Because in America the majority of the people associate the word football with the gridiron version but also respect that soccer is essentially the grandfather of gridiron, given that it begat rugby which later begat American football.
I think you nailed this about MLS! I’ve been really watching MLS since 2017 and everything you said is right. I love the league I think it’s getting better little by little but still a long way to go.
As an atlanta united fan i've been watching since the same time and I agree. There have been great strides but there definitely still needs work to be done. for example, why would a player want to go to Colorado or San Jose? it just doesn't seem very marketable for a few small market clubs imo
Absolutely agreed on MLS not feeling local. There’s so many actual “grassroots” lower league clubs to support that feel infinitely more localized, and actually make me feel like they represent my community.
@@youenjoy8468For sure, I feel very connected and represented well by Seattle Sounders. It absolutely feels like a local team and institution. Owners, coach, lots of star players are all local boys and the club has decades of history.
Why is the "doesn't feel local" only apply to MLS? No one ever says that about NFL, MLB, NBA or even those Americans that are "fans" of a not so local club that is on the other side of the world 😂
I'm about to turn 28 and never have given a dang about any sports team my whole life. That changed when my friend invited me too Inter Miami at Atlanta last september and my life changed. I now LOVE soccer and Atlanta United and can't wait to see MLS grow in popularity and skill. I'm in a good market for it so that helps a ton but I love this league and think it will be a top 3 US league in the next 15 years right behind the NBA. Many Americans like myself think Soccer is boring because that's just what we've heard for so much of our lives, but going to a live match is a different kind of energy. I now understand why it's the worlds game and I'm gonna support this league until I die✊🏽 Great content too!
People said this about MLS 15 years ago The established sports leagues in the US are simply starting from a position of having too much market share to ever have a new sport take over. Sooooo many sports and so many leagues have tried
Considering what Columbus fans did a few years ago, and LA Galaxy fans did last year, the supporters DO have power. It takes time and tremendous pressure for it to happen, but change can be forcded. It doesnt always yield a damn MLS Cup like what my Galaxy did (but we will take it lol), but you can get change.
I was in junior high in 94 when we hosted that world cup, and in high school in 96 when it started. I've WANTED to support, but I wasn't local to a team (Bakersfield, CA, so i wanted to support LA). The arrival of David Beckham finally at least allowed us to get decent Television coverage, nationally.
If you're not in an MLS market. Look up what clubs are in your area. Doesn't matter if they're amateur or pro, just go to a game and have a beer or whatever. Soccer is fun with friends.
I've been looking for ones in eastern PA, specifically looking to support women's leagues, and every time i struggle so much to even find out what games are on. I'll give it another shot. (Union is too expensive to go casually).
MLS is still traumatized by all the madness of early US Soccer history, once the league finds a way to overcome that, work around cheap owners, and eventually integrate with the rest of the pyramid, you’re gunna see some insane shit happen in a good way. A lot of folks online will be hella negative, but I think all the issues we face are absolutely valid but also very solvable.
there just needs to be teams around major cities. Chicago should be more like London and have various teams in the area. If the pyramid were applied today Chicago Fire would definitely be relegated
Like what? Millionaires being cheapos and going in on stuff to get players that are done with other leagues? USL champion League more club feel than this , it's just shoved in your face in the MLS but it's the money bro and the pageantry
Assuming that clubs will automatically be supported if you introduce promotion and relegation is just not true. Soccer is the dominant sport in every country with promotion and relegation and it just isn’t here and probably never will be.
I’m a now-former SKC season ticket member. Like you said of the die-hards, I’ll continue to stay tuned in, but I’m torn between endlessly feeding them money for providing a mediocre product, and simply wanting to watch local soccer in a venue that I love with friends. Hhh…
I feel like most of MLS's issues are just...general American sports issues that the other big US leagues can get away with because they have the monopoly on everything. MLS doesn't have that monopoly and I think it exposes a lot of the flaws of the setup in general. Re: the lack of local feeling, absolutely. I grew up in eastern PA, and spent a significant time in Vermont (which I consider my sort of spiritual home). The difference between Green/UVM vibes and Union vibes is very noticeable (and not just because UVM can actually win their finals)
LAFC Fanbase is pretty damn strong tbh. 3252 is an insane supporter group. LAFC got me into MLS when they started playing in 2018. Now a season ticket holder and honestly its an amazing time. It really shows how even newer teams have a strong following.
I like the reminder that MLS is still not even 30 years old. I feel like people always compare MLS to other titans of soccer leagues across the world and at the end of the day those leagues have almost a 100 year head start to us if not more. Yes our league is far from perfect lol but this shit takes time and as our league grows I’m excited to see where it goes
@@tyrelljordanpillay Still, it succeeded the already-centenary First Division of the Football League, so, in the grand scheme of things, the Premiership is just a chapter.
@tyrelljordanpillay true, but soccer has had over 100 years in England to establish itself into its culture. Mls strated from scratch with little to no interest in soccer. It's not the best league but it's what we have. And it's getting better.
@ Tyler you are being willfully ignorant to the nuance of both the situation of soccer in the United States and England to try and make me look stupid and it didn't work. Now you are the stupid one
I've followed the Columbus Crew casually since high school but I really picked up the intensity with which I watched the league following the whole Save the Crew ordeal. I think that experience made me and other Columbus fans feel like we gained some sense of community. And even when new owners come in and make certain changes we don't like I think having a history of being able to resist that makes it feel like the fans do have a stake and a pull in the club. It also helps when your team is really good, and the Crew is really good. That being said, I agree with just about everything you said. The league does feel pretty corporate at times, if my team wasn't seriously contending for trophies each season it would be pretty easy to just say "whatever" and quit watching.
Soccer's been a part of my life basically all my life. My dad married into a family that was just always mental for soccer. Adopted Liverpool as my Prem club in the late 2000s. But until St. Louis CITY became a thing, I couldn't give two sh*ts about MLS. It just had no appeal to me, and since I didn't have a local club of my own, I couldn't get into any other club. I tried a bit with Orlando City in the 2010s and it just didn't stick. I needed that local connection to care. HOWEVER...since CITY came around, my interest in soccer has gone bananas, and I'm much more bullish on the future of soccer in America than, say, hockey or baseball. I've seen it in the younger generations that run around with Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Lamine Yamal, etc jerseys and couldn't name a Mike Trout or a Connor McDavid if you had a gun to their head (don't point guns at children, it was an expression). And that's even in spite of MLS doing MLS things that piss us off.
American fans of European teams owned by megacorps or oil who look down on MLS because it’s not “authentic” or whatever is such a joke. Your comparison abt McDonald’s vs CocaCola applies way more to Europe than MLS. Glad to finally see the correct and nuanced take on the AppleTV situation tho! Good vid as a whole
I've loved seeing you time and time again in the MLS space on Twitter, TH-cam, etc. You are always entertaining and the league could really use some more goofy dudes like you floating around. Super stoked to have found you a couple years ago.
10000% if you look at the big 5 leagues it basically the same team or 2 teams every year over the past decade where the MLS has a great range of winners
Other leagues have sport clubs that have identity and some of them are giant clubs that win more than others .Mls has no clubs but franchises with no identity i dont think thats a good thing . Also european leagues are not just about 1 place lol , there is race for CL and Europe qualifications , race for 1 place , relegation battle ... but mls has only race for 1 place thats a very american way of looking at sport . And mls has no clubs but franchises of the same entity . Europe has diverse clubs from giants like Madrid to teams like Atalanta from 100k city winning european tropies. Mls will never have such diverse structured teams because of the rules and also because teams from 100k city dont have big market lol . And even that parity is not working in a good way . We a knlw that all top players who retire in mls chose to play in florida , california or NY . If lets say de Bruyne moves to mls there is 0% chance that he goes to Cincinnati or Minnesota.
