The Cosmos Effect
With the rapid expansion of Major League Soccer both recently and in the coming years, curious fans have begun to voice opinions regarding the most famous club to ever take the pitch in North America. The team in question is the New York Cosmos and support continues to grow in the effort to once again see the green and yellow take the field. Could American soccer fans once again see the beloved team of New York City in the coming years?
Long before the likes of World Cup ’94 and the foundation of Major League Soccer, there was a different league during a different era. The league was the North American Soccer League (NASL), which was the first taste of professional organized soccer in a country long bereft of the world’s game. Though the NASL lasted only a brief time (from 1968-1985), it did have one long lasting impact on the fate of soccer in the United States. The legacy of the NASL was the highly talented, celebrity-like nature of the New York Cosmos, where superstars from across the globe were assembled into a roster that usually exists only in our imaginations. Whenever the Cosmos took the field, soccer talent and celebrity flair were guaranteed, and there was never a shortage of either in their fifteen-year history.
The life of the Cosmos began slowly in the early 1970’s, as the team was hardly big enough to fill its small accommodation playing in Downing Stadium on Randall’s Island in New York’s East River. Before too long, however, the Cosmos had the talent to fill the likes of their new home field, the recently completed, 78,000+ capacity Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. What began as a modest group of players in a young, seemingly semi-professional league would soon become a soccer power that North America, and in many cases the world, had never seen before. With Warner Brothers Entertainment backing the financial side of the team, the Cosmos were able to attain the best players money could buy and they always produced quality line-ups whenever they took the pitch. The team’s full name “Cosmopolitans” hardly begins to describe the gigantic stature and even larger ego of the soccer behemoths that became the Cosmos. Some of the most noticeable names in European soccer began to don Cosmos green and yellow, among them Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto, Giorgio Chinaglia, and the god of them all, Pelé, who ended his majestic career with the club from the Big Apple. During the team’s height in popularity from 1977-1980, the Cosmos averaged well over 42,000 in attendance, much of which can be attributed to the great desire to see Pelé’s final professional seasons and Giorgio Chinaglia’s stunning and flashy ability to put the ball in the back of the net.
It appears though, that just as quickly as they rose to prominence, the Cosmos fell from soccer grace and fame. With the fall of the Cosmos came the fall of soccer in North America, as the NASL and the Cosmos both folded in 1985 and all of a sudden people in the states were left with a void in the realm of professional soccer. Not until the world’s largest tournament, the World Cup in 1994, would Americans get a true taste of soccer on a grand scale once again. The World Cup was followed in turn by the development of a domestic league in the United States (Major League Soccer), which over the past 15 years or so, has grown and developed by leaps and bounds in the face of constant difficulties and criticism. Despite these challenges, the league has grown to 15 teams, with that number increasing to 18 teams by 2011.
The point of this article, however, is not a sales pitch for the growth of Major League Soccer and it is certainly not a statement of the league’s talent in comparison to the great foreign leagues of the world. MLS, despite the strides it has made, is still ages away from reaching the talent levels of the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, or the Bundesliga. This article is written, however, to raise an argument for the revival of the greatest soccer superpower to ever play in North America. The team of which I speak is, of course, the Cosmos.
The first criticism of having the Cosmos join Major League Soccer is obvious; New York already has a team in the Red Bulls, so what would be the good of adding a second team to the city while there are plenty of other cities fighting to add their first team in the league? As sport enthusiasts know, the greatest rivalries include teams fighting for supremacy within the same city. With a place like New York, starved so long for a team to represent the full flavor and vibrancy of the city, the Cosmos would be a perfect solution. Not only would they be able to form a rivalry with the already established Red Bulls, but also they would truly be New York’s team, a way for the city to relive its wonderful, although brief, soccer history. Reviving the Cosmos would allow older soccer fans in the city to experience once again the team that won over the Big Apple with its flair and grandeur. Younger generations of fans would be exposed to a team grown out of the majesty of its past while starting anew to form its future. The Cosmos could be the lifeblood in developing New York into a truly great soccer city.
