First day of 2003 and looking ahead to what might be the singular most important decision that MLS needs to make this year. Expansion? Salary Cap Increase? Larger Rosters? Young Internationals? More Foreign Players? My pick: 2003 needs to be the year that MLS announces expansion and the teams cannot be owned by AEG. new investors and more teams, it would make for a good year.
Expansion and teams are close to making a profit. I think that if its annouced that teams keep getting closer to making a profit and there is expansion these two keys things will atract new investers.
Year of the Stadium Hopefully it will be the year of the Stadium. Obviously we'll see the opening of the new Home Depot National Training Center (Home Depot NTC). I am optimistic that the Dallas Burn will reach a favorable resolution with Frisco to build a new stadium there, and then Hunt and/or other investors will purchase the Burn. I'm less optimisitic, but still hopefull, that the Metros will find a stadium solution. The Harrison project seemed like a win-win situation, but alas, that's been muckety-mucked up. It would be nice if we heard an announcement of a firm committment on that front in 2003. And lastly, I would like to see groundbreaking on the A-League Rochester Rhinos stadium. Then when it's completed, I'd like to see it constantly sold out, forcing them into building the next phase of expanded seating and hopefully into MLS expansion. Other fringe prospects for announcement in 2003 would be committments for the FireHouse somewhere in the Chicago area that is convenient for public transportation. Also, It would be nice to hear of a more lucrative arrangement between the DC Stadium Authority and DC United for rental of RFK Stadium, or a new SSS. -Tron
I would like San Jose, KC, LA, NE, and Columbus to be profitable next year. I would like Metro to find a stadium, and I would like Dallas to find a stadium. I would like DC to massively improve it's on the field play, and it's attendance totals. The Fire must be better also. I'd like to have 2 expansion cities and ownership groups announced, and I'd like the league to average 17,000 per game.
I completely agree that the key to the long term viability of the league is stadiums. The practical meaning of them is greatly enhanced revenue. The symbolic meaning is the team, and the league, aren't going away, despite the soccer bashers who wish they would. More foreign players would ever so slightly increase credibility among ethnic and eurocentric fans. Higher salaries would be nice for the players, and could conceivably mean one or two guys don't go to Europe. Both are of marginal importance compared to the stability that bricks and mortar (or even just aluminum bleachers) imply.
2003: The year of 12 teams (hopefully). A few stadiums would be helpful for MLS also. The new staduim in LA is a great start. And maybe some more investors in the league.
in 2003 i'd love to see most teams become profitable and more investers into the league. i'd want the avg. attendance to rise by at least 1,000 and some more SSS deals. expansion would be nice but i heard that it wasn't gonna happen this year. quality of play to improve and GOALS GOALS GOALS GALORE!!!. and more importantly for the gaLAxy to win SS, MLS CUP, champions cup, us open cup, and the other tourneys rumoured to be going on. i smell treble*sniff sniff*
2003, for Joe-Max Moore and Earnie Stewart to come back, and to play well. For Landon Donovan to dominate the league, and for Josh Wolff to not get injured again. For LA to win MLS CUP, starting a new dynasty, and to win the Champion's Cup. For the Metrostars to win something, please.
I'm not quite certain what 2003 will hold for MLS. I think it will be a good year for the league, though. In many ways. Of course there will be some negatives as well. LA Galaxy's new stadium could really open the eyes of potential investors, fans, and MLS opponents to the league. Someone said "the year of immenent announcements." Well, I think 2003 does have the potential to be a year of announcements. With the new stadium, some players choosing MLS over Europe, and if MLS can keep attendance on the up and up, I think we have the potential to see some new life to the league. I would hope to see Rochester's stadium start becoming a reality. I would like shovels in the dirt. I would hope the MetroStars get their den approved. That club really deserves it. They seem to have made a lot of good moves in the offseason and I think it may boost their club this season. I would also hope Dallas gets approved for a Stadium. Oh, and Chicago, too - but, they'll most likely be back at the newly renovated, and ugly, Soldier Field. I think expansion is likely around the corner - by 2005. I wouldn't be surprised to see MLS announce the definitive year of expansion - whether it be 2004 or 2005. The new match ball will be welcome. Looks like we have some new kits... Metros, Chicago, Galaxy. 2003 should have a fresh feel. With youngsters like Freddie Adu possibly making an impression at the U-17 WC's, this could really open the eyes of a lot of people here and across the ponds in all directions. I really think 2003 has potential. MLS coverage is getting better and better. I'd like to see anyone watch a '96 MLS game and compare it to an '03 MLS match and say we haven't improved. So many aspects have. Commentators are getting better (even the ones we get frustrated with). Camera work is much improved. MLS has toyed with ideas that have or haven't worked and have learned from them. I can't wait for that first match at The Home Depot. Can you? 2003? I don't know what to call it. If 2002 opened the eyes of a lot of people to the growing success in talent of American players and proving MLS' worth, maybe 2003 will be the year when all the people whose eyes are now open, will be hooked for good. Maybe this year, they see MLS as a viable and exciting business or the game as an intriguing, growing past-time.
The continued growth of season-ticket sales, demonstrating the emergance of a genuine hard-core constituency (besides us, I mean!) Landon Donovan's celebrity forces the mainstream media to continue to pay some attention to us. DC United return to the playoffs.
"Kaizen: On and Off The Pitch!" That's really what I want most of all. Optimistically, I'd like to see a few of our top players move abroad if the situation is right, new investors, more coverage on TV, vast improvements in the crowds, announcements for new stadiums and the development of reserve teams. However, if MLS continues to improve their level of play, makes good progress towards profitability, and keeps aiding the National Team, I'll be happy. If the aforemention occurs, everything else will follow.
Re: Year of the Stadium A Chicago stadium would be nice, as well as a DC stadium. Then, if DC gets this rumored baseball team, there'd be no worries. Baseball could have RFK, and DCU could have United Park, or whatever.... As far as Rochester, IIRC, I heard that groundbreaking is scheduled for this spring, with the first game in spring 2004.
attendance growth I would like to see a year of solid attendance growth. Not just through the use of double headers, but a increase in the regular weekly games. It would also be nice to see the Bay Area fans go out and support the attractive team that they have.