I'm curious to know how many fans here would be willing to support a Women's Major League Soccer team that had the same name as the men's squad: So teams like DC United, Metroscum, Dallas Burn, etc? Personally, I would be more likely to purchase at least a multi-game package for a women's DC United team rather than the Washington Freedom, but that's just me. YMMV. What do you think? Sachin
I would rather have a team in Atlanta... but since there isn't and if that was the only way to get a league I suppose, but hopefully someone thinks of some other ways.
I am up for that. It would give every city that has an MLS squad a women's team Dallas Burn Women's team I love the idea!
I didn't support WUSA, because the closest team was 900 miles away. I support the KC Wizards, and I would support the KC Witches, too.
WMLS: One could do a lot with the nicknames: DC Freedom Eagles Lady United (yick!) NEW ENGLAND Minutewomen Molly Pitchers Revvettes COLUMBUS Queen Bees (yellow and black, get it?) Ziggs (former W-League team) Collective NY/NJ Empire Stars (No Metromedia reference here) Lightning (look at the work mark) KANSAS CITY Mystics (a "borrow") Witches (offends many right-wingers) Charm DALLAS Fillies Blazes Riders CHICAGO Flames (imagine if the kits were pink) Auxilliary Inferno COLORADO Whitewaters Whitecaps Raging River Foxes (borrowing APSL name) LOS ANGELES Stargazers Starpower Comets SAN JOSE Tremors Shakes Quakers CHIVAS OF SAN DIEGO Chicas Nannies Candystripers ROCHESTER Rhinoettes Abbeys Herd
As long as denver got a team, it would make my move out here worth it Seriously, I will support any women's soccer league, whether it is the WUSA resurrected or WMLS.
IF there was a Philly franchise, I'd go out to see them, surely. If there wasn't, I'd probably limit it to just watching games on TV. You cannot have a revival of the WUSA, IMO, without having the city that drew the most fans, if you take out MLS-WUSA 2-fers, in the whole league this year, and that's us. Paul
God no! MLS nicknames are cheesy enough (United excepted). No need to add another degree of cheesiness. Personally, I believe a WMLS based in the MLS and A-League SSS and a couple of other places could be successful. Perhaps the women won't make was much money as they were under the WUSA, but at least there would be teams and a league. I would hope that fans of both genders would get behind the teams. Sachin
I would love more than anything to see a Columbus side, because I hate RFK. However, I'm a bit wary of the idea of MLS supporting a women's league. It would kill the women's league more quickly than the WUSA died, methinks, and MLS would go down with it. The idea is no good for us women's soccer fans. However, I agree that WUSA must undergo a huge overhaul before commencing. If that means no more Beat, so be it. I am a Cindy fan above all else.
Womens soccer is thriving at the semi pro level. The W-league has been around in various configurations for 3 years. Lets hope that the end of the WUSA will pay off at the local level and players, fans and financial investors will keep the opportuntity for these women to play.
Are you SURE about that? Opportunity to play? If that is all you are concerned about, then you needn't worry. The ones that want to, will. But this is about a Major womens pro league - a whole different ball of wax. And while I agree that the league to support is the league that most of the players back, to a certain degree, the players need to catch a clue. Setting aside the need for health insurance (which I agree 100% is a LOT more necessary for female athletes than male athletes), there is NO reason that in these growing years that the womens league players should be making MORE than the men. NOTE - I am NOT saying they should be getting paid less. Not at all. But if player income relates to league revenue, then how does a league that draws 8k have players getting paid more than a league that draws 15k? Frankly, I don't get the people who think that MLS would hurt the womens' game. Why in the world do you think that? Why do you INSIST on reinventing the wheel? That being said, I will agree that the WXXX needs to have their own leadership structure, and I don't have a problem with that including the players - but don't throw out MLS' eight years of experience and the resources they could bring to bear in a business situation. At the very least, you have stadiums where a team could MAKE money, probably the leverage to get a better television deal - which would make your sponsorship packages a LOT more attractive to potential sponsors - and a whole WORLD of cross-promotional opportunities. Soccer in all of its forms simply cannot afford to be small, petty, myopic, selfish or stupid. WUSA's decisions to not take the help offered by MLS was all of those things. The Bottom Line is this - WUSA showed there is CLEARLY a market for womens professional soccer in the US. Now it just needs a business plan that will take advantage of that market. I just hope Jimmy catches a clue in time - there is a VERY small window of opportunity here, folks.