US SOCCER

[dbackjon]

Edit: I will no longer make posts that could get Clenz worked up, no matter how funny they might be.

Bullshit

[93henfan]

Edit: I will no longer make posts that could get Clenz worked up, no matter how funny they might be.

Bullshit

I already deleted the really good one I posted there. It made me lawl.

[bandl]

Bullshit

I already deleted the really good one I posted there. It made me lawl.

I saw it before you deleted it. And I lawled. But I have since forgotten what you said.

Good story, huh bro?

[93henfan]

I already deleted the really good one I posted there. It made me lawl.

I saw it before you deleted it. And I lawled. But I have since forgotten what you said.

Good story, huh bro?

Not as cool as your green whiskey!

Why did you make it green anyway?

[bandl]

I saw it before you deleted it. And I lawled. But I have since forgotten what you said.

Good story, huh bro?

Not as cool as your green whiskey!

Why did you make it green anyway?

Why do you hate leprechauns?!?!
Racist!

[93henfan]

Not as cool as your green whiskey!

Why did you make it green anyway?

Why do you hate leprechauns?!?!
Racist!

I'm of Irish decent so I can say whatever I want about leprechauns.

Like black people can say that word that rhymes with bigger.

[Skjellyfetti]

What might be more disconcerting to Major League Baseball is that two of the myriad MLS/EPL showdowns that have been happening across the country this past week or so beat these games head-to-head. New York Red Bulls/Arsenal on ESPN2 drew 289,000 viewers at 3 p.m. ET while Chicago Fire/Tottenham Hotspur drew 383,000 at 8 p.m. ET. Of course, it’s rare that Premier League teams play at reasonable viewing hours, but these are exhibition games.

Exhibition games between MLS and EPL teams defeated regular season baseball head to head.

The damage was even worse in the coveted Adults 18-49 demographic. Nats/Reds (57,000 viewers) and Indians/Royals (53,000) were nowhere close to Red Bulls/Arsenal (183,000) and Fire/Spurs (284,000). In fact, Chicago/Tottenham drew more viewers in the Adults 18-49 demo than either MLB game drew total.

http://awfulannouncing.com/2014/mlb-on- ... 2-saturday" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Gil Dobie]

They just started putting sod on top of the turf at The Bank for the match on Saturday. Then they take it off for the next Vikings Exhibition game.

Strib Link

Manchester City, Olympiakos to play August 2 at The Bank

An International Champions Cup soccer match, featuring two of the premier teams in the world, is coming to TCF Bank Stadium this summer.

Manchester City from England’s Premier League and Olympiakos from Superleague Greece will play on Aug. 2 at 2 p.m..

The six other teams in the tournament are Real Madrid from Spain’s La Liga; Liverpool and Manchester United from England’s Premier League; and AC Milan, Inter Milan and Roma from Italy’s Serie A. The International Champions Cup runs from July 26 to Aug. 4, concluding with the finals in Miami.

News of a match coming here started to leak out earlier this month, when Manchester City’s website listed Minneapolis as one of the confirmed host cities. But representatives from the Twins (Target Field), the University of Minnesota (TCF Bank Stadium) and the National Sports Center — the only local stadiums that could conceivably play host — either downplayed or denied at the time that the match was coming.

The match could be on the TCF Bank Stadium turf or event organizers could put in temporary natural grass — similar to what Seattle did in 2013 when it played host to a World Cup qualifier. That detail and others should start to emerge Thursday.

Ticket sales to the public will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday through Ticketmaster and the TCF Bank Stadium box office. Information about an assortment of ticket packages is available here.

[89Hen]

What might be more disconcerting to Major League Baseball is that two of the myriad MLS/EPL showdowns that have been happening across the country this past week or so beat these games head-to-head. New York Red Bulls/Arsenal on ESPN2 drew 289,000 viewers at 3 p.m. ET while Chicago Fire/Tottenham Hotspur drew 383,000 at 8 p.m. ET. Of course, it’s rare that Premier League teams play at reasonable viewing hours, but these are exhibition games.

Exhibition games between MLS and EPL teams defeated regular season baseball head to head.

Maybe I'm missing it, but this is saying that soccer games on ESPN2 beat regular season MLB games on FoxSports1, but didn't take into account the Reds, Nats, Indians and Royals fans that watched on their regular home stations? I don't know if I get FoxSports1, but I would have been watching the game on MASN, my local Nats/O's station anyway. Just sounds like folks desperate to prove their point.

[Skjellyfetti]

They were also an exhibition games that meant nothing and many of the best players from the European teams were still on break for the World Cup.

But, it's not like I'm trying to prove soccer is more popular than baseball at this point in time.

Just posted that to show that there's been no World Cup lull like many here claimed. And interest in soccer is growing. People are still interested in soccer and that's going to carry into the club season. EPL on NBC is going to have record numbers.

