Going to 48 watered down the group state substantially. Do I have tickets for some games in Houston? Yes. But of the 5 group games you have maybe 2 competitive games and then a likely Germany squash match. Round of 32 could be iffy, round of 16 should be better. Think this is one of those things they hope everyone gets in a social media and hype frenzy to drive ticket sales (like the folks who go to all those absurdly priced concerts for mediocre talent because you can make a cool Insta post). But Cape Verde vs. S. Arabia is one of those "BEIN Sports Online" type of games you see flipping around the internet. Not paying more than maybe $100 to go regardless of how good the seats are.
I'm not sure the statement "the subscription was THE MODEL" is a fair one or accurate statement. Subscriptions certainly was a component of the model. The same component many other league-wide access streaming models contained. NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB -- none of them had free streaming models -- all required subscriptions. Now, some soccer leagues were available for free on paid streaming services: Serie A (paramount), Bundesliga (ESPN), Eridevisie (ESPN), La Liga (ESPN). The EPL requires subscriptions to at least two separate streaming services: an option that carries NBC and USA Network and to Peacock. Since my theory is that MLS competes not with the other American sports as it does with international soccer, I think it is fair to suggest MLS should know that and should have realized their model needed to be similar to their international club competitors. However, subscriptions was not "The package." The packages included the following important components: ALL games on ONE streaming service, no blackouts, world-wide access rights, and annual or monthly subscription. So much of "the package" remains intact.
Certainly! However, the crux of the matter is that association football in our sports landscape is still a sport that needs cultivating. More so for those that want to turn a profit on the sport. Like the suits down at MLS HQ. All those pro soccer leagues listed above are in a nation where the sport is not only very old, but the dominant sport in the nation. MLS in the U.S. is neither the most dominate sport here nor the most dominant pro soccer league watched, that being the EPL and Liga MX. MLS HQ should have known this and never blast door their product where access for the massive, untapped soccer fan demographic is still so ripe for the picking. To make no mention since a player like Messi is in the league and can have such a pull to soccer newbies wanting to learn more about the beautiful game.
There is also this for club value on a global perspective. Our club is one of three MLS clubs in Texas. With our Region III of the U.S. Soccer Federation map has other MLS clubs in Atlanta, Miami, Nashville, Orlando and Charlotte. Two clubs in Region III are worth an estimated #1 Billion+. And neither are from Texas. Focusing on the three large metropolitan cities in the USSF South Region with Atlanta, DFW and us in Houston. Those that run FC Dallas have never understood their own market nor how to run it. Atlanta, is like Houston, a southern city that has an NFL team that has never won anything, with a baseball team in town that has lots of winning and a regional fan base. We are blessed to have had Hakeem and those Rockets teams of the 90's but have never made it back to winning NBA titles. Both city's have pro hockey teams come and go over the decades. And we all know what our Dynamo have carved out in on the field success, yet the value for us is half a Billion less than Atlanta. So MLS has soared in Atlanta with a NFL owner, climate-controlled stadium and a commitment to their fans on game day experience. Us in Houston should be up there with Atlanta at least. I posted this last year iirc, a MLS heat map of sorts just based on proximity to the home ground of each MLS club. Where your merch and gear should be hanging in the local corner shops and sports stores.
Remember to 🙄 the next time you hear soccer is popular in the US just not MLS.News today La Liga who ESPN pays $175m yr had its best viewed year, in yr 5 of 8 yr deal avg 91k🧐 across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 & ESPND. MLS in 2022 its last yr w/Disney avg 343k. https://t.co/qFFdqoaMOS— Edwin Games (@EdwinGames4) June 4, 2026 Interesting perspective. There’s a lot of criticism about the Apple - MLS deal (some of it valid) but it seems based on everything available that the ESPN - La Liga deal is much worse.
Putting the ratings comparison aside for a moment, if one watches how well the La Liga matches are packaged and delivered via the ABC/ESPN folks, they really do a very good job of rolling out the pre-game info on starters and insight about each line up, then speak on the recent run of play from the star players. Then speak on each team's recent form, to go long on tactical formations and the 3 lines of the team, how each shift and flow. Apple TV tries to do this but it is no comparison in execution. I do not need all the pre-game talk from pundits, more so in gridiron the talking heads going on and on, just give me the damn game! Again, ABC/ESPN went and found the correct people to deliver insight, mix in the graphics but let the 90 minutes still rule the day.
https://hbcugameday.com/2026/07/18/...tball-schedule-locations-weeks-before-opener/ https://www.si.com/college/hbcu/foo...ell-energy-stadium-contract-scheduling-rights Texas Southern appears to be out of Shell Energy Stadium.
