Comments on: MLS Has to Think Beyond Beckham

By: Steven Jones

Steven Jones — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:07:46 +0000

Dave – Agreed, you have to spend money to make money in football and that doesn’t just apply to the businessmen, it needs a buy-in from everyone.

The problem is until it grows businessmen will be reluctant to invest, but until someone invests then it will struggle to grow. One has to happen first, the question is which one?

By: dave in socal

dave in socal — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:02:45 +0000

The problem the league has is competing in a sports saturated market and revenue. American sports such as the NFL, MLB, and basketball are entrenched. The NHL has had a tough time in certain markets. The NHL sort of goes up and down, yet the LA Kings do get decent attendances despite their horrible multiple seasons.
“MLS” teams that have their own stadiums such as LA, Toronto, and Columbus can make money off of parking fees, concessions, and sponsorships. These revenue streams exist in addition to team merchandizing and tickets. Teams that do not have their own stadiums can have problems with scheduling, plus they have to share ticket revenue. Plus, those three other sources of revenue could be limited or not exist.
Even municipalities that see they have a good thing going (Houston Dynamo) delay to get a new stadium bill passed. The constant struggle the league has had with San Jose and San Jose State University is an excellent example of why the league has to be careful about spending money.
The league needs every team playing in a soccer specific stadium so that more revenue streams can get developed. By increasing revenue then more money can get spent to improve the product. Certain owners want to spend more money while others do not.
Business people know you have to spend money to make money. Yet, too many people who live in the U.S. will spend money to see a Barcelona, but not even go to see the Houston Dynamo.

By: Matchday: LA Galaxy vs Houston Dynamo | World Football Columns

Matchday: LA Galaxy vs Houston Dynamo | World Football Columns — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:02:33 +0000

[...] focus of the MLS and unfortunately of my report may be indicative of the problem Ben Cohen recently raised in that the MLS are too dependant on particular players. The wage structure is a clearly sign of the importance the [...]

By: Joe Bilotto

Joe Bilotto — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:58:16 +0000

Steven, it is an interesting point you bring up. I don’t know too much about the history of the Miami franchise, but for a team to succeed in Florida, it needs to connect with its Hispanic population. If that demographic of people becomes interested, it is very possible for a team to thrive in that area. It would be interesting to see if a team would succeed in Miami now as opposed to 10 years ago. I ultimately think down the road there will be a MLS team in Florida, but thus far the league’s track record in that state is not good.

By: Steven Jones

Steven Jones — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:49:34 +0000

Joe (and Ben) It’s something I listened to on the BBC World Football Podcast (a great show) that Miami especially didn’t succeed because of their inability to reach out the hispanic and black community largely appealing to the white-middle class.

I’ve not read anything more on this since so it would be good to hear your views on the subject? If anyone thinks this is too off topic and has a full answer then feel free to do new column but any answer will do on this!

By: Joe Bilotto

Joe Bilotto — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:51:14 +0000

Ben, very well written article, it was very interesting to need. I also saw the Galaxy-Red Bulls game and I was not surprised by the reaction he received from many of the fans. Although Beckham has time after time reaffirmed his commitment to MLS, he has rarely backed his word up with his play or his actions. You’re very right in saying the league and its fans need to stop depending on him as some sort of football/soccer savior in the states. Beckham will always put his personal interests first, for better or for worse for MLS, and as long as that is the case, he can expect to always receive the reactions he did during the game at Giants Stadium.

And Steven just referring to your post where you mention why soccer hasn’t flourished or taken root in the southern United States. MLS failed twice with teams in Florida. Both the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion proved very unsuccessful fan-wise in their brief stints in the league. I would be very surprised if MLS makes a third attempt to build a team in Florida, at least in the near future.

By: Steven Jones

Steven Jones — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:26:23 +0000

Ben, would be interesting to hear about football in the Pacific Northwest and importantly why and how it has picked up there and not say, in the South in places such as Florida.

Is this a case of there’s more European influences up there or is the region slightly more pragmatic to the nature of a new sport? Could it even be because their Basketball, Baseball and American Football teams aren’t as good?

By: Ben Cohen

Ben Cohen — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:39:04 +0000

Steve J. and Steve A., thanks for your comments. Steve A., it’s a serious marketing problem. Kids here see this as a game to play, not a game to watch – Beckham was really the first footballer here since Pele to have a profile on a par with Alex Rodriguez (baseball) or Michael Jordan (basketball). The lack of visible footballers is compounded by the fact that it’s not a game widely talked about, or that you encounter in casual conversation, as you would in Europe or Latin America. Briefly, there’s no attendant culture around the game, so going professional in football is not as seductive or even as obvious a choice as the equivalent in NFL or baseball.
I asked a friend whether he thought President Obama would have phoned Bob Bradley before the Confederations Cup Final with Brazil to say good luck. “He probably doesn’t even know it’s happening – he’s a basketball guy,” came the answer.
All that said, the US is a country of extraordinary variations. Consequently, there are regions – like the Pacific Northwest – where football really is gaining a following. Perhaps the answer is to look beyond New York and LA, towards cities like Seattle and Portland, if you want to see the future.

By: Steve Atkinson

Steve Atkinson — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:23:18 +0000

Perhaps they should look to break the contract with Beckham? He has shown he has goals beyond MLS, and Capello has already said he would need to do the same again next season to make England’s World Cup Squad, no doubt his ultimate aim. I still think that Beckham is a useful marketing tool for the league but agree completely that they need to look to improve other aspects.

Grass roots is the key in my opinion. They need to look to get kids playing small sided games on an almost daily basis. Focus on technical ability rather than physical stuff. I do think the future is bright though, having exposure to top tier European football will help in the long term as well. The kids can see the possibilities, and also watch the patterns of play and movement of some of the best players in the world.

I love the Dutch system, also employed by Barcelona, of playing everyone in every position, and the focus on ball retention it provides. Pass, offer, receive, pass, offer, receive so they say. I think the US and England have a great deal to learn so far as grass roots is concerned.

Are there any dramatic changes you would look to invoke? I know the sport is popular with kids until they reach a certain age, why do you think they get seduced by other sports or activities?

By: Steven Jones

Steven Jones — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:45:35 +0000

Ben – welcome to World Football Columns, a very good article and a clear direction for the MLS.

I think they’re finding it hard to adjust to life without Beckham. The NY Times football blog is littered with articles about him and they generate the most comments – most of which are bitter about Beckham’s commitment to the MLS. My advice too would be to get over him and move on and concentrate on the many other factors which make a successful football league.

I have a new column up in a week or two about my account of the Galaxy vs Dynamo game I went to see a few weeks ago, with a few insights into what I thought of MLS.

Additionally there should be a column on the site later this week written by one of the authors here about the New York Cosmos – again showing a different side to the American Soccer and the MLS.

Look forward to further articles from across the pond!