You don't understand contracts. Beckham and MLS are not in the same position. You don't grant lifetime options ... because they are stupid. 20 years from now, Beckham can exercise an option for 25 million? Cmon, that isn't something that he had power to ask for. And just because someone enforces a contract doesn't mean a lawsuit follows. Contracts are enforced all the time without lawsuits. In fact, that is precisely why contracts are drawn up ... so people are aware of what their rights are, and are not. My GUESS is that MLS is hanging around with Beckham this long is because they realize the effect he had on the game in the US and hope that star power can translate into getting something done in the huge Miami market, which MLS would love to be in, successfully. But again, that is only a guess.
London has how many world class teams? And how close are they? MLS is not running a soccer league. They are running an investment operation. All they care about is revenue. The expansion teams will be based on potential revenue. Sacramento may have everything else but as we’ve seen in Columbus, that ain’t enough any more.
There is a difference between rules and legally binding contracts. I wouldn't put any faith in them ripping up that contract just because it is David Beckham.
MLS is running a soccer league in America. Using a comparison to England is pointless. I wouldn't base my decision to sell kebabs here in Philly based on the popularity of them London. And of course London might be the only example you can pull of a city having that many "world class" teams (though I really think there are 3 that fit that definition). Paris has PSG. Couple other cities have 2. There are cultural reasons why London teams draws the way they do that don't correlate to anywhere else.
I don't disagree that 4 teams in California make sense. I don't tend to argue the distance thing as an excuse in any of the cases it is used in. Just wanted to point out that distance in the NE is different and that people that have never been here might not understand exactly how densely populated the area can be.
You have a fair point but like I said none of us know what is in the contract and contracts can be changed. If both parties find it advantageous to change the contract (if it is even stated in the contract) to allow Beckham to move on to a different city then it will be done.
Whenever someone tries to give their grand ideas/solutions about the game here, and then does the bolded (or just says Europe!) I do this. It's all pretty much noise after that as they have proven how little they understand about what the game is here and wht it is there....and why.
Let me be very clear about something: I know what I'm asking will have absolutely 0 impact on which teams MLS chooses. I'm just curious. I, like many of you, am a big USMNT fan who wants to develop more talent to a higher level. Which finalists are most likely to turn into the next FC Dallas? I'm cheering hard for the teams who'll develop and play our youngsters vs. bringing in tons of high-priced veterans.
The source is following the league for 22 years. They often make up new rules to make what they want to do allowable. Like the Beckham rule or the Jermaine Jones blind draw or continuing to add DP's spots to accommodate Galaxy and other teams. It used to be against the rules to pay a players salary outside of the salary cap (or whatever it is called). They found out Beckham was interested and it wasn't possible to sign him under the current rules so they changed them. It would not be uncommon for them to renegotiate with Beckham to move his option to another city if both find it beneficial. You are definitely right...I do not know. That doesn't change anything I have said at all. I am not stating anything as fact. However anyone that thinks MLS sticks to rules/contract and doesn't change them has not been paying attention for the last 22 years.
Predictors: 1. Existing Crowd size vs. Stadium Support/Availability Which does MLS favor? Sac and Cincinnati on one hand, or Nashville (and kinda sorta Detroit with their football stadium) on the other? Sacramento does straddle these two, since they are ready to go on both fronts. 2. Broadcast Footprint vs. Built-in Rivalry? They don't talk about it as much as they did following the Great Cascadia Upthrust of 2010, but there was a time when all the talk was about "built-in rivalries" and how that basically produced instant excitement. For years, when speaking of Detroit, St. Louis, and even Indianapolis, this seemed to be a consideration. But, the TV contracts that they are getting are obviously dependent on future ratings growth - as in they don't reflect current value, but rather a predicted value. If there is something that MLS actually NEEDS to do, it is grow its ratings, which are still close to abysmal. Some cities would likely do well on both the rivalry and footprint metric (Detroit, I think?) 3. Deep pockets vs. Really Deep pockets vs. Owner Engagement This is the first time I've heard anything about Sacramento's ownership group not being sufficient to the task of supporting a team into the next generation of MLS. I guess I just don't know, and that seems to bear some more looking into. That said, MLS might also consider the active and engaged owner (Merrit Paulson) as having something to offer, as against, say, the Kroenke's of the world. Someone like Paulson seems much better suited to creating that community connection than do the big time operators - and it's not like Paulson is even a soccer guy, because his purchase of the Timbers was really secondary to his purchase of the minor league baseball team. But the Timbers are basically his whole business, and that seems to make a difference there.
That, good sir/madam/other, is an outstanding question...to which I would reply as follows: SRFC already has its academy up and running. One player from the academy actually spent time with the senior team this season. FCC has talked about starting one. Detroit and Nashville are both vaportecture.
I seem to recall some USMNT games being played at Nissan Stadium. If Nashville is all that and a bag of chips, why don't they just set the team up in an already-constructed stadium?