[89Hen]

there's been no World Cup lull like many here claimed.

Wow, you are dellusional. Soccer is back to page 7 news and it's the middle of summer with no real NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAFB, NCAAB going on.

Lead stories on ESPN.com:

Lester to A's, Cespedes to Boston
Athletics send LHP Milone to Twins for Fuld
NBA putting its social-media handle on ball
Rory returns post-Open
Seminoles' Wilson pleads no contest to theft
NFL placing trackers in pads to enhance stats
Sources: Love trade talks narrowed to Cavs
Fired OSU band director: Tried to fix culture
Steelers' Brown rips Sanders' QB comments
Source: Colts' Thomas tears quad
WellsJoyner: Value picks among fantasy TEs | WRs

[BDKJMU]

They were also an exhibition games that meant nothing and many of the best players from the European teams were still on break for the World Cup.

But, it's not like I'm trying to prove soccer is more popular than baseball at this point in time.

Just posted that to show that there's been no World Cup lull like many here claimed. And interest in soccer is growing. People are still interested in soccer and that's going to carry into the club season. EPL on NBC is going to have record numbers.

Different sized stadiums, different # of games, different networks, none of that is the number 1 factor when making a comparison. What is is revenue. Its all about the benjamins.

US major pro sports leagues, current total annual revenue & annual TV revenue
National Football League---------$9.0 bn/$5.0 bn
Major League Baseball------------$8.0 bn/$1.5 bn
National Basketball Association $5.0 bn/$930 m
National Hockey League----------$3.3 bn/$600 m
Major League Soccer--------------$0.5 bn/$90 m
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_prof ... and_Canada" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wake me up when MLS grows by 700% to pass the NHL.

[Grizalltheway]

110K at The Big House for a meaningless exhibition game.

[Skjellyfetti]

Different sized stadiums, different # of games, different networks, none of that is the number 1 factor when making a comparison. What is is revenue. Its all about the benjamins.

US major pro sports leagues, current total annual revenue & annual TV revenue
National Football League---------$9.0 bn/$5.0 bn
Major League Baseball------------$8.0 bn/$1.5 bn
National Basketball Association $5.0 bn/$930 m
National Hockey League----------$3.3 bn/$600 m
Major League Soccer--------------$0.5 bn/$90 m
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_prof ... and_Canada" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wake me up when MLS grows by 700% to pass the NHL.

I'm talking about soccer popularity... not about MLS. Way more people in this country follow club soccer in Europe than MLS.

I love soccer... but, don't really give much of a shit about MLS. I think I've watched 1 game this season.

MLS will never compete with the major sports in the US and I've never claimed as much.

[clenz]

Different sized stadiums, different # of games, different networks, none of that is the number 1 factor when making a comparison. What is is revenue. Its all about the benjamins.

US major pro sports leagues, current total annual revenue & annual TV revenue
National Football League---------$9.0 bn/$5.0 bn
Major League Baseball------------$8.0 bn/$1.5 bn
National Basketball Association $5.0 bn/$930 m
National Hockey League----------$3.3 bn/$600 m
Major League Soccer--------------$0.5 bn/$90 m
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_prof ... and_Canada" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wake me up when MLS grows by 700% to pass the NHL.

I'm talking about soccer popularity... not about MLS. Way more people in this country follow club soccer in Europe than MLS.

I love soccer... but, don't really give much of a shit about MLS. I think I've watched 1 game this season.

MLS will never compete with the major sports in the US and I've never claimed as much.

This.


Though, if baseball doesn't do something to fix the game the MLS will catch it in 10-15 years.

I don't identify with an MLS club, and have no plans on doing so. However, I am very much so a Tottenham supporter and watch pretty much any BPL match.

[Grizalltheway]

I like the Sounders, but their hipster, try-hard fan base is enough to make anyone sick.

[clenz]

I like the Sounders, but their hipster, try-hard fan base is enough to make anyone sick.

I just assumed that is how the entire NW was.

[Grizalltheway]

I like the Sounders, but their hipster, try-hard fan base is enough to make anyone sick.

I just assumed that is how the entire NW was.

West of the Cascades, at least.

[dbackjon]

Soccer snobs -

[BDKJMU]

Different sized stadiums, different # of games, different networks, none of that is the number 1 factor when making a comparison. What is is revenue. Its all about the benjamins.

US major pro sports leagues, current total annual revenue & annual TV revenue
National Football League---------$9.0 bn/$5.0 bn
Major League Baseball------------$8.0 bn/$1.5 bn
National Basketball Association $5.0 bn/$930 m
National Hockey League----------$3.3 bn/$600 m
Major League Soccer--------------$0.5 bn/$90 m
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_prof ... and_Canada" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wake me up when MLS grows by 700% to pass the NHL.

I'm talking about soccer popularity... not about MLS. Way more people in this country follow club soccer in Europe than MLS.

