I don't support an MLS team but the teams I will pay the most attention to by learning their players and watching the highlights to their games are NYRB, LAG, PT and SS. So pretty much the teams with the big players or the most fans/best active support
Like the OP, I will not support a team until there is on in the Southeast and with Florida only nominally counting, that support could change if a team were to first pop-up there and then one in GA, AL, TN or a few other states where a team would be more easily accessible and culturally identifiable. In the meantime I pretty much follow the entire league and know almost every regular player for every team except CUSA because I hate them. That is the one absolute I have in MLS, a hatred for CUSA, every game they lose is a wonderful thing. As for teams that I follow a bit more closely, that changes. I started out watching the league around '06 and Stuart Holden became my favorite player so I liked the Dynamo for a bit. I then started to be interested in Philly when they were being formed because of the way that team grew from nothing with fan support, but after some terrible managing and bad sporting moves I lost interest in them. Now the teams I enjoy most are SKC, Portland, LA, Seattle and to a lesser extent Montreal (I'm like the op, just can't like the Canadian teams as much). I watch every game I possibly can and tend to pull for the teams listed above more often than not and if they are not on I tend to pull for the home side unless it is CUSA in which case I hope somehow the franchise is sold mid match and the team disintegrates on national television. I probably pull for SKC and the Gals just a tiny bit more than Portland and Seattle. Ever since both teams rebranded/changed their colors I have really taken to them though mostly through their play on the field. I always enjoy a good game at Sporting Park. Thus ends my entirely too long explanation of what I do as a neutral fan with no local MLS club.
I am from Alabama and I'm waiting for a SE team to support. Let's go ATL. and B'ham! But, I like Seattle because my sister and brother in-law live there. Also, I like LA. It's really bad that we don't have a team in SE yet.
Grew up Central Californian (Bako) so Galaxy was always mine. I find it funny when someone mentions new franchises as if our league is that old. Other than the Galaxy, I absolutely love watching the growth in supporters culture and TIFO. I find it kinda awesome the NFL supporters are kind of doing it now (although college football has been doing it since forever). Local Rivalries are piquing my interest more (like the Cascadia Cup), and since the increase in DP signings as well as growth in developmental academies has made the whole league get better, there are very few teams that need to disappear (like the other LA club which shall not be named).
Prior to us getting our team, I was a Houston fan. I went to the 2007 MLS Cup with them. I also liked both Seattle and Portland, had no problem with any team that had former City players (RSL, Quakes, Sporting, DCU), and tolerated Chicago since one of my comrades-in-arms was from there. I generally despise the Galaxy, and laugh at RBNY, the Revs and Chivas USA. Now it's all Orlando, all the time, with deep-seated hate for NYCII.
I do remember seeing an article posted somewhere on the Kick Off last year where some sports mag had done a poll of people to try and find the MLS equivalent of the Dallas Cowboys, who are the NFL neutrals pick more often than not. According to that poll, most neutrals leaned towards the Portland Timbers. Wish I could find a link to it, but don't remember what its called
Quakes fan first and foremost. When they moved I supported the Houston franchise, but I don't care for them anymore. I have a reason to support almost every team in MLS with the exception of LAG, Shittle, and TFC. Most every other team has some young players I like to watch, and as long as they are not playing against San Jose, I will at least be rooting for those players to have a good showing. For atmosphere on TV I like Portland, SKC, NYRB, and DCU. Those crowds show up really well.
Not surprising that the big market teams are popular even though NYRB, aside from the SS last year (about time they won SOMETHING), have done nothing in the league. Lends credence to the Miami Beckhams being able to appeal to a global audience. By the way, just curious, but what is your country?
nah I hate 3 of the others, and am extremely indifferent to the other 3. Then again I am a Senators fan, so maybe you're right, if someone doesn't actually support a hockey club then they'll cheer for any Canadian team to win.
Before RSL came along I always seemed to root for Columbus. I liked that they were the first team to build their own stadium, something MLS desperately needed at the time, and I liked that they were the "working class" team. I've always liked their color choices of black and yellow, black and yellow, but have always wished they would update their logo.
