You be The Commish!

Discussion in 'NWSL' started by SiberianThunderT, Mar 29, 2018.

  1. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    In honor of the fact that NWSL has been commissioner-less for over a year,
    And with full respect to the "You be The Don!" forum of the MLS board,
    HEREBY let us have a thread where we spin all our moderately crazy ideas for ways to improve the league and complain about other things!

    This thread is moderately inspired by comments over here about the prospect of an All-Star game, though I'll also link to my previous idea about how a Women's Open Cup might work, and to the thread for your expansion hopes and dreams (as opposed to the actual expansion news and analysis threads).

    Anyway, on to my wild idea about what to do with the playoffs and a potential All-Star game...
    There's always been talk of how the NWSL Playoffs feel like they're over almost before they begin with how quick they are, and how the Championship week doesn't feel like a big enough "event" on its own. So I'd like to kill two or three birds with one stone and fold an All-Star game in to Championship week(end). All-Star voting occurs over the last two or so weeks of the regular season, so that All-Star players can be named before the SFs. Immediately after the SFs, all All-Star players not on one of the two Championship teams start a "camp" at whatever city is hosting the Championship. (Think like the NFL Pro Bowl.) Championship week then includes both open training events and media session from the two Championship teams as well as training sessions and skill competitions from the All-Stars. Championship Day itself then is a double-header of the All-Star game and the Championship Game. TBD if the All-Star is intra-NWSL or NWSL All-Stars versus a guest team from some other league.
    If/when the playoffs expand to 6 or 8 teams, then just add another week for the QFs. You could maybe even include the QFs in All-Star voting. And if you really want to be ambitious about the All-Star selection, you could even space the SFs and Final out another week (two weeks total between them) and turn the All-Star game into a three-matchday All-Star mini-tournament (NWSL All-Stars + 3 guest teams, or NWSL East + NWSL West + 2 guest teams) - i.e. teh All-Stars train for a week, then have a tournament Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday, followed by the Championship Game on Saturday.
     
  2. CoachJon

    CoachJon Member+

    Feb 1, 2006
    Rochester, NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I like All Stars vs. European or Asian club team. Y'all probably remember this one:
     
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  3. WoSoFan

    WoSoFan Member

    Dec 23, 2017
    They could also have a U-23 vs NWSL All-Stars this year. Give us an opportunity to see Catarina Macario in action again.
    Since it will be at a neutral site, why not incorporate what the Royals have done in their home opener, and bring in a big name entertainer to sing the Star Spangled Banner and perform in concert after the game. Why not have the championship game in Salt Lake City!
     
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  4. blissett

    blissett Member+

    Aug 20, 2011
    Italy
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    There were two Japanese players on the pitch! :) Aya Miyama for All Stars and Mami Yamaguchi for Umea. :giggle:

    At the time, I wasn't really following women's football yet.

    Mmm, this sounds veeeeeery ambitious! :laugh:

    If I get it right, since your All Stars would happen before the Championship, it wouldn't include players from the two teams who are going to battle from the title. Basically, All-Stars-Except-The-True-Stars? :cautious:
     
  5. WoSoFan

    WoSoFan Member

    Dec 23, 2017
    You have got it!
     
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  6. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    #6 SiberianThunderT, Mar 29, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2018
    I remember being there! =-D
    =edit=
    Re-watching the highlights now, and dang, really lets you know how good Marta was at her peak - she's involved in 3 of WPS' 4 goals, and in almost all of their near-goals, too.
    Yup. It's an idea I'm borrowing from the NFL, where the Pro Bowl (the NFL's All-Star game) happens the week before the Super Bowl (the NFL's Championship game) and doesn't include any of the All-Star-calibur Super Bowl players. I was mostly looking for a way to make the playoffs/Championship week a bigger deal than it currently is.
     
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  7. blissett

    blissett Member+

    Aug 20, 2011
    Italy
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    Oh, ok: what was leaving me dumbfounded is that I am not used to US tradition in other sports. I am sure you are aware that the Super Bowl, despite being (I guess) the most followed sport-event in USA, doesn't attract much interest or covering here in Europe.

    So, by an European point of view, for me All-Stars had to mean "all of the true top stars", like when you name "Best XI" at the end of a league or of a World Cup. I just couldn't grasp the concept of an All-Star game without most of the actual stars that would be surely named in Best XI after the title-match. But, if you say this is nothing new to other sports in USA, now I get what you was meaning.
     
  8. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Yeah, though to be fair, the NFL is more the exception than the rule - all of the other big leagues have an All-Star game in the middle of the season where they do literally have all of the All-Stars. The issue that some people raise with that is that you're selecting who qualifies as an "All-Star" looking at only the first half (or maybe the first two-thirds) of the season.

    And maybe it works for the NFL and no other leagues because American Football teams are so huge that removing the All-Star-calibur Championship players doesn't make a huge dent in the All-Star team(s) overall. Conversely, the NWSL First and Second XI from last year together had 10/22 players form the two Championship squads, so that'd be a big dent.
     
