Queensboro FC

[sundance]

Point is USL is 10+ years behind MLS in quality, but it might only take 5 years to catch up to where it is today, if that makes sense.

I do love USL, but the play quality isn’t fully a function of time; investment is probably the biggest factor. I would personally be thrilled if USL in 5 years has roster budgets in the $5-10 million range, paired with fully built-out academy structures, but do we really think that’s going to happen?

Potential “time” factors (really, knock-on effects from MLS) that could make quality easier to accelerate for USL now than it was for MLS 10 years ago include growing awareness/interest in soccer by investors (more money) and young athletes (deeper player pool), as well as MLS academy kids who don’t make it to the first team looking for a landing spot.

USL is definitely going to improve, but there’s some questioning whether it’ll be at the rate you suggest.

 

[adam]

I do love USL, but the play quality isn’t fully a function of time; investment is probably the biggest factor. I would personally be thrilled if USL in 5 years has roster budgets in the $5-10 million range, paired with fully built-out academy structures, but do we really think that’s going to happen?

Potential “time” factors (really, knock-on effects from MLS) that could make quality easier to accelerate for USL now than it was for MLS 10 years ago include growing awareness/interest in soccer by investors (more money) and young athletes (deeper player pool), as well as MLS academy kids who don’t make it to the first team looking for a landing spot.

USL is definitely going to improve, but there’s some questioning whether it’ll be at the rate you suggest.

What USL does have in the TV/Media deal with ESPN. MLS didn't even have that 10 years ago. Could you even watch the USL final a few years ago if you wanted to without some random stream on the internet? USOC is helping to grow league recognition. They also have a good working relationship with MLS, rather than a competitive one like NASL did. Growth is always easier with partners rather than being at war. However, it will still be minor league soccer in a country where the top league is still considered minor league by. most Euro snobs. I have no idea what the landscape will look like in 5-10 years, but it's looking positive.

 

[Fantazma]

Watching the USL final tonight -- the quality is just nowhere near MLS. It's like if every player in defense was Eric Miller and Seb Ibeagha, and every attacking player was Tony Taylor. Just super poor on both sides. It's really nowhere close to MLS levels, which lends more to the belief that this team really won't be a major threat to NYCFC. MLS is light years ahead, which makes sense considering the salary gaps.

For sure quality is not on par. But dont let that fool you, even without qbfc people are dropping out of nycfc tickets etc. for those disgruntled and are from queens LI that want live soccer this is an option im sure many will take. Nycfc threat is nycfc FO but an empty looking YS vs a packed 7500 would just look bad for nycfc

Besides i dont think quality on the field is an issue, it doesnt stop phoenix, new mexico cincy, sacramento from having good crowds and good fanbase (even bfore cincy and sac were picked for mls)

 

[Seth]

For sure quality is not on par. But dont let that fool you, even without qbfc people are dropping out of nycfc tickets etc. for those disgruntled and are from queens LI that want live soccer this is an option im sure many will take. Nycfc threat is nycfc FO but an empty looking YS vs a packed 7500 would just look bad for nycfc

Besides i dont think quality on the field is an issue, it doesnt stop phoenix, new mexico cincy, sacramento from having good crowds and good fanbase (even bfore cincy and sac were picked for mls)

It's also not necessarily a quality-of-play issue. I'm a Mets fan and enjoy going to Citi Field a few times a year, but that doesn't stop me from also going to see a Cyclones game occasionally even though it's at the opposite end of the baseball leagues. Sure the Mets are better (hopefully!) but it's really two different things. Can certainly enjoy both despite them being different (and in a way maybe a bit *because* they're different).

 

[Gotham Gator]

People living nearby will probably really enjoy the opportunity to go to QBFC games. However, I don't think people will be driving in from Long Island or down from Westchester or taking trains from the other boroughs.

 

[Schwallacus]

People living nearby will probably really enjoy the opportunity to go to QBFC games. However, I don't think people will be driving in from Long Island or down from Westchester or taking trains from the other boroughs.

