Future of the Revs (Just out of curiosity)

I want to amend my previous post. The shrewd Kraft most likely wouldn't want to open himself to competition of a new stadium. So he will probably keep the Revolution in Foxboro for as long as possible to keep any other MLS teams away, keep them mediocre, and feign attempts to build a SSS for as long as possible.

 

Hm. I seem to remember that back in the mid-90s he was one of the few "trailblazers" who founded this league in the face of every single sports pundit and expert screaming how it would fail within a few years. MLS was anything but a sure thing back in 1995. At some point in 1999-2000 he "gave up" on the Revs and lost interest.

You're doing fine until the very last sentence. "Aligned correctly with the rest of the world" should read "aligned like the EPL/La Liga/Serie A." Not everyone in the world runs the same schedule as those leagues (the long winter breaks of the Russians and the Irish playing in- *gasp* -the summer to give two examples). The Europeans have no concept of what weather is like here, playing the same schedule as the EPL would kill off MLS. People are not going to come in the deep of winter in the Northeast or Chicago to watch soccer. Doesn't matter who is playing. The same hardy souls who become human popsicles (and proudly so) during Pats and Bears games are the same ones heading for the concourses at the first raindrop during Cubs or Red Sox games.

 

Back to being semi-serious.

I agree with Doc's premise that soccer will grow in the US. I believe that MLS investor/operators are counting on this and that, "a rising tide lifts all boats." I wonder what is growing faster: US viewership of foreign leagues, international games and international friendlies held in the US or US attendance/viewership of MLS? My opinion is the former, hands down. If true, why? Could it be that MLS is far less enjoyable to watch?

And while the 1980 gold medal might have done wonders for Hockey, they've had their troubles of late. I can't help but see a parallel to MLS in the expansion/relocation approach that semi-blew up in NHL owner's faces. What are they doing with all that expansion money? The stadium deals are seperate aren't they? Is this a pyramid scheme or something?

But most importantly, I can't buy shares of MLS, instead I am a paying customer. The dynamic is way different. I care about what I see now.
I'm not investing in a REV future. I may move, they may move, I may get hit by a bus, they may go out of business, etc. How about a good product now? As an aside, I think the current product is slowing progress to the hypothesized wonderful future.

Note: The rant is at MLS in general, not (just) the REVs.

 

i think micheal jackson had two of those... its some powerful hooch you may want to go with 1/2.

 

The Russians play a summer schedule and are willing to defer matches for teams that go far in UEFA competitions. Go figure.

The Danes take a three month break (Dec 7-Mar 7), the Polish break is also three months. That's what we'd be looking at unless they scheduled creatively. With the NW teams not known for snow, and the potential for TFC and Montreal to play 1 or 2 games indoors, that could enable a break to be cut in half in the rosiest scenario. However, unless they would be willing to do playoffs like they do in Mexico (midweek/weekend - 2 weeks start to finish), the post break season would seem very truncated around these parts. I'm not sure how that would help things, especially with having 2-3 more home games during the NFL season.

 

i agree with every one of these

 

yeah, they make the quarter finals.......and lose on PK's lololol

 

A strong performance in the 2010 World Cup will have the same effect that the 2002 World Cup had. Sure, some people may get curious and come out to a game, but as soon as a team plays a couple of mediocre games those fans will find their attention span drawing them to something else.

Growth takes time. Do we really want to experience what the NHL experienced in the 1990s to today? Sure having new franchises in markets without a hockey culture sounded like a great idea to grow the sport, but after expanding and moving teams the NHL has devalued their product, maxed out their audience, and will probably have to move or contract several teams at some point.

Since 2002 MLS has been growing pretty much every year, albeit slowly. Will MLS teams be selling out every single game and have thousands of people on wait lists for tickets? Probably not, and it would be foolish to think so. Will they have better attendance, more corporate sponsors, more teams in the league, and a higher profile than they have today? If I could, I'd put a dollar or two on it.

 

Going out on a limb here, but if I were to guess..

The Revs will slowly descend back towards 90s mediocrity in Foxboro for at least the next 5 years. In 10 years, the Krafts will have sold the Revs and the new owner, Mark Cuban of NBA fame, will generate more headlines from his outlandish comments about the piss poor MLS refereeing as opposed to the product on the field (some things never change). Cuban will have built a cigar-shaped soccer-specific stadium on Boston Common by then in honor of Red Auerbach. By then MLS will be a playground for billionaires and Dallas will be Warren Buffet FC and RSL will be renamed Real Trump with a Trump Tower and Casino overlooking Rio Tinto (gambling will be encouraged in Utah by then). Sons of Sam Walton will be the supporters group of Arkansas' lone professional sports entry and MLS will be spread far and wide. The Revs, with Mark Cuban in a pissing contest with the other sports franchise owners in Boston, will be determined to win a championship and will bring big Jan Koller out of retirement saying he reminds him of Dirk Novitsky.

The exciting 2019 season will culminate with the Revolution, led by the ancient Amado 'Che' Guevara, beating the St. Louis Buds for the MLS Cup on a late goal by fellow AARP veteran Clint Dempsey, who has returned to his orignal MLS team after 12 successful years dancing his goal celebrations in all corners of the Prem. The Revolution will have a parade down Boylston St. attended by hundreds of curious onlookers and tourists as national tv coverage (but not local) will feature the Revolution School Bus as it winds its way through town beeping the Revolution chant (Duck Boats were too expensive).

Viva la Revolution, 2019 MLS Cup Champs!

