Now that WUSA has decided to fold, is it good or bad for MLS? I think it's good news for MLS unless someone proves me wrong.
It's neither good nor bad for MLS. It makes no difference whatsoever. The WUSA league folded because very few people cared about it in the first place, which means there are very few people to now turn their thoughts to MLS instead. It means nothing to MLS, and MLS will survive and grow regardless.
I think it is a good thing b/c it will further get the idea of soccer being a girl's sport out of the average American sportfan's mind.
How could it be good for MLS? What possible reason is there this will help MLS in anyway? If someone was going to WUSA games and never went to an MLS game, they aren't going to start doing it now. The collapse of WUSA makes clear World Cup popularity can't sustain a domestic league; it's hard to judge what effect this will have for MLS, if any at all.
Yet the fact that you are bothered by what stupid people think is going to be a part of your psyche (to your detriment) for the rest of your life.
Potential corporate sponsors will see soccer in a more negative, fragile, transitory light. How is that good?
Neither good or bad but it will be very bad if MLS considers bailing them out. MLS has been very smart so far and I don't think they will even think about picking up the WUSA. What women's team professional league has ever made in the history of sports?
If they don't think it is a girl's sport they'd be more likely to give MLS a chance. Nothing to do with being bothered by what stupid people think.
Bad. I think MLS & Sum were just getting to a point at which they were going to be able to work with and profit from the WUSA. Advertisers with a soccer league folding in their mind are not the type of advertisers that MLS wants...
Not that it has anything to do with the fact that MLS doesn't advertise itself nearly as much as it should. Yeah, that tag of being a girl's sport is a real threat to American soccer. I don't know why I follow it in the first place.
Just in case there's any confusion, I wasn't being confrontational or facetious. I really didn't know.
https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=71656 After re-reading it the numbers weren't actually that big. Soccer in USA ready to cash in on World Cup This article was from FIVE days ago...amazing how quickly that changed around. I didn't think you were being facietious at all, knew that the article was from very recently. Later in the article it talks about that SUM was selling $8-10mil worth of advertising. Maybe the $100,000 the WUSA was spending should've raised a red flag...?
San Jose has an opportunity to gain some new fans from the teenage girls who used to frequent the CyberRays games. Other than that, I don't see the fall of WUSA affecting MLS much one way or another.
On balance based on what I've seen in Washington, I would expect a slight increase in MLS attendance. There is some, but not large, overlap in the fans for both leagues. I would expect the WUSA "soccer" fans to turn up their attention back to MLS.
Yeah I thought the total the WUSA was spending on advertising was a lot higher. Unless they gave it to the WUSA at a severly discounted rate, that article mentions that most ad packages were going from $250k to $500k. However, I also wonder if they'll be a hit in that less people will watch because they know the WUSA has folded? Not sure that really matters but I just hope that SUM has all those advertising checks cashed already.
Personally I think losing your jobs is horrible. A lot of people are going to be very sad, but I thought this might be good for MLS because I always get the impression that WUSA is always trying compete against MLS. Blame Julie Foudy I guess.
I think it does matter but I don't think fewer people will watch. There was no WUSA in '99, and if the US repeats it will be somewhat beneficial to MLS, as the more casual fans post-WWC search for more soccer in any incarnation and somehow stumble upon Soccer Saturday, the playoffs and MLS Cup.
that's probably a valid point, but at the same time, any increase or tick up in attendance due to MLS being the only Soccer Kid on the block now could all be easily erased if advertisers look at this as a sign that pro-soccer doesn't work in the US. I just hope that MLS has a secure relationship with it's sponsors and they're confident in the league.
This is GOOD for MLS, IF they play their cards right.. First, MLS will have likely more opportunity to do doubleheader with Women's Nat team...that means bigger attendence figures, which always helps (even if not more profit due to xtra cost) 2nd, MLS clubs can pick the dead profit carcass of this league, and cut only a deal that makes sense for them....that would be a low cost structure women's league in which MLS can build "clubs"....men's/women's under one roof....women can play games on separate nights, in smaller fields/stadium...but the occasionally doubleheader would also be a big draw...as well as women's players promoting the "club" (DC United) as a member/player.....
What effect does a tornado in Arkansas have on Birmingham, Alabama? Probably about the impact WUSA folding will have on MLS positively or negatively.
This is great for MLS.... Someone should look at the attendance figures for MLS in cities where both MLS and WUSA Play. I know that the Revs do poorly these past few years because alot of fans, especially families with girls would rather attend WUSA Games then Revs games. The attences pick up in Late August and September around Foxboro when the fans don't have a choice. Someone should look up these numbers. I think you will see at least a 1000 fan per game increase for the summer months when both MLS and WUSA were in season. Next year the revs will start to draw much better, just wait.