"the San Jose Sharks -- the very picture of Sunbelt success with a beautiful downtown arena, no other pro team in town, and a competitive roster each and every year -- claim losses." http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl-...ctor_nhl_lokckout_new_cba_financial_troubles/ Dave www.DaveBrett.com
We have a topic for signs of MLS in everyday life. Should there be a topic for MLS being ignored in everyday life?
I just found it interesting that the San Jose Sharks "claim losses". Probably some creative accounting going on, since every game is a sellout, and the owners have operational control of HP Pavillion, one of the most booked arenas in the nation. But, if they can't make a profit then there probably isn't a lot of hope for the NHL.
Just Like in the NY/NJ area where I live. They promote all 9 NY/NJ sports teams(Giants,Jets,Yankees,Mets,Knicks,Nets,Devils,Rangers and Islanders). LOL Where's number 10 the Red Bulls?
As a hockey fan, and someone who has read the dipshit delusions on HF Boards for years, I know that hockey fans love to still think of themselves as part of the "Big Four" sports leagues at the exclusion of others. Nevermind that they constantly fret about attendance and media perceptions just like this place, or that both get about the same amount of coverage on SportsCenter, or that both are met with the same "who cares" response from most of the dumb hicks in this country..... the NHL is bigtime and MLS is apparently not.
Revenue and tv ratings wise, we're still far away from the point where we can start claiming for a big five. Or demanding that random people remember this. The passionate fanbase and stadium attendance shows we're on the way.
My point was not that MLS is part of some Big Five; rather, the NHL has dropped out of that group of four. But let's be honest, it is clearly stratified from 1-5. None of the NFL, MLB or NBA are on the same level as each other. That said, they are still relevant to the laypeople. Only northern insular attitudes have them thinking they are bigger than reality. The NHL acts like the NFL because, in Canada, they are. The problem is that 23 franchises exist south of the border, and they exist as strong niches, not mainstream culture.
NHL had a $3 Billion year last year, I would consider that a big number and worthy of being part of a big four. Would love to know what was the MLS number last year after what it's called the league's best year.
A symptom of the rot in American journalism, where editors allow categorical assertions which are demonstrably false to escape meaningful scrutiny.
$3 Billion what? Revenue? Profits? The San Jose Sharks are allegedly not profitable. Wonder if they lost more money than the Quakes? Ranking leagues on opaque balance sheets is a fairly squishy form of argumentation. Do you work on Wall Street? Also, what is the magic of the "Big Four"? Is it a collegiate athletic conference? Can it be expanded to a "Big Five" without an edict from the NCAA? Soccer is the world's favorite sport, and it is has a FIFA-recognized pro league in North America which includes a club in San Jose. Those facts are a lot harder (as in more objectively verifiable) than the "fact" that the San Jose Sharks are unprofitable. Yet the scribe chose to report the latter and not the former.
I agree The Red Bulls should be a Jersey Team. I hate having the Red Bulls,Giants and Jets in Jersey but called NY teams. If the Cosmos join the MLS I would love a NJ-NY rivalry. We are always in the Shadow of NY.
I seriously just said that I am not comparing the two directly, just saying that one is blinded by arrogance and complacency while MLS has known all along that it is fighting an uphill battle. In a lot of hockey media, their sport does not face irrelevance in North America because it will never face it in Canada. I would love for MLS to be as rich as the NHL, and for the NHL to be as smart and proactive in righting the ship as MLS has been. MLB TV contracts are solidying them as #2. NBA marketing and merchandising worldwide have them way ahead of that fourth spot, too.
Well what is the ranking in Canada (I guess it would be different in Toronto) 1 NHL 2 CFL 3 CHL 4 MLS 5-6 MLB/NBA
And another thing: since when has Northern California been part of the Sunbelt? Dave www.DaveBrett.com
Based on national TV ratings during the regular season? 1. Canadian NHL teams 2. CFL 3. (tie) NFL/Toronto Blue Jays 4. US NHL teams 5. Toronto Raptors 6. NASCAR 7. NHL reruns 8. Canadian AHL teams. 9. Other big-market NBA and MLB teams. 10. MLS
What makes you say the NHL is arrogant? Haha, I jest, seiously the NHL is like a Shakespearean tragedy, they are the arcitects of thier own misery.
I was in San Jose last week at my employer's headquarters. While I was sitting at my desk, I heard someone come in the door and say "It's so cold out there!" It got up into the 50s that afternoon. I'll be back there this week. It's going to be in the 60s. Yes, in January.