blood gin
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- Jan 17, 2017
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But is it transplants watching the Premier League? Or is it natural born Americans taking a liking to it?
Excellent ratings relative to what though. Its time slot?
OT: MLS closing in on NFL, NBA, MLB in U.S. - Landon Donovan
- Thread starter Coinneach
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But is it transplants watching the Premier League? Or is it natural born Americans taking a liking to it?
Excellent ratings relative to what though. Its time slot?
Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
I don't have any data on what type of Americans are watching the Premier League. For me personally, I was born here, and I prefer the Premier League, although I do also watch MLS.
From what I've read the ratings aren't good for the time slot, they're just good.
Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
Top 10-15 isn't 12th tier exaggerate much with your "facts" or opinions. Premier League only averages 100k more across all of their games on US TV so if MLS got 100k more in ratings would it's rating be excellent? Guess which league between the two had the most watched games last yr. Now I recognize the EPL juggernaut in soccer but many get carried away with just how popular and excellent it is especially regarding TV ratings. Keep in mind EPL gets 20-30 gms on NBC a season to boost ratings while MLS only gets 5-7 on FOX. This has been my biggest gripe with NBC in regards to NHL, they will show 15-20 EPL matches a season at 12-1230 but can't show that many NHL games.
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IslesNorway
Registered User
What America needs is a homegrown superstar or two. Someone who is on par with best players in the world. Even if that player eventually ends up playing in Europe it will raise the game a lot in the US and increase the interest in the MLS
Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
YEM
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Yr first comment indicates you know absolutely nothing of soccer and the second reinforces that
PCSPounder
Stadium Groupie
Do you consider Christian Pulisic that?
I mean, the answer is probably no. He's put up some numbers... then, as per usual, he's blamed for Borussia Dortmund's misfortunes and will be headed to Chelsea over the summer. Which may or may not be an upgrade dependent on your POV.
blood gin
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I know nothing about Nyquil either. But both soccer and Nyquil serve the same purpose. They put me to sleep
Boeser Fan
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100% agree same thing in Canada hopefully Alphonzo pans out!
I started watching soccer a few years ago and I've become a big fan. Of the Premier League. I'll get up early on a Saturday to watch West Ham, but I don't watch MLS even when its the only thing on. Its the same reason the NFL sells out its games in London and draws good ratings. However when the NFL had its European league the London Monarchs went bust. They can call it "major" league all they want, its not.
BKIslandersFan
F*** off
Its the major soccer league in this country so yea. Its appropriate.
MLS draws extremely well and is great for families. Its nowhere near number 1 but that's for bragging rights among fans. MLS is perfectly happy and has come a long way. Its hard to pack stadiums.
A couple of years ago, I caught the championship game on espn and it came down to penalty kicks, it was exciting and fun to watch. Made me a fan.
Americans problem with soccer is masculinity. Even golfers have a better reputation. David Beckham is the only one they respect on that level.
A couple of years ago, I caught the championship game on espn and it came down to penalty kicks, it was exciting and fun to watch. Made me a fan.
Americans problem with soccer is masculinity. Even golfers have a better reputation. David Beckham is the only one they respect on that level.
The other 4 leagues are the top league in their sport in the world. MLS isn't even close.
I do believe one day, MLS will be in the top 2. If the money continues to grow .More teams means more money, that is a fact. They're at 24 teams, if they make it to 30 TV rights, streaming rights, sponsors will be on a different level. The best players want to play in the US but the money is not there yet. Once the money comes, it's a wrap.
As in the best American players maybe, but international competition will remain extremely tough and increased income alone will not fundamentally change that. Players that now go to China, the Gulf leagues, or Japan might choose the MLS more often.
BKIslandersFan
F*** off
But... I am not talking about the world... I am talking about the fact that it’s a top league in US and Canada.
And if you have an issue with a name for some reason, it just seems petty. Who cares?
American football is only entertaining st highest quality. Soccer can be fun to watch even at lower level, that’s why I watch MLS games. As well as Premier League and La Liga and etc. Heck I watch Scottish football.
I played youth soccer in the 70's, indoor leagues in the 80s.. never high school though. Played football because, well, the punter and kicker are jobs I could do very well.
Always loved playing but never got a chance to watch much because American TV doesn't cover it.. rarely.. just special matches. I lost interest eventually until I was at Mr. Goodbar on Elmwood somewhere in the mid 90s when I saw some guy headbutt another player on TV. Mr. Goodbar played ESPN Premier League matches late at night, and it was the first time I watched a guy play like I loved.. physical and dirty. His name was Duncan Ferguson and since then, I've been on the Everton bandwagon.
Since then, I've met quite a number of folks in town that have come around to watching the EPL mainly because of names like Landon Donovan and Tim Howard... more than I would have thought.
So, no, as someone was asking if the viewership is mostly transplants... a few guys in my fantasy hockey leagues have side bets on Spurs/Manure matches during the year.
If the MLS goes mainstream and the money is there, we'll attract some of those players from the BIG leagues like EPL, La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Bundesliga.. etc.
