I looked for one, and was unsuccessful. Listening to the audio archive, he addressed the following: 1) MLS' SSS status ....a) Completion of MLS' third SSS in Frisco (FC Dallas) ....b) Construction of Bridgeview (Fire) ....c) Planned construction of Commerce City (Rapids) 2) MLS' Investor/Operator status ....a) Increase of owners since 2003 from 3 to 6 ....b) Sale of DC United to local ownership for MLS record fee ....c) Expressed desire to keep Wizards and 'Quakes from moving, but open to moving existing teams to markets desiring teams 3) Sponsorship continues to increase 4) Television partners ....a) Mentioned Disney and Fox as broadcast partners ....b) All MLS teams have a broadcast deal with a local broadcaster 5) Expansion status ....a) Continued plan for expansion of two teams in 2007 ....b) Initial plan for MLS to be an 18 team league Feel free to add anything I've failed to address.
Does SJ have a t.v. deal? Maybe w/ one of the Fox Sports West or something, but I haven't seen a game on broadcast t.v. in a couple of years.
MLS is looking to enter teams into the Copa Libertadores. That was probably the biggest announcement of the address.
Yea, because teams MLS teams would love to travel 3500 miles to the friendly confines of La Bombonera
I doubt the teams are gonna complain much considering that they already travel that much WITHIN MLS cities anyway....not to mention the nice cash prize that I'm sure the winning team gets.
A trek from the US to southern So Am (and vice versa) is grueling. If MLS were to be allowed, I wouldn't be surprised if they were to phase in group play by geography: try to get Colombian, Venezuelan, MFL and MLS clubs into the same groups. SoAm is already so frickin' huge as it is. Adding thousands of miles to trips is daunting...
That would look AWESOME on TV. Hopefully if MLS is a big enough force, they can market it as "Champions League America"
I like the geographical grouping idea. Of course, for MLS teams in Southern California and Texas, it's really not that reall all that much longer a trip than what teams do now in the Libertadores to go to Monterrey or Mexico City. If that format isn't used, then MLS could modify the league schedule to accommodate MLS teams' travel. For example, let's say the Revs are in a group that involves trips to Argentina, Uruguay, or Chile (all mid-week games, btw). MLS should re-schedule the weekend Revs games in MLS that precede the mid-week away games in the Libertadores to give the Revs time to rest. Yes, that schedule shift would be unfair to the other MLS team affected and may force a weekend MLS game into a mid-week slot. But if the league wants to have a good showing in the Libertadores, then that's one way of giving themselves a better opportunity to do so. Some of the MFL clubs re-schedule their MFL games to allow the team in the Libertadores more time to rest for the mid-week trip. It's a good idea if you want to succeed in that tourney.
After Garber and accordingto MLS net Donovan spoke and said the league is now "more competitive". Maybe yes maybe not but the question is: is the quality better? If not what does Garber and co intend to do to improve it?
No. There's no need to rename a prestigious, historical tournament. "Libertadores" says it all. It's a hallowed tournie. My neighbor's boyfriend has a group of friends that are all SoAm soccer fans, and one Uruguayan and Peruvian (?) haven't spoken for like, 3 years, b/c of a Libertadores match. And they hang out every weekend.
When my grandfather was a kid, he had to walk 10 miles to school in the snow, uphill both ways.... just to someday provide for a family. I think you can take it from there...
MLS won't do this, of that I'm quite sure. Remember, they'd rather play a game on a weekend with all the national team stars missing than play on a Wednesday with everyone there. Rescheduling a game would cost big money. There are other considerations as well, such as television. For reference on travel, New England is closer to Manchester, England than Sao Paulo, Brazil.
They have to do it to, let's not forget. I doubt they'll group the teams by geography, I don't think they've ever done that before. No.
Well wasnt "The Champions league" orginally know as "The European Cup" until about 10 years ago? The English speaking americans wouldnt know what "Libertadores" means or that its a huge tourney.
Kind of ironic to have US teams enter the Copa Libertadores... after all we weren't doing any liberating... in fact, we were doing quite a bit of conquering, ha ha.
When I made that trip from USA (starting in Atlanta) I was a basket case for almost 3 days when I got there.. Never been "zapped" by a trip like that before and it wasn't a time zone thing. Perhaps because all the fluids in my brain were confussed way down on the other side of the equator...