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  9. kernel_thai

    kernel_thai Member+

    Oct 24, 2012
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Maybe u could have the NWSL All-Stars play Goteborg :sneaky:
     
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  10. CoachJon

    CoachJon Member+

    Feb 1, 2006
    Rochester, NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #10 CoachJon, Mar 29, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2018
    Last May, I actually saw Mami Yamaguchi play for the New York Magic against the Rochester (Lady) Lancers in Rochester. When I got the lineup card and saw her name, I didn't actually believe it was THE Mami Yamaguchi; but it was her. She played much more calmly than the rest of the players on the field.
    The United Women's Soccer league is mostly college players,recent graduates, and coaches that want to keep their foot in the game - an amateur league. The New York Magic are not in the UWS this summer (they are in a different league), so I won't get a second chance to see her play.
    I think I read somewhere that she is working on an advanced college degree in New York City - but that may be a fake recollection.

    P.S. In my mind, I have crowned Aya Miyama "Everybody's Favorite Team Mate,." mostly due to her wonderful personality...it is a bonus that there aren't many better players to be found.
     
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  11. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't like all-star games. They aren't serious competitions.

    If I were the Commish, I'd be watching Utah closely. If their attendance is near to Portland's first-year attendance, I'd then be taking a careful look at what Portland and Salt Lake/Utah have in common. And, I'd be looking for other cities that match those commonalities.
     
  12. WoSoFan

    WoSoFan Member

    Dec 23, 2017
    Based on things you already know about Portland and Utah, as Commish, where would you be looking?
     
  13. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Austin, Texas. If the Dash become stagnant (which I think they might), I'm thinking about moving them there notwithstanding the Dynamo is in Houston.

    I was pushing the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, and WNY moved there, so as Commish I'm hoping I prove right that the Courage will do well.

    I'm also looking at the San Jose/Santa Clara/Stanford area, but I'm thinking I should do some serious surveys about whether enough people in the area will commit to season tickets. In particular, I'm worried about competition from other sports.
     
  14. blissett

    blissett Member+

    Aug 20, 2011
    Italy
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    Thank you very much. I'll pass this piece of info on the Nadeshiko Japan thread to see if anyone knows what exactly Yamaguchi is doing in New York area. :)
     
  15. WoSoFan

    WoSoFan Member

    Dec 23, 2017
    #15 WoSoFan, Mar 30, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2018
    Here is my take on what might be good locations and why. As far as markets where existing MLS teams are located or will be located, I can only come up with two. One being Nashville, and the other Sacramento, who should soon be granted a MLS franchise once they have resolved their investor situation. The only other Nashville major professional team, besides the new MLS team, is the NHL Predators. Like Portland and Utah, the only other major sports franchise in Sacramento, is an NBA team.
    With the Houston Dash situation, they might be better off moving the team to the Rio Grande Valley where their USL team the Toros play their games. At HEB Park, where the Toros play, is a brand new facility and has a Capacity of 9,735, the Toros averaged over 7000 per game, 5th best of all USL teams in 2017. On short notice the Dash were forced to play one of their games there due to the Hurricane, and still manage to draw 3,000. Might try playing one or two scheduled games to see if it has potential for a future move. It would also leave the option open to move them back to Houston.
    With regards to the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, league may want to wait to see how things develop there this season, at least before doing something similar with other USL club owners. I will be curious as to whether on the men's side, now that they are USL, their attendance improves. Last season they averaged a little over 4,500, which is less then their 4 previous years.
    I like Cinncinati and San Antonio for future considerations. San Antonio FC averaged over 7100 in 2017, but if the crew moves to Austin, that will kill their chances of getting a MLS franchise and likely will lose some of their attendance as well. If the crew do in fact relocate to Austin, TX, one of the existing independent ownerships might want to consider relocating to Columbus where there will be a big void left from the loss of the crew.
    I also like the San Diego area now that the Chargers have moved to LA, but ownership and stadium would be an issue right now.
     
  16. lil_one

    lil_one Member+

    Nov 26, 2013
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ...and the NFL Titans.
     
  17. FawcettFan14

    FawcettFan14 Member+

    Mar 19, 2004
    Colorado
    Does Duffy not want the job?
     
  18. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Well, it wasn't what she was hired for. She may not have the requisite experience and/or connections to do the job fully, either. Between her and whoever is responsible for filling the position, at least one of them doesn't want her in that role. Otherwise it would've been a done deal ages ago, I would think.
     
  19. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    As Commish, one of the things I look at in terms of a potentially good market is current fan support for Division I women's soccer. The U of Portland women had the best DI fan support in the country when the NWSL started up. Utah schools, especially BYU, have great fan support with BYU now at the top of the list. The DI teams in the NC triangle area also have excellent fan support. Further, in these three areas, the support isn't just student body support. It's community support.

    I took a look at Nashville, which I expect would have the right demographics, but fan support there for DI women's soccer isn't great. Vanderbilt averages 418 per game, Belmont 384, and Lipscomb 226. The Lady Vols are in Knoxville, about 3 hours away, so they're not close enough for me to count.

    This is a significant factor to me.
     
  20. blissett

    blissett Member+

    Aug 20, 2011
    Italy
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    New info about Yamaguchi, courtesy of @msilverstein47 on UWS 2018 thread. :thumbsup:

    Apparently she's now at Michigan Hawks. And she had a bachelor's degree of International Affair at Florida State University in December 2016. :)
     

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