Crew to Austin in 2019..(Maybe)

While the #SaveTheCre movement is strong here in Central Ohio, I don't think it's very impactful past our borders. And while I appreciate the numerous token gestures almost all of the other clubs have offered, I don't think massive amounts of people will give up on their team because our Owner gave up on us.

 

I think the appeal of MLS was/is similar to the appeal that many of the European leagues had until recently (when they became big international businesses), it was all tied to the community. Those things built on themselves year after year till they culminated in a great league. The English Premier League was basically founded on the ruins of English Football in the 1970s and 1980s but the clubs were all legacy clubs so when they moved to EPL they had decades of history (good & bad) to build off in making the league. Manchester United was founded in 1902, Chelsea in 1905.

Garber is also constantly talking about the NFL and how the MLS reaches that level. But the NFL was founded in 1920 and since 1975 has only added three teams to the league. Two of those three were in the 90s so they have been playing in the NLF for 20 years. Garber wants to act like the MLS is the NFL but he is ignoring the 98 years of history it took to get there and the fact that expansion was done relatively organically (with the exception of Cleveland) until the 90s. In fact, outside of the primary expansions in the late 60s - early 70s they really haven't grown the league.

I think the MLS can continue to grow, it just needs to go back to its roots and preserve its heritage as opposed to taking the path of the NFL. Especially since the NFL is suffering from decreased viewership and attendance now that it is being treated like big business as opposed to local teams engaged in their community.

 

As a millennial, they really don't give a crap about us either. Even in the broadest most generalized stereotypical strokes, I think you (or they) would struggle to show any way they connect with millennials or our values (real or perceived).

Precourt wants our money but the joke is, we don't spend it on things we don't agree with/care about and while lots of millennials like soccer most don't like what PSV is or stands for. Just go ask Papa John or the diamond industry, they'll tell you.

 

Two members of MLS commissioners office AND (more importantly) the league designee in charge of determining the "Columbus stadium site selection" in town TODAY.

Very promising. Will keep you updated as I hear how things go.

 

aaa

 

the league designated someone to determine a new stadium site in Columbus?!

That... sounds serious.

 

My thoughts as well. This doesn't seem like them bullshitting to get the lawsuit dropped. I think they mean business.

Will know a lot more tomorrow, after the meeting. We will be presenting our stadium site and plans, we'll see what they say.

 

We love you, we love you, we love you, and when you post we'll rep you, we'll rep you, we'll rep you!

 

Not a millennial here but the father of two of them. Both grew up playing soccer, one played in college, both follow soccer closely but are not really interested in MLS. They watch European soccer regularly, but are underwhelmed by the level of play in MLS, as would anyone that gives an honest assessment of MLS's quality of play.

 

Not. Enough. Rep.

 

Just in passing, suppose MLS says that they won't sign a deal under the threat of the lawsuit, making the dropping of said suit the quid pro quo before going any further?

Does anyone trust them that much?

 

No

 

Which essentially reverses the table from November/December meetings when Ginther/Fischer told MLS they weren't going to consider doing anything to help Precourt unless Austin was taken off the table.

The answer is, "No. I don't trust them."

 

Wow, today is a huge day for Columbus sports (and Alex Fischer) with this meeting happening and all the hoopla around Urban. All we need now is a rumor about Panarin re-signing with the CBJ and we will complete the trifecta.

 

Thank you again for your info.

 

I had a similar discussion years ago with Jack Bell of the New York Times. He even quoted me in an article which I saw as a mixed blessing but anyway....

We were talking about the days when the only soccer on TV was tape delay Eredivise and sometimes La Liga on FSW in between the Aussie rules football games.

I dont mean to sound like a fossil but ax recently as the 90's if you wanted to know the scores from England you had to wait 2 weeks until the latest edition of Soccer America meandered its way toyour mailbox. That info was literally noplace else.

We agreed that MLS was fine for those of us who had been literally starving for soccer and we'd pay to watch damned near anything MLS could put on the field.

But we also wondered if the day would come when enough actually good soccer was available and whether anyone would sit around watching second rate or worse stuff when the best in the world was available, live, on the same box in the same den while sitting jn the same lounger.

 

Fair enough and not arguing with their assessment. Just pointing out that if PSV's goal is to try to appeal to millennials then behaving like an unethical pos who has no interest in the community and thinks half-baked social media campaigns supported by large nonlocal corporations with crap products is going to do it he is in for a rude awakening.

Uber is a millennial product and its struggling right now after all the hits to its reputation. They are running social media and traditional ad campaigns to repair their image but its only having a minor effect.

You can't say I am targeting this demographic that cares about locally sourced sustainable stuff, btw no local beer or food and our chief sponsor is an out of town pizza chain under fire for its CEO's crazy remarks. It doesn't work.

 

Thank you for your info as always. This made my day!

 

I was unaware that Precourt cared about Millennials. They (6 of them, anyway) may be the only ones lacking the self-awareness and intellect to see through his thin veil of bullshit, but in the end Precourt cares about one thing: Precourt. The Hipster 6 mean no more to him than any other potential supporter.

 

My take on the whole, "MLS is an inferior product so I won't watch it." take is this..... I love soccer. I'll watch just about any soccer. I've been known to stop at the park on the drive home just to watch a few minutes of the U-10 or U-12 game going on. Until I started getting weird looks like, "Hey that guy doesn't have a kid on our team!". Then it got a little awkward. But my point is this... If you like soccer, why WOULDN'T you support your local team? And I can't really believe that sitting in your living room watching it on TV is a better experience that sitting in the stands and watching it live.

So I struggle when friends tell me, "I can't watch the Crew. They are so bad. I like Manchester United and Real Madrid." Well no shit Sherlock. I find this logic to be completely perplexing.

 

On the legal side, can confirm. The phrase "hope for the best; prepare for the worst" was used.

 

Miki, you are my favorite Seattle sounder fan, and I'm happy you've joined us on this forum. Thanks for your info and input as well.

 

Can I also ask when it is that the "site selection" expert toured McKalla Place in Austin?

No, nevermind. We all know the answer.

 

I'm assuming you won't be able to answer this, but I might as well ask. Do you have any indication of a timeline that MLS may have for making their final decision?