With the current MLS expansion coming to Utah, we are trying to figure out the history between the USL and MLS. I wish I could say the MLS and USL but it seems that the word 'vs.' fits the sentence these days. Why dont the leagues work together and do as the rest of the world with a true 1st, 2nd and 3rd division with relegation and all?? Is it because of $$, differing interests, pride, jealousy?? Can a A-league franchise work and survive with an MLS team???
What, in the same market? Don't know. There's not much precedent. Considering you'd be going after many of the same people and the same potential sponsors and media outlets, I'd say it would be tough. MLS and USL used to have a working agreement, but it wasn't renewed. They're on speaking terms, but there's no realistic way for them to do the 1st/2nd/3rd division setup with promotion and relegation. It's just not feasible given the differing business structures and the state that minor league soccer is in in this country (and Canada) at the moment. There's always a little of differing interest, pride, and jealousy in almost any relationship between two soccer entities in this country. It's one of the things that is holding us back, quite frankly. Everybody feels their way is the only way, and while they give lip service to "for the good of the game," it's usually "for the good of whatever money I can wring out of this thing."
Hello. Well, a few diehard A-League fanaticos might say so, but in reality, MLS is the better league in quality of play and level of talent. This is mostly due to the fact that MLS has a much greater amount of cash backing it and flowing into it. It uses it's official status as this country's Division One league and that cash to acquire the generally superior talent. However, if the latest round of the U.S.O.C. is any indication, the gap is narrowing a teeny bit. Looking forward to the Minnesota Thunder narrowing that gap a bit more against San Jose on the 4th , I remain That little old jersey collector Me
They've said they don't look at themselves as a subservient league, but some of that is posturing after the agreement expired. uhclem's right about the money - an A-League team with a $1 million budget would be in the top few organizations in terms of expenditures, while a big-market MLS team can spend about $9 million a year. Players and coaches follow the money. The better ones are in MLS, though there are some very talented players and coaches in the A-League. MLS expansion, as it continues, will siphon off some of that.
The A-League does not have the depth of quality players that MLS has but nevertheless the league does have some good players and as the US Open Cup has shown, A-League teams are quite capable of beating MLS teams on a given night. The A-Leagye games I have watched this year in Portland and on FSW have been much more exciting than the MLS games I have watched. It is more competitive, and IMO more interesting, having 8 out of 17 teams make the playoffs rather than 8 out of 10. There are other pros and cons with both leagues, of course.
16 teams in the A-League this year, not 17. The conferences are unbalanced (9-7), but there are only 16 teams. I gather it's 30% more exciting?
If I'm understanding the first one or two posters correctly, there seems some confusion about what voids MLS and the USL fill in relation to eachother. The fact is, MLS is seen as D 1 officially, and the A-League D 2. It may not be written as such, but that's how it is, just like most other countries. Personally, it took me a while to warm up to MLS for various reasons. However, I always new their standing in America's pyramid, and I respected that the A-League is division II, etc. No ifs ands, buts, or howevers. That said, it's absolutely true that the gap is narrowing. Personally, I'd love to see MLS expand to 14 or 16 teams. But I'm not sure that's at all feasable, much less a normal pro/rel system. If it were, I'd like those teams to be promoted on points one year from the A-League, and then an automatic 1 up/1 dn scheme henceforth. Not gonna happen, hate to say. We just aren't a pro rel country. But that's sort of OK with me. I like how our divisions are distinguished by payroll. I do wish MLS, the A-League, and maybe the PSL had that agreement they used to. Not sure if that's ever going to be revived in some form. I'm glad the USOC gap is narrowing, but I hope it doesn't narrow so much that people are perpetually confused about whether D 1 status is shared. Should be an interesting remainder of the tourney, though. And I am pulling for the Batts.
hey, greetings from another Minnesotian!! I too am looking forward to the match against San Jose, it should be an interesting match. I just got this years thunder jersey a few weeks ago; They didn't have it in my size so I had to wait until the next shipment came in. Now I'm waiting for the new Chelsea away kits to come in. I think it comes in a few weeks. I'm very excited; I'm leaving tonight for Chicago to watch the Man U. Vs. Bayern M. match, then When I get back; I'll have time to unpack and get to JGS for the Thunder Vs. San Jose match!!
