The State of the League

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Thought we needed a thread to discuss the state of the league - not just expansion, but everything. The level it's at, the direction it is going, its successes and its challenges.

Personally, the level is fine, and the direction is good. I think the level of play is noticeably better than it was when I started watching full time in 2015. It's been a big rise. The recent expansion teams have really increased the energy of and interest in the league.

The key question is to turn this momentum into additional fans in the stadiums and especially on television. Our domestic league should be drawing at least the same numbers of viewers in this country as the leagues overseas do. Hopefully, those who prefer European soccer can come to realize the increase in quality in MLS and can start to turn up and tune in.
 
Thought we needed a thread to discuss the state of the league - not just expansion, but everything. The level it's at, the direction it is going, its successes and its challenges.

Personally, the level is fine, and the direction is good. I think the level of play is noticeably better than it was when I started watching full time in 2015. It's been a big rise. The recent expansion teams have really increased the energy of and interest in the league.

The key question is to turn this momentum into additional fans in the stadiums and especially on television. Our domestic league should be drawing at least the same numbers of viewers in this country as the leagues overseas do. Hopefully, those who prefer European soccer can come to realize the increase in quality in MLS and can start to turn up and tune in.
I think having "real" fans is something that's just going to have to be something that happens with time for newer teams like us.
 
Really interesting article in the Atlantic about the state of the league, its plans for growth, and the different opinion owners have on how to get there. Some favor a slower growth to hold down short term cash flow losses. Others want to grab the current opportunity by aggressively opening up spending.

https://theathletic.com/698988/2018...nt-owners-are-divided-over-growth-strategies/
Very good article. They really do try to create the impression, though, that the 2 factions are not that different, and especially downplay the new owners/old guard split. Whether that is true or spin I can't say, but I think it necessary to mention to give the flavor of the piece.
 
Very good article. They really do try to create the impression, though, that the 2 factions are not that different, and especially downplay the new owners/old guard split. Whether that is true or spin I can't say, but I think it necessary to mention to give the flavor of the piece.
It was a hefty one but a great read. I honestly ended up being very impressed by the organizational setup and leadership. They also mentioned the importance of the the new broadcast deal in 2022 in the lead up to the 2026 World Cup in the US and Mexico.
 
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Wasn’t sure where to drop this, but if true it’s pretty ridiculous to think a quarter of the league could have no academy. Also, another reason why solidarity payments should be acknowledged in the US. I’d wager a few of these teams have lost their best players to overseas with no chance of a transfer.

 
FC Cincinnati has also signed up with FloSports and supporters are not happy.

Apparently some games are on local broadcast TV but the station is not available over the entire fanbase, which covers good chunks of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky at least. According to the statement, DC United fans (ticket holders?) were given a discount by Flo but FCC did not negotiate any such thing. Flo costs $20 monthly or $150 annually. Fans are unhappy they have to pay so much to watch Away games.
For reference, FCC season tickets range from $199 GA to $1,350 for their highest Club level (roughly $80 per), so their tickets are super cheap but the TV deal is comparatively rather dear.
 
FC Cincinnati has also signed up with FloSports and supporters are not happy.

Apparently some games are on local broadcast TV but the station is not available over the entire fanbase, which covers good chunks of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky at least. According to the statement, DC United fans (ticket holders?) were given a discount by Flo but FCC did not negotiate any such thing. Flo costs $20 monthly or $150 annually. Fans are unhappy they have to pay so much to watch Away games.
For reference, FCC season tickets range from $199 GA to $1,350 for their highest Club level (roughly $80 per), so their tickets are super cheap but the TV deal is comparatively rather dear.

There were also massive issues with D.C. United's feed on Flo during our game on Sunday. Fans missed the majority of the first half due to a number of issues.

https://theathletic.com/863991/2019...d-c-united-broadcast-leaving-fans-frustrated/

It's a mistake to have your games only available online, and to ask fans to pay $150/year to watch your games online is absolutely atrocious for those fans. When that system then doesn't work ... can you imagine the outrage in our fanbase if something like that happened?
 
There were also massive issues with D.C. United's feed on Flo during our game on Sunday. Fans missed the majority of the first half due to a number of issues.

https://theathletic.com/863991/2019...d-c-united-broadcast-leaving-fans-frustrated/

It's a mistake to have your games only available online, and to ask fans to pay $150/year to watch your games online is absolutely atrocious for those fans. When that system then doesn't work ... can you imagine the outrage in our fanbase if something like that happened?

Oh yeah. Our team would never tell us that the only way to watch a game live is online. That would never happen.*

*especially when there's no conflicting game on our channel and we'd only be interrupting a post-game show.
 
Oh yeah. Our team would never tell us that the only way to watch a game live is online. That would never happen.*

*especially when there's no conflicting game on our channel and we'd only be interrupting a post-game show.

I was more referring to charging fans $150/year to watch all the games.
 
FC Cincinnati has also signed up with FloSports and supporters are not happy.

Apparently some games are on local broadcast TV but the station is not available over the entire fanbase, which covers good chunks of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky at least. According to the statement, DC United fans (ticket holders?) were given a discount by Flo but FCC did not negotiate any such thing. Flo costs $20 monthly or $150 annually. Fans are unhappy they have to pay so much to watch Away games.
For reference, FCC season tickets range from $199 GA to $1,350 for their highest Club level (roughly $80 per), so their tickets are super cheap but the TV deal is comparatively rather dear.
I believe all non nationally televised games are available on local broadcast TV within Cincinnati and areas next to Cincinnati.
 
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NY Times weighs in on how much remains to be done in New England.

Robert Kraft’s Other Problem: Soccer

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Robert K. Kraft’s New England Patriots are a very good football team, winning six Super Bowl championships the past 19 years. They are 33-5 against the A.F.C. East division rival Buffalo Bills during that span.

In a cruel twist of fate, Robert Kraft’s other team that plays at Gillette Stadium, the New England Revolution, might as well be the Buffalo Bills of Major League Soccer. There was a run of dominance — four M.L.S. Cup Finals appearances in six years — without a championship, and a mostly fallow period now going on a decade. The team is below .500 (125-148-89) since 2008, the year after they went to three straight M.L.S. Cup Finals.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/sports/soccer/robert-kraft-revolution.html