I read reports that MFL teams might start participating in Copa Sudamericana next year (the equivalent of the UEFA cup in south america), so I asked myself when will MLS teams partake in the south american cups??? Then I answered 'when mls teams have bigger rosters and a lot of them have their own stadiums.' Wait a minute, this is happening now! Should MLS start pursuing the idea or should MLS wait a bit longer? What does MLS gain? American players and coaches get international exposure and experience, more meaningful games (something MLS fans say there's a lack of), and of course what the fans want, MLS teams vs foreign teams which would be great. Should MLS start pursuing this idea? I know about you but if MLS doesn't start holding talks with CONMEBOL to hopefully participate in at least one of their tournaments in 06 it would be a big dissapoinment.
No, because if it's not American, it's crap. I wish Bush would just close the borders already in the interest of homeland security. I think it's a good idea on the surface, but I'm sure the major hangup would be the calendar ... are they on a Euro calenadar or do their seasons run similar to ours?
is that really what fans want? unless it's a big-name team those games aren't sure-fire successes at the gate. while it's a neat idea, it's pretty far down on the list of what this mls fan wants.
I'm pretty sure that MLS lost money on the Copa MercoNorte. The Wizards and MetroStars participated in that tournament in 2001. Things weren't helped when Chivas forfeited it's game in New Jersey. That might have drawn a decent crowd.
There are labor issues with these international games. According to what I remember them saying when talking about the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the standard MLS player contract specifies how many games they're expected to play during the year, including exhibitions, league (including playoffs), Open Cup, whatever. Effectively, any other games MLS players play are being played for free, unless the league makes a separate agreement to pay them for it. The league doesn't want to pay extra; they want the players to play for nothing. Yet at the same time, they want to convince the players how important the competitions are. Though I'd like to see MLS teams in significant international competitions, I sympathize with the players. If these games are so important, put in some dough. Isn't that what everybody is saying we should do with MLS regular season games to make the players care more--bonuses?
Why? I read a while back in the Mexico Forum that MFL lost money playing in Copa Libertadores. Granted, the exposure to games from South America would be great but it would cost a lot of money. Attendance would be around US Open Cup level unless a big team show up.
Considering that MLS teams travel something like a million more miles in a season than most European and South American squads, I don't think an extra trip to Buenos Aires is that hot of an idea. Build up exhibitions and tournaments in CONCACAF. Support the US Open Cup more. Get the big Euro teams to come play our teams, not each other in our stadiums.
The Copa Sudamericana runs from Aug 18 until Dec 15 (meaning it would interfere with the playoffs.) MLS teams should try to improve in the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the time being...
Not true.. If MFL clubs were losing money they wouldnt be so willing to play in the Interliga tournamnet (Sponsered by SUM) that awards two slots to Copa Libertadores, which used to be called the SEARS pre Libertadores. They make money playing in this tourney and once they qualify make more money with t.v contracts. . When Morelia first qualified to Copa Libertadores they were going to win their match against Velez Sarsfield by default because the Argie club couldnt afford to make the trip to Mexico. Instead Mexican bread manufacturer "BIMBO" founded their trip as long as the argies used their logo in their jersey.. The Interliga Tourney which is sponsered by SUM will try and integrate MLS teams. It might be a few more years but dont be surprised when MLS teams starts competing with MFL teams or even have their own slots to South Americas premiere club Cup competition. Chivas USA might even get to participate in Interliga. As long as money is involved anything is possible..
Just to correct you a bit Interliga isnt sponsored by SUM, but they own the tournament. When you say sponsor its something different. But your thoughts are correct. The reason SUM/MLS brought into this tourney was to 1)make money and 2) to one day intergrate MLS into this tournament. I dont think it will happen until every team is in a good stadium situation. This way if there is a trip to BsAs that needs to be made they can re schedule MLS regular season games or have more flexbility. They cant take a chance right now with a team making it and then having a clusterF%$K to deal with because they cant re-schedule. I dont think its too far off however as just about every team has its own stadium or is in a good situation, I think only the Metro are prob the only ones we need to worry about. The rest all have their own SSS(Dal and Fire included) or their owner owns their stadium(KC, NE).
