In ten years, which league will be more successful, NFLE or MLS?

[SECTION 11]

Major League Soccer vs NFL Europe?

Both have about the same average attendance, close numbers of teams, both trying to keep momentum in a foreign market, so to speak.
There's a good article on this in the last SI.

So... what'dya think?

 

[NickelBack]

Any talk of an MLS team housed in the new MPF?

 

[SECTION 11]

Any talk of an MLS team housed in the new MPF?

Nothing that I've heard. I know they're considering expanding though. I'd love to see a team here.

 

[Russ Smith]

Major League Soccer vs NFL Europe?

Both have about the same average attendance, close numbers of teams, both trying to keep momentum in a foreign market, so to speak.
There's a good article on this in the last SI.

So... what'dya think?

Soccer is the sport of the future, look at all the little kids in AYSO etc when those kids are adults soccer is going to be huge..... and we'll all be using the metric system and driving electric cars too

I have a friend who played pro soccer and olympic soccer, guy I went to junior high and highschool with, haven't seen since highschool so I guess friend is stretching it. He said he was amazed at how they were treated in
Europe compared to the US.

Soccer is just not a fun "spectator" sport to Americans. Apparently Europe is really catching on to American football, so I would have to say NFLE.

 

[kerouac9]

I'm gonna say the MLS. I think that they need to find a niche season to play that keeps things interesting for fans without having to poach from real sports (are they playing now? This would be a good time for the playoffs).

NFLEL is contracting so that the whole league is in Germany alone. Not a good sign. My GF played with the ASU Marching Band at the World Bowl in 1998, I think. She said that they had no idea what was going on. NFLEL isn't going to survive without subsidy from the real NFL. MLS, I don't believe, is being subsidized by anyone.

I do agree with Russ that the "all these kids playing soccer now are going to grow up and love it" line is so tired. I played years of soccer as a kid, and then I learned that there were more interesting sports to watch and play. Like Jai Lai (or whatever). MLS just needs to find a way to market itself that doesn't have to do with the talent or the play.

 

[jw7]

Soccer is the sport of the future, look at all the little kids in AYSO etc when those kids are adults soccer is going to be huge..... and we'll all be using the metric system and driving electric cars too

Too funny. I've heard the "youth soccer" argument for years - I even played as a kid, but it's never panned out.

I don't mind watching soccer - even though there is ridiculously low scoring I like how the teams set up and try to position the ball.

Used to go to San Jose MLS games once in a while - rowdy crowd and it was pretty fun.

The MLS needs a star, maybe Freddie Adu to turn people on to the sport sorta like how Tiger Woods made watching golf cool.

 

[SECTION 11]

metric system

We should be using the metric system. The SI system is ass backwards.
1 acre = 43,560 sf
12 inches = 1 foot, so let's divide inches into increments of...... 16!
etc, etc, etc...

 

[SECTION 11]

I still play. The fields at Tempe Diable are usually packed.

It was huge in the 70's, they just overexpanded and took their own league for granted. It'll be back.

 

[ajcardfan]

NFLE will not be here in ten years. I think we will see a minor league system set up on this continent with either (or both) the CFL and the Arena league. The NFL and CFL just came up with some sort of agreement that will make this more likely. The NFL is losing lots of money on the Europe league.

So, by default, MLS. I think it might threaten hockey as the #4 sport, but not for another 15-20 years or so.

 

[NickelBack]

Colorado averages about 10,000 fans per match at Invesco Field. I wonder what the initial investment is to get a franchise?

 

[Zeno]

I have to believe that MLS will be the more successful league... With expansion, the addition of Chivas USA to draw in the huge hispanic market in LA, the new soccer only stadiums--Dallas is building one, New York/New Jersey just had one approved--to add to the ones in Columbus and LA, the continued improvement of the US National Team(a top 10 world ranking already and only getting better) and the way the game is being marketed...like it or not the game is going to continue to grow and the MLS will become more respectable and popular.

Now...this of course is coming from a soccer fan and coach but I have to believe pro soccer is here to stay in this country and will only get better.

 

[Russ Smith]

Too funny. I've heard the "youth soccer" argument for years - I even played as a kid, but it's never panned out.

I don't mind watching soccer - even though there is ridiculously low scoring I like how the teams set up and try to position the ball.

Used to go to San Jose MLS games once in a while - rowdy crowd and it was pretty fun.

The MLS needs a star, maybe Freddie Adu to turn people on to the sport sorta like how Tiger Woods made watching golf cool.

I think Adu is THE hope for the MLS, if he's half as good as the hype in the
near future he can save that league.

I went to Earthquakes game as a kid, the guy I went to school with, Chris Sullivan, played for the Quakes later, pretty cool. Soccer is VERY fun to play, but for whatever reason Americans don't like to watch it on tv and don't come out in droves to see it in person.

Maybe if they used metric fields?

 

[Russ Smith]

We should be using the metric system. The SI system is ass backwards.
1 acre = 43,560 sf
12 inches = 1 foot, so let's divide inches into increments of...... 16!
etc, etc, etc...

You'll get no argument from me, my mom is British my dad from New Zealand, I grew up being told how silly the US system of measures is.

 

[Russ Smith]

NFLE will not be here in ten years. I think we will see a minor league system set up on this continent with either (or both) the CFL and the Arena league. The NFL and CFL just came up with some sort of agreement that will make this more likely. The NFL is losing lots of money on the Europe league.

