USL selling - MLS isn't buying

[EPJr]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/sport ... .html?_r=2

[TwinTownBisonFan]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/sport ... .html?_r=2

damn... was hoping for MLS to set up European style relegation here in the MLS...

[EPJr]

Nurock Soccer Holdings LLC Announces Purchase of USL from Nike, Inc.

Atlanta, Georgia (Aug 27th, 2009) - NuRock Soccer Holdings LLC ("NuRock Soccer Holdings") today announced that it has acquired United Soccer Leagues ("USL") from NIKE.

NuRock Soccer Holdings, based in Atlanta, is led by Rob Hoskins and Alec Papadakis. NuRock Soccer Holdings is currently a USL franchisee with a Premier Development League operation in Atlanta and rights to acquire two USL First Division teams in Atlanta, Georgia and Birmingham, Alabama marketplaces, respectively.


http://www.oursportscentral.com/service ... id=3894684

[slycat]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/sport ... .html?_r=2

damn... was hoping for MLS to set up European style relegation here in the MLS...

Would be cool but wouldn't work. People here wouldn't understand the system.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

damn... was hoping for MLS to set up European style relegation here in the MLS...

Would be cool but wouldn't work. People here wouldn't understand the system.

i dunno... most American soccer fans follow EPL or La Liga a little, don't they?

moreover, what has been working for MLS is moving to a more European experience (remember the early days when the clock counted down???) I think it would be innovative and generate a TON of interest for being different than any other league...

[slycat]

Would be cool but wouldn't work. People here wouldn't understand the system.

i dunno... most American soccer fans follow EPL or La Liga a little, don't they?

moreover, what has been working for MLS is moving to a more European experience (remember the early days when the clock counted down???) I think it would be innovative and generate a TON of interest for being different than any other league...

True. People who watch soccer here want the European experience. First things first though. Set up a single table system with no regulation and move the soccer schedule to follow the rest of the world.

I know they don't because it will get lost in NFL and NBA but it needs to be done.

[DukeJack]

True. People who watch soccer here want the European experience. First things first though. Set up a single table system with no regulation and move the soccer schedule to follow the rest of the world.

I know they don't because it will get lost in NFL and NBA but it needs to be done.

Sorry sly, I'm going to rip this.

What people are you talking about? Mexican fans? South American fans? Or eurosnob white anglos who will only "support" a Big 4 English team, while dismissing our domestic league as "mickey mouse" and "rubbish"? Pro/rel is only a cover, those people will NEVER support MLS until those teams can outspend ManU or Barca for the best in the world.

People also bitch about how playoffs invalidate the regular season and thus make the games "meaningless". Single table, every team plays the others home and away, is ONLY effective when combined with pro/rel. That setup gives most teams something to fight for for most of the season. Without the threat of relegation, once a team is eliminated from playoff contention, what is there to play for? San Jose, for example, knows they can't the eighth place team, so why even try? At least our current setup with conferences and allocation of playoff berths allows a team to be "in it" and try to catch up to a couple teams, rather than 6-7. Sorry, but single table without pro/rel would serve to make a decent portion of the regular season "meaningless".

Now I have no problem with MLS obeying FIFA international dates, even if that means the season starts or ends a couple weeks earlier/later. The number of internationals has gone down (at least for DC) since the beginning of the league. Whether this is talent dilution or ineffective scouting, I don't know, but it definitely doesn't help the league's image to play on days when teams are missing their top players.

But what I do have an issue with is anyone who suggests that MLS should adopt a fall-spring calendar, simply because Western Europe does. I realize you're in Texas, I lived in Dallas for a few years, I know the climate allows year-round outdoor soccer. But it doesn't work that way for the rest of the country. New York, Toronto, Chicago, Philly, and even DC and Columbus couldn't support a team in January or February. It's cold and snows. I realize that people will come out for the NFL in a blizzard but that league has had decades to build a passionate fanbase, which MLS has not yet done. I know Sepp Blatter has said he wants MLS fall-spring, but shouldn't him saying so be reason enough to reconsider your position?

[slycat]

I guess it goes both ways. The winter works here but not up north. The summer works up north but not down here. I get your logic of the problems with a single table system. Money will always hold the league back. Or maybe the Euro teams will collapse in on themselves with all the money being spent and they aren't getting the revenue back as fast.

[DukeJack]

Nah, I've heard every argument possible about moving the calendar. Apertura/clausara, northern teams host fall, southern host winter, and each has their problems. Nobody seems to care that the Russian Premier league, Norwegian Tippeligaen, Swedish Allsvenskan, or the Finnish Veikkausliiga follow the same schedule for the same weather reasons we do.

And no, asides from Leeds United, not enough clubs will hit bankruptcy and collapse in on themselves to fix that problem, even if Platini succeeds with his plans:

Under proposed new rules clubs would only be able to spend on players and wages what they earn through gate revenues, merchandise, and money from television and sponsorship deals.

Those clubs who failed to break even would face expulsion from European competition as a penalty.

Despite most of Europe's top clubs -- including Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United -- being saddled with huge debt, Platini confirmed his intention to implement the proposals by 2012.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/footb ... uefa.debt/

If that holds, my guess is the G14 finally form their breakaway European League, which would make the problem of people around the world not supporting their local teams that much worse.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

[EPJr]

This is currently on the front page of the Tampa Bay Rowdies (http://www.tbrowdies.com/). The fallout from NuRock purchasing NuRock has brought up St. Louis Soccer United is involved with the Team Owners Association. In the above picture is logo I think appeared on some websites a while ago with the name St. Louis United SC. Interesting to see that image appear again.

[EPJr]

OWNERS OF PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAMS IN ATLANTA, CAROLINA, MIAMI, MINNESOTA, MONTREAL, ST. LOUIS AND VANCOUVER FORM NEW PRO SOCCER LEAGUE TO BEGIN PLAY IN 2010

Nov. 10, 2009 – The owners of the Atlanta Silverbacks Soccer News Topics, Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder Soccer News Topics, Montreal Impact Soccer News Topics and Vancouver Whitecaps Soccer News Topics, formerly of USL-1, together with St. Louis Soccer United today announced that they have formed a new professional soccer league to play in the United States and Canada beginning in April 2010.

The team owners yesterday submitted an application for sanctioning of the new league as a Division II Men’s Outdoor Professional League by the United States Soccer Federation. An application for sanctioning as a Division I League will be submitted to the Canadian Soccer Association shortly and applications to other sanctioning bodies in the region will be submitted as needed.

[EPJr]

Breakaway 2nd-tier league dubs itself the North American Soccer League

Pele may not be suiting up, but the NASL is making a comeback.

Organizers announced Monday that the North American Soccer League, the second division men's professional football league, would begin play this spring.

The original NASL lasted from 1968-84 and briefly made a splash with the likes of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia and Johan Cruyff.

The new NASL has nine teams: Carolina RailHawks, Atlanta Silverbacks, Crystal Palace Baltimore, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, St. Louis Soccer United, Tampa Bay Rowdies and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/s ... z0XjlbiWMw