This is old news. It's invitation only for at least the first year. Even if it was performanced based, they would pick the teams and then make the rules. If we had a SSS with grass, we may have had a shot. What I did't like is how DC is going to this and the CCC and they had a better draft pick than us. BTW, it appears those teams won't be in the USOC this year. Does that make the USOC "Little Liga"? I also find it funny how the USOC is run by the USSF, yet their president was instrumental in putting together a tournament that diminished the USOC. Sunil did a heck of a job arranging this with the FMF, but shouldn't someone who should be an advocate for a competing tournament let someone else arrange the superliga for SUM? This is without even mentioning the fact he couldn't have selected the Revs because people could have cried "conflict of interest". So, essentially, we were the first to be ruled out.
apparently Sunil's own son asked him why the Revs aren't in SupeLiga. No joke, watch the teleconference on MLSnet.com RRRREV IT UP
Nope, because this tournament was never going to be about fielding the best four MLS clubs, but rather, those teams who'd be the biggest draws for Mexican and hispanic fans. Quite simply, the Revolution wouldn't satisfy this condition. Since it's pretty clear this is the priority for the event organizers, I'm neither upset nor surprised. The Magpie
For this thing to get honest recognition it would be based on merit and not on ethinc demographics. In any case, this is the first year and by invite only. To me, it was a stupid idea. North & Central America have many countries. However, only 2 make up 90%(my guesstimate) of the total population..yet in Europe, all teams no matter how large or small the nation is, is eligible. I like Bobby McMahon's take on the championships in this Hemisphere. I'd like it if they did away with CONCACAF and combined it with CONMEBOL and truly had a Championship of the Americas...
When they made preliminary announcements for the teams to be in this, they tried to justify the selections this way: DC: Supporters Sheild FCD: WC Champs CHI: USOC Champs LA: USOC runners up It was laughable that they even tried to justify it. Better yet, how many people are listening, so why bother? It was even funnier seeing how Houston owns the 2006 WC Champion trophy, not FCD. Houston replaced Chicago because they are champions and a AEG team. I wish more of the media covered soccer so they could call them out on stupid things like that.
If they ever make superliga selections performanced based, they should run a preseason tournament in a non-MLS warm weather city. Say, the best four teams from the previous year that don't already have bids. MLS Cup Champ, Supporters Sheild, USOC winner, Prelimaliga winner
MLS is gonna be in for a world of hurt if that ever happens. The entire allocation business all by itself would get ripped to shreds...but I agree with your statement 100%. Their attempt at justification was/is lame. Magpie said it best, just come out and say we're catering to Latinos and be honest about it. The sad thing is I think a tournament like this played around here could generate some real attention and interest.
I think a home game against America or Chivas would have brought people out. Probably a normal weekend sized crowd for a wednesday game. They could have played the game against the MLS team in Hartford.
South America is too far away for realistic competitions between MLS teams and Argentina. Remember Buenos Aires is about 6,000 miles from Chicago. That's a 20 hours in the Air. UEFA has a huge advantage with Champions League as London to Madrid is only 7 hours in the air, and customs is easy because it's all European Union. Logistics make a CONCACAF CONMEBOL relationship very difficult
It's probably a two-hour flight from London to Madrid. Maybe to Athens or Istanbul it might be 5 hours, but a Boston-LA flight is longer than almost any single-leg flight in Europe.
Some people who first broke the news tried to justify it with that, but when did the league ever do that?
Who knows. Perhaps this was a furthur condition of MFL teams investing in MLS. Integrating the recent partnership toward an incentive based tournament pitting cross-successful franchises against each other makes simple sense. Profiling top talent in newer broadcasting framework and potential sponsorship revenue only makes sense. People have been suggesting a spin-off of a logistically possible Champions League anyway. Some may look at it like it clashes with CONCACAF; but it may be that CONCACAF teams would opt for qualifying for SuperLiga to further bolster the prize equation. A million is a great start - considering that figure could rise after potential sponsors come aboard.
No argument that it's a long way, but it's an easy overnight flight. No jet lag with only an hour or two (depending on the city) difference in time. I've done some work in Sao Paulo (caught the occasional game on the side) and much preferred the 8 hour flight to flying to Europe or my two years of commuting between Boston and Seattle.
Yeah, but 12K would be very disappointing for something like this. I'm sure the hopes are for much higher attendance. What would be the point of that? Then we'd have to pay rent also.
It's a superfluous game against an MLS opponent. Good way to get a game in another part of New England. If the Revs would lose money, they wouldn't do it.
The Galaxy finished dead last, didn't hurt them. We did win something, the East...which is more than United can say. OK, they won the Shield but I'd say the ECC at least gets you into the final. Records have nothing to do with this, like Magpie said this is a ploy to bring in Latinos (until it becomes merit-based next year) and very little else.
I understand how this tournament was organized. But the fact is that MLS isn't going to do us any favors for coming in 2nd place. If we want to become a prominent team in the league we need to start winning trophies and stop whining about DC & LA getting all the breaks.