MLS Could Face Domestic Challenge From Rival Soccer League
1-liner, MLS, Soccer September 2nd. 2009, 12:45pmCompetition: MLS could face competition from another domestic soccer league. Eight professional clubs in United Soccer Leagues, the organization controlling American soccer from the second-tier downward, are threatening to leave USL to form their own league. The league would strive for a private ownership model, rather than an MLS-style collective. It would feature teams in cities – such as St. Louis, Montreal, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Miami – where MLS does not have a club. (Reuters)
13 Responses to “MLS Could Face Domestic Challenge From Rival Soccer League”
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September 2nd, 2009 at 1:07 PM
This totally makes sense because soccer has such a strong following in the US that they need another league to satisfy American’s hunger for the sport.
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:08 PM
I am not going to bash soccer, but this doesn’t make good business sense.
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:32 PM
This is actually great timing, at elast from the MLS Players union standpoint. The CBA is up i believe after next year. Since USL doesnt have a salary cap, there are players making much more by playing in USL than in the MLS. If these “super” usl clubs branch out to start their own league, it would give MLS plsyers union some leverage to do increase the cap, or some other way. Many of the USL teams have great attendance, and I would assume it’s these teams who would be interested in starting their own league.
What many people don’t realize is that USL, while considered minor leagues, is actually much more suited to expand and become a power player because they are not a single entity. I’d be interested to see how this plays out.
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:45 PM
This will be the “leftover” league …the only area named with a strong enough following is Montreal …I wonder about the viability of franchises in Salt Lake City, Dallas, and Colorado(Denver) in the MLS. No team from Florida succeeded in the MLS either.
The MLS’s strongest suit is to be a West Coast plus Northeast plus Chicago, Columbus, Toronto, Montreal, Hamilton, and Ottawa league. There is a substantial scene in Edmonton AB if not also Calgary that could be added after Vancouver and Portland in the works already too. In addition the Rochester Rhinos have had a consistent following for some time, but I doubt the scene is that big in upstate New York. JPQ can advise perhaps.
September 2nd, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Don’t knock Paolo’s “scene” ratings. Leagues base their expansion around it.
Honestly, money is the biggest factor. With significant investment, they could pay twice as much as MLS or more.
This will probably be a post sooner or later, but the question for MLS is not whether they need to liberalize the structure and spend more money but how best to do it. The status quo is not working. The product is not getting better. Television ratings are awful.
The reaction in places such as Toronto and Seattle is encouraging, but their long-standing franchises in bigger markets are getting killed. For some of the bigger market teams like D.C. and the Red Bulls, attendance dropped 25%.
September 2nd, 2009 at 2:52 PM
I’m surprised Atlanta is even mentioned on here. There is not an active men’s team this year and I haven’t heard anything about them bringing it back next year yet. I know Arthur Blank was interested in bringing an expansion MLS franchise here last year when that announcement was being made.
September 2nd, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Anybody think it’s possible that MLS would allow promotion/relegation and combine with the USL?
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:19 PM
@ the beard
will never happen for a couple reasons, first being that teams have to pay upwards of $40million to get a franchise, and they’re not going to do it if, especially as a new franchise, they could wind up playing the Autin Aztecs in the USL. Also, relegatin works so well in europe because teams have a fan base that will watch them play against a school of blind kids. If their team drops from the Prem league, then they watch them in the championship. That won’t happen here. They’ll take on another team, become a general MLS fan, or start watching European soccer. There’s too much involved for MLS to do that. Imagine if the galaxy were relegated with beckham and donovan? It would make American soccer more exciting, but would kill the MLS as a business
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:20 PM
tyduffy,
I think perhaps you’re overestimating the use of a soccer “scene” for expansion cities. St. Louis has one of, if not the biggest youth soccer set up, and they’ve been a soccer hot bed for years. Right now, its about stadiums and having the $$$ to buy your way in.
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:27 PM
In addition the Rochester Rhinos have had a consistent following for some time, but I doubt the scene is that big in upstate New York. JPQ can advise perhaps.
Paolo: Buffalo was into indoor soccer (Buffalo Stallions and Buffalo Blizzard) for a long time, and drew pretty well for the league (like 7-8K/game). Never had “regular” soccer, though, and doubt it would draw 2000/game
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:12 PM
I have advocated putting a team in St. Louis for years. I also believe that a team in Detroit would do well.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:13 PM
No.
Promotion/Relegation is a great concept, but it’s business suicide. Anywhere where it’s not tradition, it won’t be instituted.
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Great point on St. Louis. Between Windsor and Hamilton ON would be a far better location than Detroit.