One idea I had that MLS could enact to incentivize MLS teams to care about the US Open Cup is to pay out allocation money for wins. Suppose MLS gave each MLS team $250,000 is allocation money for each win. In that case a team could earn up to $1,000,000 in allocation money by winning four US Open Cup games. You win four games and you have won the US Open Cup, qualified for the CCL, and won $1M extra in salary cap space. Also, since a team could win two or three US Open Cup games before the summer transfer window, teams would not have to intentionally set aside money in order to be active in this window. Teams would simply have to win two games and then would get roughly 15% more salary cap space. Finally, this would be a fixed cost for MLS. The number of possible wins by an MLS team is known beforehand. 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1. I believe that is a toal of 31 possible MLS wins for $7,750,000 in allocation money at $250,000 per win. Make this $100,000 per win and the cost comes down to $3,100,000. Edit: I guess this would have to start when there were 32 teams left, presumably 16 from MLS.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't enjoy it. I'm just putting it into perspective for fans who get irate. I'm not saying that you specifically are irate, but there are those who have been. There are plenty of other reasons to be irate in regards to this team Irate FC lmao
I agree. Attendance is up , the league is attracting the right demographics and he has successfully managed expansion which had ripped apart the old NASL. Most teams have shirt sponsors and SSS . The passion for MLS in the Pacific NW is a smashing success. I recently had an opportunity to briefly talk with him. He is all too aware of the situation in New England and wants the same crowds, passions and following for the Rev's like the Sounders and Timbers enjoy. Working towards it, but, it feels like it is a glacial speed.
The one thing I think needs to change is the salary structure. I really dislike that teams are wasting money on guys like Marquez. Maybe he sold a few jerseys, but I'd rather see good soccer players out there. 90% of a teams salary shouldn't go to three guys. That may have worked over the last four years, but it won't work for the next 4-5 years.
So you would tell teams with committed ownerships they can't spend all the extra money they want to spend on their team? If not how would you restructure the salary cap?
No, I think you should have a "Salary Budget" from the league (ie $4 million) + percentage of revenue to be used as allocation + 1 designated player. I would also consider imposing a hard cap at around $15 million. So a team like Seattle would have the $4 million budget, $5.25 million in allocation ($35 million * 15%), and one DP on which they could spend roughly $5 million if they really wanted to Of course, that would significantly change the league. The only way the Revs could survive would be to either increase revenue, or develop young players and trade them to big clubs for allocation money
Lol then this league can go back to the pre-2007 days. Oh, the good ol' days when every team was as irrelevant as the Revs.