OK I can't be sure any of the above will happen but I know a few things will be accurate in 10 years:

Life, death, taxes will all still exist;
Mike Burns will still have no hair;
Steve Nicol will still speak nearly incomprehensible English.

 

Save the original post and then read it 5 years hence. It may look very silly then. Lots of these posts will.

PS: Someone mentioned the Rose Bowl game. I can't contain it any longer. I have to say it somewhere in these boards.... I was there!!!! I was one of the 93k. I hade a great time. I just happened to be in LA on business. Stroke of good luck it was.

 

I disagree a bit. Part of the biggest problem with the 2002 WC was that the games were at 5-7 in the morning here, and even earlier on the west coast. Also, the growth of the international game in the last 7 years has grown exponentially in this country. Prior to the 2002WC, the Euros were just a blip on the American sports radar, Champions League was a novelty, EPL/Bundesiga/Serie A/La Liga were all just a part of the smallest of niche's, and no one even knew what the Confederations Cup was, let alone Gold Cup. A strong performance would give the team incredible exposure and press.

Will it effect MLS? That is up to MLS to decide. They have never been able to properly market its product to the growing international soccer fanbase in this country.

 

While I agree with the NHL comment, what is your measure of growth since 2002? Attendance seemed to hover, then take a bump in 2007 (hmmm, what happended that year?) and appears to be returning to the original hover point. TV ratings have been pretty flat.

https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1122735

and

http://www.mls-daily.com/2009/04/2009-mls-attendance-figures.html

 

More teams, more investors, more stadiums, and most likely better revenue from sponsors.

 

All fair comments although I think that "more teams, more investors, more stadiums" reflects a potential NHL like problem unless the "better revenue" is much much bigger than we know.

Where are all those franchise fees going? And, how long can they continue to count on franchise fees? Is this sustainable growth? I read an article earlier today that said MLS attendance, w/o Seattle, is down an average of 13%. With Seattle it is "only" around 8 (IIRC). I don't call that growth.

So, I'm not trying to pick on you. This is really a request. If you can point me at (recent) articles about how much teams are making off of, for instance, sponsorships, I am interested to read them.

 

The problem with the NHL (and why an MLS direct comparison doesn't work) is that there are several levels within the league. You've got the "big market" teams, that is the teams that are always in the hunt for any big-name free agents. You also have the Canadian teams, who generally are what the Red Sox are in New England to their respective areas. The Original 6 teams, now that the Blackhawks and Bruins have revived, are also healthy. Certainly many of the other older teams who have been around a long time (Pit, Phil, etc.) are also healthy. Of course, a lot of these groups overlap.

Then you've got the dregs, places where there shouldn't even be teams. Whether it's inept management, a market where there is no tradition and little interest in the sport, or a combination, there is little doubt that the league made some serious mistakes in the last 10-15 years.

Anyone still think it was a good idea for the Win-a-pig Jets to move to Phoenix, a place whose only relationship with ice is that it goes in a drink? Yes, the NHL was mom-and-pop not too long ago, and the critical mistake it made was to try to go beyond that and pay ridiculous salaries. Teams like Quebec, Winnipeg and Hartford couldn't make it in the "big time" era, but right now, those teams would be OK in the modern salary-cap era.

MLS needs to make sure they don't get crazy and decide that every team needs 2-3 "Beckhams." Sure, it would create a buzz, but it would also be a disaster.

 

oh, so you mean like the Kansas City Wizards, FC Dallas or....dare I say...US?

 

I don't want to draw too much of a connection between NHL and MLS but I'm still curious where all the expansion money is going.

Equally crazy to 2-3 "Beckhams," I'd really prefer to see the salary cap go up to about $4M.

10 players @ Avg. $75K
5 players @ Avg. $150K
9 players @ Avg $300k

I guess that is closer to $4.2M.

I'm sure there are a million reasons why this won't help make moeny and BS will educate me. Never-the-less, I think starting (when healthy) 11 players of Ralston/Shalrie/TnT quality plus having depth that is playing soccer professionally (rather than pro-bono) could upgrade the quality of play alot more than 2-3 Beckhams per team.

No, I don't have any idea what impact that would have on attendance or ratings. I only assume from the numbers that the current system is not increasing either ratings or attendance.

 

Will we still be here? I'd think so, but you all need to work to make a positive presence more obvious.

Will the league still be here? Certainly! And if it's not, it will be reorganized immediately. But I'm optimistic for MLS.

sold to St. Louis? No, although unfortunately I see the Crew making that move. I'm no insider though.

In an SSS? I haven't seen any sketches, but yes. Seems to me Somerville is pretty serious.

Still foxboro? Heavens to Betsy no. DC Utd. is bad enough in RFK.

total mediocrity? I'm not sure what all happened to make that the case for you Revs, but no.

winning a quadruple? MLSSS, MLS Cup, Open Cup, CONCACAF? No. Others have their hands full with the same. MLS Cup is my favorite out of those, so I'll cheer you on (as an ex-Vermonter) to do that.

we will learn how to market? Not sure what thhe problems are here. I live in PA and am moving to CA in a week.

avg attendence will jump to 35k or 100? I think you'll be in for a good surprise with a move closer to Boston.

We'll be playing in USL? in a HS stadium? Nope. If that ever happens, a team would likely fold.

will be still be doing half hearted stop gap measures to keep from hemorrhaging to death? Gotta do what you gotta do. Short term. Long term. Both.

I wish the Revs well. They used to be so exciting to watch. Plus, you do represent Vermont in a way.