NASL Applies for D1 Sanctioning & Takes Issue w/USSF Changes

[CDNFootballer]

Why MLS’s Expansion to 28 (or 32) Teams is Good for NASL

 

http://midfieldpress.com/2016/01/17/why-mlss-expansion-to-28-or-32-teams-is-good-for-nasl-2/

 

A 28-32 team cap for MLS is a boon for NASL.  There are 70 markets in the USA that could support a first division soccer team.  The top 10 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs)  could likely support several teams, as they do in Europe only to a lesser extent here since the market for the game is less developed.  NASL can likely put teams in different parts of the 10 largest MSAs, and be the most relevant team within a comfortable drive of the area they serve.  

 

NASL is like any challenger entrant into a business market with an established leader. It needs to find a different angle in the market to be successful and appeal to an audience that is not served by the leader. That niche can be its base of strength and it can grow from there.   Just as Coke and Pepsi co-exist as successful soft drinks while there are plenty of alternative beverages (sports) available to the consumer, so too can MLS, NASL and USL each find their own path to success without requiring the failure of the other.  For MLS, that success is to be the best American style sports league in US soccer.  For USL, that is to be the best minor league supporting MLS.  For NASL, that path is to be the best traditional soccer league in North America.

 

[masster]

What makes you think MLS will stop at 32?

[-Hammer-]

3 hours ago, masster said:

What makes you think MLS will stop at 32?

A valid point. I mean, one can't think about this logically and expect MLS to run a league where every team plays every other team twice like most Soccer leagues. After all, they look more to the NFL for inspiration the successful soccer league and they don't play every other team per season.

[ted]

18 hours ago, masster said:

What makes you think MLS will stop at 32?

Why has the NFL stopped expanding?  Because they have found the sweet spot that maximizes revenue and to add more teams would reduce their return on investment.

As for MLS, maybe they will keep expanding but at some point they would probably have to split into two leagues in some fashion.

 

 

 

 

[ray]

21 hours ago, ted said:

Why has the NFL stopped expanding?  Because they have found the sweet spot that maximizes revenue and to add more teams would reduce their return on investment.

As for MLS, maybe they will keep expanding but at some point they would probably have to split into two leagues in some fashion.

Agreed.  We've yet to see a major North American sports league go past 32 franchises.  At some point the lower probabilities for reaching the post-season and the length of the post-season come into play.  If MLS want to keep expanding, they might have to consider MLS2 (a true 2nd division as opposed to USL affiliation).  No indication existing franchises are ready for this.

[masster]

7 hours ago, ray said:

Agreed.  We've yet to see a major North American sports league go past 32 franchises.  At some point the lower probabilities for reaching the post-season and the length of the post-season come into play.  If MLS want to keep expanding, they might have to consider MLS2 (a true 2nd division as opposed to USL affiliation).  No indication existing franchises are ready for this.

MLS is all about the money. If they stop at 32 and realize that there are still potential markets that want high level soccer and they are leaving money on the table, they will go after them. Who knows what that will look like, but they are not going to allow strong investors to prop up a competing league just because they reach some magic number.

[BuzzAndSting]

On 1/21/2016 at 0:21 PM, ted said:

Why has the NFL stopped expanding?  Because they have found the sweet spot that maximizes revenue and to add more teams would reduce their return on investment.

As for MLS, maybe they will keep expanding but at some point they would probably have to split into two leagues in some fashion.

 

 

 

 

The NFL is not stopping at 32. There's constant talk of expansion and with at least one team moving to LA there's a definite possible 2 new franchises are announced in the next couple years. My guess, St Louis and San Diego (after they move to LA). The only problem is the next stop for the NFL is 40 to keep things in balance. It will be a long time before the NHL, MLB or NBA go beyond 32 but they're all trying for that. 

[CDNFootballer]

NASL Is Carving Out Its Place In American Soccer Landscape

 

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/03/11/nasl-bill-peterson-new-york-cosmos-soccer-bowl/

 

"The modern day North American Soccer League currently has second division status in the United States, but there is no denying the rapid growth that the league has enjoyed since its re-boot in 2011.

 

The 2016 NASL season kicks off on April 2, with the Cosmos opening up defense of their Soccer Bowl title the next day when they host Ottawa in a championship rematch. It’s a big year for the modern day NASL as it welcomes three new franchises and looks to continue its quest towards first division status in the United States."

[Unnamed Trialist]

On 22/1/2016 at 11:30 PM, masster said:

MLS is all about the money. If they stop at 32 and realize that there are still potential markets that want high level soccer and they are leaving money on the table, they will go after them. Who knows what that will look like, but they are not going to allow strong investors to prop up a competing league just because they reach some magic number.

I think MLS is a bit past the skirmishing stage but not yet attractive enough to ensure successful expansion, and some of the new proposals for franchises are not too inviting. I don't think Atlanta will be a strong market. The 2nd LA team will have to find its way and that will take a while, as fans decide they never really liked the Galaxy and want to support its rival. None of the other eternal Florida sites sound like good business (although Orlando is doing an amazing job, have to admit), and Beckham is not going to help that. Right now there is no clear 20,000 attendance markets waiting to be tapped, Minnesota will have trouble getting anywhere near that. One I think could work is San Antonio since the Texas teams compete with each other, but they need a few years. 

Neither of the two CDN NASL teams looks to be sitting on a good potential MLS market, as I see it, while all the touted NASL expansion sites are looking at well under 10,000 attendance, and would be weak in MLS (Baltimore, Tulsa, Puerto Rico).