We got SDFC coming to our city ( the majority of us hate the name and logo), and we're all feeling weird about it. We had SD Loyal with all the city's support but then came a billionaire to buy out a spot in the MLS for us. It feels souless... even our logo was designed from someone in Puerto Rico rather than a local, even though the main thing with the club owners is keeping everything local..ive been to the events for the club and it always feels empty compared to the Loyal events as well
Speaking as someone that's been with MLS since '96, to truly get the most out of your MLS experience you have to get involved with the supporters before and after matches. When you meet the right group of people, it unlocks this entire universe you didn't know existed before. Also, how you feel about the league will be influenced by the team you support. I'm a Galaxy fan and I never get bored. There's always something happening here, whether good or bad, and the fans have proven to influence the decisions of the team, which was a big reason why Galaxy went from missing the playoffs to winning MLS Cup in one year.
Ill first say this channel is among the best covering MLS and I appreciate the nuance you bring to the league. For me I love the sport first and foremost and my dream was to have a club in my hometown. I could never feel a connection to a European side even though I've been to Anfield, Ibrox, and others over there. When you state about team names, for me I dont care, I wanted a club in Cincinnati and I got it. I love going to matches in the Bailey. Seeing my ciry embrace my sport with our own stadium and watching the level of play rise. It means a lot to me, and frankly Im not sure anyone who doesnt have a deep attachment to their community could share that. I watched foriegn leagues with the Bundesliga being my favorite, but I grew weary of it despite all its amazing qualities because it became so hierarchical and boring. Watching Bayern lift yet another title lacks any suspense. With MLS every year clubs rise and fall and I actually can dream that someday my city will lift the cup. Keep up the great work, I'd love to see you do away days maybe when Kansas City comes to Cincinnati could see our fanbase.
I only watch MLS. Wasn't a soccer fan until someone took me to a timbers game. Love the culture in the timbers army and other supporters for the most part.
Definitely had to like and subscribe here. Football fan from South Africa and currently trying my bit at soccer/football content. Been watching MLS since 2007 when Beckham joined the league because we'd see a few games, then it slowly started showing on TH-cam and now I can actually find games and honestly, from 2007 to now, massive jump, in the last 5 or 6 years its been a decent jump but overall, the league gets better every season because better young and older players come in from other clubs but the league still has a lot to do to really become exciting!
Being able to bring young talented players to MLS as a stepping stone is what the league should aim for. I think that’s how it will grow, you can even see it now with the signing some clubs are making.
This was a great piece. Yes, brings out the positives of the league but the criticisms for the most part are on point. I may disagree that from Philly there isn't a connection, but I can see how that is the case in other cities. Other than that, you make excellent points about the excitement level, the corporate feel, and the mindset shift from creating players to play overseas to those who build MLS here. Alas, I think there isn't enough heat on some owners (Sugarman) or the commissioner to factor in the fans needs (kit costs) and that needs to change. Perhaps more separation of supporters groups from the organizations themselves is needed.
Been an LA Galaxy fan since 97' (Thanks Cienfuegos) I can't tell you how many times I had that thought, "Do i really like this league?" I usually get the cheap season pass but I attend a little over half of the games, it's good, could be better for sure.
I fell in love with Liverpool back in the 13/14 season and have never looked back since then, but I have a strong love both for Columbus Crew (I loved Federico Higuain for some reason when I first started watching soccer), and for Atlanta United (ATL for life, baby.) I finally got to go to an Atlanta United match last year, and it was such an experience to see in person! Yet, it is something I can only hope to do in the future because of where I live relative to Atlanta, GA. That being said, check out your local teams. I would've never heard of Greenville Triumph or Jacksonville Armada when I lived near those cities.
I love MLS. European leagues allow billionaires to buy championships. They’re the most money-compromised, corporate competition around. At least MLS has its share of sports socialism - mechanisms designed to make it so that any team has a shot, regardless of how much money the front office is willing to spend. Really, it’s kind of cute how invested people were in the Leicester City. ‘Mid table/.500 team surges and wins a championship’ happens, like, three times a decade in the NHL and NBA. Leicester City could only be such a big deal because smashing the ossified aristocracy is a once-in-a-generation event. It’s just so obvious that Euro soccer fans are dying of thirst for parity, and they don’t even know that it can be better. MLS is the only soccer league in the world that has competitive integrity, and something resembling parity. If it ever went away, I’d stop watching soccer entirely rather than watch to see if a Russian oligarch is gonna spend better than a Qatari oil sheik. It’s telling, what kind of news can convince you that your team is going to dramatically improve in short order. In most American sports, it’s drafting a generational talent that you can build a squad around. In MLS, it’s hiring an elite head coach or front office personnel, since those are the guys that can get you more bang for your salary cap restricted buck. But in international soccer? It’s getting bought by an oil magnate.
I’m a Euro sicko and I agree with you, it needs more parity and financial constrictions. But it can’t go full MLS on the other side of the spectrum where games are near meaningless and playoffs are always underwhelming. MLS has a lack of stakes. Europe has a lack of parity. If we could meet in the middle we’d be golden.
As an American who does not have a local team (Milwaukee) I have found it very hard to connect to MLS, whereas supporting Liverpool came really organically in my childhood. I went to see Inter Miami in Chicago last year to see all the big names, and I had a good time, and would definitely be curious to go back and see a more normal league game. Idk if I could ever see myself supporting the Fire tho, especially as Chicago teams are my teams rivals in every other sport. It’s an interesting spot because I love the sport, I want the game to grow in America, but I just really don’t feel any connection to our top league at all
Galaxy fan since 1996 and now my kids are fans, we have created a real fan base. My problem is I can really care less about the rest of the League, pure galaxycentric, so I am with this guy on all of his points, the league can be better but it will take a lot of time.
I’ve been an MLS/DC United fan since 2000, but DC being bad and games being removed from local networks made me lose interest for a while. I still go to Audi Field every once in a while and enjoy the match-day experience. My dad was always a Liverpool fan, so I gravitated towards the EPL & European football.
As a Rapids fan I found it hilarious that you put a Rapids clip like that when you were saying "somebody will own you" 🤣especially cause I saw that in person
Never was a big soccer fan until I actually went to a game. Now I am a big fan. And that game I went to was Orlando City. Now I go to a game a year, I went to three of the four home playoff games this year. It feels local to me, but that’s because I live near Orlando, and I treat it the same as my local NY/NJ teams growing up that I still support. I don’t live in Europe so I can’t relate to their local teams. But I understand why the football is better over there. Not going to knock on the best 6/7 leagues being in Europe. But I wouldn’t be a soccer fan without a team in the US. I root for AC Milan from a far, but I have more of a connection and interest in my MLS & NWSL club
Many good points, especially about the disconnect. where the game feels local is the people you support with. Joining C38 at Rapids games made me feel so much more connected to the club. I also don't necessarily think the league is boring, but the playoff format sucks. Regular season just needs to matter more to make it better. I am a demon and a sicko though, and I am OBSESSED with my Rapids. I would be very curious to see how less intense Rapids fans feel out our club and the league in general, especially with MEssi here now. Awesome video Kevin! You're welcome to a game in Colorado anytime
As someone who doesn't even follow the MLS that deeply, I ended up going to my first Rapids game earlier this year against Houston Dynamo and overall enjoyed the vibe. The supporters section brought it all game long and DSG has a pretty nice vibe to it as well.
It should never be "FC" in the United States, it should be "SC" and there is no problem with that. How many teams are SC, I think Orlando is, I like that.
This guy is pretty cool. I'm glad he's branching out a bit. Being the MLS guy has a ceiling and I'd love to see his takes on International football or other lesser-discussed leagues with a lot of tradition and history (ex. LigaMx, Argentina's league, Brazil's league). SN: a video about the Concacaf Champions League would be a fun one-off idea for all the reasons stated above, among others.
I think for me supporting AFC Wimbledon in the English 4th division has been super awesome. They’re fully fan owned meaning all fans have a say in the club and right now we’re in 5th (which is a promotion playoff spot) with 2 games in hand from our awful playing surface crapping out on us. The culture around the club is awesome.
