Should Mexico be considered for an MLS Franchise (ala Toronto)

[NYC_COSMOS]

Considering that Toronto received a franchise, why wouldn't Mexico qualify.

[vyertago]

I'm tyring to figure out whether or not to take this seriously...but since you asked. First of all why? Why would the MLS want to put a team into another country and compete with a league that is immensly more popular?
Second of all, no it shouldn't and it is not possible. It is not possible because FIFA won't allow it to happen. Most leagues in the world only field teams within their own country and exceptions and there only a few exceptions. Toronto, New Zeland in the A Leauge and Monaco in Ligue 1 to name a few.

[Z010 Union]

Cardiff City is another good example.

But to answer the question, this shouldn't happen because the FMF already has a fully functioning league system that is equal to or better than MLS.

[Joe Stoker]

Actually, NYC_Cosmos, Jack Kent Cooke beat you to this question by nearly 30 years. After watching his LA Wolves play in front of a largely empty Rose Bowl during the summer of '68 (He was earlier quoted that he moved the operation to Pasadena from the LA Coliseum to be closer to what he perceived as "the center" of LA's Mex population), Cooke let slip to the LA Times his thought of moving the Wolves to Mexico City for '69.

As with his handle on the LA Mexican population, Cooke revealed a similar lack-of-initiation (I hold the man in a degree of respect, so I won't say "ignorance." But feel free on your own, though) with Mexican professional soccer. The man loved to talk, and this was an instance where it didn't come out very flattering.

After such a grand start with the USA championship in '67, Cooke's subsequent pro soccer decisions regarding the Wolves became probably his greatest sporting embarrassments. They pale to extinction in comparison with his life's accomplishments. But, from this side of the fence as an NASL fan at the time, the Wolves-to-MC quote made me want to hurl.

[NYC_COSMOS]

I think that we should look at this rationally. The MLS, MLB and the NHL all have teams in Canada. Why not Mexico? Is it more a question of difference of culture or lack of need. I believe that an MLS franchise would be a strong team. It wouldn't lack a fan base and you would certainly increase the level of competition.
Maybe we are closing the doors on a possible avenue to grow stronger in this part of the world because of stupid preconceived stereotypes we might have.

Just a thought.

[Autogolazo]

Where they need to put one is El Paso.

It has 600K people, majority Hispanic, and Juarez right next door has 1.5 million, conservatively.

Huge untapped market. No pro teams to compete with.

The Juarez "Primera A" team ain't ever going to get into the first division in Mexico, anyway, so you'll be offering the best soccer around to a potentially huge fanbase.

[scotchex]

Here's something I don't completely understand. Why does FIFA have so much power? What real carrot and sticks do they have to force soccer leagues around the world to comply with what they say?

I understand the World Cup is the be all end all, and a huge revenue source. So I can see how they could exclude a country from participating if they want. Is that the big threat? Run your club teams the way we say or we won't let the national team play in the World Cup.

I mean, if the business demand for a sports league crosses national boundaries, then what's the big deal. I understand with European football there's tons of history, etc.

In other American sports the big money is at the club level, with international play being a distant second. Since MLS is small I guess the big money comes from World Cup and international play.

It's just interesting. I mean, if for some reason there was massive demand for an NBA franchise in Mexico City or Tokyo or London ... then the NBA doesn't need to ask permission from anybody, right? If the economics work out and it makes business sense then that's that.

Does FIFA send UN peacekeepers in if a nation doesn't comply?

[Gotham PSG]

I think some people around here are a little clueless about what FIFA is and does

[scotchex]

Please enlighten

[Blitzz Boy]

Considering that Toronto received a franchise, why wouldn't Mexico qualify.


-Atlante de Cancun has not won anything for a couple of decades or so when they were playing in Mexico City. If they played in MLS, they might win something.

-Now that they are in Cancun, they are going to be at even more of a disadvantage when they play at high altitude.

-Most of the fans that are going to be going to Atlante de Cancun games are going to be supporting the visiting team. If they played in MLS, at least the fans would be supporting the home team.

-It would not be very surprising to find out that on any given day, there are more Americans than Mexicans in Cancun. Granted, not many Americans would leave the beach (or their hotel's bar) to go to a soccer game. But some would.

-So to sum up:

-Atlante for MLS
-Whatever the Tijuana team is called these days for the A League. It would cut down on their travel costs and they could play the Whitecaps for the "Who Is The Best Team In BC Cup".

[Romulan]

This is a USA league and it should stay that way. Mexico already has a league. If they put a team in Mexico they will lose all credibility imo..
There are plenty of American cities that want a team.

[FC Matt 90]

The reason Toronto got a team is because there isn't a top level professional Canadian league. Mexico has its own established league, so it wouldn't be the wisest decision to expand there and compete.

[vyertago]

Please enlighten

My basic understanding of the subject is that FIFA would rather each country have its own first division. The big difference between canada and mexico has already been pointed out. Mexico has top flight football that is considered pretty good, canada on the other hand only had 2 teams in the USL. The MLS was allowed to go up there because there is no First division canadian league to compete with.

Now I could be wrong about why FIFA has so much power but part of it is because of the world cup. If you want to play in a world cup I believe that you need to be part of a FIFA sanctioned league or at least not one that FIFA considers rouge.

[Ron86]

CHivas USA, America Norte, New York Juniors, no need to move south, they are comming here.

[alexp92]

mexico already has a league, if we were to go out of the country for teams, like toronto, i think puerto rica would make more sense, and i dont see that happening. even though i would like it

[scotchex]

So it comes down to the World Cup, right? FIFA's power is they can exclude nations from the most prestigious sporting tournament in the world. A non-trivial power.