Another argument that has emerged against the introduction of the Cosmos into Major League Soccer is the idea that the league is reluctant to embrace the roots of the NASL, which for many, was associated with the failure and reluctance of the United States to develop a competitive and popular soccer league on par with the other leagues of the world. This argument, up until recently, seemed like a valid point in preventing the Cosmos from becoming an active team once again. MLS, however, has slowly and gradually begun to embrace its past in the NASL with the addition of Seattle Sounders F.C. in 2009 and the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps (which will begin play in 2011), all of which were former teams of the NASL. With the addition of NASL teams to the current MLS, why can’t the Cosmos also join the league at a future time? The recent revival of NASL team names in the MLS expansion furthers the possibility of the New York powerhouse perhaps joining the league in the future.
The rights to all things Cosmos are owned by Peppe Pinton, who, although previously reluctant to see the Cosmos come to life again, has changed his tone to one of support for the team. Pinton originally thought that MLS was not ready for the Cosmos name and he did not want the young league to tarnish the name of the once great franchise. Now that the league has had almost two decades to develop and grow, Pinton, in a recent interview with thisisamericansoccer.com said, “The Cosmos have a brand name that will make millions for a franchise. I don’t want to knock any other franchises out there, but name one for me today in the U.S. that has reached the level of magnitude that the Cosmos reached. It’s been a long time, but people still know it all over the world. If I am a soccer investor, I would like to embrace this.” In his view, North America and the world are once again ready for the Cosmos on a grand scale.
As a native New Yorker myself, I would love the addition of the Cosmos to Major League Soccer. In recent years, soccer in the city has been represented by first the Metrostars and currently by the Red Bulls, and although these squads have played valiantly, they are not the soccer clubs New York needs. New York needs a team to represent the city itself and all that soccer has meant to the Big Apple in the past. The Metrostars and Red Bulls have been more regional teams, representing New York, New Jersey, and the greater metro area, whereas the Cosmos are the team of New York City. I hope that with the expansion of Major League Soccer in the coming years, a plan for the reemergence of the Cosmos comes to the forefront of discussions. The greatest cities of the world are represented by their own soccer clubs and it is time that New York City gets a team for itself, one that will live up to and surpass the Cosmos name of years past. If a team with the pedigree and history of the Cosmos were to ever play professional soccer again, it would give MLS a new perspective, one that shows that the league embraces and respects the game’s past in this country. As for now, American soccer fans can only sit and hope that one day the team that changed it all can once again take the pitch. Hopefully, that day is sooner rather than later.
I didn’t know that about the Cosmos and they sure seem to be bigger than I’ve ever given any US soccer team credit for. Having read about the history of the Cosmos and the impact you’ve changed my view of how Americans maybe be capable of attaching themselves to the sport – although it’s going to be a struggle without glamour and celebrity.
One thing I feel about this is that the Cosmos reap the same benefits as David Beckham brought, but without the reliance on one player. Ben Cohen, in an article last week on here said that we need to forget about Beckham single entities that make US football good. I wonder despite the advantages of having a team such as the Cosmos does that hold back other teams and prevent them from becoming big in their own right?
I love the idea of the Cosmos being reformed in MLS. Think they would be a big draw I’m sure. It’s a great article, as an outsider I’d no idea how the people connected with that team. I think football should be about more than just a game, the teams need to connect with the fans and represent them and their city or area.
I also noticed that the Tampa Bay Rowdies have reformed in USL-1 recently. Not sure if they’re actively in that league until next year though? Could the two leagues ever merge? Do you think that the MLS would look to expand into new markets first?
I certainly hope to see the Cosmos back in action sooner rather than later, here’s hoping your enthusiasm catches and a few decision makers take note.
Steven J and Steve A, thank you guys for the comments on the article.