As long as it's physical without much theatrics, it'll gain a following. The flopping (especially the shot by sniper garbage), diving, and crotch grabbing isn't going to fly here but if the games are competitive and rough, ya. It'll do well.
Always loved playing but never got a chance to watch much because American TV doesn't cover it.. rarely.. just special matches. I lost interest eventually until I was at Mr. Goodbar on Elmwood somewhere in the mid 90s when I saw some guy headbutt another player on TV. Mr. Goodbar played ESPN Premier League matches late at night, and it was the first time I watched a guy play like I loved.. physical and dirty. His name was Duncan Ferguson and since then, I've been on the Everton bandwagon.
Since then, I've met quite a number of folks in town that have come around to watching the EPL mainly because of names like Landon Donovan and Tim Howard... more than I would have thought.
So, no, as someone was asking if the viewership is mostly transplants... a few guys in my fantasy hockey leagues have side bets on Spurs/Manure matches during the year.
If the MLS goes mainstream and the money is there, we'll attract some of those players from the BIG leagues like EPL, La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Bundesliga.. etc.
As long as it's physical without much theatrics, it'll gain a following. The flopping (especially the shot by sniper garbage), diving, and crotch grabbing isn't going to fly here but if the games are competitive and rough, ya. It'll do well.
BigBadBruins7708
Registered User
guess what though, no one gives a crap that its the "top American league"
If it isn't the best of the best playing in the top league in the world, you wont get enough Americans to care. period.
especially since they go directly against the end of the NBA/NHL regular seasons and throughout their respective playoffs, AND the beginning of the MLB season
BKIslandersFan
F*** off
The fact that it is the top league in America matters. When they expand to a new city it’s actually a big deal now.
They for enough Americans to care to
average 20,000 per game attendance wise. I agree that it has to be the highest quality in the world to match popularity or even NHL. But the league is 20 years old.
There is still a lot left for MLS to improve, but I think more and more players, especially from Latin & South America where living standards, stability and wages aren't so good, will elect to develop their careers in the US with cities like LA, NY and next year Miami to choose from. MLS already has some of the top 10 players in both Americas in their league that are no longer retirement fodder (both Martinez' would be elite starters in the Brazil and Argentinian leagues), their problem is there aren't enough of them. The back half of the rosters are still rubbish by global standards.
It honestly does not need to be the top league in the world to be relevant, those that need it to be to watch will simply never watch it, and probably don't like soccer to begin with. I think being better than Mexican/Brazil/Argentina leagues would be a realistic milestone to hit, especially when in the future FIFA will increase its investment and focus on the Club World Cup. Being the top flight representative of the Americas going up against the UCL champs on a somewhat regular basis as the South American teams currently do would vastly improve the league's reputation.
It honestly does not need to be the top league in the world to be relevant, those that need it to be to watch will simply never watch it, and probably don't like soccer to begin with. I think being better than Mexican/Brazil/Argentina leagues would be a realistic milestone to hit, especially when in the future FIFA will increase its investment and focus on the Club World Cup. Being the top flight representative of the Americas going up against the UCL champs on a somewhat regular basis as the South American teams currently do would vastly improve the league's reputation.
Those aren't facts, those are lazy arguments that prove you don't really know what you're talking about. Not attacking you or anything, I think even you would probably admit you're not the number 1 MLS fan or really know a ton about it.
MLS fans or not, it's just about the truth, data and reality. MLS has some big stars, great parity, decent academies and they are in hyper growth mode right now.
Tier 1 A
1. English Premier League
2. La Liga
3. Bundesliga
Tier 1B
4. Serie A
-
5. Ligue 1
Tier 2:
6. Portugal
7. Russia
Tier 3 A
8. Netherlands
9. Argentina
10. Super Lig
11. Liga MX
12. Brazil
Tier 3B
13. MLS
14. China
15. Belgium A
16. England 2
17. Greece
18. Ukraine
Tier 4
Saudi Arabia (?)
J-League
Korea
Qatar (?)
Chile, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Paraguay etc.
I don't know a ton about these leagues in Tier 4 tbh
12-15 seems quite accurate.
What's interesting is MLS is catching up to a lot of these leagues in quality, but by 2024(?) MLS will have 28 teams. So when MLS is on par or slightly above them in quality, they will seemingly "rocket" by them as they will have passed them in not only quality but also quantity, as they will have double the amount of teams as some of these leagues. LIGA MX for example has 18 teams and MLS will have 28 with additions of Inter Miami, Nashville and Auston and 1 more team.
My honest prediction, MLS will be in Tier 3 A (8th-12th in the world) within the next 2 years. MLS has a legitimate chance to be in Tier 2 within the next 5-6 years. There are factors that will help determine this such as the MLS academies, their continued hyper growth (when will they plateau?) , T.V deals, NYCFC and New England stadium deals, the global economy etc.
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Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
Exactly what tier the MLS is in was never the point, though.
The ratings are bad, that's a fact, and the simple reason is that there's way better leagues. That will likely always be true.
I'm a fan of MLS but I also watch Europe like many American fans, and some just watch Europe and not MLS. I don't know anybody who just watches MLS and not Europe.
As such, using MLS to determine the success of soccer in the US will never be accurate because it will never be the first choice.