So, by default, MLS. I think it might threaten hockey as the #4 sport, but not for another 15-20 years or so.

That's actually a good point I hadn't thought of, as the landscape changes courtesy of Clarett et al, it's very likely NFLE could go away as we know it.

Too late to change my vote but I now agree MLS.

 

[Zeno]

I think Adu is THE hope for the MLS, if he's half as good as the hype in the
near future he can save that league.

If Adu is what he is hyped up to be he will be playing Europe by the time he is 18 and MLS will have to replace him with another face.

MLS will very likely lose Landon Donovan to Bayer Leverkusen this coming season and he is the current poster boy for the league and is recognized as a world class player. Damarcus Beasley will very likely end up in Europe as well...really MLS is currently a training ground and opportunity for our domestic stars to get recognized overseas where they will earn the big money and worldwide recognition.

 

[kerouac9]

If Adu is what he is hyped up to be he will be playing Europe by the time he is 18 and MLS will have to replace him with another face.

MLS will very likely lose Landon Donovan to Bayer Leverkusen this coming season and he is the current poster boy for the league and is recognized as a world class player. Damarcus Beasley will very likely end up in Europe as well...really MLS is currently a training ground and opportunity for our domestic stars to get recognized overseas where they will earn the big money and worldwide recognition.

Exactly. If MLS is going to be successful, it's going to have to recognize itself for what it is: a developmental league of will-bes, has-beens, and never weres. It needs to look at what's made baseball's minor leagues a success for 100 years and adapt it's game to that. More gimmickry, less focus on the on-field product.

If soccer is going to have success as a sport in itself in the U.S., it should focus on indoor soccer as an alternative. Like the Arena Football League (which has become a totally different game from real football) has become the alternative to football.

 

[Russ Smith]

If Adu is what he is hyped up to be he will be playing Europe by the time he is 18 and MLS will have to replace him with another face.

MLS will very likely lose Landon Donovan to Bayer Leverkusen this coming season and he is the current poster boy for the league and is recognized as a world class player. Damarcus Beasley will very likely end up in Europe as well...really MLS is currently a training ground and opportunity for our domestic stars to get recognized overseas where they will earn the big money and worldwide recognition.

I must be wrong but I thought I read that Adu's contract prevented him from
going overseas for quite some time?

I don't follow it closely at all so I must be wrong about his contract. I
know Nike wouldn't care if he were overseas.

 

[Zeno]

I must be wrong but I thought I read that Adu's contract prevented him from
going overseas for quite some time?

I don't follow it closely at all so I must be wrong about his contract. I
know Nike wouldn't care if he were overseas.

The way it works is every player is "owned" by the league not by their individual teams. MLS like any business is trying to make money, if Adu is looked at by European clubs as being a difference maker they will break the bank to get him. Any European club will have to pay a "transfer fee" to get him, just like they are trying to do with Beasley right now, so far MLS hasn't been made an offer they feel is reasonable. MLS sets the price and ultimately approves any moves.

Donovan is a different story his rights are owned by Bayer Leverkusen and he is on loan to MLS. He can be pulled back to Germany anytime they wish.

 

[Russ Smith]

The way it works is every player is "owned" by the league not by their individual teams. MLS like any business is trying to make money, if Adu is looked at by European clubs as being a difference maker they will break the bank to get him. Any European club will have to pay a "transfer fee" to get him, just like they are trying to do with Beasley right now, so far MLS hasn't been made and offer they feel is reasonable. MLS sets the price and ultimately approves any moves.

Donovan is a different story his rights are owned by Bayer Leverkusen and he is on loan to MLS. He can pulled back to Germany anytime they wish.

Thanks.

Sort of the opposite of Euro basketball where they try to hide prospects like
Darko Milicic hoping NBA teams won't see them . Which never made sense to
me since they can sell them for a big profit just as you said.

 

[jf-08]

I really don't think that Soccer will ever be big here.

I played for 10 years and like the sport.

However, when we hosted the World Cup (Wynaldi, Jobes, Miola, etc.) , with the Women's Team Drama (Chastaine, Hamm & Co), the popularity of the sport really couldn't have been any higher than it was.

And Professionally the sport really didn't catch on with mainstream America.

 

[SECTION 11]

Exactly. If MLS is going to be successful, it's going to have to recognize itself for what it is: a developmental league of will-bes, has-beens, and never weres. It needs to look at what's made baseball's minor leagues a success for 100 years and adapt it's game to that. More gimmickry, less focus on the on-field product.

Blah. Your worst post ever.

 

[Skkorpion]

If NHL hockey dies a much-deserved death, there will be room for mls in our sports world.

 

[AzCards21]

If NHL hockey dies a much-deserved death, there will be room for mls in our sports world.

Yeah, the fate of the NHL could determine a lot of these other leagues moves to attract fans over the next two years.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

If NHL hockey dies a much-deserved death, there will be room for mls in our sports world.

A "hat trick" of:

 

[Crimson Warrior]

MLS all the way. Unlike football in europe, soccer, even here in the US, is guaranteed a core of loyal fans, which are enough to to keep a pro league afloat.

World Cup soccer is the best. Did you guys know we just kicked the crap out of Grenada twice?

Seriously, I watch every US match I can. I get fired up about our national teams.

Still, professional soccer in the US has a long, long way to go. I venture to say that it will never be bigger than football. But, its got a shot at passing hockey and basketball. Baseball? eh. I dunno.