MLS All-Star Game: Emblematic of all that is wrong with Major League Soccer https://mlsmultiplex.com/2019/07/30/mls-star-game-emblematic-wrong-major-league-soccer/ MLS Skills Challenge captures the imagination with Disney storybook finish https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019...-captures-imagination-storybook-finish-disney MLS rallies from behind to win Homegrown Game https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/mls-rallies-from-behind-to-win-homegrown-game/ MLS Power Rankings Week 21: Rolling New England Revolution surge to No. 6 https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/ml...rolling-new-england-revolution-surge-to-no-6/ Power Rankings: New England Revolution rocket up to Top 10 https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/07/30/power-rankings-new-england-revolution-rocket-top-10 Exclusive: MLS commissioner Don Garber addresses Zlatan, league challenges and more https://sports.yahoo.com/exclusive-mls-commissioner-don-garber-addresses-zlatan-league-challenges-and-more-174352723.html Garber defends pace of MLS expansion reveals https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-l.../garber-defends-pace-of-mls-expansion-reveals Head of referees: Vela penalty could have gone either way for Atlanta United https://www.ajc.com/sports/webb-vel...ay-for-atlanta-united/rOShuKmjxmhdAA5WzTwukJ/ Major League Soccer, Real Salt Lake suspend coach Mike Petke; require he attend anger management courses https://www.deseretnews.com/article...quire-he-attend-anger-management-courses.html Sounders warn Emerald City Supporters about displaying controversial flag https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article233322512.html Galaxy, LAFC could have major transfer news soon https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2019-07-29/soccer-newsletter Sources: Galaxy $16m bid for Pavon rejected https://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-...29/sources-galaxy-$16m-bid-for-pavon-rejected Whitecaps sign goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau to multi-year contract extension https://www.kamloopsmatters.com/nat...peau-to-multi-year-contract-extension-1614507 Q&A | Bornstein talks Israel, U.S. Soccer history, and a new opportunity in Chicago https://www.chicago-fire.com/post/2...us-soccer-history-and-new-opportunity-chicago San Jose Earthquakes sign Argentine forward Andres Rios https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/07/30/san-jose-earthquakes-sign-argentine-forward-andres-rios Ohio MLS team wants to demolish 154-year-old church to build new $250 mil soccer stadium https://www.theindychannel.com/news/political/national/ohio-mls-team-wants-to-demolish-154-year-old-church-to-build-new-250-mil-soccer-stadium MLS could decide Sacramento’s expansion fate today. The Bee is in Orlando bringing you updates https://www.sacbee.com/news/article233268257.html Don’t expect Sounders to quietly submit to relegation to USL’s League One https://www.sounderatheart.com/thefuture/2019/7/30/20728221/dont-expect-sounders-to-quietly-submit-to-relegation-to-usls-league-one
After what he said to the referees, the amount of support Petke still has on some social media is pretty troubling.
I should neg-rep someone for posting this (just kidding). The title did not disappoint as eventually pro-rel raised its head in the article. Although the ASG has changed formats over the years, it has been around since 1996. Of all the activities that MLS has been involved in, this and the MLS Cup game will stay. It is much for fan interaction as it is for a competitive match. Things like player combines and Superdrafts may disappear in the future.
Yep, probably shouldn't have included that one. Unfortunately, most of the All-Star articles today were pretty bland.
While I'm not traditionally a fan of the all-star thing I'm not opposed to it, either. I also think the skills challenge could do nicely as a made-for-TV event, too, because you could tell players enjoy that kind of thing. If it engenders more casual US fans to the league then it's a good thing, I say.
I had the event on my phone and on my cart while meandering around IKEA yesterday. It looked fun. I was disappointed later that I didn't watch all the way to the end. I noticed that there were a quarter million watching it on Twitter at one time. I wouldn't be surprised if they got a million plus impressions off that video.
Its also pretty much the headline event for league sponsors and such now that MLS Cup's location is decided on short notice. All the wining and dining for the league happens at he ASG, they won't be getting rid of it any time soon.
The Twitch stream averaged 37.5k and had 465.3k unique visitors. I think this event is going to stay. https://twitchtracker.com/mls/streams/35104623872
Did anyone else feel sorry for the guys who set up all the nets for the "passing" drill and then had to watch as the players all just went for crossbar shots? I think next year they will save themselves the trouble and only have a crossbar challenge.
i was surprised by how much fun it was to watch. seemed like the players legit enjoyed it as well. the challenges could use some tweaking but the format with the two sets of all stars vs the hometown team was very smart
Homegrown / Stars of Tomorrow game...check Skills Challenge...check. All this needs now is a Legends Game. After 24 seasons, we could probably fill two rosters... Who would you pick?
Really nice rundown of the league meetings from Sam Stejskal @ the Athletic, I know it is behind a paywall for a lot of you, so here are a couple highlights: Some preliminary discussions have the players pushing to increase league wide minimum salaries have to $100K by the end of the next CBA (I took that to include reserve salaries). Players are also pushing to move free agency to a 25/5 rule from the current 28/8. Some stuff on Charlotte pushing to move up the board for potential expansion. Not happy to see, but they seem to be making a real push. He also provides some solid quotes from Garber on a number of topics. A couple I thought you guys might find interesting. On NYCFC: “I’ve been saying for a long time that they are on the cusp of trying to finalize an agreement with a new stadium, and I still believe that the next big stadium announcement we’re going to have is going to be in New York as opposed to another market. I have nothing else that I really could announce there, but they are, they have probably a half a dozen people that are working on this full-time. That wouldn’t be an investment that they would make if they didn’t think there was an opportunity to get something done.” On NE: “The Krafts were founders of our league and they believe in it deeply. Jonathan is perhaps our most engaged owner; he’s the chair of a couple of different committees. I spoke to him last night about their stadium project. I spoke to (Revolution president) Brian (Bilello) about it yesterday as well. It has been very challenging, there’s no doubt about that. But New York has been challenging. Nothing was more challenging than D.C., and here we are as if Audi Field was there forever. I can remember seeing rats crawling around in (RFK) Stadium and thinking we’d be stuck there forever, so I’m confident that we’ll be able to get a better outcome in Boston, but nothing to report sitting here today.” On the upcoming TV deal: “I am convinced that our new media deal that will include content and games that are not part of our packages today,” Garber said. “In that the (regional sports network) business for us has not been a key driver of revenue like it is in all the other leagues. I can see a world where we are going to market with double the number of games we have because we might be pooling those local games and finding ways we can offer them to a digital provider like an ESPN+ or any other over-the-top company and have a slate that might include 400, 500, maybe even 600 events.” https://theathletic.com/1108954/2019/07/31/
As a Loons fan, I'm not gonna lie... Seeing Zlatan, Vela, Martinez, Rooney, etc. in those jerseys with the Bullseye on the front... Well, a fellow can dream.