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JasonB wrote:MLS finally found a way to get on the front page. When FC Dallas signs Davids next week and NY signs Ronaldo, the true soccer fans in the states (and there are a LOT of them) are going to come out to the games.

This move will do MORE for soccer in the continental US than Gretzky to LA did for Hockey here. MLS will be more highly covered than the NHL by the end of 2008.

See the NY Cosmos. They had aging stars and made soccer a big deal for a short time, but as for long term success, I'll believe it when I see it. I think the saving grace for the league may be that most of the money is coming from endorsements, not directly from the team.

As for hockey, it's a much easier sell because
a) you already had teams in American cities and far more people in LA who grew up for example in Boston watching hockey than grew up in England watching soccer
b) most Americans consider Canadian things (like hockey or Steve Nash) only half foreign, if that, and are much more accepting of them

MustangStealth wrote:

JasonB wrote:MLS finally found a way to get on the front page. When FC Dallas signs Davids next week and NY signs Ronaldo, the true soccer fans in the states (and there are a LOT of them) are going to come out to the games.

This move will do MORE for soccer in the continental US than Gretzky to LA did for Hockey here. MLS will be more highly covered than the NHL by the end of 2008.

See the NY Cosmos. They had aging stars and made soccer a big deal for a short time, but as for long term success, I'll believe it when I see it. I think the saving grace for the league may be that most of the money is coming from endorsements, not directly from the team.

As for hockey, it's a much easier sell because
a) you already had teams in American cities and far more people in LA who grew up for example in Boston watching hockey than grew up in England watching soccer
b) most Americans consider Canadian things (like hockey or Steve Nash) only half foreign, if that, and are much more accepting of them

Didn't one of those guys sign Pele trying to do the same kind of promo. That sure did not work. Of course that was only about 20 or more years ago.

mrydel wrote:Didn't one of those guys sign Pele trying to do the same kind of promo. That sure did not work. Of course that was only about 20 or more years ago.

Yes, the Cosmos signed Pele after he couldn't compete at the top flight in the big time leagues.

I am sad that I am old enough to remember Pele in his prime.

1) This is not the equivelant of the NASL. That league did not work because American players were not developed and were horrible. In order to field a decent team, they had to hire ALL foreign players, which made it too expensive.

2) LA already was making a profit prior to this deal. This is just increasing exposure to another level.

3) All of the teams in MLS will bring in big names this year (NY will bring in two). That did not happen in the old days - the NASL was NY and nothing else.

4) Beckham is only 31. Same age as Peyton Manning and Allen Iverson. He is not 35 or 26 like Pele was.

This is nothing like what the Cosmos tried to do.

Also, Hockey is actually a much, MUCH more difficult sell. There are way, way, way more people in this country who watch soccer than hockey. Up to this point, they have just watched European or Mexican leagues. And many, many, many more people in this country have experience playing soccer than hockey, which will allow for more fans.

The ONLY reason MLS has not had a greater following up to this point is because it was deemed "minor league" by the soccer community. And, frankly, that is how it has started. But they were very smart about it. They knew they needed to develop the American player before they kicked it into overdrive. We now have enough talent in this country that each team in the league is "solid". you add one or two great players per team, and you have a very good league. And that is what they are moving towards now. Mark my words - and you are welcome to hold me to this - by the end of 2008, soccer will be much bigger in this country than Hockey.

mrydel wrote:I am sad that I am old enough to remember Pele in his prime.

I'm sad that more people never saw him in his prime.

PonyPride wrote:

mrydel wrote:I am sad that I am old enough to remember Pele in his prime.

I'm sad that more people never saw him in his prime.

