Re:Own-Goal Football (2022)
by WorldMaker on Thursday June 01, 2023 @04:27PM
(#36156892)
The US has second, third, and fourth tier leagues already, though those are all part of USL rather than MLS. MLS has a lot more money than USL and isn't interested in promotion/relegation concepts because it is built like MLB/NBA and likes the gatekeeping aspects of those because that influences investment money and helps keep MLS comparatively rich. But USL thinks promotion/relegation could work in the US, they just don't think it can work that well if they don't also control the top tier league. From my understanding USL has quietly been hoping that play in the USL Championship league (their top tier and comparatively in the US market the "second tier" overall) could get competitive and interesting enough to usurp the MLS and put USL in a place to have the top-tier and move to a "proper" European-style relegation/promotion system.
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If they're not interested in promotion and relegation maybe a national cup competition, like the FA Cup in England, could be one fun way to have some level of integration with the other levels. The excitement of cup competitions would boost attendance across the board, and fun moments like cup upsets (a lower tier team defeating a top-tier one) raise the profile of the sport overall through media exposure.
It's maybe more tempting for MLS to focus on money-spinning continental competitions like the CONCACAF equivalent to the Champions League. But I think they'd be missing out if they didn't at least explore a "US FA Cup" as a means of growing interest in the domestic game itself, which indirectly benefits them.
Re:Own-Goal Football (2022)
by brycekahle on Thursday June 01, 2023 @05:22PM
(#36157525)
Such a tournament already exists, called the U.S. Open Cup[1]
Oh amazing! Shows my ignorance of the game outside my little bubble, but I'm delighted to learn of its existence!
Re:Own-Goal Football (2022)
by charlieyu1 on Friday June 02, 2023 @02:28AM
(#36161763)
American sports have very strange rules compared to most of the world. Salary caps, drafts, players are signed to the league rather than clubs, franchising ownership.
The results are that there isn't much room to grow the sports. Youth development also suffers, teams have no incentive to develop youth talent, and youth teams are generally pay-to-play, meaning it is hard for the poor to join.
I guess if the sports is not popular in US, this may be the only way of survival though