Comments on: THE GROWTH OF ^EUROPEAN^ SOCCER IN THE U.S.

By: Elliott

Elliott — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:15:35 +0000

MLS just needs to accept that as long as you pay players the same as Triple A baseball clubs, you will get Triple A attendance and Triple A interest.

I am really looking forward to the new collective bargaining agreement in the Post-beckham era. Will the Union strike? Will anyone care?

By: Colin

Colin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:29:44 +0000

I agree with you that the MLS hardcore need to see the television EPL and La Liga fans as potential MLS fans. It seems to me as an MLS-outsider that the way to build that league’s fan base is to play to its strength, the excitement and atmosphere of its live matches. MLS can’t compete with European soccer on TV, because it’s simply not as good. I don’t mean that as an insult, it’s just a fact. What MLS offers is the chance to go to a game, chant and bang a drum, and get invested in a team you can see live outside of a summer friendly or overpriced vacation. And at a reasonable price compared to the NFL or NBA.

So the summer friendlies are an opportunity for the drum beaters like Krishnaiyer to make some converts, turn the La Liga watcher into a scarf wearing, face painted supporter. Until the quality gap is bridged, that’s the way forward for the MLS. It’s fans would be better off pushing the game than pushing potential fans away.

By: Spot

Spot — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:49:55 +0000

Cyrus – the topic of the US footballing month. Thank you for the well-written and balanced post. This debate is going to continue for years and will really heat up to a white-hot temperature with ESPN showing La Liga and more and more European football being available.
It’s going to be fun to follow.
I’m glad I found your blog – keep it going. I’m subscribing.

By: Cyrus Philbrick

Cyrus Philbrick — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:16:58 +0000

In his typically sensible way Tom Dunmore, of Pitch Invasion, has moderated some of my exaggerations. He writes, “Philbrick is probably right that more exposure is not in itself bad. Plenty of fans can follow Premier League teams and support their local MLS team, and one has to start somewhere with soccer. Perhaps what’s needed is not to see it as a battle, but for MLS and US Soccer to work on how it can be coordinated better scheduling-wise and in terms of commercial and marketing activity to ensure each time a high-profile team plays in the US, it is providing a benefit for the local MLS team — this clearly isn’t always the case.” I wish I had said all this myself. I should have made it more clear that both sides of the “fight” need to give. U.S. Soccer promoters and organizers should bend as much as possible to the desires of MLS clubs and fans, who after all represent the truest and most passionate core of soccer followers in this country, instead of ignoring their pleas. (On that note, despite some of the complaints, European tours of North America have been coordinated with both MLS and even USL teams like never before. Lots of scheduling/communication/respect issues still remain. But a lot of these games were scrapped together on pretty short notice, probably with pocketbooks leading the contracts. That’s part of the problem). Meanwhile, MLS fans need to suck up some of their oozing frustrations as it’s clear that the majority of American fans respond much more lucratively to a foreign product. There is middle ground, and it should get bigger and more congenial. Or that’s the idea, right?

By: chad

chad — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:40:53 +0000

I appreciate this topic and wonder why it isn’t brought up more. Perspective on our progress seems non-existent. Maybe we are too close to the situation. No other 14yr. old league (even non-football ) that I can think of has made the strides MLS has. Honestly, from stadia to impact on the world stage, the fruits of MLS are there even if Americans wont pick it. TV is not a way I rate our league. I drive 4 hrs thru DC traffic every month to watch United. I feel there needs to be a better protocol for the cameramen. This effects my enjoyment on tv.