General MLS Talk 2023

[red card]

Guardian asks if MLS can grow its fanbase by doing a Wrexham? Some points are similar to what I have raised previously in the OneSoccer thread but they're better writers. Most applies to CPL also.

Passages of note:

Wrexham’s success in the US goes against conventional wisdom. For decades, many claimed American fans were only interested in elite-level soccer.

Los Angeles FC already tried this, producing a 10-part series for ESPN+ called We Are LAFC in 2019 (the club had its own celebrities on board: Will Ferrell and Magic Johnson owned small stakes when it launched). Billed as a warts-and-all presentation, the warts were decidedly missing – and that’s a problem for MLS in a new era of storytelling. Until now, the league has glossed itself at every opportunity to appear big-time. The warts have been deliberately hidden for fear of not the league being taken seriously.

Some argue Welcome to Wrexham has devalued American and Canadian soccer. Why, it’s pointed out, didn’t McElhenney and Reynolds invest in an MLS, USL Championship or Canadian Premier League club? By buying a fifth-division Welsh club instead, have they shown American and Canadian soccer isn’t worth investing in?

The Apple TV deal suggests there is a willingness at MLS HQ to package the league in a new way...Nonetheless, MLS needs a way to funnel fans into watching live matches and that’s where additional content will be important.

However, this season will only mark the start of a new era for MLS if changes happen to make it so. Just because the league has partnered with the makers of Drive to Survive doesn’t mean a runaway TV success is guaranteed – see how Break Point has thus far failed to grow tennis in any meaningful way. Access must be permitted. The stories must be genuine. Everybody wants to ‘do a Wrexham’, but not everybody can.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/08/can-mls-grow-its-fanbase-by-doing-a-wrexham

[BearcatSA]

I thought Welcome to Wrexham was like a reality tv version of Ted Lasso, except that the outsider protagonists are the owners?  Kind of a spinoff of it, so to speak.  Not sure how much more shelf life that concept has.

 

[Ansem]

 

 

[narduch]

1 minute ago, Ansem said:

 

 

Wow. That is a sad end to the Rhinos.

 

[dyslexic nam]

So after Gameweek 3, the 3 Canadian teams have a total of 3 points between them.  It is a good thing we are increasingly exporting Canadian players to US teams. 

[red card]

MLS Season Pass French broadcast team will do matches from a studio in Montreal as of April. Not sure if it includes Montreal home matches.

Even though MLS messaging was everyone was travelling to the stadiums, this may have been the original intent for French language but took time to build a studio.

French language MLS tv numbers in Canada don't justify having all Canadian teams covered. Then, they limited the audience as the French language option is apparently only available in Canada. 

 

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

@red card , it would seem that they haven't upheld their commitment to broadcast all TFC and Whitecaps matches in French too.

https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2023/01/apple-and-major-league-soccer-unveil-broadcasters-for-mls-season-pass/

See my tweet below:

 

Edited yesterday at 12:18 AM by Olympique_de_Marseille

[red card]

Given TVA never bothered showing TFC & Caps, it is no surprise that MLS/Apple ended up over promising and under delivering.

Though, surprised they gave up this early. There is a possibility that it is temporary until they get their Montreal studio running in April. But still not good that they jettisoned French language broadcasts so easily.