I was reading this the Peter Wilt letter thread ( https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=29916 ) a few minutes ago. It reminded me of this article I read on ESPN by Mark Cuban (http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/story?page=FranchiseCuban). So I thought I would pose it to some of the minds here at bigsoccer to see what they thought. i am asking for a discussion, debate, compare and contrast of sorts. So keep the rivalries and dislike for basketball etc. to a minimum please. Realize that given the open ended nature of the discussion that there will be some conjecture. I hope this is as interesting as I could see it to be. Thanks Ps: I hope this is in the right place
diablodelsol: Santa Claus as an owner - Discuss I think that already occured in Saint Phil. Next please...
Mark Cuban as an MLS owner It will NEVER happen under Single Entity. Cuban is a hands-on, control-freak, maverick (pun intended) type of an owner. You think he wants the schmucks at the league office telling him what he can do with his billions? Of course not. Now, if MLS were to dissolve Single Entity, I could see Mark Cuban - and a bunch of other guys - being interested.
Paging JMU, thread isn't true Analysis according to the Nazi dictates of your board. Please close down immediately and without hesitation, this eyesore of BigSoccer.......And you call yourself a moderator.
Re: Mark Cuban as an MLS owner Cuban doesn't give a rat's ass about soccer. Why would he invest in it?
What about old Bill Ford? He played soccer in college and was the captain I think. The Detroit Lions suck, and America is becoming a winner in soccer. He has WAAAAAY more money than Mark Cuban.
You guys really think that MLS could get someone like Fidel Castro to invest in MLS? Not sure how some of our current IOs would react to that... Plus the press would have a field day. Not to mention I think he is a bigger baseball fan than a soccer fan. Paul
I really have no opinion on this topic, but I will do everything I can do to get this to a second page,lol. -VON
Re: Re: Mark Cuban as an MLS owner Because he's a businessmen, and if he sees a chance to make a book he'll dive in.
Actually, Cuban has stated several times that he's not particularly interested in soccer, and that's why he's not going to invest in MLS. The guy's an NBA owner because he's a huge hoops fan that made a zillion dollars.
Hmm. Sounds like the Burn should try to get him out to Dragon Stadium once the basketball season's over. Start warming him up to soccer and all that. He's married now so I'd expect kids will be coming soon. And it's a known fact that all suburban kids in DFW play soccer for at least a year or two. Tell him, "Mark, you buy the Burn, and we'll hold all the free clinics your kids' soccer teams will ever want." Now how could he pass on a deal like that!
I guess we've slipped up. I guess I took the wrong time to have a dinner break and get some work done
Seriously folks. I don't think it's too far fetched to somehow get Mark Cuban involved with soccer in this country. The secret is to go after his other passion -- HDTV. Cuban is one of the biggest proponents of the new high definition technology and launched his HDNet satellite network as the first 24 hour high definition channel a few years ago. He has been scrambling for quality content to fill the time and just recently launched HDNet Movies and just swung a deal with Warner Brothers for rights to a number of their HD films transfers. Where does MLS enter into this? If any of you have seen anything broadcast in HDTV (5 times the resolution of regular TV, DD 5.1 sound, greater color saturation), it's so obviously the perfect medium for broadcasting soccer -- widescreen, higher resolution (so you can actually see the players numbers, etc. in the standard wide shot). In addition to broadcasting Major League Baseball, some college football and basketball, HDNet has also bought the HD broadcasts to minor sports like Indoor Lacrosse and Winter Olympic Qualifying (things like Biathlon and Curling), so there's no reason to think that he'd be opposed to showing soccer. I'd love to see MLS swing a deal with him to broadcast one game a week in High Definition. I could also see AEG/SUM working with him for international exhibitions, World Cup Qualifying, etc. This is definitely the way to catch his interest. Maybe if he gets into it, he may invest in the league. Even if he doesn't, who cares. We'll still have great quality broadcasts. If any of you have the chance, catch a sporting event in HDTV. It's amazing.
Re: Re: Re: Mark Cuban as an MLS owner Any word on who his publisher will be? When will it be completed and available in stores? This could definitely become an NYT best seller...
Re: Re: Mark Cuban as an MLS owner He doesnt have to love the sport or care for it, most owners look at purchasing a team as an investment for a future return., and some do love the sport too... Think of it like a stock or real estate investment, you really dont care about the actual property or what the business does, but what it could reap for you in terms of return..
That is the whole point. MLS is so far away from any sort of "profit" that the only people who would want to invest are people who love the sport. No on in their right mind is going to jump into MLS after the first 7 years of financial results. This is the reason owners keep jumping out of the pool and not in. Andy
<b>doesnt have to love the sport or care for it, most owners look at purchasing a team as an investment for a future return., and some do love the sport too. Think of it like a stock or real estate investment, you really dont care about the actual property or what the business does, but what it could reap for you in terms of return.</b> OK, I know you meant this seriously, but return? What financial return has MLS given any owner? Yeah, they cook the book somewhat, but name one owner who has made money. And if you can tell me one, that's great. I'd still be skeptical. Marc Cuban bought a basketball team cause that what he loves. The man is obviously very passionate (the way a staker is passionate) about basketball. That's why he bought a team. Cause he wanted to be involved with basketball. If I had his money, sure I'd invest in soccer. But the man knows how to make money. If you've ever seen a game in Dallas, you'd want to go back. Would he invest in soccer. No. He put's his money where his mouth is (see Dairy Queen) and soccer and his mouth aren't together. DB
Cuban, as much as I can't stand the unibrow freak, is a great owner for the Mavs because he loves the game. He is just the type of owner that MLS needs. Fanatics w/ business smarts as owners. As mentioned before, he isn't interested in owning the Burn. He has said before that he wishes the Burn luck but he isn't into soccer & has his plate full with Mavs. Would be pretty funny to hear him rant against the refs...he thinks they are bad in the NBA Like to hear him talk smack bout Agoos or Etcheverry like he does Shaq.......yeah we need owners just like him. Maybe Charles Barkley & Warren Sapp would like to go in on a team?