They always had DPs, but they just didn't call them that. Roberto Donadoni made [Dr. Evil, pinky to mouth] ONE MILLION DOLLARS [/Dr. Evil, pinky to mouth] while playing for the MetroStars in 1996 and 1997. Jorge Campos and Carlos Valderrama also made similar coin. Alexi Lalas was on the books for the league max, $175,000, but they set him up with lots of endorsements so he made around $800,000. There were lots of other examples of this in the early years. They just got a bit more transparent about those things, instead of arbitrarily deciding where a player would land. Flawed as it may be. at least the Allocation Order has some sort of semblance of order compared with the early years.
Well, yeah. I mean if you just copy the most popular league(s) in the world then that will solve all the problems. That is why Elite Ice Hockey League in England is so successful. Like the NHL it has conferences, play-offs, and is a closed system. That is why it is the...let me see...the 7th best supported ice hockey league in Europe with just under 3k fans a game. It also only has no London based team and only 6 of the 12 teams are based in England. But if they would just spend more money I'm sure they'll be able to compete with the NHL for players in no time. I love looking at hockey and basketball in Europe because they are niche sports like soccer is here. Some can have popular teams but for the most part they are overshadowed by the more dominant sports in the area (typically soccer). The DEL (German League) has a closed system, play-offs (with a play-in round and best of whatever series), teams like Iserlohn Roosters and Schwenninger Wild Wings, and EHC Red Bull Muchen as well as Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers. Thomas Sabo, of course, being the owner of the team who is a local jeweler.
....but, but, but, but....that is different because we are the US! That's about all they have. I laughed pretty hard this AM. There is a young Yank playing in Benefica named Keaton Parks. Made a first team appearance. Nice story. Our geniuses go to the Benifica threads over there and see quite a few saying he is only playing because he is a Yank. Ya know, shirt sales and all. Our guys defend Keaton, blah, blah, blah....you know the routine. The best part is many of those same posters of course blame Euro bias against Americans when they don't play. Anti American, anti Trump, anti blue jeans....you name it. None of them see the irony. Ya see....it's OK if we say so and do it, but if you do it it has no merit. The lack of self awareness is outstanding. The internet, where Wile E Coyote would actually be a super genius! Well compared to most of the posters here.
I think most people are underestimating Detroit and their stadium situation. I personally will be very surprised if Detroit isn't one of the cities taken this round. They have an enclosed stadium in a city where that will be beneficial in the early and end parts of the season. They have an amateur team pulling in strong crowds for their level. They have a very big market that is proven to support teams even when they suck every year, and has plenty of sponsorship money available. And lastly... they have 3 experienced deep pocketed owners. They are probably the top bid currently. Sacramento is likely the other choice. FCC still has some ground to cover on the stadium front and with the Columbus situation where is currently is, likely misses this round. Nashville looks really solid, but likely waits another year.
The city of Detroit has lost people but Metro Detroit has been steady. Metro Detroit went over 4 million in 1960. Peaked at 4.5 million in the 70s, but has been between 4.2 mill and 4.4 mill since the 80s. Detroit has more to offer then just money, but with 3 wealthy owners all that own sports teams they sure do top the list in the money department. Here are the rules set forth by MLS... A committed local ownership group that has a passion for the sport, a deep belief in Major League Soccer and the resources to invest in the infrastructure to build the sport in their respective market. A market that has a history of strong fan support for soccer matches and other sporting events, is located in a desirable geographic location and is attractive to corporate sponsors and television partners. A comprehensive stadium plan that ensures the club will have a proper home for their fans and players while also serving as a destination for the sport in the community. 1. Ownership group, passion, belief in MLS, resources to invest in the infrastructure to build the sport. Gores - net worth $3.7b - Owns the Pistons Gilbert - net worth $5.7b - Owns the Cavaliers Ford - net worth $1.3b - Owns the Lions The field and infrastructure (roads parking etc) is built so money can be invested in the growth of the sport right away. With everything already built the 3 wealthy owners can invest in building the sport in Detroit. There are already many minor league soccer teams spread all over Michigan. The ownership group has already talked about building an academy inside the city of Detroit. 2. Fan support for soccer and other sporting events. Ann Arbor has hosted 2 games that have the most spectators at a soccer game ever in the US. (about an hour from Detroit). There have been many other international games and friendlies with successful turnouts in Detroit, and DCFC has one of the best attendance records for the NPSL. Detroit has the biggest media market out of the 4, and continues to support the Lions with 1 playoff win in 60 years. 3. Stadium Plan Stadium is built. The field is located downtown in a desirable location for a MLS team. Ford Field can fit a regulation sized FIFA field, but it is tight. My guess is the field will be narrowed a bit so it wont be so tight around the walls etc. I believe the min width for a MLS field is 70 yards. This means 8 yards on either side of a regulation football field need to be added. The field is doomed, in the north this is a good thing, and it lets in lots of natural light with all it's windows. The thick white lines on the NFL field are 2 or 3 yards wide, so you only need another 5 or 6 yards on either side of the white lines to fit a 70 yard wide field. There is lots of extra room on the sidelines.