I think the bottom line is to each his own. If you like the MLS great, if you like the EPL, Spanish Premiera, Bundesliga, La Liga, hell even the Dutch League, then watch what you want.

First, we are all soccer fans, so I don’t get this poster’s implied bashing of the EPL because of a small ratings difference. Any soccer on T.V. is a good thing to promote this sport in America. Is it probably better for the MLS if they were the only soccer product you could ever watch in the U.S.? Sure, for the MLS. But the EPL/MLS games don’t compete head to head, so who really cares as long as ESPN is showing soccer. ESPN bought the Setanta rights because it can put the EPL on in a slot where it doesn’t take away time from college and pro basketball and football. We all win since there is more soccer to watch. The MLS’s problem is that it competes against all these leagues, and Major League Baseball, it therefore suffers from competition from more established and well supported American sporting offerings.

I personally don’t watch any MSL games. I can’t get into the style of play and would prefer to watch the EPL. I do however respect MLS players and teams because they are professionals and play at a level that I can’t dream of (and some like Donovan can play in the best leagues).

Secondly, I think the time difference is key for ratings. ESPN only has the early Saturday game and some occasional Monday games. Only diehard EPL fans are likely to get up and tune in. And, this is definitely the case for the games between smaller less known teams. Casual fans don’t know that Wolverhampton is in West Midlands, England, and to be honest any of their players. But, they may know that they have a team in Chicago or Columbus to go see every now and then, and therefore watch some games on T.V. But also, most casual fans know who Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, etc… are and that’s why they tune in to watch the games with the Big 4, and now Everton, ManCity, Aston Villa, Tottenham, etc…

The bottom line is even the Aston Villa game I am watching is a better on the field product. There is no way to debate that. Even Landon Donovan admitted that recently. I think the phrasing of his 10 game stay at Everton as “intense” is enough said. I don’t think that he has said that about LA Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake.

I am a huge Arsenal fan and I try to catch every game I can (when family and other obligations don’t interfere), but as you can see I even watch Aston Villa, Tottenham, Everton, ManCity and other games when I am free. Supporting any one of these teams is not band-wagon jumping, its a personal choice (I have been an Arsenal fan for 8 years), its like choosing Wii, PS3, Xbox because you like the games they have vs. another platform. If the only argument you have is that you should support the product in your country then I hope you don’t drive a foreign car, have a foreign cell phone, have foreign investments, because you are by definition a hypocrite.

This league will never be relevant. you nerds will always be the ignored geeks of the sports world, to be laughed at by the rest of us who are superior to you. Hahaha, you people are pathetic. Fuck your little mickey mouse league. Any adult who follows this shit is as sad as they come

Also, it is amazing the number of people that are NOT happy about this small ratings “advantage”. They are like a junior high girl, happy their best friend didn’t do well on a test because it makes them feel better about themselves.

EPL fans go to pubs to watch games. MLS fans go to their couch to watch games.

Ergo, viewership for MLS is higher.