Florida is in the southeast by geography only. Florida is a Yankee state, by and large. Very few people in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Arkansas, or Louisiana consider Florida Southern (capital S). Most soccer fans in the South will wait for Atlanta to field a team rather than attaching themselves to Orlando on cultural bias alone. If Orlando was coming in without the promise of Atlanta, maybe Southerners would support Orlando, but as it is that's unlikely. 11Bravo started this by saying that Houston was likely the most southern. Most MLS fans in the South, though, went with DC or Dallas before Houston was an option. I'd be willing to bet most picked DC, since DC generally fielded a better team in the early years and was the flagship club for so long. I ended up a Burn/FCD fan by dint of going to college in Texas in '98. My in-laws still live in the Metroplex, but I have returned to God's country in Alabama with their daughter. Full disclosure: I started as a Mutiny fan. I still like the alien-cum-cat logo and thought Valderrama was the bees' knees. Now, I will be an Atlanta fan and STH when they join the league. Despite that, I will probably always be an FCD fan, too. Also, as an Alabama fan, I could never have been a Houston fan. They wear orange, and I have been raised from a very early age to hate orange (Auburn, Tennessee, Florida... and LSU yellow is close enough).
It sounds like we are alike. Like I have said before, I was a T.B. fan. Then my interest in MLS waned as I went to school. I am now back and ready for Atlanta. I know soccer can/is popular in the South. We just need a team. RTR!
Like: -Seattle Sounders -Portland Timbers -Vancouver Whitecaps (those 3 seem to have great rivalries and fanbases) -Toronto FC (they did so much effort this year, previously I was indifferent to them) -Sporting Kansas City (like the colours + the name) -Dynamo Houston (Really like the colours, it's the only reason I like them) -Columbus Crew (I like their branding a lot) -DC United (Former glory) Indifferent: -FC Dallas -Montréal Impact (don't like them or hate them, though I do like that they got rid of the 'burn'. And I like there is a French speaking team, but other than that I don't have anything pro or con them) -NYRB -LA Galaxy (both teams are famous and huge brands) Dislike: -Real Salt Lake (Mormons are weird + would prefer Royal Salt Lake instead of Real Salt Lake) (I can't believe 6 owners would give their team such a foolish name) -Colorado Rapids (biggest annoyance of all of them) -Philadelphia Union -San Jose Earthquakes (only their name and nicknames sucks) X Chivas USA (everything) -New England Revolution (their entire branding is a mess, wouldn't support them even if I lived there) -Chigaco Fire (such a big city, but such a lame team)
Just curious, why do you dislike the Union? only because it's the only team you didn't put some kind of reason for lol Obviously I'm not neutral, but if I were there would be 2 determining factors for who I would follow, also assuming Philly never got a team. 1) Never the big names (for the most part) I've always strayed away from the big names in all sports for whatever reason. I hate bandwagon fans and I guess the bigger teams would always have the most. And I always hated teams that had the image of buying the best team and championships (think of Yankees stereotype). I'm definitely and underdog kind of guy too, I will never not suck at March Madness brackets lol now that being the negative reasons for who I would choose, 2) Biggest/Best supporter culture. Aside from a love of the sport that grew from playing it myself for 13 years, my biggest attraction to the sport is supporter culture. I love watching/hearing/learning anything I can about BPL teams supporters, Bundesliga, and international. The whole idea of complete die hard fans that take being a fan further than what we mostly see in the US appeals to me. I love the songs, the chants, the talking smack, die hard support of your team, and rivalries and brotherhood. Because of that I'd have to say I'd probably be drawn most to Portland/Seattle/maybe SKC. Other than that I'd probably get into whoever had the coolest jerseys or a specific player I found I enjoyed watching.
I don't like their colours. And they don't seem to get great support. Whereas Seattle, Vancouver and Portland seem to be thriving. Philadelphia is a big city, so I'd expect much more support. And the name Philadelphia Union puts me off. Though I dislike teams like Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, NE Revolution and Chigaco Fire more. Though there is no REAL dislike. When I watch MLS highlights those were the reasons to support one team over another. Nothing more really.
I support the Charlotte Independence. Fav MLS team has always been the Quakes but I've never been too invested. Really hoping Charlotte gets an MLS team soon.