I’m an MLS fan and have also been surprised by the reaction to this. How does MLS have it covered? Even MLS fans rarely watch teams other than theirs. How is MLS serving Tampa, Phoenix or Pittsburgh? Why shouldn’t those markets have access to top level soccer. For all of MLS’s flaws they dwarf USL’s top teams today and have a massive head start on first division soccer in this country. MLS should have zero worries if they believe in their product and from a fan standpoint this should only push MLS to be better. I fail to see a negative from an MLS fans perspective. As someone who also rooted for an NASL team before given access to D1 good for all the fans of the potential USL teams who may take part.
The lack of true competition in the MLS --with clubs like San Jose and Houston allowed to mire mediocrity for years-- the narrow geographic footprint of the present clubs, and the astronomical price of new franchises, coupled with few opportunities for domestic players all have stifled the growth of soccer in the U.S. The USL's innovation and fueling the popularity of soccer to every nook and cranny, will in time benefit the MLS as well. A rising tide lifts all boats!!
100%, lots of underserved markets in MLS. There is no reason to think that if they can find an MLS level of success in the big markets they have to themselves that MLS cities are off limits. MLS needs to figure out how to get teams like San Jose, Houston, Boston, Denver, Chicago, DC and Dallas on the level of Atlanta, Portland and Seattle. If USL forces them to do that it’s a win for MLS too.
Getting into economics is always shaky ground, since it is mainly a con, but the term "rising all boats" will cause me to respond. What you get is super yachts for a few and row boats, inner tubes and air mattresses for the many.
So, we have billionaire hedge fund (money for nothing) owners buying teams.
Maybe they will buy USL teams instead of English teams, do not count on that. The USL may be a hard sell for these big spenders.
We have to recognize the absurdity that we refer to these leagues as defined by the "Pro League Standards" which was crafted for MLS to maintain this title in perpetuity as MLS intended from the PLS' inception!
These arbitrary guidlines are not in-line with what the rest of the football world holds for their league standards. I have pointed out many times that stadium requirements for the Premier League only require 5k covered seats for the stadia requirements with ingress and egress points.
The USL has every right to compete at the highest level that they are able! I get annoyed by this issue of Division sanctioning because it is so far from what the game is about, it's embarrassing that we make this an issue in America!
But circling back to the PLS, has anyone considered that there is a possible loophole with inter-division play: To my knowledge, the PLS does not provide any definition of what constitutes a season. Please correct me if I am wrong on this! If this stands to be the case, it would be reasonable to assume that "Division 1" teams would only have to keep the requirements, as provided, in the PLS.
If they are not required to play a certain amount of games against D1 competition, then theoretically USL could maintain separate Divisions but have their main competition be open between Divisions by merit. I haven't read the PLS carefully in quite some time, but I do not remember seeing this as a requirement when I read through them last. I would assume this would have to be spelled out for the PLS to be legally binding!
Competition goes both ways, up or down. So, it is not a given that adding another D-1 league will be good for the sport.
If you are correct Kartik and this move forces innovation that would be a plus for the sport. That would be great.
As one who experienced the real NASL and lost that due to over spending and poorly run teams, this can be scary. Just in the last couple of years has the MLS started to loosen league rules and create a freer market for the teams and players.
Many of the current USL teams cannot fill their small stadiums, so how will they find the money to build and fill bigger ones, or afford to compete for players.
I’m an MLS fan and have also been surprised by the reaction to this. How does MLS have it covered? Even MLS fans rarely watch teams other than theirs. How is MLS serving Tampa, Phoenix or Pittsburgh? Why shouldn’t those markets have access to top level soccer. For all of MLS’s flaws they dwarf USL’s top teams today and have a massive head start on first division soccer in this country. MLS should have zero worries if they believe in their product and from a fan standpoint this should only push MLS to be better. I fail to see a negative from an MLS fans perspective. As someone who also rooted for an NASL team before given access to D1 good for all the fans of the potential USL teams who may take part.
The lack of true competition in the MLS --with clubs like San Jose and Houston allowed to mire mediocrity for years-- the narrow geographic footprint of the present clubs, and the astronomical price of new franchises, coupled with few opportunities for domestic players all have stifled the growth of soccer in the U.S. The USL's innovation and fueling the popularity of soccer to every nook and cranny, will in time benefit the MLS as well. A rising tide lifts all boats!!
100%, lots of underserved markets in MLS. There is no reason to think that if they can find an MLS level of success in the big markets they have to themselves that MLS cities are off limits. MLS needs to figure out how to get teams like San Jose, Houston, Boston, Denver, Chicago, DC and Dallas on the level of Atlanta, Portland and Seattle. If USL forces them to do that it’s a win for MLS too.
Getting into economics is always shaky ground, since it is mainly a con, but the term "rising all boats" will cause me to respond. What you get is super yachts for a few and row boats, inner tubes and air mattresses for the many.
So, we have billionaire hedge fund (money for nothing) owners buying teams.
Maybe they will buy USL teams instead of English teams, do not count on that. The USL may be a hard sell for these big spenders.
It should be an easy sell. You can put one hell of a team on the field in USL D1 for just the amount of an expansion fee in MLS.
We have to recognize the absurdity that we refer to these leagues as defined by the "Pro League Standards" which was crafted for MLS to maintain this title in perpetuity as MLS intended from the PLS' inception!
These arbitrary guidlines are not in-line with what the rest of the football world holds for their league standards. I have pointed out many times that stadium requirements for the Premier League only require 5k covered seats for the stadia requirements with ingress and egress points.
The USL has every right to compete at the highest level that they are able! I get annoyed by this issue of Division sanctioning because it is so far from what the game is about, it's embarrassing that we make this an issue in America!
But circling back to the PLS, has anyone considered that there is a possible loophole with inter-division play: To my knowledge, the PLS does not provide any definition of what constitutes a season. Please correct me if I am wrong on this! If this stands to be the case, it would be reasonable to assume that "Division 1" teams would only have to keep the requirements, as provided, in the PLS.
If they are not required to play a certain amount of games against D1 competition, then theoretically USL could maintain separate Divisions but have their main competition be open between Divisions by merit. I haven't read the PLS carefully in quite some time, but I do not remember seeing this as a requirement when I read through them last. I would assume this would have to be spelled out for the PLS to be legally binding!
Competition goes both ways, up or down. So, it is not a given that adding another D-1 league will be good for the sport.
If you are correct Kartik and this move forces innovation that would be a plus for the sport. That would be great.
As one who experienced the real NASL and lost that due to over spending and poorly run teams, this can be scary. Just in the last couple of years has the MLS started to loosen league rules and create a freer market for the teams and players.
Many of the current USL teams cannot fill their small stadiums, so how will they find the money to build and fill bigger ones, or afford to compete for players.