Most of us HATE ChivasUSA, but it's not a good hatred, I hate the Union but I don't want them to disappear, I want nothing but sellouts and money success for that team and every team in this league, I just want them to lose, a real rivalry hatred. With CHUSA, the majority of MLS fans has a "go away" type hatred, this team should've never existed and has been a failed experiment that brings the league down, this is a topic that has been discussed a million times and don't need to go into to it but I am overjoyed by the 16 fans that showed up for the opener and the 3-0 result, even the Union that I hate has to beat that team 3-0, the less people show up, the less games they win is a step closer to getting rid of this joke of a team, a knockoff of a real product, a day closer to Vergara giving up and rebrand, sell or move the team. So instead of criticizing Chivas for this, we should all post happy threads and comments about the failure of this team, have an average attendance with and without CHUSA, I do feel bad for the few supporters they have, I do because they are real soccer fans and we do need them, LA does have another team. Let's hope this 7K and failure on the field continues and please God of soccer, save us from this evil team and guide there fans they know not what they are doing.
About time Garber talks about this problem, first time I hear him talking about this in a "worried" way. From MLS' website: On concerns about low attendance and general situation at Chivas USA: "We believe in a second team in Los Angeles. Originally in 2005 we came up with this concept of having a club that was connected with Mexico. It hasn’t turned out quite the way we had hoped. I have not seen a final report on what the attendance is down there, but certainly if it doesn’t grow beyond what I’ve heard their ticket sales have been, I would be concerned about that." So now what Mr. Garber?
Most of the fans at Chivas USA games are literally like broke. They wouldn't be able to afford LA Galaxy games.
I'll say it. LA doesn't deserve two teams. End of story. Plus, the whole Chivas USA thing is kind of insulting to everyone. It deserves to fail. It's a blatant appeal to Mexican-ameicans solely on the basis of their being Mexican. Plus, it is offering them a knock-off product that MLS expected them to just lap up because is has the Chivas' brand. I'd be insulted by that if I were a Mexican Chivas fan living in LA. Plus, Chivas is a big club, a lot of Mexicans who support other clubs can't stand Chivas. And it was insulting to the regular soccer fan in LA, because it said to them "there aren't enough of you, so will just market straight to the Mexican base in LA." That would tick me off. And now this whole "farm club" stench is on them. Sad for the fans they have. They need a re-branding and a home of their own, at a minimum. I fear a move (Orlando, San Antonio, St. Louis) may be necessary.
Absolutely agree. Galaxy, probably the best “on the field” product over the last few years and most successful team in MLS isn't even close selling out its stadium.
I think San Antonio would be a great location for that team. It's a big city with only one other big pro team in town.
They'll move somewhere with a more organic setup, that that cities fans can get behind.. It's just such a failure. I don't get how even Vergara would think this would help the Chivas brand? So, you buy the team.. The best thing you can do is make the name Los Angeles Aztecs, FC Mexico, or something that all Mexicans can get behind from the beginning. He should've right away distanced the team as much as possible from his Guadjalara product, because that's just smart business. You want your product to be as attractive to as much people or rather Mexicans as possible (fine you have no other Mexican teams to compete with in MLS); They could've went after just Mexican players and Mexican fans successfully, but they killed that by calling the team Chivas USA. It would just of been the Mexican MLS team.. Like in an indoor soccer tournament, where you got that one Mexican team.. And it wouldn't of been racism because, at this point, eight years later everyone would've got over it eight years ago.. Especially if they were attracting 30,000 fans a game. Which I think they could if they would've been Los Angeles Aztecs, with all Mexicans, and signed some Mexican DP's like Marquez and Blanco. And they would be a big ticket, big draw item because every time they go on the road, it's like a little USA vs. Mexico. But, even a rebrand under Vergara wouldn't work, another Mexican would have to buy the team or takeover the team and go that route. There was some promise there, that was killed by the name. Simply Blanco or Marquez are not going to alienate there Mexican Club America fans or wherever by putting on the Chivas strips. But, that was a year where branding wise MLS just got it wrong.. Real Salt Lake hasn't been a failure, but they could still use a rebrand to Salt Lake FC or Salt Lake City.. Come on your in Utah, what the hell does Utah have in common with Spain, Real Sociadad, or Real Madrid. If your going to rebrand go simple.. You cannot go wrong with a team name with City, FC, or even in Kansas City's case, Sporting Kansas City works because Sporting doesn't sound so ridiculous in the English language. If your going to rebrand in MLS, it might be a good idea to talk to Kansas City because once they were a floundering franchise (since they got rid of the ridiculous Wizards name and moved into their new home, revived the whole franchise). Even the light powdered blue look was something different in MLS.. New England Revolution need to do something like this before there next on the docket. But, any city can get behind City or FC, then if you want a team name, let the fans develop it naturally over the next five to ten years. Organic (where the fans play a role in the team) always works better. Even New York Red Bull is ridiculous. It's not bad money but they'll never sell out being named after an energy drink and if the New York Cosmos ever come back and eventually establish a second MLS team, they'll be able to get 30 K and Red Bull will eventually flounder to 10K.. Red Bull's other soccer franchises (like Salzburg) are not as attractive as their rivals either. It's just a