From the NY Times among other places in April: That executive was later identified as Tom Glick, formerly with Chelsea, Charlotte FC, and the City Group. No one has reported on the actual investors hence "mysterious".
I wonder how much reality there is behind it. It seems to be just people talking. There's no sign of the $ billion they'll need. And Indy has done the build it and they will come thing before. They just happened to have a brand spanking new NFL sized stadium sitting empty when the Colts' owners decided they didn't like Baltimore.
Hate his lack of apparent empathy towards the average soccer fan. Incredibly successful as a CEO. In 2009 Forbes valued the entire league at less than 23rd placed FC Dallas is valued at in 2024.
FYP. Garber works for and is hired by the owners. He's their public face. Maybe it should be: Love Football, Hate MLS?
--------- I know, I know, I know.... He is a business man first and helps make money for the owners. Fine. I can still dislike him for other reasons
---------- I actually fine MLS games quite entertaining. So many late goals, offense is emphasized rather than defense first position a lot of leagues have around the world.
My Top 10 Potential Markets: #1 Detroit, Michigan #2 Phoenix, Arizona #3 Las Vegas, Nevada #4 Indianapolis, Indiana #5 Tampa Bay, Florida #6 Sacramento, California #7 Louisville, Kentucky #8 Birmingham, Alabama #9 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma #10 Baltimore, Maryland Honorable Mention: #11 Milwaukee, Wisconsin #12 Cleveland, Ohio #13 Rochester, New York (or other upstate NY or other New England) #14 New Orleans, Louisiana #15 San Antonio, Texas #16 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania #17 Albuquerque, New Mexico #18 El Paso, Texas #19 Raleigh, North Carolina #20 Jacksonville, Florida #21 Orange County, California (or other Southern California) #22 Hartford, Connecticut #23 Brooklyn, New York (or other New York metro area? #24 Charleston, South Carolina #25 Oakland, California (or Monterey Bay, California)
I give Hunt a lot of credit for being the driving force but I don't think even he could have foreseen where MLS is today.
What a sh!tshow of reading comprehension on your part. Literally, the whole point of my post was that there is nothing uniquely bad (or good) about MLS owners. Most owners (but certainly not all) are in it primarily for the $$ and personal glory more than love of sport or city. And act accordingly. They hire a commissioner, who acts accordingly. And you turned that into me claiming MLS ownership is uniquely bad? Get a clue, Paul.
Well, Indy continues to be the most oublic pursuit of a team. In my heart, I am rooting for Tampa (Rowdies!) and Sacramento.
I’m still taken aback by complete radio silence if Vegas and Phoenix. Especially as Vegas is one drunken billionaire discussion away from happening on a crazy weekend
It's the quiet ones you have to watch out for. Billionaires (the real ones with actual wealth) usually do their business dealings in private, behind closed doors with little fanfare until after the deal has been closed.
I was reading up on USSF President Werner Fricker's proposal for a domestic league from 1988. He forecast that the First Division would have 32 teams playing 40 to 60 games per season against domestic, European and Latin American opposition. Well we're close on the number of teams and If you include the MLS regular season, the playoffs, the Leagues Cup and the Open Cup teams making deep runs into each could end up playing over 50 games. But no UEFA opposition. He also discussed having standards for each level and that the second division would be regionalized and the third division metro based, which are pretty good ideas. The pro-rel crowd like to bring up the fact that he said a community team could be promoted to a higher level but he doesn't seem to have been talking about automatic promotion and relegation the way we think about it. https://phillysoccerpage.net/2015/09/10/prorel-and-the-fricker-plan-killed-or-never-was/
The part that doesn't come out here very well is that there were competing ideas about how the league should be structured and run. While it's presented as a question of pro/rel, there was much more to it and there were competing ideas around it. I did a long paper in college as the WC was about to happen about the two competing sides fighting over a USL system with 'local' clubs playing regionally and building the league from a grassroots standpoint and big money investors who just buy into the league. The latter was based on the importance of having medium sized stadiums built which was critical in attracting and keeping fans. The country was highly lacking these stadiums not just for soccer but for other medium sized concerts and events around the country. This was the selling point which helped get AEG type investments and ultimately the MLS structure off the ground.
Kind of sort of related to the Stadium piece how far we have come. We now have Audi Field hosting 4 teams and I would assume 3 of them are paying rent to DC United/Audi Field== - MLS NWSL- Washington Spirt USL women's super league- DC Power UFL DC Denders Admittedly, the field has looked bad on TV a couple times I watched a game from Audi But people/teams paying rent to SOCCER teams is quite a change Would be interesting to see a list of what other MLS-SSS teams are getting rent from other sports/teams. Another busy stadium, but in a different manner is Snapdragon down in San Diego SD state football, San Diego FC, San Diego Wave and the SD Legion rugby I assume they all pay SD State/Snapdragon
Snapdragon is owned by San Diego State Univ and is not a SSS although built to be a good soccer stadium outside of the SDSU football team. Providence Park in Portland, while not team owned, is listed as a soccer specific stadium these days and is the home field for the Portland Nitro of the UFL (Ultimate Frisbee). Off the top of my head, I can't think of others, but I'm sure they exist.
FWIW, my Columbus Crew will play, this year: 34 regular season MLS 0 USOC (Crew 2 competed) 7 CONCACAF (lost Final) 1+ Leagues Cup (bye past group) 1 friendly in season (Aston Villa) ---------- 43 + any additional Leagues Cup and PO games. 50 is reachable. High 30s is the min. Seattle will be in the CWC next year.
The Dynamo played 50 games last year. I think that matched our all-time high back 2008 when we played in Concacaf competitions in the Spring and Fall. This year Houston is on pace for 40 plus any Leagues Cup knockouts or MLS playoff games. The first game elimination in the Open Cup will keep us in the low to mid 40s.
I think LAFC was as busy if not slightly more last year too. Coach wasn't really happy with the schedulers.
============= I am a traditionalist in this regard. I wish our first division was capped at 20 teams, playing a 38 home/away schedule for the SHIELD. No playoffs Then the national championship (OPEN CUP) you could play 1 game to 5/6/7 games if everyone is in That puts us at 39 to 45 games--- just domestic Champions League could be 2-12 games depending on format and then by chance, the World Club Cup which originally was another 2-3 game (I think) This then puts a total of 44-60 game--- way to much for the size of our squads, the traveling, the weather etc. I am sure the players wish it was less games- maybe the union should too. MLS CUP and Leagues Cup need to go, especially the Leagues Cup- just a money grab in the middle of the season.
So you're not a traditionalist. Because traditionally North American sports have an unbalanced schedule and the championship is determined by some sort of playoffs. Professional sports are a money grab. The Leagues Cup is new. If it's a success and it's still around in ten years time then people will just accept it as normal.