http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/story?id=164897 Check out the last parragraph of this story. Apparently, the presidente of Aguilas de America is in talks with several clubs to create a "filial" with an MLS team. Im kinda a novice here, but I was wondering if this is a new item and what this might mean for MLS. Any ideas?
It said he signed with Anschutz, owner of "six of the ten" teams. Who knows what exactly a "filial" is, or rather translates to in real terms.
What the paragraph says is that the president of America has had contact with the owner of six of the 10 MLS teams. The reason is for America to have an affiliate team in MLS. "Filial" translates into affiliate. Hope i was useful. Later.
filial means "brotherly" or sibling like. Chicago has a partnership like this with Morelia and it looks like CF America is interested in forging a similar relationship with an MLS team. ricv56
The guys on Radio Unica were chatting about this topic earlier tonight. They said that both Jorge Vergara, owner of Chivas, and Teuffer, president of America, were present at the HDC this Sat and have been talking to MLS. IIRC, they said that Vergara wants to have a Chivas-branded club in MLS. I don't recall them providing any more detail about America's interests, if any. They also mentioned that Vergara says that he understands that a Chivas team in MLS has to feature local players. No word on whether he really understands about the various MLS player acquisition rules, single-entity, etc. Take all that for whatever it's worth, which really ain't much. Even so, it's still an interesting concept. I doubt that the owners of Chivas or America would really be interested in operating under MLS' numerous constraints, but they've got tons of cash and could probably run successful clubs in a number of US markets.
There has been talk of this "Chivas style" team in LA for many months. If it is intended that the team be made up of one ethnicity or orgin (Chivas in Mexico is all Mexican players) it just wouldn't be allowed to happen in the US.
I agree. They said something about Vergara saying something about a team made up of "local" players of Latin origin. I don't see how any of this happens, but the Unica guys had some good arguments: whether a Chivas-branded team should be in LA or San Diego or elsewhere; whether such a team should be called "Chivas USA" or something completely different; the impact of a Chivas team in LA on the Galaxy; and whether MFL owners should buy one of the existing MLS teams or go with expansion teams in places like San Diego or Houston. All in all, pretty good pub talk.
This is a very interesting topic, however, I think that I now have more questions that need to be answered than in the beginning. They are talking about having an all latin (American) MLS team? Affiliated with MLS? Now this, would be very interesting... This type of thing, if marketed right, would be very appealing to the hispanic fan.
Oh yeah, and the MLS all star game will be MLS ALLSTARS vs Chivas. http://www.pepsiworld.com/sports/mls/index.php
WTF is this? what's the matter with east vs west? why the hell would we want the All-Star game to be an away game for the All-Stars? there's obviously no need for chivas to test the waters for a potential franchise. What, they'd they play in the HDC? are we that sure of the LA fan base? this is idiotic. I hope MLS is getting some cash for this. seriously, we don't need gimmics at this point.
Ummmmmmmm it's an ALL STAR GAME. who cares if fans there are cheering for Chivas. it's all about $$$$ anyway and obviously Chivas should be able to rake it in for MLS. and gimmicks? All sports need gimmicks.
A sure sell-out to show on national tv. Cannot argue with that. I'm all for increased US-Mexican soccer relationships!
No doubt. I'd like to see a merger of the MFL and MLS, which would produce a league that would easily rival any in south american, if not many in Europe. It certainly would raise the level overall in Concacaf.
Huh? All you would need to raise the overall level in concacaf would be to get rid of the incompetents running concacaf. Can anyone believe that Jack Warner's first MLS game was last week at the HDC. He's the fluckin president of the region.
Yeah, its the idoits running the show that are holding us back. Its the competition on the field that will raise the overall level of play in the region. Having mexican teams play meaningful games against US teams also means money and lots of it. Screw Jack Warner, he's irrelevant.
I cannot disagree with this. Provided it was under MLS' rules, and not the MFL's, a North American Superleague of some sort would be fantastic. Never happen, though, unless some major financial crash befalls Mexican soccer like it has in Italy or England at about twice the size. Even then, only maybe.
i'd tell the officials from America to come with this offer in 5 year's time...Right now it'd be to risky, because they might pull out of MLS in 2 year's time like Horowitz (sp?) in Florida...Better to wait until league is more stable (with more stadia, and a bigger player pool), then we can take into account proposals such as these....
From Todays ESTO Deportivo : "Absorberíamos uno de los equipos que ya participan en la liga de los Estados Unidos. No sería una nueva franquicia. Queremos tener dos equipos de gran nivel. Hay en Estados Unidos una persona que tiene el control de seis de los diez equipos que juegan ahí, nuestra idea sería tomar una franquicia de esas." Basically the idea is for Televisa/Club America to purchase an allready existing franchise in the MLS. They will not make a new team but take over one of the teams owned by AEG. This is more likely to happen than a Chivas jrs squad. Anyways America has about 30 registered foreigners many of which they could easily send to their MLS squad or any MLS team. Not only that but being owned by Televisa they could probably have their teams games shown on Univision, Telefutura or Galavision.
How would that work with the current MLS structure? My guess is it wouldn't. They may buy a team, but they still need to stay witin the cap, and payoff headquarters for allocations. There is no way they could move players between the 2 clubs, unless all other teams were able to do so in a similar manner.
Seems like most disagree with you. I for one, do not. What a farce. Will it sell-out, sure. Look good on TV? I guess. But who are we trying to impress with the National TV sellout crowd? The American soccer zelots (us) are already hooked. If we're trying to after new American fans this surely won't do it. I can hear my friends at work already: "So what was with that soccer allstar game. Why was the entire crowd against our league allstars? I'm telling you, soccer is never gonna be a major player in this country. They can't even get fans to cheer for their stars." Maybe an MLS allstar team for tour playing other teams is okay. But for a one game event? I don't think so.
Oh lord, your friends at work will rag you! Heaven forfend! MLS should do everything possible to keep our coworkers from ridiculing us! God protect us from watercooler harrassment! Of course, this is even assuming they watch the game. And if they do, what they'll see (I think) is not a crowd booing the MLS AllStars (even if it happens)...they'll see a passionate, exciting, intense match in a great atmosphere. And with something actually at stake: pride. When (aside from maybe MLS US v MLS World in 98) has ANYTHING been at stake in an allstar game? It will be exciting. It'll be the closest thing to what I've advocated for some time now: MLS XI v MFL XI and will generate some real interest I think. I mean, really...people actually, seriously thought East v West was more compelling???