That assumes that the league profile remains the same. However, let's say 10 years from now, MLS team salaries are in the $100 million range, about the median of the EPL, the league profile will have risen as well. Or, even in the range of tge bottom EPL teams, who paid about $50 million last year. At that level, the league image will be far greater. Granted that's a two to four fold increase over TFC'S wages from last year. Even with pro/rel, what's the added benefit of a second tier league contract? Only 3 teams get promoted each year, and they will upgrade players to compete, so even if your team is promoted, there is no guarantee that a player on the team moves up, too.
I full heartedly disagree with this. Sure the top players will go to La Liga, Prem, etc. But what about the players that just can't quite make it and know they won't break into the Prem or Serie A, but can have a decent living in America's top league. That is quite the draw and shouldn't be underestimated, the ability to live in America as well as play soccer.
You could argue the money comes from what the market wants and time creates that culture one is familiar with. Will people still watch is not a guarantee in America. Fourteen playoff teams might make possibly 20 to 22 fan bases have interest into the last week's of the season. If it was a single table, there is a chance 20 to 22 teams fan bases stopped watching the last month or two of the season and moved onto another sport. American culture might be more fans watch playoffs then regular season games could be argued. Look at college basketball and I would think that might be true. Needless to say talking about expansion teams in sports leagues is a unique American tradition.
https://lvsportsbiz.com/2019/05/29/...egas-lights-fc/amp/?__twitter_impression=true Very excited about the possibility of a @MLS team and stadium in the heart of #DTLV https://t.co/CT4fOqQcGt— Carolyn G. Goodman (@mayoroflasvegas) May 29, 2019
This one might have legs. Domed stadium, vote Wednesday to enter into a 6-month negotiation with the city. MLS expansion application could be submitted next week. Seth Klarman, minority-owner of Liverpool and worth $7 billion liquid, is the prospective owner. http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-le...mls-plan-includes-indoor-stadium?platform=amp
Really interesting on the Las Vegas front...its really pretty amazing that Vegas could go from no professional sports teams, to 3 professional sports teams (NHL, NFL, and MLS) in just a few years. One thing, that i was thinking recently, is does anyone else think Real Salt Lake would have a problem with Phoenix getting in. RSL has proven to be one of the best academies, and a big part of their overall strategy relies on homegrown talent providing them with a less expensive roster. Arizona is part of RSL's homegrown territory (and former home to their academy HQ), and a big provider of their youth talent. Now, RSL is only one vote...and also, if MLS eliminates homegrown territories (which I think they should), then this ceases to be a problem. But with the current homegrown territory rules in place, and with RSL's cost structure...If im RSL, I would be strongly against Phoenix joining the league
I think Vegas may have even put some salt on the Phx bid because the league (seemingly) has backed off of AZ a little in their most recent comments. Vegas basically gives you everything Phx does without the history of being a troubled sports market (seems like an AZ team is always threatening to move or needed a new stadium) plus it's Vegas.
Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't they doing away with homegrown territories next year? I think this Vegas bid is interesting. They could have a retractable pitch like the AZ Cardinals stadium while still maintaining a climate-controlled indoor-only stadium. As an RSL fan, I wold like a LV team just so fans have a serious option for an away trip. Vegas is only 5 1/2 hours. Denver is 8-9 and Sacramento is 10-11.
Tenorio: MLS contemplating removing homegrown territories, allowing teams to scout in each others’ regions
I think it was gonna be down to Vegas and Phoenix for team 30 the whole time, and I also share that assessment. Phoenix is the larger market, but Vegas is pursuing this aggressively, and of course MLS would love to replicate the Golden Knight success story with soccer. When we are talking Detroit/Charlotte/Vegas/Phoenix , Vegas now leads that 4 horse race id say (which is really a three horse race because detroit died before leaving the gate)
This link http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-le...mls-plan-includes-indoor-stadium?platform=amp which is in the LV thread, mentions a connection between the ownership of the LV bid and the group owning Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox. LV has the looks of a slam dunk for #30.
I wouldn't read too much into that. The last time i checked, there were 19 people listed as partners in Fenway Sports Group, parent company of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool FC. John W. Henry is the principal partner and estimated to hold a 40% stake in Fenway Sports Group. FSG President Michael Gordon controls a 12% stake in the partnership. Just one other partner - Tom Werner - holds as much as 10%. That means that the remaining 38% of FSG is split between 16 partners. While Seth Klarman's experiences as a member of Fenway Sports Group may have convinced him of professional soccer's viability as a business venture and inspired him to pursue a Major League Soccer franchise for Las Vegas, I don't know that any of the heavy-hitters who are calling the financial and managerial shots for the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool FC are going to be investing much - if any - time, money, or effort into the Las Vegas Lights-to-MLS campaign.
I really felt like Tepper/Charlotte had a leg up pending what stadium solution was put together but if Vegas can get this thing pushed through without too many hiccups we may get another Nashville situation where a city comes out of nowhere to steal a spot.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m less enthusiastic about Las Vegas than any other potential expansion market.
They will have the same problem Phoenix has. Late PT starts due to heat. If they played during the winter, it would be ideal. They should build training complexes for spring training there like Arizona has for baseball. In exchange they get the MLS Cup at the Raiders stadium every couple of years.
The Lights kick off at 7:30 Pacific but: In artist renderings released today to the Sun, the 24,000-seat stadium appears to do that — there’s a vinyl retractable roof, and air-conditioning ducts every three rows in the stands. All seats can be shaded. On game days, the roof will be closed during the day with air conditioning blasting to keep the facility cool. The playing surface will be turf and the sides of the stadium are open. It’s similar in look to Centre Court at Wimbledon.
Breaking news in Wednesday's @RJ_Sports. @edgraney and @BenSGotz reports VGK owner Bill Foley will help bring MLS team to Las Vegas. @billbradleyLV and Ben Gotz look at the MLS expansion. Plus LV bowl update @AllenLeikerLVRJ @TheRealTSpou @APSE_sportmedia @reviewjournal pic.twitter.com/9sdvhWSYTF— Mal Van Valkenburg (@Malman717) June 5, 2019 Golden Knights owner throws his hat in the ring.
I have not confirmed that it is a separate bid but the Golden Knights owner should jump in the bed with the current bid (Lights) and make it one mutual effort for LV MLS. I get that nobody wants to split the pie when it comes out of the oven and that is why multiple bids happen but I feel like more than one bid will just cause in fighting and lead to nobody getting in, it could easily be the opposite at the same time. So it is a separate bid and has no ties at all to the Lights, I prefer the lights just to see Cashman get updated but this could work out if Mark Davis buys into the MLS squad and makes them co tenants versus being a guest in the Raiders new place. It's already being split with UNLV so the fall-winter will be busy in there if this happens.