forced establishment (like when the Soviet Union would take over Eastern bloc countries and change all the soccer team names, and then force all the best players to play for the army or party team). It's no secret why the Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders are the most successful, because it's a part of the city, it has been for many years, and no one doubts that the Portland team should be known as the Timbers or Seattle's the Sounders. And even if Chivas is going back to this 90% percent Mexican roster route, most of the players are just Chivas reserves (Mexico isn't that superior of a league that their bottom level reserves can compete, especially when they get the nod over Bilanos and Agudelo). Also, isn't that what they did in the beginning in 2005? How well did that work then? Also, even if it's a completely Mexican roster, there still called Chivas, that's enough for 90 percent of Mexicans in Los Angeles not to show up. I do find this El Chelis character amusing though. Here's my take (or rather translation) on his interview Saturday night after his teams 3-0 humiliation vs. Columbus (VIDEO): http://crewonespot.blogspot.com/2013/03/342013-el-chelis-exclusive-interview.html The daughters reference comes from his other video with FutbolMLS provided in the link, where he says that Mexican-American players not playing for Chivas USA but play for other MLS teams is like having your daughter sleeping around and you not knowing about it, and then finding them with many kids eight years later? What the heck? Quite the elaborate metaphor. And that's the only thing that can work for Chivas USA, spinning elaborate metaphors. Also, I don't get what his point is? So, Vergara wants Mexican-Americans playing for Chivas USA so that they can eventually groom them for Guadalajara and then the Mexican national team? First off they might not be Chivas fans (or Mexico or Mexican league fans), they might just be Mexican-AMERICANS who dream of playing for the United States of America. If that's really the new goal of Chivas USA.. How can Garber think that is good for Major League Soccer? Major League Soccer is supposed to develop talent for the US National team, not Mexico's (even if it's just one team). They got to go.
San Diego, the Inland Empire, Orange County, somewhere else in LA County. Lots of places in SoCal for CUSA to play at.
Galaxy should send all remaining sth for CUSA a discounted rate for Galaxy season tickets when they fold. Classy gesture and/or a slap in the face all at once.
Why do they have to appeal solely to Mexican fans? Can't they just appeal to (gasp) SOCCER fans in LA? This whole Chivas USA idea was a joke to begin with, but I don't know if they should rebrand to Aztecs or Club Deportivo (I mean, they're both way better than Chivas USA), but it's still trying to appeal to hispanic fans. If they're going to stay in LA, they need to embrace and incorporate the city in its name and logo somehow and appeal to ALL soccer fans in LA, despite their race or ethnic background. As a Galaxy fan, I truly want a second successful club to have a true rival with. But, to be honest, the Galaxy still have a ways to go to before they're selling out all their games. So, I wouldn't mind if Chivas USA rebranded and moved to another city to give someone else a chance to be successful. Either way, it's frustrating to see other cities that would embrace an MLS team, but yet, we're stuck with Chivas USA.
Your missing the point, no one wants the name CHIVAS, yes maybe lots of places but as long as they are not CHIVASUSA.
I don't mind the team going Mexican, many clubs around the continent only use national players and no foreigners, hell, CD Chivas in Mexico does not allow foreigners on they're team, just Mexicans, so that doesn't bother me too much but in this country it's a big faux pas, and also illegal. My problem is the name and what it represents, this team will never have the best players Vergara can afford because those will go to the real chivas. The whole idea of this club was dumb, Garber was desperate for the expansion money I think that's why he went with it but now he wants to help the team, no ********ing way, let them die, Lazarus will raise...in a different place with new identity.
Appealing TO A RACE/NATIONALITY and appealing THROUGH A LANGUAGE are quite distinct concepts, despite the overlap. There is absolutely nothing offensive about a name like Club Deportivo Los Angeles, except maybe that they'd need more sports as the name implies.
Ya know, when CUSA came into the league the Galaxy had led the league in attendance for every year of its existence. I thank God every day that Seattle came into the league and showed us the light. And that you point out your unquestionable greatness every second of every day.
Tell Garber he can find the attendance figures right here: http://mlssoccerblog.com/index.php?ac=post&uid=all&id=92&m=&y=&p=1
They should have headed to San Diego before the Xolos started their rise. I think that could have been a solid market. If they stay in L.A., I agree about the "Aztecs" idea - it would be perfect. As things currently stand, I think the best thing would be sale & relocation to Orlando. They want a team, Don wants NY, LA doesn't want Chivas, Chivas should want Orlando. But this is MLS. "As things currently stand" - especially when it comes to franchise interest, there's few constants. =)
There's no need for jealousy. I was just pointing out that there is clear room for growth in the Galaxy's fan base. Thus, LA would be fine with one MLS team.
It's not jealousy, it's pointing something out that you're overlooking by a mile. In 2006 the Galaxy and Chivas were numbers 1 and 2 attendance-wise, respectively. LA can support two teams, that's not why CUSA has failed. They've failed because they're a terribly run organization. And you're talking to someone born and raised in Seattle, which is an incredibly fickle sports town. In the late 90's the Mariners were the toast of the town, remember? How's that going? I don't trust the Seattle fan base as far as I can throw them. If the Sounders are terrible this year it won't surprise me one bit if attendance goes down to 20k, or lower. Until you've proven otherwise, like the Galaxy fan base has, please step down from your high horse.