It seems unique among major revenue sports (as opposed to small revenue olympic sports). Do hockey or basketball or baseball, all of which are played in a fair # of countries, have any organization with similar power?

If Japanese baseball wants to make a rule change, or do something unconventional, do they need to ask permission from a FIFA-like organization?

I'm not denying FIFA has the power, I was just thinking out loud of why they are in such a powerful position. The answer seems to be the World Cup and the vast revenue (and prestige) FIFA controls as a result. Sports where league revenue (and prestige) dwarf the internation revenue (and prestige) don't seem to have similarly powerful organizations.

The implication is that FIFA would have less power over the rich leagues. And the fact that there are periodic threats to create a European super-league in soccer, seems to buttress my point.

I know FIBA has had problems in enforcing its desires among euro basketball leagues, because it doesn't have the big stick of the World Cup to keep domestic leagues in line.

[Schwalker]

Please enlighten

I´ll try...

FIFA is an unusually proactive sports governing body, which frequently takes active roles in ensuring the proper running of the sport and developing the game around the world. One of its unique policies is to suspend teams and associate members from international competition for political interference (when a government interferes in the running of FIFA's associate member organisations) or if the associate is not functioning properly.

FIFA acts as a Supreme court on all soccer matters, i.e They are a law unto themselves. They decide on whats legal...Any club or country taking soccer matters to a ordinary court might be suspended!

What is their powerbase?..Well, apart from running the WC FIFA are also controlling the world of soccer thru their confederations, particularly the immensly rich UEFA that runs the Champions league. In most ways UEFA acts as a watchdog on FIFA as well..:D

[futgod]

So it comes down to the World Cup, right? FIFA's power is they can exclude nations from the most prestigious sporting tournament in the world. A non-trivial power.

It seems unique among major revenue sports (as opposed to small revenue olympic sports). Do hockey or basketball or baseball, all of which are played in a fair # of countries, have any organization with similar power?

If Japanese baseball wants to make a rule change, or do something unconventional, do they need to ask permission from a FIFA-like organization?

I'm not denying FIFA has the power, I was just thinking out loud of why they are in such a powerful position. The answer seems to be the World Cup and the vast revenue (and prestige) FIFA controls as a result. Sports where league revenue (and prestige) dwarf the internation revenue (and prestige) don't seem to have similarly powerful organizations.

The implication is that FIFA would have less power over the rich leagues. And the fact that there are periodic threats to create a European super-league in soccer, seems to buttress my point.

I know FIBA has had problems in enforcing its desires among euro basketball leagues, because it doesn't have the big stick of the World Cup to keep domestic leagues in line.

First Mexicans dont watch MLS games here in the US what makes you think they will watch it in Mexico.

I live in Mexico city and i have 700 pesos how should i spend my hard earned money?

A) Go to a MLS game and watch an exciting match between Mexico City FC against the power house Real Salt Lake

B) Go watch my beloved Chivas play the Super Clasico against America

Its not rocket science. Mexico doesnt have room for foreign teams, if you guys knew the problems second division teams have to bring people to their gaimes you wouldnt bring this up.

Most fans rather watch Chivas play than go to their own stadium and watch a second division game. Hell look at Atlante they have been in the league since it started and barely have any fans, thats why they moved to Cancun. Most Mexicans dont think MLS is top flight and Superliga wont change their mind.

As to the FIFA, they have so much power because if you dont follow the rules than you get kicked out. This means any players who play in the ousted country will be kicked out of FIFA also, and wont be able to play anywhere else. So you loose any player with any hopes of playing competative soccer. This also means you cant play in any FIFA tourney, and will basicly be in soccer isolation.

Resently Guatemala was kicked out for a couple months but was able to fix the problem and are now back in.

[scotchex]

First Mexicans dont watch MLS games here in the US what makes you think they will watch it in Mexico.

I live in Mexico city and i have 700 pesos how should i spend my hard earned money?

A) Go to a MLS game and watch an exciting match between Mexico City FC against the power house Real Salt Lake

B) Go watch my beloved Chivas play the Super Clasico against America

Its not rocket science. Mexico doesnt have room for foreign teams, if you guys knew the problems second division teams have to bring people to their gaimes you wouldnt bring this up.

Most fans rather watch Chivas play than go to their own stadium and watch a second division game. Hell look at Atlante they have been in the league since it started and barely have any fans, thats why they moved to Cancun. Most Mexicans dont think MLS is top flight and Superliga wont change their mind.

As to the FIFA, they have so much power because if you dont follow the rules than you get kicked out. This means any players who play in the ousted country will be kicked out of FIFA also, and wont be able to play anywhere else. So you loose any player with any hopes of playing competative soccer. This also means you cant play in any FIFA tourney, and will basicly be in soccer isolation.

Resently Guatemala was kicked out for a couple months but was able to fix the problem and are now back in.
Dude, you quoted my post, but I don't think you read it. I'm not suggesting adding a team in Mexico to MLS. I'm just wondering about the enforcement power of FIFA and how it works. The original poster is the one who talked about expanding to Mexico, not me.

The original post just got me thinking out loud about how FIFA works and how that compares to other sports. I posted to this thread hoping to learn more about FIFA. I'm not advocating expanding to Mexico.

For example, the NBA has talked about expanding to Europe, but I havent heard anybody say that FIBA won't allow it. I assume this is because FIBA doesn't have the power to stop it -- because there is no basketball equivalent of the World Cup.

[chapulincolorado]

Considering that Toronto received a franchise, why wouldn't Mexico qualify.

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/m/mx@fmf).gif

Aside from the issue of FIFA, because Mexico already has a very good futbol structure that does not require MLS.