I agree completely!! AFC Wimbledon is so much fun to root for! Fingers crossed for promotion! We’re so close! One thing to note is that while it is fully fan owned, only fans who are members of the Don’s Trust have actual ownership and an actual vote in how the club is run. If you’re not yet, I highly recommend joining the Don’s Trust to have your voice be heard! COYD!
I completely get everything you said here. It's actually refreshing to get an original AND honest take on this league. I'll say this though: I might be an even bigger sicko; I live 3 timezones away from LA. I've never been there. The closest I've been to LA is Pittsburgh, PA. The closest club in proximity is over the border in Canada, and yet I'm a Galaxy fan. I've watched this team quite literally go from first to worst to first again in 10 years. Is there rhyme or reason to my madness and support for a team that is over 2,000 miles away? Other than my wanting to back a team that has prestige in MLS and has had absolute legends in their catalog, and the fact that I refuse to support a club that requires me to cross a border to a different nation, it's entirely because there isn't a professional team that's actually near. Well, that and the fact that I was working second shift at the time that I started watching MLS, and wanted to watch a west coast team... I guess what I'm saying here is, you're right. The average MLS fan is a sicko. And we don't give a fuck. Great video!
Yeah the Apple TV situation sucks but it’s actually kind a nice. Like they’ve added pre post game which is nice and at least all the games are on one platform. Instead of the nfl, nhl, and mlb where you have to have multiple platforms all at once and pay for all
as a fan of a rarely covered team (Whitecaps) in a league rarely covered outside of Miami and LA, I appreciate you. Subbed! I played soccer religiously as a kid in a sports obsessed family, but no one watched soccer and I had no outlet to watch games overseas. MLS was not even on our radar. I started watching MLS recently when I moved to Vancouver because we have a team here (for now😓) and I can go to games cheaply. Season tickets for 2 people cost me roughly $800 USD. From there I've gotten into the premier league, which I understand has infinitely more quality, but the whitecaps are still MY team that I care the most about. The league ain't perfect and neither is my club, but it's our league and we should do what we can to make it what we want it to be by loudly making our opinions known to MLS execs, who seem to only care about the money.
I have never really watched soccer much, but I might check out MLS sometime. If tickets are reasonable priced I’ll have to go to a game or two. Ticket prices are the reason why I can’t fully get into the NBA or NFL, too expensive and it’s not the same over TV. Ticket prices are part of why I like Nascar and the MLB so much.
I dont go to Orlando city games often. But Messi is coming in february so im going. MLS is growing but it wont compete with europe for another 20 years
Great content as usual. I agree there is room for improvement. I also dislike Apple Tav having all the matches on at the same time is lame. BTW I forgot how nice it was to see Pulido make a goal. S/. STM for SKC and yes I get a little worked up during matches for obvious reasons
Great work on this video. I have enjoyed what I've seen you make over the last few years, so I can easily log in over here, like this video, subscribe, and leave a comment. Apologies in advance if this is too long. I've been an Austin FC season ticket holder for all five years of the club's existence, and I met my wife in the Supporter's Section during our inaugural season. I've lived in Austin my entire life, and always believed that this city would support a top-tier pro sports team if we could get one. Before Austin FC, we had a minor league baseball team, a few different minor league hockey teams, and an NBA G-League team, but nothing top-flight. Until Austin FC. I agree with everything you said about MLS ownership, but I also like having a top-flight pro sports team from my hometown that I can follow. My wife and I will be season ticket holders as long as we can afford to be (and we try to do at least one away match a season), but we definitely agree with the cost factor you described in the video ($150 for a new kit IS ridiculous). I do like where the league is right now: It's not as bad of a "retirement league" as it was just a few years ago (but we're still getting retiring players, but they can still play), and the young talent that's developed in the league (both from within the US and from outside) has been exciting to watch too. The Apple TV Deal allows us to watch any game from anywhere in the world, and that's nice too. I know MLS has a lot of ridiculous rules (the postseason, a lopsided regular season, that in-season tournament with Liga MX that got thrown at all of us, etc), but I want this thing to succeed, and I know growth has a lot of awkward moments. "Take the bad with the good" probably isn't the best slogan for MLS, but it has fit for the duration of the league.
I’m a legitimate RSL fan 💀 I’ve been watching since 2022 and MLS is honestly my favorite league to watch. I watch some European teams too but I have a hard time feeling any deep connection to any of those clubs. My dad raised my brother and I on soccer and frankly, we didn’t care for it. He would watch Juventus and Barca mostly, but It never really stuck. I would basically only watch the World Cup. It wasn’t until I discovered that I had a team near by that I felt any sort of deep passion for the sport. The MLS has more issues than I can count but it is what we have and it only gets better if people show up, support it, and voice their criticisms. MLS does not care for the opinions of the fans who aren’t going to support anyway, because if really trivial issues like pro/rel that wouldn’t fix the league at all. In every other country in the world people show up for their domestic league even if it’s shit. I don’t get why some Americans are only willing to show up if they’re getting the best of the best. We will never get the best of the best if we aren’t investing our time and money in what we have how it it exists right now.
Your totally right.. I grew up watching serie A in the 90’s Both my mom and my dad are huge inter fans.. it was only until this season when moving to Atlanta for my girlfriend that I started watching MLS.. and even then the games are fun to go to and great way to meet new people in a new city but idc if they win or lose lmao it’s weird
The biggest factor people have to take into account is sheer size of the United States. It can take hours to drive from one place to another and there are multiple time zones that you have to cross if you're going from on place to another. That's also not accounting for a trip to Alaska or Hawaii if either state ends up with a team. Is it impossible, no difficult yes. How much travelling do other teams in Europe have to do for their domestic leagues?
In 2012 when I was 10 I became a Union fan, and MLS was the first sports league period I ever watched. The thing is, no matter what stupid stuff the Union or MLS do, I cannot stop supporting them. I love Liverpool, but the Union will always be number one. I think a lot of MLS fans feel the same way as me. A lot of soccer fans in this country are split between supporting their local MLS *franchise*, or supporting a European or South American club that is thousands of miles away.
I will say, everything does balance itself out. With less diehard fans I would argue the owners still have as much pressure to field a good team because if they don’t people will just stop coming to the games. Not competitive pressure but there is financial.
But relegation is also an obvious financial pressure on top of the die hard pressure that you mentioned. MLS is for organizations that just want grow equity in a safe space.
For me personally, I just got back into soccer a few years ago and I figured I could watch MLS during the summer while the European leagues are done. I just didn't feel a connection to any team. Both New York teams are so corporate that I couldn't in good faith root for either one. Ticker prices were also ridiculous when I looked to go to either one during the summer last year. If the goal is to grow the game and make fans for life, shouldn't they cost less?
I love how this period ended with the Los Angeles Pyramid Schems winning MLS Cup LMAO. Pretty well spot on. Love SKC but they drives me insane. Just accepting they don't care about winning trophies. It's just a bonus as long as they make tons of money.
Thank God Chelsea is better this year ISH so I have decent ball to watch weekly. Then in the summer back to Indifferent Kansas City weekly......🍺🍺 🍺 🍺 🍺 🍺
I know you say the British are scared of US owners and I get it some are really bad, but a British Liverpool Fan I'm pretty happy with FSG to be honest. They understand what they don't know don't meddal too much and intilly saved us from a dept crisis but now run Liverpool mostly through its own revenue so we aren't screwed if they decide to sell. John Henry's team has a pretty good eye for staff and managers as well.
