Comments on: MLS: Quality of Play Reflects Quality of Pay

By: cruz

cruz — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:21:57 +0000

That is awesome Chris. my brother has been to several USA games in Chicago. I have only been able to see the Chi. Fire play live. I love how much it has grown here…

Ryan in regards to your post, "But, why do real fans have to know the history of the game in order to enjoy it?" I suppose that just reading about it is good.. however, i essentially meant that becoming a soccer fan is not an immediate process. Football and Basketball can draw a crowd with little attention span much easier, especially on TV. ..Not to mention we take it for granted that those sports (and baseball!) are part of our culture and Soccer has grown tremendously, but it has take 15 years. Hope that helped clear anything up. Thanks.

By: Chris Lesley

Chris Lesley — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:52:03 +0000

I recently returned from the US and Canada and had the opportunity to watch an MLS game in LA and a USL1 game in Montreal. I can tell you the sport is very much on the up. In Montreal I barely got a seat on a Saturday afternoon in the 14,000 seat stadium, look for them to make the step up next. With the success of the national team I can only see this sport growing in North America.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:14:01 +0000

But, why do real fans have to know the history of the game in order to enjoy it? I think that fans can come into the sport, then as they read more and more they pick up on that history and get more drawn into the game.

The game really is a simple one in terms of the rules. Try teaching Football to 4 Spaniards at a Buffalo Bills game, now that was a feat.

I don't think the MLS will ever grow that big simply because the big players will get swooped up by European Clubs as that is where the $$ is, let alone the best talent. But, it is not as if this will impact the league as much as they think it will.

By: cruz

cruz — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:10:54 +0000

I agree, I feel that the sport has grown tremendously..however, soccer is similar to baseball in one aspect that being, real fans really have to have some knowledge of the sport and an understanding of the history and culture of the game. This could be the cause a a slow growth rate at the beginning. Baseball fans generally know their facts, and soccer fans are the same.. nonetheless, there is growth and this World Cup could be a huge catalyst. Do you believe that the growth of MLS can ever catch NBA or NFL in the USA? If so how long?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:44:18 +0000

Yes the players make little $$, but the league is only 16 years old. Teams are starting to build Soccer Specific Stadiums, the sport continues to grow every year.

Remember about 5 years ago when making fun of the sport was commonplace on TV, Radio, anywhere. Now those comments are few and far between, and if they are made no one dignifies them with a response.

Of course I wish the players earned more $$, but as you said, the minimum salary has went up, and will continue to go up as the league grows.

Soccer is the sport to be in, there is plenty of room for businesses to represent clients, do PR, marketing, etc.