Steven I definitely agree that single entities like David Beckham are not exactly what MLS needs to grow and develop in the future. Much like Beckham, the Cosmos grew in popularity due to their celebrity names and flashy style of play. Although this is not a perfect solution to gaining a following in the United States, I believe that the Cosmos will do wonders for attracting curious viewers to the sport and from there anything can happen. MLS needs more exposure in its own country, and the Cosmos can play a very big hand in that. In NASL day’s the Cosmos popularity prevented the other teams in the league from growing and developing, but with the different league structure of MLS, I don’t really see that being a problem in the current time.
Steve A, you are right about Tampa Bay, they will be joining the USL-1 in the coming year or two, as well as a team named F.C. New York, based out of either Queens or Long Island. While I don’t believe that MLS and USL-1 will ever merge entirely, MLS is currently taking teams from USL-1 (Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver are/were USL-1 teams before being granted expansion status in MLS). Montreal Impact, one of the USL-1 top teams is also pushing for an expansion franchise. As far as other markets are concerned, I believe Montreal will get its team, and I believe a team will be placed in the Carolina region of the country as well. And of course, I’ll be pushing for my Cosmos too.
Joe, great read. I also had no idea of the effect the Cosmos had on the city. I also think it would be a great idea for them to reform. I think if there were some big local rivalries and derby games in MLS, it would be a lot more of a draw for fans than it currently is, just as they are in other leagues. Other than Chivas and the Galaxy, are there any other growing rivalries in MLS at the moment?
Regarding merging MLS and USL, could you ever envisage a multi-tiered league system in the US, with promotions and relegations?
Geoff, thanks for the comment. As far as rivalries are concerned, you touched upon the biggest one in MLS, which is Chivas-Galaxy. Other than that, the Red Bulls and Galaxy have also formed a rivalry of sorts, as they play in the two biggest markets in the league. S.J. Earthquakes and the Galaxy are also considered a rivalry within the state of California.
It is interesting that you bring up the promotion/relegation argument for MLS. At least for the time being, I do not believe MLS will use a promo/releg system with the USL for a number of reasons. As opposed to teams in Europe, MLS teams aren’t clubs, they are franchises, and in order to be granted an expansion team, owners need to pay between 35-40 million dollars. Not many owners would be willing to pay that type of money only to have their team relegated after one season. I also do not believe that MLS’s fan base is large enough yet, and if attendance in MLS games is low, attendance in a relegation league will be even lower. I hope one day MLS uses the system that is in place in Europe, but for the time being, I don’t see it happening. MLS is more focused on expansion and building soccer-specific stadiums for all of the teams.
As a European I have grown up with the system we use, and is pretty much all I know. I do also know that so far as gridiron, baseball, ice-hockey and basketball are concerned the US has the best leagues in the world. Perhaps the formula isn’t that flawed if it takes off?
Do Houston and Dallas not have a rivalry of sorts? Is there a movement for the Cosmos? Would love to sign up. Where do you see as being the main rivals for an expansion team after Vancouver, Portland and Philadelphia start.
Steve A, thanks for the comment. I understand what you are saying about the other professional sports leagues in the United States, with the use of a playoff system. It has worked very well for the other sports of the country, and so far it has served MLS to the best of its ability. I would like to see a European style promotion/relegation in the future only because I think it will show the evolution of the American game after the great models established in Europe.
I don’t know too much about the Houston/Dallas rivalry, but I would say to the best of my knowledge that the two teams probably have a little bad blood between them. Houston has had great success in MLS since joining the league, while Dallas has struggled of late, so I’m sure Dallas would consider Houston its in-state foe.
The movement for the Cosmos is small, but growing. I have found a couple of blogs and articles online in support of the team and I hope these feelings continue to grow. I appreciate the support for the movement and think it is great that the Cosmos are receiving support from Europe as well.