Millions did in South America

Becks is not as good as he used to be true, but he's still probably at the top end in terms of talent compared to other MLS midfielders - from my limited viewing of the MLS. I think he'll probably surprise a lot of critics of the move as just a commercial or marketing effort. On the other hand, soccer a.k.a. football will not surpass NHL Hockey for some time I'm afraid. I think you're expecting too much from the move in terms of the upgrading of the league's talent though. He's still good, but its not like Lampard, C. Ronaldo, or Gerrard are jumping to the MLS. Its going to take the fans to bring more money to the league to bring the better players. I think the soccer youth in the US will bring that fan base in maybe 10 yrs time, not 1 or 2.

Fish 'n Chips wrote:Becks is not as good as he used to be true, but he's still probably at the top end in terms of talent compared to other MLS midfielders - from my limited viewing of the MLS. I think he'll probably surprise a lot of critics of the move as just a commercial or marketing effort. On the other hand, soccer a.k.a. football will not surpass NHL Hockey for some time I'm afraid. I think you're expecting too much from the move in terms of the upgrading of the league's talent though. He's still good, but its not like Lampard, C. Ronaldo, or Gerrard are jumping to the MLS. Its going to take the fans to bring more money to the league to bring the better players. I think the soccer youth in the US will bring that fan base in maybe 10 yrs time, not 1 or 2.

The american talent is already getting there. We just need some players to get the soccer fans out to come see the games. There are actually quite a few EPL players that have come out of MLS in the past several years, and while those players were good players in MLS, they certainly weren't head and shoulders above the rest.

Obviously, there are several players in the EPL better than Beckham, but he will bring the fans out. Once the fans come out and spend money, you will see MLS go out and grab some additional players. Look at the Galaxy, they sold 3K season tickets the day Beckham was announced. The fact that they will sell out every game and still turn a profit even with his contract is going to send shockwaves not only through MLS, but the American sporting world.

In addition, I would have thought that a Mexican Superstar would be promising too. I'm thinking with as many Mexicans in Texas and California, and that if you could get a true Mexican Superstar (if there is one - I don't know of any names) to come to the MLS, that would/could be a key to drawing fans - a la the Yao Ming effect with Chinese kids all owning Yao Ming's Houston Rockets jersey.

I will say that I was pleasantly surprised that FSC (Fox Soccer Channel - I think?) was airing some of the EPL games on basic cable. I think it can only help from an exposure stand point.

Question: Does the MLS have a salary cap? I know the EPL doesn't, and Chelsea for example with their billionaire owner Roman Abromovich can simply buy the best players and win the league or near the top every year.

Fish 'n Chips wrote:In addition, I would have thought that a Mexican Superstar would be promising too. I'm thinking with as many Mexicans in Texas and California, and that if you could get a true Mexican Superstar (if there is one - I don't know of any names) to come to the MLS, that would/could be a key to drawing fans - a la the Yao Ming effect with Chinese kids all owning Yao Ming's Houston Rockets jersey.

I will say that I was pleasantly surprised that FSC (Fox Soccer Channel - I think?) was airing some of the EPL games on basic cable. I think it can only help from an exposure stand point.

Question: Does the MLS have a salary cap? I know the EPL doesn't, and Chelsea for example with their billionaire owner Roman Abromovich can simply buy the best players and win the league or near the top every year.

MLS has a salary cap because they want to avoid the NY or LA teams buying massive teams and making the league unbalanced.

We are getting other players in - Ronaldo, elthough slowing and old is still good, and he is signing this week with NY. FC Dallas is on the verge of signing Davids. Houston is signing the leading scorrer in the Mexican league. Chicago is getting Nedved. And NE is going to sign Blanco, who has been a star on the Mexican team for a long time.

I wish I had not given up on soccer in high school due to thinking there is no money out there

smupony94 wrote:I wish I had not given up on soccer in high school due to thinking there is no money out there

At least you took into consideration that you are no David Beckham, even though he's not what he used to be.

didn't FC Dallas when it was the Burn already try to sign a Mexican League star? Hugo somebody?

RGV Pony wrote: Hugo somebody?

If it was Chavez, he went into oil and dictatoring.