As a soccer/football fan that first fell in love during a stint living in the UK that system, as broken as it is right now, is still my favourite. I was brought up on North American leagues so the idea that MLS does not have relegation seems mostly pretty normal but the problem is the reward for being last is being last. The college draft is pretty clunky because it is just like getting a player who may not even make your b team. Compare that to the NBA, NFL, NHL and it is not even close to the same. I have tried to watch the MLS over the years and even went so far as to buy a subscription to watch them (though in Canada most of the Toronto FC and Whitecap games are still broadcast somewhat on other sports stations). I like the Apple broadcasts but at the same time the Apple TV app makes watching it clunky as... I think people need to temper expectations, Europeans calling it a retirement league are wrong but the rules and game totals are silly. US fans need to stop worrying about competition with other leagues in the country or out selling the prem. Just worry about yourselves first and foremost push for change to make the league better while recognizing it is what it is not a massive league one step away from knocking Baseball off the perch. The league itself should re-think the competition and how it works, less games, stop trying to work against the smaller leagues for your own benefit but the detriment of everyone else. And hey when that Euro Super League eventually starts up looking VERY American in its construction you can say hey you copied us. Also the names are dumb, Real Salt Lake is silly, as you said using FC makes no sense when all the country says Soccer. And for the love of god there is no reason to make teams blander. That is why I like the Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders, and the Portland Timbers. They have names that make sense in the North American context you do not need to ape everything Europe does (looking at you San Diego FC, Atlanta FC, Toronto FC et al.).
I hate how most MLS team logos do not have any symbolism to the local region, and the few that do, usually get changed like the old New England logo which looked very similar to the American flag bc the state of New England has a rich history of American patriotism during the American Revolution. Now the New England Logo just looks so generic and plane.
My support of the league was growing when LAFC first came into it. It cool for me and felt more local than LA Galaxy did but that went away pretty fast. Tickets are more expensive than Galaxy tickets even this past season when Galaxy won MLS Cup. It started declining for me when MLS Season Pass became the only way to watch it. I'd rather pay the small fee for Peacock and have access to every Premier League game than pay more to have access to a product that isn't as good and has blackouts all the time. It turned me away and dispite having interest in watching it again, it has become difficult for me to stay watching and keep the interest up
Yeah I think this is the most realistic path to Pro/Rel in MLS. MLS Premier and MLS Championship tiers teams can rise and fall between within a closed system.
Superb point. People think kt going to look like English structure when in reality it is probably going to look like j league. I think it is ways off but i hope in my life time there will be something like that.
Even that would represent too much of a financial risk for owners to accept, given how audiences react to bad franchises. Plus it would kneecap the parity measures that make the mls interesting year to year. At best you’d hope they’d fold lower league teams into an mlb style minor league pyramid where mls teams have affiliates but that has its own host of problems.
I watched MLS from 2009 when the Sounders jouned (Sounders fan since the 90s and dad went to games in 70s) until games moved to AppleTV and now I am in limbo and barely able to watch... I am very unhappy...
I think the key to mls fandom is to not be a die hard for any particular team. With AppleTV, just watch the matchups that interest you or that you think will be the most entertaining that weekend. If you don't get too invested then the cheesi-ness factor doesn't hit you as hard.
A level headed take that I think more followers of soccer in America should take. MLS isn't awful but it isn't great. It's meh and I hope to see this league be better than meh in the next 5 to 10 years.
As an LAFC fan i dont find it boring because our team is usually in contention for the various cups despite the fact that we usually lose in the final. Maybe the fact that sporting kc kinda sucks is effecting your enjoyment of the league
These last 3 years I have been doing broad content for the entire league even outside of KC and still find myself looking for individual moments of enjoyment all around. What was your experience prior to being a LAFC fan?
@@KEVINCHO_TV Prior to LAFC I was a Club America fan and very casual Liverpool fan. I always hated the Galaxy so when LAFC started I supported them right away and Ive had a blast ever since. Theyve become my #1 team, with Club America falling to #2
I’m going to keep trying with MLS but I just can’t help finding the EFL and the Prem much more interesting. Like I’d rather watch Coventry if Haji Wright is playing than just about any MLS match.
LAFC fan here that only really started following the league (or even the sport, really) when LAFC formed. (I guess maybe I'm not supposed to say that too loud but here we are.) Maybe it's a bit easier for us since we've been competitive every season we've been in the league, but I'm still fairly engaged. I do want the league to be higher quality and would love it if the roster construction rules were simpler so that different teams could experiment with different ways of building a team instead of "1-2 DP attackers and mediocrity elsewhere". (I wonder if our standard construction of highly paid attackers attacking poor defenders is why our best players generaly flop when they make it to other leagues, and maybe that's working against the league's stated goals of being a selling league.) As for corporate ownership, I guess that generally doesn't bother me that much since I don't have the background with other models, having come to MLS from other American sports, that just seems like how it has always been here. I am pretty bothered by MLS's kinda predatory seeming behavior towards the rest of the US soccer market, such as it is. Opening an MLS franchise in a USL market and snuffing a team out of existence sucks. Shitting on one of the only pieces of soccer history, and the one thing in US Soccer that kind of looks like an open pyramid in the US Open Cup sucks. Leagues Cup just sucks. (I love playing international teams, but that's what CCC is for, I don't need to see the last place MLS team play the last place LigaMX team.) Last year was rough for me with my relationship to the league, I'll be honest. And prices have definitely pushed me over the edge in the last few years. I will admit that it is largely self-inflicted: I moved my season tickets into a premium section a year ago and it's more than a bit much. I love going to the games, I love bringing friends with me, I love going with my family, and I kind of like the continuity of getting to know my seat neighbors, but I am paying significantly more per-game-per-seat than these tickets go for resale. It would make a lot of financial sense for me to just give up my season tickets and buy resale when I go to games, even in premium sections, and I suspect I'll end up doing that at the end of my current season ticket contract term. Which sucks, I really like being a season ticket holder, but the way season ticket pricing is right now makes me feel like a sucker (it's true, I am) and that's not great. But, I still look forward to traveling internationally to games (Fuck this year's CCC draw for LAFC in that respect though), and am looking forward to the coming season. (Assuming that LAFC actually has a full roster by the time CCC starts, which looks like maybe an open question.)
How much time do you have? I'll try to make this brief. Had a roommate from São Paulo my junior year in college. Same year as the Brazil WC. Saw all of the Brazilian exchange students' passion and wanted to be a part of it. Then NYCFC started in 2015. It was my local team. It became my team. So I defend MLS by saying it's not a monolith. Some places are cringe, yes, others (NYC being one) aren't. There are problems, yes, but being an MLS patriot is different from being an MLS nationalist. (Yeah, I chose those words...I don't regret it.) You can love the league and still demand better. That's what I tell people here in South Korea too.
@chuckobscure5622 Yawn...old joke...heard it all before... Plus "cringe" is not the same as "maddening". But it ain't anymore since...well, if you don't know by now, you'll find out in 2027 (or if you Googled it...maybe do that first next time.)
I’ve been watching mls since I was kid back in 2012..the league has come along way. At one time the coaches were former college level coaches my team(Fc Dallas had a former college coach) and not really a technical league.. we were league 2/and national league level by today standards.Today I would put us at mid table championship to upper league 1.for the average club, that is Outside of the 1 or 2 super clubs we get every year. The fan base at the local level has exploded across the board.
Yeah I agree with the take of I’m not the biggest supporter of the league as a whole and the way it’s run, but you best believe I’m gonna be a diehard for my team and its players.
I am a Rowdies fan til I die 💚💛 The best rivalry in US soccer is the Rowdies and Louisville City. Both are grassroots clubs that have incredible fanbases. We both deserve to be topflight teams, but we will never get that promotion. We love our clubs because we love the game. I hope that USL eventually does pro/rel and maybe in 20 years it surpasses MLS due to actually caring about clubs and fans and not just money
Timbers supporter here. I've never paid more than about $40 to go to a game. The official jerseys cost about the same or less as other professional sports. And, its only really boring if you aren't fully invested in a team. I do have to agree about the names of the teams. I am all in for the Timbers but gosh that's a stupid name. And the logo, an axe, is kinda dumb too.
