The summer lull is about to come to a screeching halt! Everyone has had their summer fun, vacations are about done, school is right around the corner and SOCCER IS BACK! And it’s about time I got another post up….I know…it’s been a few weeks. But I get a summer break too, right!!
In honor of the Premier season kicking off, I dropped in the link below. It’s a few years old but still makes me laugh. If you’re reading the blog you’ll get it, trying to teach American sports fans about the beauty of the World’s game….plus I love Jason Sudeikis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRqypM7jb5Y
US Professional Soccer Format
Let’s start with a little MLS update. I have not spent much time on MLS in my blogging history, so figured let’s spread the love a little. The Premier League is where the best soccer in the world is played,. but the MLS is OUR LEAGUE, so let’s discuss. First, a little brief history for those not aware.
The MLS is a 24 team league and represents the top tier of US professional soccer. There are actually three levels of professional soccer in the US sanctioned by the USSF, the United States Soccer Federation. Division 1 is the MLS, formed in 1993 but played their first games in 1996. Division 2 is the USL Championship league with 36 teams formed in 2010. Finally, the Division 3 has two leagues, the National Independent Soccer Association and USL League 1….formed in 2018 with a combined 18 teams. Over the years, leagues have come and gone, but this is how the current structure is set up.
What is different about US Soccer is we are the only major Division 1 program that does not use Promotion and Relegation to control the flow of teams. It is uniquely American, once you are in a league and pay your fees, no matter how bad you are, you get to stay in the league. To get entry into the MLS, you need to be awarded an expansion franchise, and pay a large fee, to get added. It’s all about the Benjamins as the say in America. It would be very interesting if we adopted a promotion-relegation format. The bottom three teams getting demoted to USL, while the top 3 USL teams getting promoted to MLS. Maybe that spurs some competition, we develop better players and better teams?? Maybe? But that’s not the system. MLS controls that, controls player salaries, controls the influx of European players, etc. Everybody’s got to make some money!
MLS Quick Guide and Fun Facts
MLS first season was in 1996 and consisted of 10 original members (in bold below). Two original clubs left MLS; NY/NJ Metro Stars and Tampa Bay Mutiny. FIFA made it a contingency of securing the 1994 World Cup, that the the US form a Division 1 league. MLS now consists of 24 teams currently broken into two conferences. Eastern and Western. The Eastern Conference is comprised of the following teams (the current standing as of August 2): Philadelphia Union, Atlanta United, DC United, NYC FC, NY Red Bulls, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, Toronto FC, Orlando FC, Columbus Crew, Chicago fire and FC Cincinnati. The Western Conference is comprised of the following teams: LA FC, Seattle Sounders, LA Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes, Minnesota United, FC Dallas, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamos, Sporting KC, Vancouver Whitecaps and the Colorado Rapids. 14 teams make the playoffs and the title game is referred to as the MLS Cup. With 24 teams and about to expand to 27, MLS is the largest professional soccer league in the World.
–Average attendance in the MLS of approximately 20,000 per game, and ranks 3rd among all US professional sports. #1 is the NFL, followed by MLB. MLS Soccer is ahead of the NBA and NHL is attendance. Interesting!
–The Atlanta United club just broke the attendance record for a regular season game this past weekend, with attendance in excess of 72,000 fans to see a regular season soccer game. Wow….who would think that was possible a few years ago. In Atlanta, the United might be more popular than the NFL Falcons.
–Current MLS Cup holders are the Atlanta United franchise. They won the title in just their second season in the MLS.
–12 teams have won the MLS Cup since 1996: LA Galaxy (5), DC United (4), San Jose (2), Sporting KC (2), Houston (2), Columbus, Chicago, Seattle, Toronto, Real Salt Lake, Colorado and Portland.
–Expansion is upon us, teams now paying upwards of $150M to get into MLS. Inter Miami FC and Nashville FC join in 2020 while Austin FC joins in 2021. Future expansion to get to 30 teams is in the works. Expansion teams coming up from the USL Championship League.
–The Foreign Contingent. One of the success stories of MLS has centered around a combination of developing US talent but also being a spot for aging International stars to have one last chance for glory. If you are approaching the end of your playing career in Europe or South America, then coming to the MLS is a path to glory and big bucks. With less talented teams and players, these older stars can still dominate the game and fans will definitely come out to see them play. David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Kaka, Drogba, Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry, Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, Carlos Valdarrama, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole top the list of foreign players that played or or playing in the MLS. Thes players are a key component of the MLS strategy. They provide salary exemptions for players so clubs can take advantage of the opportunity.
–Season Update. The season runs March thru October with the MLS Cup scheduled for November 10th. Enjoy some top goals so far this year! Good stuff!
Premier League is Back
The Premier League licks off next weekend with the first game scheduled for Friday August 9th with Liverpool facing off against Norwich City. Regular weekly updates to follow.
Game of the Week: Manchester United vs. Chelsea. Two Top 6 teams from last year kick off the season with a bang. Manchester U trying to return to glory and a Top 4 finish while Chelsea, under a two term transfer ban and a new coach, try to use their youth to hang onto a Top 4 finish while they wait for their young players to develop.
Three teams were promoted last season and rejoin the Premier League: Sheffield United, Norwich city and Aston Villa. Good Luck!
High School Soccer
Teams can start tryouts/practice the week of August 19th….seems later this year….and games kicking off as early as the weekend of August 24th. More blogs coming to prep for the Big Rivers Conference season.