Chat wrap with ESPN's sports business writer Darren Rovell

[nyrmetros]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=8155

Tom (Chicago): Darren, what do you make of the Manchester United fans boycotting their next game by wearing black and ignoring all sponsors because of Malcolm Glazer's takeover. Is Glazer really THAT bad, or is this just the English upset over an American run soccer team?

http://espn.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Darren Rovell: (3:09 PM ET ) Big, big news from today. Glazer now owns Manchester U. We will have to say what the NFL says about this. People are so upset because they are concerned that the debtload to finance this will hurt the team financially and others say that an American shouldn't be owning the team. They also don't like the fact that he's apparently not a rabid soccer fan and is into this for the business of it all. If everything goes through, the fans anger will calm down over time. Not unless Glazer starts messing with the players and meddling in business that destroys the dynamics on the field.

Mark, NYC: Do you think MLS will hit the big time within the next 10 years?

http://espn.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Darren Rovell: (3:09 PM ET ) No Mark. They've been around too long. It would have happened already.

[Pyro]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=8155

Mark, NYC: Do you think MLS will hit the big time within the next 10 years?

http://espn.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Darren Rovell: (3:09 PM ET ) No Mark. They've been around too long. It would have happened already.

Can ignorance drip off of a webpage? :mad:

[Dave141]

Can ignorance drip off of a webpage? :mad:


I'm confused. Does this mean that you think he's wrong about MLS?

[nyrmetros]

http://espn.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Darren Rovell: (3:55 PM ET ) I have to go. If you have any questions, I'll try to answer them at darren.rovell@espn3.com. Remember, there's no business, like sports business.

[superdave]

OF COURSE the league won't hit the bigtime in the next 10 years. Now, if it had been, say, the next 50 years, or even the next 30, then you could criticize a flat-out "no."

Look, the SSSs are being built to hold around 22K for a reason. They aren't going to be obsolete in 10 years.

[rojojova]

I find it interesting that many in the media have stated that MLS has achieved something in just EXISTING for ten years and that that is a good sing for the future... and this guy turns that around completely and says that the league has been around too long to hit it big.

strange. and frustrating.
I really wish he would have expounded on his quick retort.

[Brrca Fan redded]

Why would anyone ask this A hole about the state of the league. I care less what he thinks of the league or the sport of soccer. :mad:

[AndyMead]

I find it interesting that many in the media have stated that MLS has achieved something in just EXISTING for ten years and that that is a good sing for the future... and this guy turns that around completely and says that the league has been around too long to hit it big.

strange. and frustrating.
I really wish he would have expounded on his quick retort.

Simple question, simple answer.

The problem is that "big time" isn't defined.

By what I understand "big time" to mean, I doubt that MLS will "hit it" in 10 years. I wouldn't discount it... maybe Freddy Adu leads the US to the World Cup title in 2010 and the country falls in love with MLS. Who knows?

[AndyMead]

Why would anyone ask this A hole about the state of the league. I care less what he thinks of the league or the sport of soccer. :mad:

Because he's a high profile sports buisness analyst/writer. Why wouldn't you ask him?

[OldFanatic]

I find it interesting that many in the media have stated that MLS has achieved something in just EXISTING for ten years and that that is a good sing for the future... and this guy turns that around completely and says that the league has been around too long to hit it big.

strange. and frustrating.
I really wish he would have expounded on his quick retort.

Why are you getting so frustrated by a single line answer by one idiot? Maybe that was his approach for hiding his ignorance.

[Brrca Fan redded]

Because he's a high profile sports buisness analyst/writer. Why wouldn't you ask him? Come on Andy you know the guy is a Football/Boreball type of a person.Just another Jim Rome.

[Dave141]

Come on Andy you know the guy is a Football/Boreball type of a person.Just another Jim Rome.


I know I am bound to get totally ripped for this, but Darren Rovell is a very respected writer/analyst regarding the business of sports. I doubt he really cares one way or another which sports are "hot" or "cold." He makes his money by being correct.

It always amazes me how some MLS fans are so hopeful that the league achieves mega-sport status that they brand as traitors or losers anyone who doesn't profess how MLS will be "huge" in a very short time. The league is what it is - a niche sport which has managed to attain stability/survival. But as far as dramatic growth goes, I just don't see how that's going to happen.

[AndyMead]

Come on Andy you know the guy is a Football/Boreball type of a person.Just another Jim Rome.

On what basis do you make that claim. Are you a reader of his work? Or are you basing it on a single quote from a chat wrap?

[superdave]

I find it interesting that many in the media have stated that MLS has achieved something in just EXISTING for ten years and that that is a good sing for the future... and this guy turns that around completely and says that the league has been around too long to hit it big.

But, that's not what he said. He said MLS won't hit the big time in the next 10 years.

[AndyMead]

But, that's not what he said. He said MLS won't hit the big time in the next 10 years.

Based on the last 10 years, I'd say that's a pretty safe bet.

[Tea Men Tom]

Based on the last 10 years, I'd say that's a pretty safe bet.

The NFL was founded around the 1930's I believe and didn't get "big" till the 60's and didn't explode till probably the 80's or 90's. The NBA was formed in the mid 40's and didn't get 'Big' till Larry Bird and Magic Johnson showed up in the 80's. I think it's safe to say MLS won't be 'big' when it's 20 years old. And probably not for a long time after that because soccer has a longer way to go towards becoming part of our culture than either of those other sports did.

[skipshady]

Why are you getting so frustrated by a single line answer by one idiot? Maybe that was his approach for hiding his ignorance.
Why are you calling a respected sports biz analyst "an idiot" and calling out "his ignorance"?

His response was perfectly reasonable even if it hurt the feelings of the more fragile BigSoccer posters. I think he could have made his argument clearer than "they've been around too long" but he is right. Based on the last 10 years, MLS will either continue the slow, steady growth or plateau over the next 10 years.

I'm not a betting man, but if I were, I'm going to trust the guy who gets paid to analyze sports biz, not the knee jerk BS poster who would call someone "idiot" for a single comment.

[stevewhit0]

I dont see how anyone could ever think that the MLS would be big time in the next 10 years. I dont think that MLS will ever be "big time", it will always be the Big 3 and 1/2 (baseball, basketball, football, and hockey). I do think that MLS could become a 1/2 like the NHL.

[kebzach]

Come on Andy you know the guy is a Football/Boreball type of a person.Just another Jim Rome.

So what? Jim Rome himself could tell you that "no", MLS will probably not hit it big time in the next 10 years. And I for one would agree with him.

I can't see MLS going from a $ 30 million dollar league to a billion dollar league in 10 years, and if you're thinking at all, you can't either.

[kebzach]

I dont see how anyone could ever think that the MLS would be big time in the next 10 years. I dont think that MLS will ever be "big time", it will always be the Big 3 and 1/2 (baseball, basketball, football, and hockey). I do think that MLS could become a 1/2 like the NHL.

I would agree with this assessment.

The big four (in terms of revenue, fan interest, corporate $$$, etc) will always be football, baseball, NASCAR, and basketball. Like it or not, that's the truth. The NHL and "the" MLS can improve on where they are, they can improve a lot, but I can't see either of the two leagues over-taking one of the first 4.