I saw an article discussing the fact that USL team Montreal Impact had sold nearly 50,000 tickets for an upcoming CONCACAF Champion’s League match against Santos Laguna of the Mexican Primero Division (I found this particular one at Match Fit USA, I’m sure there are a ton more, and yes, I’m aware of the interesting circumstances surrounding the ticket sales). This of course has reignited a bit of discussion in places about an MLS team in Montreal. Put this along side the expansion bids of Ottowa and Vancouver, to go along side the success of Toronto’s current MLS team, and you begin to see an interesting pattern…
All this cold air circulating around the soccer chatter got me thinking. First off it got me thinking how proud I am of the fact that our little MLS is actually an international league at this point, thank you very much fans in Toronto. Secondly, it made me think that the real secret to taking the MLS into the next tier in terms of league success and growth is going to lie in Canada. As much as it saddens my east-coast born and bread heart the obvious truth is that soccer just doesn’t have a following in this country both fanatical and wide spread enough to give MLS that shove that it needs in terms of attendance to really send it forward. If attendance levels were higher the league would be more financially successful, thus allowing the quiet (or not so quiet) death of the salary cap and league-owned player, THERE BY allowing pay to increase, player interest to increase, and (hopefully/logically) quality of play to increase. Current attendance information doesn’t necessarily make it look like that is a theory in progress. But the following the game appears to have in Canada (again: Toronto fans are amazing) might just be what the league needs to help itself out, especially if we can get some really successful teams in the league to reside just north of the border. I’m not saying that the teams here in the states aren’t capable of being successful, on the contrary. The original teams to fly the MLS standards have created a viable league that’s lasted and managed to be entertaining to those of us who are willing to love the game here in the states and push aside any of that world-snobbery (read: Euro-) around the idea of professional soccer here in the US of A. I whole-heartedly cheer for an MLS team right up there with my following EPL and La Liga teams. I see the flaws in the game here just as much as anyone, but I just love the game and I love that it exists here. However, I really think there’s something to this Canadian inclusion thing. I think a Vancouver team would be an awesome rival to the new Sounders of Seattle. I think a Montreal or Ottowa or Quebec team would be stupendous additions to the league if they could even garner a major portion of the following that Toronto has. I’m a New England Revolution fan, but part of me every year roots for Toronto FC to splash big both to reward the enthusiasm of their fans who so deserve success of their team to match their fervor, and to show the rest of the league’s fans what’s possible, AND to increase the push for more MLS teams in Canada while the gettin’s good if you know what I mean. With a little healthy fan-dom rivalry with the Canadian teams, people here south-side might turn out in greater numbers to support their team, hopefully both when the Canuck (is that an offensive term to use? I’ve never been sure…) teams come to town and in general, and really start something in the league and in support for the game. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but I really think there’s something there…
Hey Guys;
Thanks for the plug for Canuck (no, it’s not an offensive term to us…) teams. I agree with your views, unsurprisingly, but have been heavily chastised by many US-based posters. By and large, those south of the border seem convinced that more Canadian teams means fewer US teams. If you are willing to concede Garber’s view that the number of franchises is “limited”, there might be an argument for that premise.
But I don’t accept Garber’s premise. He’s simply trying to create the illusion of scarcity in order to maximize return for the present investors. I understand that, don’t get me wrong, I just don’t agree with it. If there are 6 excellent markets for MLS to expand to, they should award 6 more franchises. On the other hand, if there are no solid markets, there should be no more expansion. MLS will be stronger with additional solid franchises, no matter where they are. If it adds teams in poor markets for “geographic” reasons, it will be weaker. If it fails to add quality markets for nationalistic (or geographic) reasons, it is leaving the door wide open for a rival league. (Which is why we have, amongst other things, the World Series and the Superbowl).
This is the tightrope Garber is walking. I do understand the nationalistic views some voice on this issue. MLS was created to be the US League 1… Garber notionally erased the border when he admitted TFC in 2005. That may bother some people, but it did happen.
I would never try and tell you that USL is as good as MLS. But the Impact (and Whitecaps) have proved that a top USL side can hold their own against the MLS. And on the ownership front, well, there are billionaire owners in the USL too.
And more are coming…
By: John Bladen on February 26, 2009
at 11:01 pm
I totally agree John. And on top of that I personally think that the more teams at this point the better. The EPL has 20 teams in it’s top division, as well as 3 to 4 layers (I think, there could be more) of divisions. And they’re country is WAY smaller than ours. As well as the fact that the NFL has 30 teams! Why can’t the MLS have many teams to create better local rivalries, reduce the need for teams to cross the country several times in a short span, and generally infuse the culture with soccer. And adding teams north of the border (which you so eloquently pointed out doesn’t really exist anymore for the MLS) can only add to the fan base and up the level of competition for both countries on the NATIONAL level, which is good for CONCACAF and the development of soccer competition in the area. I really don’t see a downside here.
By: cuvintu on February 28, 2009
at 5:19 pm
I hope that Montreal wins tonight.
By: joel es latest soccer news on March 5, 2009
at 6:27 pm