News: MLS owners approve fall-spring calendar and season format changes: Sources

Completely agree. But the calendar is not the primary reason we aren’t selling and buying players from Europe, it’s money on the buying side and it’s that we don’t produce the talent necessary

 

I don't believe that this is the case any longer. I can't find it, but I recall seeing within the past 2 years that MLS no longer has limits on charter flights.

 

Please read my sig.

 

Actually, by all accounts, it's the main reason the calendar change is happening and why a majority of MLS GMs have been asking for it.
Most MLS teams don't want to sell their best players in the middle of the season.

 

I think they "missed" with the Apple TV deal, but more because they were probably 5 years too early.

The shift is that I think MLS is actually taking is that they are trying to move into having more of a "major league" clientele. What I mean is that when I ment to a AA baseball game, the large suite was occupied by the local bank. When I went to the Major League Baseball game, the large suite was occupied by Deloitte. What Messi's first season showed, is that they could bring in some of the sponsors when the games became more "events".

For the people who have been spending time/money with their MLS teams (not just TV watchers or NT fans "scouting" the MLS for themselves), it's going to be different. If you are a Colorado STH, you had the season opener and the season ender be the "cold games". It's now (at best) doubled and for games that are in the "dog days" of the season. That's like 25% of the home games. For someone who has been going for 20-25 years, that kind of sucks. There is a lot of "tradition" that has developed because of where MLS has stood in the sporting calendar/hierarchy and some of that is going to go away. It doesn't matter for those who mostly watch on TV or don't really have a home team, but for those people who spent weekends building a community at a stadium, it's going to be different.

I think there are a lot of positives out of the switch. I just think it's fine to acknowledge, it's going to suck for some people who actually go to games.

 

I understand that’s their reasoning. But Brazil seems to sell just fine while being on the same calendar as us. So is it a calendar issue or a talent issue primarily?

 

Hmmm is there a difference in the production of soccer talent between Brazil and the US.... let's get our researchers on this question.

 

This is supposed to be a gotcha? It’s my point

 

Climate is different.

 

At some point the money offered overcomes any structural inefficiencies in the schedule. This has been true in MLS as well, as it certainly has sold players in the summer window. But MLS also has seen clubs turn down transfers because they don't want the player to leave right before the playoff push. This is an inefficiency that has kept MLS from taking full advantage of the transfer window when European clubs are spending the most money.

 

Yes, I understand the logic as stated before. I hope they’re right. I’m just not sold that the calendar change is as magical as MLS PR makes it seem. At some point I think severely limiting your northern markets will have a long and lasting impact.

 

It's a calendar issue. You do know that Brazilian clubs have bought players from MLS, right? There is talent in demand. The problem is the current schedule makes it more challenging than it needs to be to make deals happen -- regardless of what happens in Brazil.

 

MLS going head to head with NFL games, we know who comes out on top in that showdown.

 

And Europe has bought MLS players before. Deals can happen no matter which schedule you are on I agree with that.

Do you think Brazil should also change their calendar? I don't because I don't see that as the main issue. They have already solved the issue by producing euro level talent year after year,

 

Does Brazil buy talent from overseas? MLS does. The current structure hinders that process as players wait out to see if they get an offer from a club in England, Germany, etc. By the time that offer does or doesn't come MLS' window has long been shut. This opens up the talent pool, or at least the opportunity duration to sugn better players.

 

If MLS wants to compete for euro talent they have to loosen the purse strings. Again, I understand that changing the calendar has some benefits. I just think there are better alternatives that don't hinder a good percentage of your markets

 

I would say it helps with planning for MLS clubs willing to pay for more expensive players.
1) If you get them in the summer, you have the winter to bring them support vs now where the entire season is done.
2) You don't need a stop gap if they agree for the summer transfer and you need someone for the first half of the season.
3) Less injury risk because they get an off season. Especially with older players.

For the US players transferring out, I don't think it makes much of an impact. The problem is euro clubs valuing the player and that price often being low. For the most part, if someone is willing to pay, MLS will let them go. A lot of deals that are reported are often crappy or heavily dependent on conditions being meant. I remember a youth player (u-17) on an MLS team was rumored to have received an offer for 2-3 million to a larger European club. The deal was actually for 50k and the fee would rise based on performance. The kid had talent and measurables, but he couldn't beat out the incumbent starters on the MLS team. The MLS team knew he likely wasn't going to meet the conditions if he left now, so they were hoping to keep and develop him to actually get that transfer fee. But in the press, they turned down a 3 million dollar offer.

The benefit for the US player may be that those players out of contract may get trials easier in Europe than if they were in the winter.

 

More than 90% of games are expected to be played in the footprint the league currently employs.

 

League propaganda!!!! That's bollocks!!!

 

I mean it is. The calendar switch has it's merits but the schedule being 90% the same is not one of them. And it's purposefully misleading

 

Some good breakdowns and insights into the changes in MLS:

https://www.youtube.com/live/RDvjiJo5pRc?si=rlbdrx_V4VYAFPgV

 

According to the league this is what happens currently:

MLS secondary window closes in early/mid August. The UEFA Primary window closes in September. MLS teams try to sign players from Europe. The players are weighing MLS interest and also the interest of other clubs in Europe. They may be waiting on teams to conduct business prior to them making signings. Some teams are dependent upon qualifying for UEFA Club Comps Group Stages before making moves. This takes MLS out of the running for a decent section of the available player pool. Including players in CA and SA.

When it comes to selling players the same applies in reverse. MLS teams are reluctant to sell a key player in the Summer due to not having enough time to find a replacement. IMO, teams should be succession planning already, but that's just me. That requires teams changing the way they think about roster construction.

At the end of the day the Atlanta Uniteds and FCCs are still going to overpay for talent. Teams are still going to make rash, dumb player signings. That's just the nature of things, and is also amplified due to a good portion of MLS teams not having defined playing styles/systems of play.

 

Where's Mexico located again?

 

Brazil isn’t buying European-based players regularly. MLS is. MLS needs European-based players. Many more can and will come for a full season, not six games, a winter off spent at home watching what they left behind, followed by a season where you have to bed in again following off season changes.

Brazil also plays a “winter” schedule, like Europe.

Thx,

Jay!

 

NFL doesn’t play on Saturdays.

Thx,

Jay!