I remember some Metro player (Ramos?) saying they got paid, after taxes, $40 for the Merconorte games. "Gas and toll money" was how that player characterized the whole experience. Sachin
And that, ladies and gents, is at the hear of most issues with MLS. Money...and patience. Once the soccer industry (MLS, SUM, etc.) start seeing profit from playing with MFL teams or by themselves, THEN you will MLS teams in international cups. El Chapulin Colorado[/FONT]
Considering he played in the crappy GS, where a lot of money gets lost to begin with, it's almost understandable..... This is what i was posting earlier today in tha South America boards, in response to Mexico's entry and MLS possible participation in such competitions: "Yeah, I'm sure SA clubs where falling over each other to play Mexican clubs when they first entered the competition years ago.... First of all, it was something i said semi-jokingly because: 1. MLS does not have enough stadiums of their own as not to be completely screwed over scheduling.....So it's not something that would happen next year or the next.... 2. It's not really about whether people in SA want to see MLS teams, at least not at first...It's far more tempting to see whether BOTH MLS fan and SA fans living in the US would be tempted to watch the old team that they still love play in a meaningful competition....... 3. Examples of cities with high concentration of foreign born Hispanic communities AND MLS teams, as is the case in Northern NJ/NY area, San Jose, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc....do provide ideas of places where there could be some success in the future if the stadium issues are resolved, since many fans would like to see their teams from the homeland. Moreover, having a place where to play makes the idea for investors here less risky...." So in essence Chicago in 06, HDC, Dallas 05, Columbus, Harrison in ??? (right!) could perhaps negotiate their way into a tourney that is not as contentious (schedule wise) as Copa Libertadores is... Copa Sudamericana is not a bad idea at all, as long as it is accepted that: -Only teams with SSS could participate at first... -MLS hardcore fans will have to accept that at least at first they would probably get outdrawn by fans of the opponents..Not like it does not happen to our USMNT plenty of occassions.... I would think of Chi-LA, Dallas, even KC IRRC as great places where to play Mexican clubs... If Harrison ever got built (ha!) any club from Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil would easily pack the place to play Metro in a Copa Sudamericana setting.... But of course the point would be: no SSS, nothing but domestic competition, which is costly enough in NFL places as it is....
So Mexican teams no longer lose money because of Copa Libertadores? I thought I heard that the interliga helps cut their loses with the money the games generate, but they still lose money overall just not as much as the old days of playing Venezuelan teams.
i dont know where you guys read that in the Mexico forum or any Mexican paper. Mexican clubs do not lose money. How are they losing money when corporate sponsorship was taking care of their expenses.
How about only including those teams with SSS (sorry, that would exclude KC's field as well).....The truth is that GS is too costly, and I figure (i.e. guess) Kansas did lack a big hispanic community of the team(s) you got to play against back then.... i could be wrong, but Arrowhead, not being a SSS per se, might not be as profitable as it could be, right? anyway, if Merconorte lost money, i'd say most of the financial burden lied with the Giants humongous rental costs (which differ according to accounts from 150k to 250K per game) If, on teh other hand, only teams with SSS were the ones allowed with the opportunity to compete, it could be a different story Not really, unless an MLS team actually got FAR into the tourney.....And since games are on Wednesdays, even then it could be argued not as bothersome.....Furthermore, the first few stages involve teams from the same league playing each other, so conceivably, we can simply designate a regular season game in MLS as part of the Sudamericana itself.... If only teams with SSS were allowed to compete (as of now LA, Columbus, Dallas, next year Chicago) it might pay off if there was some sort of pretourney vs. Mexican clubs, as in say a "pre-Copa Sudamericana".....Pure speculation/imagination, as Mexico has the cash to bribe, i mean, get into the tourneys by themselves ..... But in such scenario, our MLS clubs could conceivable make cash out of the whole thing
what about player exposure? like, im sure if they do good more of the better south american players would want to come becuase the money is better. also, i dont think its up to mls really has a say in it, not sure about that though.