This is the thing. MLS may be huge worldwide one day in one form or another, but not the current form I don't think. Europe is way better at everything soccer and the gap isn't closing that much if at all. It might be getting larger matter of fact. The TV money, sponsorship money, and rich owner money isn't going anywhere.

There's nothing wrong with it, it's just what it is. You come to America to be great at every major team sport except for one. Europe has soccer and has it by a large margin.

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Posted by LuckyTiger

Someone's Alter

Member since Dec 2008

45294 posts

Posted on 3/16/17 at 4:11 pm to StraightCashHomey21

quote:
Also the way MLS clubs frick over youth clubs by not funneling down money made on transfer fees does nothing but keep pay to play alive.

Now be fair here bruv. It's not just mls clubs. The players themselves don't want to share that money either. One of the biggest fighters against sharing that money with youth clubs was the players union and specific players like Michael Bradley.

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Posted by John Keating

College Green, Ireland

Member since Jan 2015

2593 posts

Posted on 3/16/17 at 4:30 pm to mynamebowl

One thing that I think people overlook or forget is that MLS is a growing, breathing, evolutionary project that is in progress as we speak. In its current form right now, of course it cannot be one of the top leagues in the world. There is a hard salary cap in place and limited player movement. Yet those aspects are currently in place for a reason.

The league is being built from the ground up. It was only just over ten years ago that its very existence was an open question. There had to be quality, competent, strong financial ownership investment. That has been accomplished. Just over ten years ago Phillip Anschutz and Lamar Hunt owned practically all MLS clubs, with Anschutz owning six teams. Now, Anschutz only owns the LA Galaxy and the Hunts only own FC Dallas. Stadiums had to be built. That aspect is quite a challenge to fund, gain approval, and construct. That has been achieved. Next, fan support and attendance had to be nurtured. Check. Investment in academy structures had to be implemented and that aspect has just been given focus over the past few years. Now, the focus turns to developing media growth while continuing to foster continued sustainment on all other previously mentioned fronts.

This is all a series of measured steps in the evolution of a soccer league in the US. I think it is doing fine. Further changes will be necessary in terms of the salary cap and financial structure, media rights and access, and so forth. However, I see those as steps to be taken in time. Another thing to recognize is that negative aspects, such as pay to play, are not just MLS issues but USSF issues. So there needs to be evolution in the USSF as well. The MLS does not need all the world players to want to lift the MLS Cup and CCL trophy. It only needs some of them and most of the players from North America and Central America to do so. I fully expect MLS to be a top 5 or close to top 5 league at some point in the future. If I had to offer a prediction, I would say in about 15 years.

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