The issue of American Soccer and how to build attendence was brought up on the J-League forum, so I decided to start the thread here instead of adding it the J-League conversation. This was the quote that originally got my brain working, "Good point, and more clubs would help both MLS and the lower divisions. The problem is finding people who can afford things like the travel necessary in the States." I have to agree that more clubs would help soccer to thrive in this country. Right now people in cities without MLS or USL teams live in a regional bubble. Sure they might catch a game or two on TV, but for the most part, American Soccer holds no interest due to a lack of local teams. Obviously, we Big Soccer obsessed folk are the exception to this rule. In my opinion the USL is doing a wonderful job, for the limited resources that are available to them. I am also happy with the MLS's progress, even though I feel single entity lacks the grassroots aspect of soccer, the concept of "the club", that made fans fanatics overseas. But I feel this aspect of the MLS will either appear, or the league will never grow and will eventually collapse. The Club and Country ads are a very positive step forward. My feeling is that the sports future in this country lies in the USL. The MLS can only expand so far under single entity (Rochester's a very good example of this), and will eventually realize that the USL is developing ready made clubs. This might take 10 to 20 years to occur, but eventually a merger is will occur (in my humble opinion). Let me set the ground rules for this thread: This IS NOT to turn into a promotion/religation thread. What I wish to do, is to discuss the successes that have been achieved in the USL- what has worked and what has not worked. In addition, I wish to share my vision, which is that any motivated individual in a so called "soccer clubless" town can do his or her part to start a Club in their town. My feeling is that that is what drew us all to Big Soccer in the first place..... it is a collection of people who love the sport and wish it to succeed in this country- through hell or high-water. First a little about me. I am just an ordinary person like yourselves. What I can and will do is put a Professional Soccer Club in Buffalo, NY. I received all the neccessary information from the USL.... costs, sample budgets, ect, and know first hand that anyone can pull this off if they are focused on this goal. In addition, it is not as much of a "money sink hole" as many people on this board seem to think it is. Yes, there are poorly run organizations; people have made some bad decisions. But there are many organizations that will survive. These survivors are the future of American soccer..... What needs to be identified, is who will survive. The models that these teams use must be duplicated in new markets. Obtaining the resources to start a club is the easy part. Making it thrive takes a bit of luck, but relies mainly on sound decision making. So let the conversation begin...... -r
Thread Moved I placed the thread in the Business Section, as that seemed a more fitting place for it https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=5148