MLS's Insistance on Snuffing Out Dreams

As for the genuine part of the equation, I'd to like to see MLS be as genuine as Fulham. But god, you live in America you have to except that its not going to be, at least not in your lifetime.

Millions and Millions of Americans live in suburbs and homes laid out by corporations. Most Americans given the choice would choose Olive Garden over the local Italian joint around the corner. Are biggest event the Super Bowl is just one giant over produced hype show. America is not England and it soccer league is not likely to unfold like England’s did.

Look the Minnesota Thunder are about as organic a soccer club as there is in this country. It was started like 15 years ago by one guy Buzz Lagos who simply loved soccer and from their it has grown organically. Sounds great right?

I'm almost certain you'd puke at the sight of it. They play in a narrow highschool stadium, with turf and football lines. The play leaves much to be desired and most of the crowd noise comes from 12 year old girls screaming.

 

Spencer, thank you for the smile to go along with my morning cuppa.

True, I am yearning for something more authentic, but that's because I've become spoiled by the most Genuine, Uniquely Fantastic Football Club, Fulham.

I can't imagine my reaction when I finally get over there for a match at The Cottage.

There are a few U.S. sports business models that I think still provide a sliver of hope for the type of growth for the MLS that I think would be most benficial.

For Monsieur Petit's picking apart, some smaller market sports towns with relative success: Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Oakland, Sacramento, Kansa City, Portland, Vancouver

Also, Wiki does a good job at explaining things I never imagined in an online encyclopedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relocation ... orts_teams

 

Fair enough, but not all fans are drawn to a team for the same reason. I'm a big fan of McBride and I liked how Fulham played last season when I saw replays and such on FSC more than other teams; because of that I got more into Fulham, have a better appreciation of other players (e.g. Queudrue, Volz). However, if Fulham were to be replaced by Sunday leaguers, I (and likely others) are going to find it really hard to support the team.

Well, that's not true in the least. I live in New Jersey. I can't really get into the NY Red Bulls do to their NY Giants-esque level of frustrating mediocrity. I hope it changes; but my favorite soccer team is FULHAM. Which is way the hell far away from New Jersey. If this makes me some kind of non-genuine fan or whathave you, fine. It's not as if Fulham or any other team really cares how someone came to support them: either due to location, or their favorite players are on the team, or how they play the game, or even how cool their jerseys look. As long as they support them. This isn't even true in other sports. As an example, my best friend grew up in New Jersey like me but he's a Pittsburgh Penguins fan. Anyone would be daft to suggest he doesn't like hockey because he's not supporting the local team.

Just out of curiosity, in the big picture, are "genuineness" and "authenticness" really that important? Last I checked, neither quality is matters in scoring a goal, making a defensive play, etc. Being genuine and authentic doesn't win games or championships - which is the whole damn reason why Fulham buys/sells players and comes out every weekend to play a game, right?

Back to MLS, the fact of the matter is that for the league to continue to grow, I firmly believe some of it's best players should actually stick around to improve the quality of play, the quality of their team, and provide a better game for fans. Selling anyone to any interested squad abroad just because they are abroad or offering some cash is a great way to reduce MLS to a minor hockey league instead of the major pro league we want it to be. If you don't like it, fine. The league has grown over the last 11 years despite the lack of "authenticness" and "genuine" teams; it'll continue to grow despite.

 

I'm sure you'll love it! I did, my trip cemented in my mind that there really is no greater club than ours.

Seeing the best players in the world is one thing, but the city adds so much. The winding crowded streets, always vibrant. I remember walking from the Golden Lion to the scum ground passing pub after pub overflowing with scum fans in their blue shirts feeling like it was us against the world. Then arriving at the Bridge and singing in unison Blllllllaaaaaaaaackkkkkk and WHITE you'lllllll never passss; stick the blue flag up your assssssss, up your assss, up your assssss............

Then we take the lead. That moment is one of incredible joy, noise, excitement. You feel so proud of your club, the fact that your Fulham and the rest of the world isn't.

I think everyone must try an away match as well as a home game. There just so much fun. Even Charlton, not half as good a game the Chelsea, was an incredible experience.
I miss it, a month and half on a still reminisce about it nearly everyday. Hopefully I’ll get back soon.

 

The word authentic was being used earlier and Optimizer posed the question "Just out of curiosity, in the big picture, are "genuineness" and "authenticness" really that important?"

I am not sure what is really meant by genuine and authentic. Certainly the football played is, so it must be to do with the feelings about the clubs. So I offer:

Genuine is just being an honest fan. For me, being an authenic fan is anyone who has an emotional investment in a team, regardless of the reasons why. If a football result can ruin your weekend then your are genuine and authentic.

Teams are authentic by the support they are offered, not by the squad they assembly or the way they go about it. Chelsea are a good example of a very authentic team because they still have a loyal core who followed them when they were s**t and will follow them again when Red Rom goes home.

