When asking Chat GPT what the MLS is, it will tell you the following: No problem! The Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1993 and starting its first season in 1996, MLS has grown significantly in terms of talent, popularity, and competition. It is considered one of the top soccer leagues in North America.
What ChatLON will tell you, its a league that is so in love with money, that it will never be loved in the United States.
I have a problem with the MLS. I do not take away the fact that they signed Messi, signed with Apple TV to make a ton of money, or really any other fact that they are the top league in North America, and they are doing pretty well.
What I hate is the MLS is not a grass roots league. It is not a league that is exciting. Its an American attempt at being a Corporate League to make money. That is it. The product is horrid, the TV broadcasts are not good (they somehow failed doing a quality Golazo show,) and there is no buzz with 90% of Americans.
Enough mean words about the MLS, now lets talk why I am even blogging about the MLS. Let me introduce you to the USL, the United Soccer League. Yesterday, March 18th, the USL Owners voted to become the First American league to adopt Promotion and Relegation. What does that mean for non ball knowers (The Operator if you are reading this, this is you) is that each game matters. You are at the bottom of the table – you are going to USL League Two (or whatever they will call it.) You are at the top of the Table – you are either winning or moving up a league. In a sport that American’s don’t really watch (or have not fully fallen in love with the team’s near them) this will bring eyeballs. It will bring passion. It will bring attention and pride, but it will also bring a grass roots fandom to the game of Soccer in America.
Now Lon, you have been hating on the MLS a lot in this blog, what should they do? Fantastic question Lon, let me ask the reader a question here. If you had an asset that was worth $690 Million, would you do anything to depreciate that value? That $690 Million is the average worth of an MLS Franchise. If you introduce Pro-Rel to the MLS, what owner would vote yes for that? You are now depreciating the value of your team, and lets be honest, there isn’t many American MLS Fans die harding going to low performing teams.
What the MLS should do is buy in to the USL, make the MLS the top flight, and figure out somehow how to let MLS owners keep the value of their club (or league if that also would work so they don’t lose money) and merge with the USL. Who loses in this arrangement? Small market teams now will have the opportunity to move up rankings to the top flight. There is a TV Deal (that is ass broadcasts Ill keep saying it) that they could use, and North American Soccer would be set for success. Small Markets = Win, Big Time MLS Owners = Keep their investment. Talk to me why I am wrong.
Thanks, F the MLS.
Lon
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