I watched MLS from 2013 all the way to 2023 and i will say that MLS was my into for soccer BUT now that i have a local side of my own in the USLC the team here ( Rhode Island FC ) feels more like a proper club and it feels like its for the people. MLS always made it seem like its for the money. the fans always were thown in the back in this league and when the fans started to actually act like real fans, MLS would sometimes just strait kill there progress if its not the way THEY WANT IT. MLS is great when it comes to brrining in great players and really dos give you the feeling of a D1 league but for the fans it just drops dead in some teams. you have 30 teams in your league and i can only really name 6 teams with supporteers that match the Barra/Ultras style. Long sttory short is that to make MLS better for the new fans or fans now they wanna keep they need to remember this, PASSION > gimmicks
I was an avid MLS fan for about 10 years, we finally got a team in MN. But honestly got kinda jaded. MLS isn't what it used to be. It's more stale and corporate, and at least on Minnesota most of the supporters culture was killed off by the club. Shouldn't even call them clubs, franchises.
If this league had literally one person who truly loved the game in a decision making position it would be so much better. I still love it and support it because I wanna see the sport grow in America and I love my club but fuuuuuuuuuuck me I hate all the stupid made up complicated rules these dumbass league owners continue to make. Like I don’t need it to be the best league in the world, I just want a normal format with simple rules that makes it feel like there’s some merit involved and that every game matters.
I was thinking the same thing about old set up for baseball. They could go to 40 teams. Solves congestion and leagues cup can have easy, west, and Mexican team. And they would get match ups in us open cup. And preseason
love your content bro! I would highly recommend you check out the lower divisions like the USL, they have that more grassroots feels and are growing fast. Would love to see some vids from you about this.
Agreed! USL is awesome! I support my semi-professional team in USL 2 and it definitely has a local community vibe! We need to support grassroots in the USA!!!
“How are we gonna call it soccer and call everything FC” 🤣
Because in America the majority of the people associate the word football with the gridiron version but also respect that soccer is essentially the grandfather of gridiron, given that it begat rugby which later begat American football.
Rugby football predates association football by about 17 years.
Love this comment
@@Lokonator23 Mine?
I think you nailed this about MLS! I’ve been really watching MLS since 2017 and everything you said is right. I love the league I think it’s getting better little by little but still a long way to go.
Thank you NERDYYYYY
As an atlanta united fan i've been watching since the same time and I agree. There have been great strides but there definitely still needs work to be done. for example, why would a player want to go to Colorado or San Jose? it just doesn't seem very marketable for a few small market clubs imo
@@alexwatkins1931San Jose is the only team in the Bay Area, it’s a very large market.
Absolutely agreed on MLS not feeling local. There’s so many actual “grassroots” lower league clubs to support that feel infinitely more localized, and actually make me feel like they represent my community.
Depends on the city/club imo
@@youenjoy8468For sure, I feel very connected and represented well by Seattle Sounders. It absolutely feels like a local team and institution. Owners, coach, lots of star players are all local boys and the club has decades of history.
Counter to this is Columbus: who had to beg for the team to stay
Why is the "doesn't feel local" only apply to MLS? No one ever says that about NFL, MLB, NBA or even those Americans that are "fans" of a not so local club that is on the other side of the world 😂
Come to a Galaxy game. Feels totally local, authentic, organic, historic, the 180 deg opposite of a plastic club, and yet is globally known.
I'm about to turn 28 and never have given a dang about any sports team my whole life. That changed when my friend invited me too Inter Miami at Atlanta last september and my life changed. I now LOVE soccer and Atlanta United and can't wait to see MLS grow in popularity and skill. I'm in a good market for it so that helps a ton but I love this league and think it will be a top 3 US league in the next 15 years right behind the NBA. Many Americans like myself think Soccer is boring because that's just what we've heard for so much of our lives, but going to a live match is a different kind of energy. I now understand why it's the worlds game and I'm gonna support this league until I die✊🏽
Great content too!
People said this about MLS 15 years ago
The established sports leagues in the US are simply starting from a position of having too much market share to ever have a new sport take over. Sooooo many sports and so many leagues have tried
Considering what Columbus fans did a few years ago, and LA Galaxy fans did last year, the supporters DO have power. It takes time and tremendous pressure for it to happen, but change can be forcded. It doesnt always yield a damn MLS Cup like what my Galaxy did (but we will take it lol), but you can get change.
I was in junior high in 94 when we hosted that world cup, and in high school in 96 when it started. I've WANTED to support, but I wasn't local to a team (Bakersfield, CA, so i wanted to support LA). The arrival of David Beckham finally at least allowed us to get decent Television coverage, nationally.
don't forget the timbers army vs mls 😂
If you're not in an MLS market. Look up what clubs are in your area. Doesn't matter if they're amateur or pro, just go to a game and have a beer or whatever. Soccer is fun with friends.
I've been looking for ones in eastern PA, specifically looking to support women's leagues, and every time i struggle so much to even find out what games are on. I'll give it another shot. (Union is too expensive to go casually).
MLS is still traumatized by all the madness of early US Soccer history, once the league finds a way to overcome that, work around cheap owners, and eventually integrate with the rest of the pyramid, you’re gunna see some insane shit happen in a good way. A lot of folks online will be hella negative, but I think all the issues we face are absolutely valid but also very solvable.
there just needs to be teams around major cities. Chicago should be more like London and have various teams in the area. If the pyramid were applied today Chicago Fire would definitely be relegated
Like what? Millionaires being cheapos and going in on stuff to get players that are done with other leagues? USL champion League more club feel than this , it's just shoved in your face in the MLS but it's the money bro and the pageantry
@@theonlydiego1 it should be but soccer isn't the number one sport here. Nfl is king.
Assuming that clubs will automatically be supported if you introduce promotion and relegation is just not true. Soccer is the dominant sport in every country with promotion and relegation and it just isn’t here and probably never will be.
These MLS daydreamers are ridiculous aren't they @@bigcat47
I’m an MLS sicko and I agree with this assessment. What a weird league to love.
Watching Las Vegas Lights has been a pleasure USL is fucking awesome
Great vid Kevincho, Cheers to another year of Vermes tiki taka football heritage!
Thank you Hugo!
I’m a now-former SKC season ticket member. Like you said of the die-hards, I’ll continue to stay tuned in, but I’m torn between endlessly feeding them money for providing a mediocre product, and simply wanting to watch local soccer in a venue that I love with friends. Hhh…
I feel like most of MLS's issues are just...general American sports issues that the other big US leagues can get away with because they have the monopoly on everything. MLS doesn't have that monopoly and I think it exposes a lot of the flaws of the setup in general.
Re: the lack of local feeling, absolutely. I grew up in eastern PA, and spent a significant time in Vermont (which I consider my sort of spiritual home). The difference between Green/UVM vibes and Union vibes is very noticeable (and not just because UVM can actually win their finals)
With the power of YT recommendations I've just discovered you and wow you got such a fun vibe. New sub
Get in here Alex!
LAFC Fanbase is pretty damn strong tbh. 3252 is an insane supporter group. LAFC got me into MLS when they started playing in 2018. Now a season ticket holder and honestly its an amazing time. It really shows how even newer teams have a strong following.
I like the reminder that MLS is still not even 30 years old. I feel like people always compare MLS to other titans of soccer leagues across the world and at the end of the day those leagues have almost a 100 year head start to us if not more. Yes our league is far from perfect lol but this shit takes time and as our league grows I’m excited to see where it goes
“Primeer” league started in the 90’s dawg
@@tyrelljordanpillay Still, it succeeded the already-centenary First Division of the Football League, so, in the grand scheme of things, the Premiership is just a chapter.
@tyrelljordanpillay true, but soccer has had over 100 years in England to establish itself into its culture. Mls strated from scratch with little to no interest in soccer. It's not the best league but it's what we have. And it's getting better.
@ Tyler you are being willfully ignorant to the nuance of both the situation of soccer in the United States and England to try and make me look stupid and it didn't work. Now you are the stupid one
@@USsoccerwithKopuI read his comment and was thinking what an idiot. Probably just googled premier league and thought, oh look how smart I am.
I've followed the Columbus Crew casually since high school but I really picked up the intensity with which I watched the league following the whole Save the Crew ordeal. I think that experience made me and other Columbus fans feel like we gained some sense of community. And even when new owners come in and make certain changes we don't like I think having a history of being able to resist that makes it feel like the fans do have a stake and a pull in the club.