I agree it won't attract people from Westchester, but I could see people going to games from LI (more specifically the Nassau County area). QBFC would be smart to give deals to kids teams and academies to get group tickets for them. Makes more sense and is easier for most Nassau county residents to get to Queens (.5-1 hour) than the Bronx (1-2 hours).

 

[sbrylski]

I do love USL, but the play quality isn’t fully a function of time; investment is probably the biggest factor. I would personally be thrilled if USL in 5 years has roster budgets in the $5-10 million range, paired with fully built-out academy structures, but do we really think that’s going to happen?

Potential “time” factors (really, knock-on effects from MLS) that could make quality easier to accelerate for USL now than it was for MLS 10 years ago include growing awareness/interest in soccer by investors (more money) and young athletes (deeper player pool), as well as MLS academy kids who don’t make it to the first team looking for a landing spot.

USL is definitely going to improve, but there’s some questioning whether it’ll be at the rate you suggest.

I don't think they even need to be that high. A league of players of McNamara's quality would be in the $3-5m range. If only the top five players per team were around that quality, you're down to $2-3m. FWIW, 17 home games at $25 average ticket price and 8k purchasers is $3.4 million. Definitely some razor thin margins here to make a USL team successful.

 

[adam]

People living nearby will probably really enjoy the opportunity to go to QBFC games. However, I don't think people will be driving in from Long Island or down from Westchester or taking trains from the other boroughs.

Oh, I'm definitely taking a train in from LI. They fact it's right by Jamaica makes it super easy for LIers who are not on the Port Washington line.

 

[Shwafta]

I'm totally gonna take the train in for this! Or even easier, if the games are on weeknights, since it's by Jamaica, it will be extremely extremely easy for me to make games, and then take the train home after. I'll definitely be attending games, except saturdays.

 

[FootyLovin]

I'm definitely taking a train in from LI.

Ditto.

 

[ManhattanValley]

Point is USL is 10+ years behind MLS in quality, but it might only take 5 years to catch up to where it is today, if that makes sense.

I get some serious XFL vibes from predictions like this.

I think QBFC can be a great asset to the community but I don't think it's going to catch up to MLS anytime soon. It's got a better chance of emulating some of the more successful non-league clubs in England - carving out a low-key, but positive (and maybe even profitable) niche in its catchment area. To do that you either have to directly appeal to disgruntled fans of a big league team (FC United of Manchester, AFC Wimbledon), brazenly cater to a quickly gentrifying neighborhood (Dulwich Hamlet) or throw money down a pit until the product on the field resembles something professional (Billericay Town). QBFC could be a combo of all three; it could just as easily be neither. Regardless, like the teams mentioned above, they're never going to catch up to the big boys without some seismic catastrophe higher up the chain. It's not going to happen, but that shouldn't be their aim in the first place.

 

[adam]

I get some serious XFL vibes from predictions like this.

I think QBFC can be a great asset to the community but I don't think it's going to catch up to MLS anytime soon. It's got a better chance of emulating some of the more successful non-league clubs in England - carving out a low-key, but positive (and maybe even profitable) niche in its catchment area. To do that you either have to directly appeal to disgruntled fans of a big league team (FC United of Manchester, AFC Wimbledon), brazenly cater to a quickly gentrifying neighborhood (Dulwich Hamlet) or throw money down a pit until the product on the field resembles something professional (Billericay Town). QBFC could be a combo of all three; it could just as easily be neither. Regardless, like the teams mentioned above, they're never going to catch up to the big boys without some seismic catastrophe higher up the chain. It's not going to happen, but that shouldn't be their aim in the first place.

the only point I’ll disagree with there. Is unlike the UK counterparts, some of these USL teams’ ownership have bigger pockets than their MLS counterparts. Also, we’ve seen a steady stream of USL teams joining MLS with expansion fees. Sort of a quasi pro (no rel) scenario, giving hope to all these fan bases that with enough support they could eventually join the top league too. The only barrier to that is there is a possible saturation limit to the amount of teams in the top flight league and there’s no easy answer there as any media deal (which is MLS’ lifeblood) needs all the large markets it can get, so breaking into 2 separate top flight leagues that meet in playoffs or a closed pro-rel defeats that.