I love soccer... but, don't really give much of a **** about MLS. I think I've watched 1 game this season.

MLS will never compete with the major sports in the US and I've never claimed as much.

But for the sport at the pro level to ever be as popular as the Big 4, much less the Big 3, people need a hometown/home state/home region team to root for. Something that neighbors, co-workers, family, friends came all come together and root for the hometown team at the water coolers, the bars, at social gatherings. To root for OUR team. You're not going to get beyond soccer nerds to come together to root for foreign teams.

Example here in the Philly area pro sports fans root for the Eagles, Sixers, Flyers, and Phillies. For a large chunk of them to be gathering at the dozens to hundreds of local sports bars, to be gathering at each others homes, to be talking about it at the water cooler, rooting for pro soccer team its going to have to be the Union or some future equivalent.

[dbackjon]

I'm talking about soccer popularity... not about MLS. Way more people in this country follow club soccer in Europe than MLS.

I love soccer... but, don't really give much of a **** about MLS. I think I've watched 1 game this season.

MLS will never compete with the major sports in the US and I've never claimed as much.

But for the sport at the pro level to ever be as popular as the Big 4, much less the Big 3, people need a hometown/home state/home region team to root for. Something that neighbors, co-workers, family, friends came all come together and root for the hometown team at the water coolers, the bars, at social gatherings. To root for OUR team. You're not going to get beyond soccer nerds to come together to root for foreign teams.

Example here in the Philly area pro sports fans root for the Eagles, Sixers, Flyers, and Phillies. For a large chunk of them to be gathering at the dozens to hundreds of local sports bars, to be gathering at each others homes, to be talking about it at the water cooler, rooting for pro soccer team its going to have to be the Union or some future equivalent.

He's right - Soccer will never approach the Big 4 until the home teams get popular. The market for people willing to follow a foreign team is small, even if the soccer market continues to grow.


It would help if the American Soccer Snobs could lower themselves to also support MLS teams.

[Grizalltheway]

MLS has grown steadily, if not exponentially, in popularity since its founding. Keep in mind it's only been around for 20 years.

[tribe_pride]

But for the sport at the pro level to ever be as popular as the Big 4, much less the Big 3, people need a hometown/home state/home region team to root for. Something that neighbors, co-workers, family, friends came all come together and root for the hometown team at the water coolers, the bars, at social gatherings. To root for OUR team. You're not going to get beyond soccer nerds to come together to root for foreign teams.

Example here in the Philly area pro sports fans root for the Eagles, Sixers, Flyers, and Phillies. For a large chunk of them to be gathering at the dozens to hundreds of local sports bars, to be gathering at each others homes, to be talking about it at the water cooler, rooting for pro soccer team its going to have to be the Union or some future equivalent.

He's right - Soccer will never approach the Big 4 until the home teams get popular. The market for people willing to follow a foreign team is small, even if the soccer market continues to grow.


It would help if the American Soccer Snobs could lower themselves to also support MLS teams.

The problem is that in the Big 4, the best players in the world are playing in the US. That is not true and cannot be true for soccer because financially, MLS cannot compete. If you look at the transfer fees (before the salaries) that some of these teams have been paying this offseason, they are insane. Add to that, the salaries and forget about being able to get the top players to play here in their prime.

Do you think that the NFL would be as popular with the European Football League Players and the NFL guys in Europe, MLB with the AAA players with the MLBers in Europe or NBA with one of the European teams while the NBA players were there? Of course not.

[dbackjon]

He's right - Soccer will never approach the Big 4 until the home teams get popular. The market for people willing to follow a foreign team is small, even if the soccer market continues to grow.


It would help if the American Soccer Snobs could lower themselves to also support MLS teams.

The problem is that in the Big 4, the best players in the world are playing in the US. That is not true and cannot be true for soccer because financially, MLS cannot compete. If you look at the transfer fees (before the salaries) that some of these teams have been paying this offseason, they are insane. Add to that, the salaries and forget about being able to get the top players to play here in their prime.

Do you think that the NFL would be as popular with the European Football League Players and the NFL guys in Europe, MLB with the AAA players with the MLBers in Europe or NBA with one of the European teams while the NBA players were there? Of course not.

The advantage that the big 4 US sports are that they are North American games - so of course the best players stay here.
But if you look at say Basketball or Hockey in Europe, or Basketball in many places, or Baseball in Japan, these are still wildly popular even though the best players come to the US. And quality is improving in all those places.


It is a chicken and egg thing - soccer in the US won't be popular unless the best play here (or some of the best), but they can't play here until it gets more popular.

Again, the soccer snobs don't help the situation if they also don't support the local teams.

[MSUDuo]

MLB- 1869
NHL- 1917
NFL- 1920
NBA- 1948

MLS- 1996


Time is a beautiful thing.