View Full Version : The thundering hooves of the NFL are approaching.
detroitexpress
28 Jul 2002, 04:20 PM
...and every year they seem to obliterate MLS's post-season.
Do you think MLS could benefit by wrapping up their season & postseason prior to NFL and NCAA kickoffs?
And if so, how?
appoo
28 Jul 2002, 05:26 PM
Originally posted by detroitexpress
...and every year they seem to obliterate MLS's post-season.
Do you think MLS could benefit by wrapping up their season & postseason prior to NFL and NCAA kickoffs?
And if so, how?
well considering that 84% of the country follow the NFL, you might want to consider playing the season a bit early.
Soccer-Six-Shooter
28 Jul 2002, 05:33 PM
I would like to see MLS end the season earlier IMO. At least one month earlier from mid-September to mid-August. MLS Cup is schedule for September 20 right in the middle of american football season. I believe MLS teams play a 28 game schedule. Too many, just play every team home and away. Or at least cut four games. That would be 2 less weeks right there. Another factor is too many teams make the playoffs. Cut that from 8 to 4 and theres two weeks less right there. Theres a lot of ways to tweak the season schedule, but the way it is now I would guess more games more profit mentality for the owners.
MLS plays a lot of weekend games that contribute to season length. Basically all sport seasons will overlap each other.
ax319
28 Jul 2002, 05:37 PM
what if they started the season in feb right after the NFL season and ended it in july with the playoffs in augest before NFL starts.
kebzach
28 Jul 2002, 06:25 PM
Originally posted by Soccer-Six-Shooter MLS Cup is schedule for September 20 right in the middle of american football season.
October 20
Ringo
28 Jul 2002, 06:30 PM
Originally posted by ax319
what if they started the season in feb right after the NFL season and ended it in july with the playoffs in augest before NFL starts.
how many fans are going to go sit in columbus, denver, kansas city, boston, d.c., new york in february? yes, the hard core fans will. but mls needs to get the casual fan out to games. not going to happen in feb.
kebzach
28 Jul 2002, 06:32 PM
Originally posted by ax319
what if they started the season in feb right after the NFL season and ended it in july with the playoffs in augest before NFL starts.
Due to September 11th, the NFL's Super Bowl wasn't until February 2nd this past season.
Let's say you end the regular season on the 28th of July, as this is the last weekend of the month. Just for example's sake.
So...starting on that Monday, February 3rd and ending on July 28th would give you 175 days of season in which to fit in 28 regular season games, plus the U.S. Open Cup games, other international tournament games, exibitions, etc. Plus a weekend off for the all-star break.
In comparison:
1999: 246 season days (32 game schedule)
2000: 211 season days (32 game schedule)
2001: 197 season days (28 game schedule)
2002: 211 season days (28 game schedule and WC)
So, by trying to fit 28 games into 175 days, you'd be compressing an already tight schedule.
Maybe if the regular seaosn ran from early february through August, then playoffs in September. That way you finish the regular season when the NFL is still playing exibitions, and you chop a month off the conflicts that develop with NFL teams and stadiums. Under this scenerio, you could end the season on September 1st this year (labor day weekend), and you'd have 210 season days to work with.
But how many of you think that you'll get 20K out in Chicago, Colorado, New York, Kansas City, Columbus, D.C., New England, in February weather?
crestuden
28 Jul 2002, 06:48 PM
Dont cut down the regular season matches. Move up the season start to the first weekend in March and cut down the number of teams in the playoffs to 4. If MLS Cup can be held some time in mid-September then it wouldnt cut to much into football season.
Defender
28 Jul 2002, 07:53 PM
Start the season at the beginning of March and let it run. Keep the focus of games on the weekends. Better attendance those days. Playoffs and Cup in September with fewer playoff teams (4).
I would like the season to be longer, pushing deeper into the fall, but that just isn't feasible right now. The offseason is too long as it is, but there are several factors in preventing a season lengthening. 1. There are too few teams to stretch out the season. The schedule has become a bit boring/repetitive as it is. 2. Control of stadiums. With the exception of Columbus and soon LA, we do not have 1st priority in scheduling. It would be too difficult working out the schedule. NE and KC would have an easier time. 3. As mentioned before, weather. Columbus is the obvious example. Freezing weather doesn't get the crowds out.
When does the cold weather really start in the midwest? Could the playoffs/final be in November or even possibly December?
Anybody have attendance figures, charting the drop, for MLS and NFL cities in the fall?
DAKCrew
28 Jul 2002, 08:04 PM
I say who gives a rats ass about the NFL? Leave the schedule the same as it is, for now. People around here need to stop trying to work around all the other sports in America and just cheer for your club and the league. If people want to go watch the lame pointy ball league, let them. We don't need them. OK I'm done.
Defender
28 Jul 2002, 08:23 PM
Originally posted by DAKCrew
. . . need to stop trying to work around all the other sports . . .
What other teams are there other than the Crew and BlueJackets in Columbus?
detter7
28 Jul 2002, 08:44 PM
I agree that MLS should start earlier. I hate seeing NFL markings on soccer fields, so if the season ended earlier I wouldn't have to see those ugly lines. Plus stadiums would love clearing up their schedules. Stupid NFL screws everything up.
Sachin
28 Jul 2002, 09:10 PM
Originally posted by Defender
What other teams are there other than the Crew and BlueJackets in Columbus?
Ohio State is Columbus' most popular professional team.
Sachin
superdave
28 Jul 2002, 09:20 PM
Going to NFL-style, knockout playoffs, higher seed at home, would chop 2 weeks off of the season.
Let's face it....The playoffs themselves suck. Its not about the NFL. Why do you think so many of us care about the Supporters Sheild. Heck, we capitalize the damn words.
They don't think Americans would understand a 2-legged playoff, fine. Give us a 4 teams, 3 total games and be done with it.
We should always have an MLS Cup, we don't need 8 out of 10 teams in the playoffs.
Very Simple.
mlsfan31
28 Jul 2002, 10:19 PM
The answer is New F@#*ing Stadiums.
Oh and NE fans you are F@#*ed. You will always have NFL lines and logos for the rest of your lives. The NE owners are first NFL owners second MLS owners. It would cost too much to paint over Patriots lines and logos they will never do it.
bukie2k
28 Jul 2002, 10:37 PM
MLS should consider scheduling matches for Saturdays and every other Wednesday. This would shorten an already overly long regular season and also leave Wednesday dates open for US Open and friendly matches to be scheduled. Even though weekday matches don't draw as well as weekend matches it might be a good way for the league to increase it's profile in a saturated sports market.
Rocket
28 Jul 2002, 11:58 PM
Getting rid of the All-Star game (or moving it to a Wed. evening) would be a good way for MLS to gain another weekend for scheduling matches.
kebzach
29 Jul 2002, 12:07 AM
Originally posted by superdave
Going to NFL-style, knockout playoffs, higher seed at home, would chop 2 weeks off of the season.
or even the home and home playoff format (the ONLY THING related to European soccer that I'd like to see in MLS) would help
kebzach
29 Jul 2002, 12:08 AM
Originally posted by bukie2k
MLS should consider scheduling matches for Saturdays and every other Wednesday. This would shorten an already overly long regular season and also leave Wednesday dates open for US Open and friendly matches to be scheduled. Even though weekday matches don't draw as well as weekend matches it might be a good way for the league to increase it's profile in a saturated sports market.
isn't this pretty much what is done now?