USL

[CCMore]

I'd be surprised if there are any. I can't imagine anyone plunking down hundreds of millions of dollars for a franchise and then deciding to risk their investment by agreeing to the possibility of relegation.

Besides, relegation to where? MLS Next Pro is third division. USL is the second division. Establishing pro/rel under current circumstances would mean getting relegated out of the MLS system and into the USL and promoting USL teams into MLS.

How would that work? MLS is a single entity. The league owns the teams. At the first relegation, MLS would be chucking their own properties out of their own league and replacing them with independent USL clubs which they have no ownership interest in.

There's only one way it could work: MLS would have to completely transform its business structure and convert all the franchises to independent clubs. Theoretically possible, I guess, but I can't imagine the scenario where they would do that. It would put the league in the exact position it's been trying to avoid for the last 30 years.

I assume they would make an MLS D2 if it were to ever come around. Almost like split the league in half and have the bottom half of the league start in the D2. I still think Pro rel is not something you can just add in. MLS is like NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB. A major league that has an affiliated minor league where the major league teams also own the minor league teams. If I want to watch the minor league then you can. I would just rather watch my major league team

 

[KevinJRogers]

I assume they would make an MLS D2 if it were to ever come around. Almost like split the league in half and have the bottom half of the league start in the D2. I still think Pro rel is not something you can just add in. MLS is like NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB. A major league that has an affiliated minor league where the major league teams also own the minor league teams. If I want to watch the minor league then you can. I would just rather watch my major league team

Right. We're a typical American closed league. It's just unusual in global football because pro/rel is so prevalent.

And it is possible for MLS to convince the federation to move MLS Next Pro up one slot to the second division. or at least try, rather than create an entirely new second division league. The USL would scream bloody murder, especially since they're looking to build a first division themselves.

But hey, money talks, and MLS has the money.

Chances are nothing like that is even remotely on the radar, though. The league is in a consolidation phase for the next few years.

 

[ZYanksRule]

USL League One side Westchester SC will have more games on TV this season than MLS's New York City FC.

Glenn Crooks (@glenncrooks.bsky.social)

Expansion USL League One side Westchester SC will have matches carried on MSG. "NY sports fans know that MSG Networks is the premier platform in the biggest U.S. market & we are honored to be part [of it] from day one as Westchester's first home grown pro sports team." - Owner Mitch Baruchowitz

bsky.app

 

[moogoo]

USL League One side Westchester SC will have more games on TV this season than MLS's New York City FC.

Glenn Crooks (@glenncrooks.bsky.social)

Expansion USL League One side Westchester SC will have matches carried on MSG. "NY sports fans know that MSG Networks is the premier platform in the biggest U.S. market & we are honored to be part [of it] from day one as Westchester's first home grown pro sports team." - Owner Mitch Baruchowitz

bsky.app

does streaming not count as TV?

not like you can get MSG OTA. you still need to pay for cable or a live TV streaming sub. both of which cost just as much, if not more than subbing to MLS season pass for the year.

 

[gbservis]

does streaming not count as TV?

not like you can get MSG OTA. you still need to pay for cable or a live TV streaming sub. both of which cost just as much, if not more than subbing to MLS season pass for the year.

Is MSG still unavailable on YouTubeTV and some of the other big TV streaming services? It's been a few years but I remember not being able the get MSG once I switched to YouTubeTV because Dolan was still acting like we were going to somehow return to 1980 and everyone was going to re-sign up for cable.

 

[moogoo]

Is MSG still unavailable on YouTubeTV and some of the other big TV streaming services? It's been a few years but I remember not being able the get MSG once I switched to YouTubeTV because Dolan was still acting like we were going to somehow return to 1980 and everyone was going to re-sign up for cable.

yea it is still unavailable on youtubeTV. it is available on direct tv and fubo or with a traditional cable subscription.

 

[RunningWise]

yea it is still unavailable on youtubeTV. it is available on direct tv and fubo or with a traditional cable subscription.

And it is an expensive subscription

 

[ZYanksRule]

does streaming not count as TV?

not like you can get MSG OTA. you still need to pay for cable or a live TV streaming sub. both of which cost just as much, if not more than subbing to MLS season pass for the year.

I consider being on cable to be different from streaming. Streaming sports, for me, is not the experience that watching sports on my cable box is. I'm sure some feel differently, but I don't consider streaming to be the same as cable TV.