I would say, that it does not matter what club you support of why, but a club is only as valuable as its fans. If there is a genuine investment in a team by the fans then the club is authentic. The size of the fanbase is not important either.

So for me, it does matter - being genuine or authentic it may not score goals or bring success, but no-one will really care either unless the club is genuine and authentic.

By the same token, I should imagine there are enough people out there who are serious about their MLS team to make them the real thing.

 

You are in the exact same situation I am in. I guess I did not write it out correctly, but I live in Chicago but I have only been to two or three Fire matches in the last three seasons. I like soccer, but I don't seem to go to the matches for one reason or another.

My favorite soccer team is Fulham as well. I am not sure what you are talking about with the genuine/non-genuine fan. I would like to read a further explanation on that one. It does not matter how and why you support Fulham.

I honestly think that comparing MLS and the leagues in England are like comparing apples and oranges. Other than rugby and cricket, there are no other sports in England to watch and get into. And to say the least, soccer is the predominant sport over there by a long way.

On the other hand, here in the States, we have baseball, football, basketball, auto racing, golf and other big sports that at this point are much higher in the pecking order than soccer is.

Will the sport ever become a household sport in America? Not any time soon. I have discussed in another thread about trying to attract fans like myself and Optimizer to MLS matches. We are soccer fans, but don't go to the games.

Optimizer, why do you not go? Is it prices? Lack of quality? Lack of atmosphere? For me it is pricing. I think it is a rip off to go to the matches. $35 to park and a ticket for one person is way too much for a league that does not feature the best or even close to the best players in the world. Would you pay $35 to go to a minor league hockey or baseball game?

 

I think that it is a little simple to say that there are only 3 sports played in the UK. I can name 20 top golf courses where the European Golf Tour Visit (remember the game was invented in Scotland!). Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Donnington are all international race circuits, with F1, Formula 3000, Formula Ford, Caterham 7's, karting, Super Bike all competing. Rallying is also a big sport in the UK.

Rubgy has 2 code, league and union, both attrack 15-20000 crowds. There is also tennis, athletics, boxing, horse racing. All of these are considered main stream UK sports (Although tennis is a rubish game!).

Then there are the perculiar sports such as darts and snooker that attract huge following and air to millions. Crown Green Bowling which consumes the time of old biddies the country over. Hockey (not the stuff on ice). Then you can get onto the non-main stream sports that still have a large number of competitors, cycling, squash, motocross, inline skating, skateboading, sailing. All of these have professional sportsmen who earn a living playing games.

There is a seires of Ausie Rules Football teams about, American Football, Ice Hockey and basket ball have professional leagues in the UK. Croquet, there is a croquet club less than 1/2 a mile from my house!

The UK supports a massive and diverse number of sports at a professional level. As a simple snapshot look at the navigation of the BBC sports pages (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport).

With ChiToms original assertion - "Other than [football,] rugby and cricket, there are no other sports in England to watch and get into" I would disagree, within 4 hour drive of anywhere in the UK you can access all the above sports at a competent level. That is the advantage of a large diverse population constarined into a small area.

 

Speaking of the UK ice hockey league, here's their website: the bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League.

Why don't I go to NY Red Bulls games? Well, you hit a bunch of the reasons. Atmosphere, I really don't care about all that much. The pricing in terms of actually getting to the game is a big deal to me. The Red Bulls play at Giants Stadium, which is part of an incredibly difficult-to-get-to complex in East Ruthersford, NJ. You have to take the NJ Turnpike to get there from where I live, which is a 45+ min. drive at best and costs $3 to get up and $3 to get back (it's a toll road). Then there's parking. I know for Devils and Nets games at the nearby Continental Airlines Arena (same locale as Giants Stadium), it's $12 to park. As it is, just getting there, parking, and leaving to go home costs me $18. The Red Bulls tickets aren't nearly as pricey as Devils tickets; but I'm paying nearly at least as much (or half) to go there just to go see a game (which runs from $20 at the corner, $28 at sideline, and $38 at midfield). That monetary cost doesn't factor in all the stress of actually driving to the game. It's because of this alone I don't go to many Devils games much less NY Red Bulls games.

The "quality" of the team is related to that. If the Red Bulls stormed the league, I can see myself biting the bullet here and there to go see them. But they're mediocre at best for the better part of their 11 year history. That's not enticing considering the hassle to get to the stadium.

Somewhat related is the fact that I'm a mere graduate student and can't really afford to go to games regularly. Once I get a full time job (still looking!) and able to purchase things such as my own car and my own place; I'll look into getting regular tickets for sports. But I'm not crying poverty; the hassle in going to the game and the likelihood of winding up dissapointed is enough to just sit home and watch the Red Bulls on TV. Just as I do with the NJ Devils (without the likelihood of being dissapointed, they are one of the top teams in the NHL and my favorite of all sports).

Similarly, once the Devils go into their new train-accessible arena and Red Bull Park opens in Harrison, I'll consider going to some more games regardless of quality at that point. If only because I'm not going to East Ruthersford.