to the international calendar. The end of their season runs in to the NFL season right now as it is.

Right now MLS is becoming more and more watchable to me. I don't have a favorite team but I really like watching Jozy ALtidore, if that kid keeps developing the way he is, he can be what we hoped Adu was going to become. Learning from pro's like Reyna and Angel and having Arena as his coach should help his development. I watch with an eye toward the National Team but that doesn't mean I can't be entertained by pretty good soccer--not big time European soccer but entertaining nonetheless. But MLS is not "must see TV" for me, it still has a long way to go for that (and I love soccer as much as anyone I know).

 

[Compa]

Euro Qualifier dates are FIFA international dates known well in advance. That date could just as easily be a date when friendlies are scheduled as qualifiers...MLS chooses to ignore that.

This was my initial thought, too, but I don't fully understand the int'l date rules. This .pdf (from FIFA website) shows that there are two dates reserved this November for official matches, and it also shows no dates for friendlies. Doesn't this mean that it is only a date for "real" matches, not friendlies?

Even if these dates weren't considered official friendly dates, this particular break would be a perfect time for the US to schedule against one of the Euro teams that has a break (I believe that not all Euro teams play on every single qualifier date). They could play in Europe somewhere and call up all their Euro-based players, and also see how some of the MLSers perform overseas.

 

[Milgod]

As it's already been said MLS can't be a winter sport right now. Not just the fact that it has to compete with NFL, NBA etc they would certainly get less fans if the weather was freezing! Maybe in a few years they could look to start the season a couple of months earlier, we'll see. Right now they are doing a good job and putting down a solid base of fans. The league seems to have realised that they shouldn't try too much to fast.
Relegation/promotion wouldn't work in the US, maybe in 30/40 years if the league kept hrowing but even then unlikely. I don't think the MLS should be trying to be one of the top 4/5 leagues in the World. They should continue their current path and they will be considered the next best thing after England, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. I already think the league is right up there in the next tier.
I don't actually have a team yet either. I just want the league to do well in general. I guess I probably like the Galaxy and Crew most, not really sure why. If Phoenix ever gets a team they will be mine, but we'll see.