MLS Discussion Thread

[dubcity]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

Checking out the MLS tables, why do so many teams have a different number of matches played? There are teams who have played 21, 15, 18, 16, etc.

Is it the US Open and the CONCACAF CL that caused that? At what point does it even out, because right now it's almost like you shouldn't even bother trusting the standings.

[Bruins]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

Checking out the MLS tables, why do so many teams have a different number of matches played? There are teams who have played 21, 15, 18, 16, etc.

Is it the US Open and the CONCACAF CL that caused that? At what point does it even out, because right now it's almost like you shouldn't even bother trusting the standings.

Yeah, pretty much. Best thing to look at is the Supporters Shield standings, which are ranked by points-per-game:

http://www.mlssoccer.com/standings/supporters-shield

[Money99]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

I just read a crazy stat the MLS average attendance is greater than both the NHL and NBA.
I know that MLS buildings seat more than the average basketball or hockey arena/stadium, but still. That's really impressive. Especially for a 'niche' league that is arguably not even in the top 5 in the world.

Soccer is definitely taking off in North America.
I wouldn't be surprised if in 10 years (maybe less) it's more popular than hockey in both attendance and TV ratings - at least in the U.S.

[Boltman]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

I just read a crazy stat the MLS average attendance is greater than both the NHL and NBA.
I know that MLS buildings seat more than the average basketball or hockey arena/stadium, but still. That's really impressive. Especially for a 'niche' league that is arguably not even in the top 5 in the world.

Soccer is definitely taking off in North America.
I wouldn't be surprised if in 10 years (maybe less) it's more popular than hockey in both attendance and TV ratings - at least in the U.S.

For sure in less than 10 years.

Out here in LA it's all you see the kids playing nowadays. The fields are full of kids (boys & girls alike) playing in soccer leagues.

Little League / Pony League baseball and Pop Warner Football are slowly trickling away. We're playing catchup to the rest of the world in soccer but this country is a sleeping giant in that regard and we've awaken.

[Money99]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

For sure in less than 10 years.

Out here in LA it's all you see the kids playing nowadays. The fields are full of kids (boys & girls alike) playing in soccer leagues.

Little League / Pony League baseball and Pop Warner Football are slowly trickling away. We're playing catchup to the rest of the world in soccer but this country is a sleeping giant in that regard and we've awaken.

I've always thought that.
Europe obviously loves it's football and they pay the top guys insane amounts of money.
Image if USA had the same passion? There's way more money to be had here, which means the top talent would be flocking to America to get paid, making MLS the top league in the world.

Regarding your comment about baseball, here's a little ditty that I think sums up why soccer is so much more popular these days.
I love baseball and grew up playing and watching the sport. So naturally, when I had two sons, one of the first things I purchased for them was a mitt.
Both enjoy baseball and my youngest son is pretty good at it.
He discovered soccer this year and became obsessed with it. So much, in fact, that he declared he is done with baseball next year so he can concentrate solely on soccer.
Last night, he had a really good game for his baseball club.
On the way home, he told my wife that he was still considering playing baseball next season.
But the reason he loved soccer more is that he's always moving and there's always something to do.
"In baseball, I love it when I get to hit, or the ball is hit to me. But I don't like all the standing around waiting" - which is 90% of the sport.

That's what's killing baseball and that's what's helping soccer.

I think I've mentioned on this forum before that I never grew up with the sport and I never really paid much attention to it.
But I've been trying to follow it more and I'm starting to appreciate the beauty of the game.
My wife couldn't be bothered to watch his games this Spring but I found I was more excited to watch him play soccer than baseball.
The sheer joy on his face when he'd score a goal was priceless.

[dubcity]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

I'm with the Men in Blazers. Soccer is America's sport of the future. As it's been since 1972 lol. Soccer's always going to dominate kids sports because it's cheaper and it involves more movement/exercise.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

I really don't like those guys at all.

Anyway, I know they're tongue in cheek when they say that, but even they must see the difference between then and now. I mean, they are working over here instead of their home country aren't they?

My response to them would be that soccer is the sport of the past in England. As it's been since 1966.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

Lampard's debut off. Hurt himself in training.

[rsnomar05]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

I'm with the Men in Blazers. Soccer is America's sport of the future. As it's been since 1972 lol. Soccer's always going to dominate kids sports because it's cheaper and it involves more movement/exercise.

But in the 1970's you couldn't watch soccer regularly on TV, aside from the nationally broadcast Cosmos matches. Kids were playing soccer at a high rate, but there was no domestic league to follow or dream of playing in after the NASL folded. There was no coverage of the EPL or other foreign pro leagues. Now all the major leagues are televised, the MLS is expanding, and with the internet you can follow a league like the EPL as closely as you could if you were in the UK. The fact that a women's world cup match drew 26.7 combined viewers on Fox and Telemundo should be proof enough that soccer is on the rise in America. I mean, that 26.7 beat the deciding game 6 of the NBA Finals, and that series had Lebron James. Last night, I went to see the USMNT play Haiti in the Gold Cup, and Gillette Stadium had great attendance, which wouldn't have happened back in the 70's.

Is soccer the most popular sport in America or close to it? No, but it is growing in popularity. And anyone who can't see that is blind.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

I'd like to watch the MLS but until the TV coverage is more than it is, it's going to be impossible to truly immerse myself in it.

[msuduo]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

I'd like to watch the MLS but until the TV coverage is more than it is, it's going to be impossible to truly immerse myself in it.

63 games on ESPN, ESPN 2, or FS1.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

[dubcity]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

63 games on ESPN, ESPN 2, or FS1.

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That's like what, 2 matches per week though? It's better than it's been in previous years, but it's still not all that much coverage for an American sports league. I'm sure if the ratings were there we'd see more matches on TV, but it is what it is.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

63 games on ESPN, ESPN 2, or FS1.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Not nearly enough though.

[rsnomar05]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

I'd like to watch the MLS but until the TV coverage is more than it is, it's going to be impossible to truly immerse myself in it.

Do they not show every Galaxy game in LA?

Where I am, every Revolution game is not only televised, but broadcast on the radio. Sure, you won't get every game of every team nationally, but you never do in any sport. And there are options available, like buying the MLS Extra Time package. I agree that it would be nice to get more nationally televised games, but I don't think it is currently that difficult to immerse oneself in the league. I mean, take the NBA. It has more nationally televised games, but it feels like every game has one of 6 elite teams. And at times it seems like every game on ESPN or TNT has Lebron James.

Now, I am not trying to say that the MLS gets near the same coverage as MLB, NFL, etc. That would be foolish of me to say. But with the internet, podcasts, the MLS Package, etc., combined with the national coverage the league does get, I think it is quite possible to immerse onself in the MLS.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLS Discussion Thread

I don't see every LA Galaxy game on TV. And even if, I wouldn't be a Galaxy fan because this city is a cesspool.

And I wouldn't pay for a package for a sport and league that I'm not totally into already.