It also helps when your team is really good, and the Crew is really good. That being said, I agree with just about everything you said. The league does feel pretty corporate at times, if my team wasn't seriously contending for trophies each season it would be pretty easy to just say "whatever" and quit watching.
As a Columbus resident if I had a dollar for every time I've heard "I love the Crew but I hate the MLS" I'd have so many dollars.
Soccer's been a part of my life basically all my life. My dad married into a family that was just always mental for soccer. Adopted Liverpool as my Prem club in the late 2000s.
But until St. Louis CITY became a thing, I couldn't give two sh*ts about MLS. It just had no appeal to me, and since I didn't have a local club of my own, I couldn't get into any other club. I tried a bit with Orlando City in the 2010s and it just didn't stick. I needed that local connection to care.
HOWEVER...since CITY came around, my interest in soccer has gone bananas, and I'm much more bullish on the future of soccer in America than, say, hockey or baseball. I've seen it in the younger generations that run around with Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Lamine Yamal, etc jerseys and couldn't name a Mike Trout or a Connor McDavid if you had a gun to their head (don't point guns at children, it was an expression). And that's even in spite of MLS doing MLS things that piss us off.
American fans of European teams owned by megacorps or oil who look down on MLS because it’s not “authentic” or whatever is such a joke. Your comparison abt McDonald’s vs CocaCola applies way more to Europe than MLS. Glad to finally see the correct and nuanced take on the AppleTV situation tho! Good vid as a whole
I've loved seeing you time and time again in the MLS space on Twitter, TH-cam, etc. You are always entertaining and the league could really use some more goofy dudes like you floating around. Super stoked to have found you a couple years ago.
Other leagues have like 3 teams that win over the corse of 10 years. That is the best thing about the MLS is the parity.
10000% if you look at the big 5 leagues it basically the same team or 2 teams every year over the past decade where the MLS has a great range of winners
Other leagues have sport clubs that have identity and some of them are giant clubs that win more than others .Mls has no clubs but franchises with no identity i dont think thats a good thing . Also european leagues are not just about 1 place lol , there is race for CL and Europe qualifications , race for 1 place , relegation battle ... but mls has only race for 1 place thats a very american way of looking at sport . And mls has no clubs but franchises of the same entity . Europe has diverse clubs from giants like Madrid to teams like Atalanta from 100k city winning european tropies. Mls will never have such diverse structured teams because of the rules and also because teams from 100k city dont have big market lol . And even that parity is not working in a good way . We a knlw that all top players who retire in mls chose to play in florida , california or NY . If lets say de Bruyne moves to mls there is 0% chance that he goes to Cincinnati or Minnesota.
Is forced parity good parity though? Especially when you have so many teams making the playoffs too. I've been struggling with this for a bit.
I really appreciate the competitive balance in MLS compared to other leagues. Parity makes it a bit more entertaining.
We got SDFC coming to our city ( the majority of us hate the name and logo), and we're all feeling weird about it. We had SD Loyal with all the city's support but then came a billionaire to buy out a spot in the MLS for us. It feels souless... even our logo was designed from someone in Puerto Rico rather than a local, even though the main thing with the club owners is keeping everything local..ive been to the events for the club and it always feels empty compared to the Loyal events as well
Speaking as someone that's been with MLS since '96, to truly get the most out of your MLS experience you have to get involved with the supporters before and after matches. When you meet the right group of people, it unlocks this entire universe you didn't know existed before. Also, how you feel about the league will be influenced by the team you support. I'm a Galaxy fan and I never get bored. There's always something happening here, whether good or bad, and the fans have proven to influence the decisions of the team, which was a big reason why Galaxy went from missing the playoffs to winning MLS Cup in one year.
Ill first say this channel is among the best covering MLS and I appreciate the nuance you bring to the league.
For me I love the sport first and foremost and my dream was to have a club in my hometown. I could never feel a connection to a European side even though I've been to Anfield, Ibrox, and others over there.
When you state about team names, for me I dont care, I wanted a club in Cincinnati and I got it. I love going to matches in the Bailey. Seeing my ciry embrace my sport with our own stadium and watching the level of play rise. It means a lot to me, and frankly Im not sure anyone who doesnt have a deep attachment to their community could share that.
I watched foriegn leagues with the Bundesliga being my favorite, but I grew weary of it despite all its amazing qualities because it became so hierarchical and boring. Watching Bayern lift yet another title lacks any suspense. With MLS every year clubs rise and fall and I actually can dream that someday my city will lift the cup.
Keep up the great work, I'd love to see you do away days maybe when Kansas City comes to Cincinnati could see our fanbase.
Thank you SJ! Love seeing your backstory on this game. Really appreciate your point of view
I only watch MLS. Wasn't a soccer fan until someone took me to a timbers game. Love the culture in the timbers army and other supporters for the most part.
Definitely had to like and subscribe here. Football fan from South Africa and currently trying my bit at soccer/football content. Been watching MLS since 2007 when Beckham joined the league because we'd see a few games, then it slowly started showing on TH-cam and now I can actually find games and honestly, from 2007 to now, massive jump, in the last 5 or 6 years its been a decent jump but overall, the league gets better every season because better young and older players come in from other clubs but the league still has a lot to do to really become exciting!
Being able to bring young talented players to MLS as a stepping stone is what the league should aim for. I think that’s how it will grow, you can even see it now with the signing some clubs are making.
This was a great piece. Yes, brings out the positives of the league but the criticisms for the most part are on point. I may disagree that from Philly there isn't a connection, but I can see how that is the case in other cities. Other than that, you make excellent points about the excitement level, the corporate feel, and the mindset shift from creating players to play overseas to those who build MLS here. Alas, I think there isn't enough heat on some owners (Sugarman) or the commissioner to factor in the fans needs (kit costs) and that needs to change. Perhaps more separation of supporters groups from the organizations themselves is needed.
Been an LA Galaxy fan since 97' (Thanks Cienfuegos) I can't tell you how many times I had that thought, "Do i really like this league?" I usually get the cheap season pass but I attend a little over half of the games, it's good, could be better for sure.
I fell in love with Liverpool back in the 13/14 season and have never looked back since then, but I have a strong love both for Columbus Crew (I loved Federico Higuain for some reason when I first started watching soccer), and for Atlanta United (ATL for life, baby.)
I finally got to go to an Atlanta United match last year, and it was such an experience to see in person! Yet, it is something I can only hope to do in the future because of where I live relative to Atlanta, GA.
That being said, check out your local teams. I would've never heard of Greenville Triumph or Jacksonville Armada when I lived near those cities.
I love MLS. European leagues allow billionaires to buy championships. They’re the most money-compromised, corporate competition around. At least MLS has its share of sports socialism - mechanisms designed to make it so that any team has a shot, regardless of how much money the front office is willing to spend.
Really, it’s kind of cute how invested people were in the Leicester City. ‘Mid table/.500 team surges and wins a championship’ happens, like, three times a decade in the NHL and NBA. Leicester City could only be such a big deal because smashing the ossified aristocracy is a once-in-a-generation event. It’s just so obvious that Euro soccer fans are dying of thirst for parity, and they don’t even know that it can be better.
MLS is the only soccer league in the world that has competitive integrity, and something resembling parity. If it ever went away, I’d stop watching soccer entirely rather than watch to see if a Russian oligarch is gonna spend better than a Qatari oil sheik.
It’s telling, what kind of news can convince you that your team is going to dramatically improve in short order. In most American sports, it’s drafting a generational talent that you can build a squad around. In MLS, it’s hiring an elite head coach or front office personnel, since those are the guys that can get you more bang for your salary cap restricted buck.
But in international soccer?
It’s getting bought by an oil magnate.
W take
I’m a Euro sicko and I agree with you, it needs more parity and financial constrictions. But it can’t go full MLS on the other side of the spectrum where games are near meaningless and playoffs are always underwhelming.
MLS has a lack of stakes. Europe has a lack of parity. If we could meet in the middle we’d be golden.
