"Ultimately, It's About the Money" (TM) Specifically:
1. Billionaires go to the MLS, Millionaires to the USL. Those with no money and little power, settle for the NISA (which is why it will ultimately fail, but that's a different conversation).
2. In lieu of athletic Pro/Rel, the (which is distinctly un-American) USA has ECONOMIC Pro/Rel. We've already seen this with many of the most successful USL Championship teams go to the MLS (*). No relegation yet in soccer, but we've seen that in other Leagues, e.g. NHL. If Indy does get "promoted" to the MLS, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing for the USL! The more successful USL Championship teams can aspire to similarly economically-beneficial "financial exits"!!
3. The USL Championship and League One will likely also have an Economic Pro/Rel system. League One teams like Richmond, Forward Madison, etc. already draw more paying fans in attendance to their games than some USL Championship teams --and even MLB teams like Miami or Pittsburgh-- so may make the jump in coming years.
4. The Indy11 stadium site controversy will be ultimately settled by money --to sort through the bones, remediate the site, or move to another site. The new billionaire investor will make all that possible.
(*) god knows what happened to San Diego --must have been missteps by the S.D. Loyal owner, or he had neither money nor influence )
I have wanted Nisa to expand into Indiana for a while. They need to do it and give the fans who want independent soccer in pro ranks a taste of it.
This guy comes across as an entitled brat. Someone who thinks he’s a power broker.
I like KK point of view on Twitter on this that Tanza millions of dollars have been been thrown into the USL team and these guys are willing to just walk away from that because of the promise of being in the closed system and protected cocoon of MLS .
MLS a has no business trying to stabilize the existing USL club and using supporters to do that.
Also, Mr. Ziemba is not an entitled brat at all. He is an incredibly nice man who just wants to help in the situation and make the voice of fans known.
I actually don’t believe it’s wrong for the team to go to MLS if they talk to the fans and keep the culture and identity of the club. The fans of the team should care about their club first, not root for a league. Does it suck for USL? Yes. Is this a targeted attempt by MLS to poach a market? Possibly. But the fans are not in the wrong for following the team to MLS, and the team is not in the wrong looking for a promotion with the money they have and the goals they have.
I agree with this thinking. As a fan of a USLC club, I don't want to see them move to MLS. But I'm realistic enough to admit that if Legion grows to a certain point - has their own stadium, and is easily drawing 10k+ fans - and then made a move to MLS, I would follow them there. As long as it was the same club. I think it's also fair to look at a club like North Carolina FC, and acknowledge there's been no animosity or significant controversy for them to move from USLC to USL1, and then back. I know it's not a 100% direct comparison, but they made the moves that were needed for the club to survive and thrive. If they moved up to MLS, i would hate to see them go, but I wouldn't see it as dramatically different.
The issue I've had in Indy specifically is that there appeared to be a deal in place for a bigger and better future, and it looked like it got scuttled. I'm OK with what we've heard so far for the newest iteration of a deal.
Calum: will there be a THIRD interview? This has been really fantastic and the story has not yet concluded!
p.s. Oops, I meant to write in my earlier comment: "In lieu of athletic Pro/Rel (which is distinctly un-American), l, the USA has ECONOMIC Pro/Rel. "
Hopefully!
"Ultimately, It's About the Money" (TM) Specifically:
1. Billionaires go to the MLS, Millionaires to the USL. Those with no money and little power, settle for the NISA (which is why it will ultimately fail, but that's a different conversation).
2. In lieu of athletic Pro/Rel, the (which is distinctly un-American) USA has ECONOMIC Pro/Rel. We've already seen this with many of the most successful USL Championship teams go to the MLS (*). No relegation yet in soccer, but we've seen that in other Leagues, e.g. NHL. If Indy does get "promoted" to the MLS, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing for the USL! The more successful USL Championship teams can aspire to similarly economically-beneficial "financial exits"!!
3. The USL Championship and League One will likely also have an Economic Pro/Rel system. League One teams like Richmond, Forward Madison, etc. already draw more paying fans in attendance to their games than some USL Championship teams --and even MLB teams like Miami or Pittsburgh-- so may make the jump in coming years.
4. The Indy11 stadium site controversy will be ultimately settled by money --to sort through the bones, remediate the site, or move to another site. The new billionaire investor will make all that possible.
(*) god knows what happened to San Diego --must have been missteps by the S.D. Loyal owner, or he had neither money nor influence )
I have wanted Nisa to expand into Indiana for a while. They need to do it and give the fans who want independent soccer in pro ranks a taste of it.
This guy comes across as an entitled brat. Someone who thinks he’s a power broker.
I like KK point of view on Twitter on this that Tanza millions of dollars have been been thrown into the USL team and these guys are willing to just walk away from that because of the promise of being in the closed system and protected cocoon of MLS .
MLS a has no business trying to stabilize the existing USL club and using supporters to do that.
Also, Mr. Ziemba is not an entitled brat at all. He is an incredibly nice man who just wants to help in the situation and make the voice of fans known.
I actually don’t believe it’s wrong for the team to go to MLS if they talk to the fans and keep the culture and identity of the club. The fans of the team should care about their club first, not root for a league. Does it suck for USL? Yes. Is this a targeted attempt by MLS to poach a market? Possibly. But the fans are not in the wrong for following the team to MLS, and the team is not in the wrong looking for a promotion with the money they have and the goals they have.
I agree with this thinking. As a fan of a USLC club, I don't want to see them move to MLS. But I'm realistic enough to admit that if Legion grows to a certain point - has their own stadium, and is easily drawing 10k+ fans - and then made a move to MLS, I would follow them there. As long as it was the same club. I think it's also fair to look at a club like North Carolina FC, and acknowledge there's been no animosity or significant controversy for them to move from USLC to USL1, and then back. I know it's not a 100% direct comparison, but they made the moves that were needed for the club to survive and thrive. If they moved up to MLS, i would hate to see them go, but I wouldn't see it as dramatically different.
The issue I've had in Indy specifically is that there appeared to be a deal in place for a bigger and better future, and it looked like it got scuttled. I'm OK with what we've heard so far for the newest iteration of a deal.
Good interview but disagree with a lot of his views
Can you expand on what you disagree with?