Quote:
|
There are rumblings that the MLS is once again on shaky financial ground. Is this the last gasp at revenue generation?
|
Nah.....if anything, this sport probably has the brightest future among all the leagues. All they need is to have teams in the right "diverse" markets. DC, NY, and LA were all good first steps.
Miami was also a good location......problem was they had the team plying at Lockhart, miles away from their true fan base in Miami's "Little Havana" area where the Orange Bowl currently sits. At least the Marlins realize that putting a team close to its most loyal supporters is best for all as they are trying to build there stadium in the parking lot of the Orange Bowl. If the MLS is smart enough to put a team in the right area of Miami, then there will be success, as the Marlins and baseball will see come 2007.
And lets say that team is called "Real Miami".......as the rumors persist of Real Madrid obtaining an expansion franchise for Miami.....then the success of this market could be beyond anyone's imagination.
Chivas is perfect for LA too. In fact, there such a perfect match, it might evict Galaxy out of LA in a few years, as most of its supporters will no doubt jump ship to the wildly popular Chivas LA club. I see the Galaxy eventually moving to the Bay Area (specifically soccer friendlier Oakland) to replace the Quakes, who will be moving to Houston once bought by Club America in the coming weeks.
I also feel the match between Houston and Texas and Club America is one "made in heaven." The market in Houston is diverse (...especially on the Hispanic end of things) and soccer-friendly for this club to succeed big time. And couple it with the fact that the club will be sporting the "Club America" brand in a state where its Mexican-American fan base is huge and you can imagine a fandom along the lines of what you see in LA for the Galaxy and Chivas. Aside from the cultural side of things, if the Quakes are moved to Houston under the Club America banner, it could only boost the already perceived huge fan base it might have in the Lone Star state due to its success on the field. The Quakes are kinda the Pats of the MLS as they have won championships in 2001 and 2003. If they continue to have the same success in this wild new "Club America" market during the "novelty" period, many of the first-timers who attend matches are likely to come back and join the faithfull Club America fans, adding to the overall fan base.
Look all over the map........Dallas, LA, Colorado, Chicago, KC, NY, and DC are all either building or have already built soccer stadiums.
That alone should tell you where this league is right now financially. Cause if this league were in trouble, no team at all would be committing long term to building these expensive soccer stadiums.
Couple all of this with the impending demise of the NHL after the strike and it all adds up.....the MLS is indeed a league on the rise.
I urge all North Texans to jump on the FC Dallas bandwagon and catch the wave.......before it passes you by.