MLS: A Factor in US Sports...or not?

by Blez on Aug 9, 2008 7:29 PM BST Comment 13 comments

Here is an excellent column on goal.com about whether or not Major League Soccer is actually progressing in popularity here in the United States, the only country in the world that seems to have resisted accepting soccer in any way, shape or form.

I wanted to open this up for discussion here. I know for a fact that I'm one of the rare American fans who was drawn in recently to MLS. I've always watched soccer for a long time, but usually only when the World Cup would come around. The UEFA Cup really drew me in in a way that I never expected. From there I've started watching a crapload of soccer and saw a lot of old England games on Fox Soccer Channel. I loved watching Becks and the magic he works with the free kicks, corners and crosses. I realized what a remarkable talent he was and he was playing here in my backyard, so I began watching Galaxy games regularly. The quality of soccer isn't particularly great, especially if you compare it to Premier League or Serie A games.

But it's done enough that it has encouraged me to attend my first live soccer match ever (outside of the ones I played in as a kid). I'm extremely excited for it because I'm pretty sure it will be a great sporting experience to see the skill on display close up. I can tell you from this American fan of someone who hasn't followed soccer on a professional league level that I've been sucked in. It's pretty funny that at goal.com, a soccer-focused Web site, that a bunch of American folks slam the sport. My question is, what the hell are you doing there?

What do you guys think of MLS and it's future? Do you regularly go to games? Who is your favorite team? Do you think that the league will attract bigger stars?

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Good

A good article.
http://www.soccershop.com/

by Lee2008 on Aug 9, 2008 8:04 PM BST reply actions 0 recs

Toronto FC

That is basically my reason for following MLS. I became a season ticket holder right away because I wanted to be able to have a sense of ownership over a club that European fans have always felt. I would catch the odd game before and laugh at the level of skill but in the past two seasons I have seen it really take a big leap.

The league is following what I think is a pretty good growth strategy. I like the Beckham rul and the salary cap and the Champions League and the increase in competitions with other CONCACAF leagues. These all help to increase the league’s profile and revenues which will hopefully help increase the salary cap and make the level of players that fills out the squad that much better.

The biggest obstacle for the MLS will be to be patient with their growth. Too many soccer snobs in North America forget that Europe and Latin America have decades of experience on the nascent league. As long as it takes its time and stays true to the sport rather than trying to attract families/casual fans then I think it’ll continue to grow and improve.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Aug 10, 2008 6:30 AM BST reply actions 0 recs

The definitive work on why soccer has not caught on in the U.S. is by Andrei S. Markovits and Steven L. Hellerman and it is entitled Offside: Soccer & American Exceptionalism.

They offer up many of the reasons soccer has never taken off here… You can read my review of their book here.

Have been to a Real Salt Lake match and enjoyed it… and I do think their new stadium will attract some fans, but MLS needs to do more to recruit children into the fan ranks, thereby creating a nostalgic attachment in them to a team—the way many of us have memories of baseball teams from our childhood…

by SportsAcademic on Aug 10, 2008 8:35 PM BST reply actions 0 recs

That book sounds very interesting

The one thing that I would note is that, for whatever reason, America seems to love things that are OURS. We’ve very possessive over the sports we love. Soccer can never be viewed as an American sport because it’s viewed as everyone else’s sport.

That being said we also loooooove champions. I can see a scenario where if the US happened to win a World Cup (men’s), I could see the country going crazy about it. I mean hockey experienced at least 10 years of additional popularity in parts of the US for winning that gold medal in 1980.

by Blez on Aug 11, 2008 2:52 AM BST up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely

Yes, we Americans do love to be different and have our own sports. Who else calls their national champions “World Champions”?

And yes, I think if the U.S. team were to win a World Cup, people who watched it could look to that as a point of reference, a shared cultural memory, and it could launch soccer as a spectator sport here.

Strangely, there is a rising generation that plays soccer. In fact, more children play soccer than baseball in America now. But soccer has yet to become a popular spectator sport. For now, the only big bang in American soccer (in recent memory) is LOSING to Brazil when we hosted the World Cup. Not exactly the best way to build a sport. If we won now (unlikely) it could go a long way in making soccer as big as or bigger than hockey.

by SportsAcademic on Aug 11, 2008 4:59 AM BST up reply actions 0 recs

I am a DC United fan

and feel confident that MLS will grow as a league. I think that the key is that you need top stadiums for all the teams (DC Utd play in a terrible stadium) and a bit more depth in the squad (look at the LA Galaxy where they have a lack of depth at the back).

by Left Midfield on Aug 11, 2008 12:44 AM BST reply actions 0 recs

You don't have to remind me about the lack of depth

on the Galaxy backline. Wow it is painful to watch. I swear they stand around watching the other team more than anything and even when they do pursue it’s often two guys marking one, leaving a wide open pass to another.

by Blez on Aug 11, 2008 2:31 AM BST up reply actions 0 recs

Soccer Specific Stadiums

Are key. It allows the teams to foster the independent development of supporters groups and lets those groups have a big effect on the rest of the stadium (ie Toronto).

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Aug 11, 2008 4:27 AM BST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm really looking forward to

seeing what the Home Depot Center is like. I’ve heard it’s the gem of the MLS.

by Blez on Aug 11, 2008 7:52 AM BST up reply actions 0 recs

MLS

My sense is that MLS has impressive support in the cities that host teams, but not much support in the rest of the country. I don’t think that is a bad model, and it’s probably what the the league realistically can hope for at this point. Thus you have good support for FC Dallas in the Metroplex and Houston in Houston. I live in Austin, though, and there isn’t much support for either team here. It’s just hard to get news about it or get swept up in the season here. It seems like MLS has been smart about trying to create a sustainable model that will continue to grow as more cities obtain teams.

"You’re the only here who contributes schtick only." - brettgardner

by trza on Aug 11, 2008 4:05 PM BST reply actions 0 recs

Sustainability

That is absolutely at the core of the league’s efforts. Once you have a league of strong franchises within their own areas then they can move towards creating interest across the continent.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Aug 12, 2008 2:43 PM BST up reply actions 0 recs