Wow! TSU is moving out from Shell and playing at the refurbished Aldine ISD Thorne Stadium! Questions about the university’s football home have lingered throughout the offseason as scheduling challenges mounted around the Dynamo’s venue. The official schedule finally answers where the Tigers will play. But it also underscores why so many supporters continue to push for a permanent solution. That solution may already be in the university’s long-term vision. Just last week, Texas Southern unveiled its sweeping campus master plan. The proposal that includes construction of a 10,000-seat on-campus football stadium. If realized, the project would give the Tigers something they have lacked throughout much of their history: a true campus home for football.
I hope they build a stadium and take the xfl/usfl/usl/has been & never will be football league with them
Not just back of jersey ... but below the number. SMH ..... Trading some short-term revenue bump for another small nick to the brand value of the Dynamo.
Some of you may remember that back under the previous club President the Dynamo threw me out of my long-time seats that came with club access. They insisted that upper bowl mid-field seats must move to the lower bowl to keep club access. (West side club.) You may remember I protested vehemently, and the whole thing was done with no fan/customer input from those of us they wanted to force the move. I've been pushing Dynamo FO to fix this mistake. The stadium was designed with the upper bowl mid-field seats being attached to the club. While not all fans who want club access want to sit upper bowl, many do. It is a mistake the way it was handled to force moves but also just a basic mistake to not use the stadium the way it was designed and give NO upper deck option for club access. It even made accessing those seats awkward, having to cross over from the ends. I responded to the forced move by changing my tickets to supporters tickets, and I have continued to insist this mistake was significant to some of us impacted, but more so indicative of a broken club culture that fails to listen to or care about fans. I got the call today. They are finally fixing it. Lower bowl club access will be reduced from the current number of sections, and the three upper bowl sections tied to the club will be club access seats again. Frankly, I'm not convinced the club culture is fixed yet. But at least this one mistake is fixed. Baby steps ....
I'm still pissed because they screwed up the Sports Deck in similar fashion. Those were the best seats in the house but the.moronic revenue guys they brought in from the NBA thought premium seating should only be close to the pitch. Kept telling them a serious fan wants to be up where they can see the entire game unfold so there is a market for upper bowl premium seating. They didn't believe it and devalued those seats. Haven't been to the stadium in the 3 seasons since then.
Exact same situation as mine. We have the double whammy of all the club decision being made by non-Houston people and non-soccer people.
Do we actually have any confirmation that the Dude Wipes thing is actually a jersey sponsorship on the lower back panel? It just dawned on me that the whole announcement of the jersey sponsorship on the back just MIGHT be a brilliant viral marketing gag. That Dude Wipes is just a sponsor -- and they cooked up the shirt thing as an attention getting joke. If that is the case -- then my hat is off. I've seen Dude Wipe logo on interview board, stadium, etc. Anyone got confirmation it is actually going on a shirt?
Yes, DUDE Wipes is officially sponsoring the back of the Houston Dynamo FC jerseys starting August 1, 2026. [1] Sponsorship Details Debut Date: The logo first appears on match kits on August 1, 2026, during the game against Sporting Kansas City. [1] Placement: The personal care brand's logo is positioned on the lower back of the official match jerseys. [1] Partnership Length: This is a multi-year deal making DUDE Wipes the club's first-ever official back-of-jersey partner and exclusive disposable wipes partner. [1] Tagline: The partnership features the promotional slogan, "Space City has Uranus covered". [1] Additional Perks: The agreement includes support for 12 annual free youth soccer events through the Cascarita program and stadium activations at Shell Energy Stadium. Fans can also purchase updated jerseys or add the new sponsor mark to existing ones via the Houston Dynamo FC team store. [1, 2, 3]
I was coping by convincing myself that it just might be a viral marketing joke..... I'm going to keep hoping ....
Pat McAfee is somewhere smiling at all of us! One just has to laugh st life now and then. So! Hahaha!
Your wish has been granted Seven! UFL will relocate Houston, Birmingham franchises “Houston played an important role in reestablishing modern spring football, and we’re grateful to the fans, partners, and community who supported the Roughnecks and Gamblers," Repole said. "Houston is a great sports city, and Shell Energy Stadium has been an outstanding partner and venue. The reality is that we did not give this market the consistency it deserved. Between venue changes, team-name changes, and different approaches, we made it difficult to build lasting momentum.”