Talking about MLS not being the best soccer and using Columbus as an example is wild
As an American who does not have a local team (Milwaukee) I have found it very hard to connect to MLS, whereas supporting Liverpool came really organically in my childhood. I went to see Inter Miami in Chicago last year to see all the big names, and I had a good time, and would definitely be curious to go back and see a more normal league game. Idk if I could ever see myself supporting the Fire tho, especially as Chicago teams are my teams rivals in every other sport. It’s an interesting spot because I love the sport, I want the game to grow in America, but I just really don’t feel any connection to our top league at all
Milwaukee is supposed to get a USL Championship team in 2026, provided the stadium construction isn't delayed again.
Galaxy fan since 1996 and now my kids are fans, we have created a real fan base. My problem is I can really care less about the rest of the League, pure galaxycentric, so I am with this guy on all of his points, the league can be better but it will take a lot of time.
I’ve been an MLS/DC United fan since 2000, but DC being bad and games being removed from local networks made me lose interest for a while. I still go to Audi Field every once in a while and enjoy the match-day experience. My dad was always a Liverpool fan, so I gravitated towards the EPL & European football.
Colombus Crew vs Charlotte FC is a good game😂
As a Rapids fan I found it hilarious that you put a Rapids clip like that when you were saying "somebody will own you" 🤣especially cause I saw that in person
Never was a big soccer fan until I actually went to a game. Now I am a big fan. And that game I went to was Orlando City. Now I go to a game a year, I went to three of the four home playoff games this year. It feels local to me, but that’s because I live near Orlando, and I treat it the same as my local NY/NJ teams growing up that I still support. I don’t live in Europe so I can’t relate to their local teams. But I understand why the football is better over there. Not going to knock on the best 6/7 leagues being in Europe. But I wouldn’t be a soccer fan without a team in the US. I root for AC Milan from a far, but I have more of a connection and interest in my MLS & NWSL club
Many good points, especially about the disconnect. where the game feels local is the people you support with. Joining C38 at Rapids games made me feel so much more connected to the club. I also don't necessarily think the league is boring, but the playoff format sucks. Regular season just needs to matter more to make it better. I am a demon and a sicko though, and I am OBSESSED with my Rapids. I would be very curious to see how less intense Rapids fans feel out our club and the league in general, especially with MEssi here now. Awesome video Kevin! You're welcome to a game in Colorado anytime
As someone who doesn't even follow the MLS that deeply, I ended up going to my first Rapids game earlier this year against Houston Dynamo and overall enjoyed the vibe. The supporters section brought it all game long and DSG has a pretty nice vibe to it as well.
@@BrasilianFuryI’m glad to hear that! We try to bring the noise every game
It should never be "FC" in the United States, it should be "SC" and there is no problem with that. How many teams are SC, I think Orlando is, I like that.
I appreciated this as a grassroots MLS person. I think you matched a lot of Americans energy and sentiment. Funny and insightful. Thanks bro.
This guy is pretty cool. I'm glad he's branching out a bit. Being the MLS guy has a ceiling and I'd love to see his takes on International football or other lesser-discussed leagues with a lot of tradition and history (ex. LigaMx, Argentina's league, Brazil's league). SN: a video about the Concacaf Champions League would be a fun one-off idea for all the reasons stated above, among others.
THIRD *shakes fist at my local USL club ahead of the hell I’m gonna go through this season*
Lmaooooo
I think for me supporting AFC Wimbledon in the English 4th division has been super awesome. They’re fully fan owned meaning all fans have a say in the club and right now we’re in 5th (which is a promotion playoff spot) with 2 games in hand from our awful playing surface crapping out on us. The culture around the club is awesome.
I agree completely!! AFC Wimbledon is so much fun to root for! Fingers crossed for promotion! We’re so close! One thing to note is that while it is fully fan owned, only fans who are members of the Don’s Trust have actual ownership and an actual vote in how the club is run. If you’re not yet, I highly recommend joining the Don’s Trust to have your voice be heard! COYD!
And you now have a city of enemies in Milton Keynes lol
I completely get everything you said here. It's actually refreshing to get an original AND honest take on this league.
I'll say this though: I might be an even bigger sicko; I live 3 timezones away from LA. I've never been there. The closest I've been to LA is Pittsburgh, PA. The closest club in proximity is over the border in Canada, and yet I'm a Galaxy fan. I've watched this team quite literally go from first to worst to first again in 10 years. Is there rhyme or reason to my madness and support for a team that is over 2,000 miles away? Other than my wanting to back a team that has prestige in MLS and has had absolute legends in their catalog, and the fact that I refuse to support a club that requires me to cross a border to a different nation, it's entirely because there isn't a professional team that's actually near. Well, that and the fact that I was working second shift at the time that I started watching MLS, and wanted to watch a west coast team...
I guess what I'm saying here is, you're right. The average MLS fan is a sicko. And we don't give a fuck. Great video!
8:50 as someone from San Diego... how the fuck does this reflect *anything*
I have an old friend from San Diego, he was livid when announced lol
Sicko since 2016. I even get excited for kit leaks every year. EBFG
I actively dislike soccer but im going to give this video a shot....
Jason, just for that alone- thank you
Yeah the Apple TV situation sucks but it’s actually kind a nice. Like they’ve added pre post game which is nice and at least all the games are on one platform. Instead of the nfl, nhl, and mlb where you have to have multiple platforms all at once and pay for all
For me it always starts out with. "Welcome to MLS. You're first mission is to hate all things Sounders, and you'll fit in fine."
Don’t be mad, little bro~ When you’re king, people desperately want to depose you.
EBFG 💚💙💚💙
Subscribed just because he said “fuchiball”
Been a fan since opening game in 96 - Columbus vs United at The Shoe. I'm in a an area with no teams at all.
as a fan of a rarely covered team (Whitecaps) in a league rarely covered outside of Miami and LA, I appreciate you. Subbed!
I played soccer religiously as a kid in a sports obsessed family, but no one watched soccer and I had no outlet to watch games overseas. MLS was not even on our radar.
I started watching MLS recently when I moved to Vancouver because we have a team here (for now😓) and I can go to games cheaply. Season tickets for 2 people cost me roughly $800 USD. From there I've gotten into the premier league, which I understand has infinitely more quality, but the whitecaps are still MY team that I care the most about. The league ain't perfect and neither is my club, but it's our league and we should do what we can to make it what we want it to be by loudly making our opinions known to MLS execs, who seem to only care about the money.
I have never really watched soccer much, but I might check out MLS sometime. If tickets are reasonable priced I’ll have to go to a game or two. Ticket prices are the reason why I can’t fully get into the NBA or NFL, too expensive and it’s not the same over TV. Ticket prices are part of why I like Nascar and the MLB so much.
I dont go to Orlando city games often. But Messi is coming in february so im going. MLS is growing but it wont compete with europe for another 20 years
Great content as usual. I agree there is room for improvement. I also dislike Apple Tav having all the matches on at the same time is lame. BTW I forgot how nice it was to see Pulido make a goal. S/. STM for SKC and yes I get a little worked up during matches for obvious reasons
Crazy throwing RSL shade coming from an SKC fan 👀
FUKC!
Great video though :)
"Him who looks long into the MLS must be careful, for the MLS would look back at him" Nitzche
Great work on this video. I have enjoyed what I've seen you make over the last few years, so I can easily log in over here, like this video, subscribe, and leave a comment. Apologies in advance if this is too long.