As for the rivalries for the expansion teams, I have heard good things about Seattle, Vancouver, and Portland developing great rivalries in the northwestern part of the country. The game is very big in the pacific northwest, so I anticipate these three teams to compete fiercely for supremacy. I would imagine that Philadelphia will establish an interesting rivalry with DC United, which is always one of the league’s better teams. I also believe that Philly will develop a rivalry with New York based on how intensely the two cities compete in other major sports (see hockey, baseball, and American football).
Joe, great article and a brilliant idea. New York City needs its own soccer team and I just don’t see how the Red Bulls could ever fulfil that role (for a start, they’re named after a drink, just like another team in Salzburg, Austria!).
I’m thinking about the practicalities at the same time. Firstly, who would a renewed Cosmos sign? There’s been much discussion on this site about the perils of celebrity-driven development – so how could the Cosmos avoid that? Secondly, where would they play? Is there anywhere suitable in the 5 boroughs which make up the city? The Red Bulls are opening up their own stadium next year in Harrison, NJ, which underlines your point about them being a team for the greater metro area. Notwithstanding the fact that the Cosmos played at Giants Stadium, also in Jersey, I think that the kind of vision for a Mark II version you’ve outlined here necessitates playing in New York.
Ben, thanks for the comment.
It is interesting that you bring up celebrity-driven development and the way it could potentially affect MLS in the future. The salary cap that the league uses is very interesting in that it allows teams to only to have a small number of players that can make above a certain amount. I believe the current salary cap in the league is 2.3 million per team, and teams are able to have a small number of “designated” players that are able to make a larger salary what does not count against the cap. It is kind of a weird system, but it prevents players from earning gigantic contracts and therefore in effect prevents a team from fielding a celebrity-ridden roster. The league’s policy and salary cap have come under much scrutiny and the mechanics of it are being changed every few years.
In regard to your point about a possible playing venue for the team, one place that comes to mind is Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island in the East River across from Manhattan. Randall’s Island was the home of the Cosmos before their move to Giants Stadium, and they played in a facility called Downing Stadium. Downing has since been replaced by Icahn, which from what I hear has a premier FIFA certified soccer field complete with artificial surface, fencing, lighting and bleachers. The facility would need to be expanded and enlarged to meet the league’s guidelines for stadium seating and other upgrades, but I believe that this is one very good possibility for a place where the team could play.
Joe, thanks for the response and sorry for the extended silence (sadly, a close relative of mine passed away recently, so I’ve been out of action.)
Icahn Stadium? That is an interesting one! For those readers who don’t know, Icahn Stadium is named for the billionaire take-no-prisoners financier Carl Icahn. I agree with you that it’s a potential venue, but it would need a great deal of development. The necessary expansion would consume a great deal of space on tiny Randall’s Island, so if this gets taken further, expect the usual messy NYC politics.
Something else strikes me as a problem – there is a sewage processing plant on Randall’s Island. For a few months last year, I coached my son’s soccer team at the playing fields there, and there were days, depending on which direction the wind was blowing, when the odour from the plant would leave you feeling nauseous. That would have to be dealt with in some way.
Ben, thanks for the comment, my deepest condolences to you and your family during this tough time.
I agree with you that Icahn stadium, while a good idea for a potential home for the Cosmos, would require a lot of work and development. As you said, Randall’s Island is very small, so heavy congestion and traffic could prove to be very problematic. A great deal of work would have to be put in to improve the stadium and the grounds surrounding the stadium to create a fan-friendly and enjoyable environment for all.
The issue of politics in the city will undoubtedly slow and hinder any plans of putting a team on the island, and I’m sure any changes or improvements to the island would be heavily monitored and followed by the city board of development.
As for the sewage plant, this strikes an obvious problem and one that would undoubtedly need to be dealt with if a team and a healthy following is ever able to play soccer on Randall’s island again.
The situation is far from perfect, but certainly possible to put a team on Randall’s, which would be appropriate indeed as it relates to the earliest roots of Cosmos soccer.
Just came across this Joe, looks like this could be the start of a Cosmo revival!
http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=32556