 

[sbrylski]

I get some serious XFL vibes from predictions like this.

I think QBFC can be a great asset to the community but I don't think it's going to catch up to MLS anytime soon. It's got a better chance of emulating some of the more successful non-league clubs in England - carving out a low-key, but positive (and maybe even profitable) niche in its catchment area. To do that you either have to directly appeal to disgruntled fans of a big league team (FC United of Manchester, AFC Wimbledon), brazenly cater to a quickly gentrifying neighborhood (Dulwich Hamlet) or throw money down a pit until the product on the field resembles something professional (Billericay Town). QBFC could be a combo of all three; it could just as easily be neither. Regardless, like the teams mentioned above, they're never going to catch up to the big boys without some seismic catastrophe higher up the chain. It's not going to happen, but that shouldn't be their aim in the first place.

Sorry, let me clarify. USL will never be as good as MLS at the same point in time, save for some silly future where billionaires locked out of MLS decide to take massive losses to prop up the league.

All I meant by that is that your average American soccer player today will not be able to keep up with MLS in 5 years. These players will fall down to USL, and the quality of play will rise. USL benefits from MLS's exponential growth, so long as they can provide stable wages to these fallen veterans and to D1 academy products that don't quite make it to the first team.

 

[Shwafta]

Sorry, let me clarify. USL will never be as good as MLS at the same point in time, save for some silly future where billionaires locked out of MLS decide to take massive losses to prop up the league.

All I meant by that is that your average American soccer player today will not be able to keep up with MLS in 5 years. These players will fall down to USL, and the quality of play will rise. USL benefits from MLS's exponential growth, so long as they can provide stable wages to these fallen veterans and to D1 academy products that don't quite make it to the first team.

See, I wonder if the quality of MLS rising might also give an opportunity for the younger 'average american players' to improve their game. The older ones who are at/past their prime maybe not so, but anyone in MLS who we consider 'average' who is, say, less than 24, I think they could continue being 'average', where that bar for 'average' is of course higher than in previous years.

 

[Fantazma]

Sorry, let me clarify. USL will never be as good as MLS at the same point in time, save for some silly future where billionaires locked out of MLS decide to take massive losses to prop up the league.

All I meant by that is that your average American soccer player today will not be able to keep up with MLS in 5 years. These players will fall down to USL, and the quality of play will rise. USL benefits from MLS's exponential growth, so long as they can provide stable wages to these fallen veterans and to D1 academy products that don't quite make it to the first team.

Ehhhh the problem is the salaries. Ive seen a few articles in the athletic and others where players that are dropping to USL are retiring. These players are in late 20’s though maybe 30. They retire becasue usl doesnt pay much and is focused on younger players. I dont think its becasue the owners don't have the money but its more like they dont want to pay it. This is why many went to NASL where they would get 100k vs 60 in usl.

The question becomes if they are worth it ? Im not gonna lie i didnt recognize the names so i dont think they worth paying 100-150k in slaries, heck there are players in our squad were getting less.

USL is being frugal with salaries, i think perhaps to try and get stadiums done or try and get “promoted”. They saw NASL’s fate and didnt want to go that route

 

[Shwafta]

I forget where I read it, but I saw an interview with villa where he says that QBFC has been in the works for 4-5 years... Means he basically started working on this as soon as he came to NY? I wonder if that was a main reason for him signing with us to begin with

 

[LionNYC]

12:24 PM

https://twitter.com/x/status/1201915102280212487

1 PM

https://twitter.com/x/status/1201924160236195840

 

[Fantazma]

12:24 PM

https://twitter.com/x/status/1201915102280212487

1 PM

https://twitter.com/x/status/1201924160236195840

nycfc media team out to lunch obviously

 

[joe]

nycfc media team out to lunch obviously

iT wAs FiVe pM iN MaNcHeStEr

 

[Fantazma]

not QBFC related but still USL related. Miami FC jumped ship from the whole pro rel crowd of teams to join USL. btw not sure if we should have a "lower leagues" thread for the USL leagues/ and other independent pro leagues.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1204824050914213890