A couple of observations, the difference between player caliber between MLS and PDL and all teams in between is not as great as it may seem. There is a difference but it is not as wide as in other countries, so caliber of leagues are compressed closer together. Harder to differentiate between MLS and ALeague and PSL and PDL. The PDL wiped out the PSL in USOC(supposedly higher league). While the A-league took out all the PDL teams, it was more of a nudge. Most games decided by a single goal in overtime or late in the game. A-League and MLS are essentially even going into the next round. Keep in mind it was not unusual in the past that when the PDL faced MLS teams in the early rounds of USOC, they demonstrated they could pull off a win. USL and MLS really take different approaches to their leagues. An A-League owner doesn't have to deal with salary caps and single point of entry. Realistically, if an A-League owner wanted to be a Steinbrener, he could go out and do it as long as they paid the league minimium. MLS single point on entry is to control salary cost also imposes a kind of confomity between teams in the league. What contols both is fan participation, and neither league is drawing enough fans to venture into the stratosphere of European Premier league quality. It's America, competition is supposed to be good, if the A-league fairs well in this next round, it will push MLS to work a little harder to drive the caliber higher and create more differentiation between the leagues.
I'm with ya. And I agree, a PDL team of hungry young bucks (not just from Michigan, either) is dangerous. The guys who tend to fall into the PSL just don't tend to be that good. Unless it's changed drastically in the last few years, the lack of money in the PSL has tended to mean the gap between the A-League and PSL is larger than the gap between MLS and the A-League.
Maybe we'll see those Michigan Bucks Saturday Night in the Central Conference Final . But that's another message thread.
Well, good luck tonight. If you get the final, where would you play it? The league final, I mean. I know tomorrow night's game is in Fort Wayne. But if you win, and get a semi and the final, where would you play?
We may see a good example of MLS v. USL in Salt Lake City, where the new MLS expansion club starts play at the same time the Blitzz want to move up to A-League. Can SLC support two teams? Would fans pick the MLS club? I think SLC was a bad move because they will saturate the market and force fans to choose. LA is big enough to support the Gals and Chivas. SLC isn't. IMHO, the MLS ownership group should have bought out the Blitzz and "promoted" them to MLS (and change the name - in fact, at the announcement, the new owner said the name would not have two Z's - a blatant jab at the established rival). In 2006, I would like to see Seattle Sounders and Rochester Rhinos enter the MLS league ownership system and be "promoted." They have stadium deals, marketing, fan base, infrastructure all set up. Costs are lower than a brand-new startup. So maybe MLS would cut those two owners a deal to buy in. (dam, there I go dreaming again)
What were some of the terms of that agreement? I remember some A-League players being able to enter the MLS Draft..does that still happen? Or was that part of the agreement which wasn't renewed??
Not to the same extent, no. They'll probably pick whichever one offers the best components and is most worthy of their entertainment dollar. Like most things. This isn't two MLS teams. This is an MLS team with a multi-million dollar budget, and a minor-league team that I can't understand how they can afford an A-League budget. Even without the presence of an MLS team vying for many of the same fans and sponsors. The product with enough money to give itself a bigger presence in the marketplace has a better chance of success. The fact they can say players who have played at the highest level of soccer will be playing in Utah gives the MLS team an edge in the perception regard. There's sorta precedent for that. MLS bought the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks organization before launching the Clash. But why the heck would you give the Blitzz's owners a windfall if you didn't have to? If you owned a business and moved into a market where there was a similar business and you could Bigfoot them, and there was no legal reason why you'd give them a windfall, why would you? That's completely against any logical business principle ever. Not necessarily. Utah has had lots and lots of teams with double z's lately. It's doubtful it was a jab at anybody. It's this organization doing what it thinks is best for itself. They might do that. You never know. It spelled out the terms of player movement between the two leagues, among other things. MLS teams could "call up" players on a temporary basis if they needed depth, and they paid a certain fee depending on how long the player was up. It also spelled out exhibition games between the two leagues, and fees that would be paid if a player was sold overseas. No part of the agreement was renewed. The whole agreement expired and another one was not negotiated.
Which explains why every year the media guide devotes a page to the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks. As far as I know, every MLS club has one or more neighboring PDL/MPSL amateur sides. I would think the Blitzz would be better off joining the BYU Cougars in the PDL than trying to move up to the A-League - especially given the lack of A-League teams within driving distance. They'll be another Puerto Rico.