After reading about the restructuring of the WNBA (moving from league owned franchises to individual ownership) I was amazed at how similar the plight of the WNBA is compared to the MLS. Currently San Antonio is attempting to gather 6000 guaranteed season tickets (Sound familiar?) in hopes of luring the Orlando Magic to move there. My question is: What would make you interested in the WNBA? That is the plight that MLS has, attracting people to a sport they don't like and making it appealing. NOTHING could make the WNBA appealing to me, not local players, not international womens basketball superstars. Could it be done? (These questions are meant to really spur thought on how hard it will be for the MLS to be the 5th major)
Not even complete nudity. (I am referring to women's basketball, because I sure as hell don't want to see Valderrama running around buck naked ...)
This really doesn't have much to do with MLS News or Analysis, I'm going to move it to the Other Sports forum.
1) I already like the WNBA and soccer both mens and womens. I would have to say though that I am not as fanatical about the WNBA as I am with the WUSA/USWNT. 2) Why do you need to attract the people that don't even like the sport (soccer, womens basketball, womens soccer, whatever)? I say focus your efforts and resources on folks that do like the sport.
I think the MLS has much more potential in this country than your other comparisons because people, and the US in particular, usually enjoy watching sports played at the HIGHEST POSSIBLE level. Im not going to get dragged into any sexism debates here, but that means men. (Some exceptions-tennis and....um...er) As the US pool deepens, as the Nats keep advancing in the world, as the MLS gains more talent/respect, itll attract fans.
I don't think there are enough people that like soccer enough to pay for it to allow the MLS to continue existence, they MUST win converts. I asked this question of you guys because I am trying to convert my friends to MLS, and they won't even entertain the idea of watching a game. Even if I was willing to make fundamental changes to the game (No goalies, full contact) they weren't interested. It appeared NOTHING could interest them, which I find disheartening. So I use the WNBA as a comparison
Or in those unitards they wear in other countries. I remember in 2000, there was an exhibition between the US and Brazil. I spent the entire game staring at the Brazilians. It also helped that many of their players were easier on the eyes than any of ours.
Question: Are your friends soccer fans? If so, some compelling arguments are: 1-If they want a good Nat team, a US div 1 league is a necessity. 2-Its a lot nicer being able to go to good soccer matches than having to watch them on tv. Maybe the MLS isnt great now, but they need to start somewhere. Basically, argue that if they want any kind of decent soccer in the US, be it Nats, or league, they need to support MLS. Its like an investment in the future....
The WNBA is the peak of womens basketball. The argument I have seen SO often on here is that if the MLS gets better people will come. Well my friends said that even if the team were comprised of our buddies and they were playing against an all-star team that they still wouldn't repeatedly attend. So i was wondering what would win converts to the WNBA in the same sense that I NEED to win converts to the MLS as I believe that the league will only be TRULY successful as a 30+ team league. A lot of people in the US need local interest to support a league. Admittedly I had absolutely NO interest in the ABL (The competitor to the WNBA which folded) when it was in Colorado, and even if it had been filled with local talent I still wouldn't have been interested, but the reason Im interested in the MLS is because the Rapids are a local team. If we didn't have a team, I wouldn't follow the league whatsoever. If what you are all basically saying is that it would be impossible to get you to watch the WNBA, how can you expect Joe Six Pack who hates soccer to begin to watch the league? (Which is what needs to happen to have league growth, conversions). What if EVERYONE watched the WNBA, would you then just so that you had something to talk about with your co-workers, family? (A large reason which I believe Soccer is so big in Europe. EVERYONE watches it and supports a team)
I think youre wrong on this. First if Joe Six Pack hates soccer, youll never get him to watch soccer. My argument revolved around non-MLS soccer fans, which was that if the watch/attend games now, thats going to lead to a better quality league/nat team someday. As for your environment=love of a certain sport, thats true only in the sense that they GREW UP loving the sport. Bring a brit here, and hes not going to love baseball/football/basketball, even though thats what all his co-workers talk about, no matter how long hes here. He may come to appreciate them, but footie will be always be #1 to him, by far. To sell MLS to a non-child, first you need them to have some soccer interest, then you need to make them realize that the only way the US will get a World class league is if the MLS survives and prospers. And the only way for that to happen is for them to watch/go to games.