Comments on: MLS Expansion: Feeling Bad for Miami, But Looking at the Remaining Bids

By: Lars

Lars — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:22:23 +0000

Epl. This is probably the one time I’ll disagree with you. Expansion generally improves talent, believe it or not, because it allows more opportunities for players to develop. Essentially players (and their families) have more incentive to develop their talents and will spend more money on it. The more expansion teams, the more domestic players that are mandated into the league. This means a widening of the talent pool. While yes there will be an initial drop off in talent, in the long run the talent will catch up, much like it did in the NHL, the NFL and Major League Baseball, where anyone will tell you that players now are significantly better than they were 20 years ago with smaller leagues.

By: eplnfl

eplnfl — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:41:59 +0000

bigprof:

Some sound ideas there. Getting some of our American players back in MLS would be a plus but also attracting better talent from Latin America would be a plus. Expansion should only come to MLS as a whole when the talent pool has been increased by the salary cap increases and new DP’s to a level that the quality of the league as a whole will not be effected. MLS can not afford what happened to the NHL, where a couple decades are needed to bring up the talent level.

By: bigprof

bigprof — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:05:09 +0000

Uh,
last time I checked MLS was a for-profit enterprise while the us soccer federation is a national entity. MLS is about money, and Canadians are 7.2 times crazier about soccer then we are. That means they will also spend much more on MLS related merchandise. They should expand to both Vancouver and Montreal…and eventually plan on moving KC to Portland or to the other side of Missouri (supposedly a “traditional soccer city”). Before MLS expands in the US, they should consider that some teams will be too unprofitable to remain where they are at. MLS is not as stable as has been reported. Barca and CLasue bailed the second they realized they weren’t going to have two games with 30-40k attendance (with Beck’s departure).
MLS should hold tight on expansion and raise the salary cap…with a national DP or 2 so they can afford back some American guys who have already headed to Europe.

By: eplnfl

eplnfl — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:59:17 +0000

First let me say to all my South Florida friends your time will come but in the meantime we all understand your hurt. I AM NOT HERE TO BASH CANADA, but I would rather see Miami in the league over a Canadian city(please see my comments below) because Chicago has always had a great rivalry with all of the sports team in South Florida and it’s a nice excuse to escape some bad weather in Chicago to see a game in Miami.

Those who have been disappointed by this action by MLS should not single out and a particular person or office for the failure. I know it does not help but how many communities have been lied too, deceived, or wrongly promised a sports team to see it go somewhere else or even worse pack up and leave during the night. It’s business and next year things maybe different.

Now back to Canada. I have stated this before and will do so again, I want Canadian teams in the league. The sooner MLS has a team in Montreal the better. American and Canadian soccer will both benefit. The USA-Canadian relationship is like no other and we share many things with Canada and American’s should be happy and proud to have Canadian teams in their sports leagues. We are not Eurosnobs after all! It’s a great moment for me when I can attend a game where a Canadian team is playing and here O’Canada.

This is not a negative sum game. We can all win!

By: Hollywood (FL) Fan

Hollywood (FL) Fan — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:47:26 +0000

Canada can probably support MLS better than most American cities.

Seriously, Dallas, Colorado, Kansas City, c’mon. Without a star attraction these places are jokes for the game.

By: Gazza

Gazza — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:02:03 +0000

“They also have allowed key national team youngsters like Mo Edu and Marvell Wynne to end up playing in Canada on turf for two successive coaches who could care less about the American game.”

Kartik,

What is the basis for this statement? I think John Carver cares deeply for the American game and all his players including Wynne, Barrett, Cronin, Edwards, Ibrahim, and Johann Smith. If you don’t believe me ask the players.

The best way to develop the “American game” is to have a successful top tier league and if that includes 2 Canadian teams out of 20 then so be it.

By: MJ

MJ — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:51:33 +0000

Why on earth turn this into a Canada-bashing free-for-all? Being at the stadium for the all-star game, I can tell you there was a lot of booing, just not directed at the US — it was directed at the idiots that organized the pre-game ceremonies and appeared to not recognize where the game was being played. Next — most leagues in North America have Canadian teams, and they all make the leagues and teams in it stronger no matter where they are. In terms of being concerned for development of soccer in the US, I think it’s clear to most that we are all concerned that the leagues themselves are strong and developing. Large sold out crowds and a high level of fan interest will help all! And for the MLS in particular, surely doesn’t that mean that the league has the strongest teams and support possible, no matter if it’s in the US or Canada? Considering that for the champions league games last week Montreal pulled in over 50,000 and Houston just 10,000, I think there might be some that would argue the Canadian teams have potential, and implying that expansion into Canada isn’t good for US soccer is just plain ignorant.

By: dj mk

dj mk — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:39:56 +0000

Kartik

i really hope your not basing your opinion of the direction of the MLS on various message boards. now, i may not know much about the CSA, but it really sounds like you are lecturing the canadians on their soccer institutions.

in the end, who cares. heck, let Venezuela in. as long as we are playing the same game. and it’s all about the love of the game, not some sort of geo-political minefield. whatever puts fans in the seats and creates an exciting games with rivalries is ok with me.

By: Kartik

Kartik — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:13:21 +0000

While, not a charity, MLS was founded to promote the American game and the American player.

MLS is chartered under the USSF and not the CSA for a reason. It is not a Canadian league and was never meant to be.

I am also disturbed by the PDL allowing teams in Canada. The Laredo Heat a legendary team was beat by Thunder Bay last year in the final and that was IMHO a very bad sign.

I’m all for Canada. I’ve done shows and segments on your national team. I’ve finally embraced TFC even though I would totally dishonest if I said I wanted you guys in the league to begin with.

But enough is enough. MLS has gotten way off track and needs to be dealt a dose of reality.

I feel for the Canadian fan. The CSA is inept. But understand we were in worse shape than you when the NASL went down. You guys made World Cup 86 and we did not because you were better organized and more prepared to move forward in the post NASL landscape.

Hard work, player development and alot of guts on the part of those who love the game in the US got us as far as we have gotten. My message to Canada is to work to improve your own soccer/football institutions rather than lecturing us on what is wrong with ours. (Like Canadian fans booing the Star Spangled Banner and going on various message boards talking about how Americans don’t understand the game)

By: dj mk

dj mk — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 07:58:25 +0000

the MLS is about making money. it’s a business not some sort of soccer charity.