I've been an Austin FC season ticket holder for all five years of the club's existence, and I met my wife in the Supporter's Section during our inaugural season. I've lived in Austin my entire life, and always believed that this city would support a top-tier pro sports team if we could get one. Before Austin FC, we had a minor league baseball team, a few different minor league hockey teams, and an NBA G-League team, but nothing top-flight. Until Austin FC. I agree with everything you said about MLS ownership, but I also like having a top-flight pro sports team from my hometown that I can follow. My wife and I will be season ticket holders as long as we can afford to be (and we try to do at least one away match a season), but we definitely agree with the cost factor you described in the video ($150 for a new kit IS ridiculous). I do like where the league is right now: It's not as bad of a "retirement league" as it was just a few years ago (but we're still getting retiring players, but they can still play), and the young talent that's developed in the league (both from within the US and from outside) has been exciting to watch too. The Apple TV Deal allows us to watch any game from anywhere in the world, and that's nice too. I know MLS has a lot of ridiculous rules (the postseason, a lopsided regular season, that in-season tournament with Liga MX that got thrown at all of us, etc), but I want this thing to succeed, and I know growth has a lot of awkward moments. "Take the bad with the good" probably isn't the best slogan for MLS, but it has fit for the duration of the league.
I’m a legitimate RSL fan 💀 I’ve been watching since 2022 and MLS is honestly my favorite league to watch. I watch some European teams too but I have a hard time feeling any deep connection to any of those clubs. My dad raised my brother and I on soccer and frankly, we didn’t care for it. He would watch Juventus and Barca mostly, but It never really stuck. I would basically only watch the World Cup. It wasn’t until I discovered that I had a team near by that I felt any sort of deep passion for the sport. The MLS has more issues than I can count but it is what we have and it only gets better if people show up, support it, and voice their criticisms. MLS does not care for the opinions of the fans who aren’t going to support anyway, because if really trivial issues like pro/rel that wouldn’t fix the league at all. In every other country in the world people show up for their domestic league even if it’s shit. I don’t get why some Americans are only willing to show up if they’re getting the best of the best. We will never get the best of the best if we aren’t investing our time and money in what we have how it it exists right now.
Columbus native here. If we didn’t have the crew I wouldn’t watch MLS at all
Your totally right.. I grew up watching serie A in the 90’s
Both my mom and my dad are huge inter fans.. it was only until this season when moving to Atlanta for my girlfriend that I started watching MLS.. and even then the games are fun to go to and great way to meet new people in a new city but idc if they win or lose lmao it’s weird
I love how MLS last three season keeo bringing young carribean,central american and south american player into the leafue
The biggest factor people have to take into account is sheer size of the United States. It can take hours to drive from one place to another and there are multiple time zones that you have to cross if you're going from on place to another. That's also not accounting for a trip to Alaska or Hawaii if either state ends up with a team. Is it impossible, no difficult yes. How much travelling do other teams in Europe have to do for their domestic leagues?
In 2012 when I was 10 I became a Union fan, and MLS was the first sports league period I ever watched. The thing is, no matter what stupid stuff the Union or MLS do, I cannot stop supporting them. I love Liverpool, but the Union will always be number one. I think a lot of MLS fans feel the same way as me. A lot of soccer fans in this country are split between supporting their local MLS *franchise*, or supporting a European or South American club that is thousands of miles away.
I will say, everything does balance itself out. With less diehard fans I would argue the owners still have as much pressure to field a good team because if they don’t people will just stop coming to the games. Not competitive pressure but there is financial.
But relegation is also an obvious financial pressure on top of the die hard pressure that you mentioned.
MLS is for organizations that just want grow equity in a safe space.
LOVE THIS VIDEO, LOVE THIS MAAAAAAN
For me personally, I just got back into soccer a few years ago and I figured I could watch MLS during the summer while the European leagues are done. I just didn't feel a connection to any team. Both New York teams are so corporate that I couldn't in good faith root for either one. Ticker prices were also ridiculous when I looked to go to either one during the summer last year. If the goal is to grow the game and make fans for life, shouldn't they cost less?
I love how this period ended with the Los Angeles Pyramid Schems winning MLS Cup LMAO. Pretty well spot on. Love SKC but they drives me insane. Just accepting they don't care about winning trophies. It's just a bonus as long as they make tons of money.
Thank God Chelsea is better this year ISH so I have decent ball to watch weekly. Then in the summer back to Indifferent Kansas City weekly......🍺🍺 🍺 🍺 🍺 🍺
absolute LEGEND
No u 👑
I know you say the British are scared of US owners and I get it some are really bad, but a British Liverpool Fan I'm pretty happy with FSG to be honest. They understand what they don't know don't meddal too much and intilly saved us from a dept crisis but now run Liverpool mostly through its own revenue so we aren't screwed if they decide to sell. John Henry's team has a pretty good eye for staff and managers as well.
As a soccer/football fan that first fell in love during a stint living in the UK that system, as broken as it is right now, is still my favourite. I was brought up on North American leagues so the idea that MLS does not have relegation seems mostly pretty normal but the problem is the reward for being last is being last. The college draft is pretty clunky because it is just like getting a player who may not even make your b team. Compare that to the NBA, NFL, NHL and it is not even close to the same.
I have tried to watch the MLS over the years and even went so far as to buy a subscription to watch them (though in Canada most of the Toronto FC and Whitecap games are still broadcast somewhat on other sports stations). I like the Apple broadcasts but at the same time the Apple TV app makes watching it clunky as...
I think people need to temper expectations, Europeans calling it a retirement league are wrong but the rules and game totals are silly. US fans need to stop worrying about competition with other leagues in the country or out selling the prem. Just worry about yourselves first and foremost push for change to make the league better while recognizing it is what it is not a massive league one step away from knocking Baseball off the perch.
The league itself should re-think the competition and how it works, less games, stop trying to work against the smaller leagues for your own benefit but the detriment of everyone else. And hey when that Euro Super League eventually starts up looking VERY American in its construction you can say hey you copied us.
Also the names are dumb, Real Salt Lake is silly, as you said using FC makes no sense when all the country says Soccer. And for the love of god there is no reason to make teams blander. That is why I like the Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders, and the Portland Timbers. They have names that make sense in the North American context you do not need to ape everything Europe does (looking at you San Diego FC, Atlanta FC, Toronto FC et al.).
You remain the number 1 my friend
I hate how most MLS team logos do not have any symbolism to the local region, and the few that do, usually get changed like the old New England logo which looked very similar to the American flag bc the state of New England has a rich history of American patriotism during the American Revolution. Now the New England Logo just looks so generic and plane.
San Diego's logo is the worst of all, looks like a manhole cover.
See you in 2035 in the biggest league in the world …. MLS
My support of the league was growing when LAFC first came into it. It cool for me and felt more local than LA Galaxy did but that went away pretty fast. Tickets are more expensive than Galaxy tickets even this past season when Galaxy won MLS Cup. It started declining for me when MLS Season Pass became the only way to watch it. I'd rather pay the small fee for Peacock and have access to every Premier League game than pay more to have access to a product that isn't as good and has blackouts all the time. It turned me away and dispite having interest in watching it again, it has become difficult for me to stay watching and keep the interest up
MLS needs to look at the J-league if they are too scared about pro/rel. J-League is basically a franchised closed pyramid.
Yeah I think this is the most realistic path to Pro/Rel in MLS. MLS Premier and MLS Championship tiers teams can rise and fall between within a closed system.
Superb point. People think kt going to look like English structure when in reality it is probably going to look like j league. I think it is ways off but i hope in my life time there will be something like that.
Even that would represent too much of a financial risk for owners to accept, given how audiences react to bad franchises. Plus it would kneecap the parity measures that make the mls interesting year to year.
At best you’d hope they’d fold lower league teams into an mlb style minor league pyramid where mls teams have affiliates but that has its own host of problems.
I watched MLS from 2009 when the Sounders jouned (Sounders fan since the 90s and dad went to games in 70s) until games moved to AppleTV and now I am in limbo and barely able to watch... I am very unhappy...
Wait. So are you going to make it 4 years now? Dont be a quitter! 😂 Love your content.
Never quit 😤
I think the key to mls fandom is to not be a die hard for any particular team. With AppleTV, just watch the matchups that interest you or that you think will be the most entertaining that weekend. If you don't get too invested then the cheesi-ness factor doesn't hit you as hard.
A level headed take that I think more followers of soccer in America should take. MLS isn't awful but it isn't great. It's meh and I hope to see this league be better than meh in the next 5 to 10 years.
As an LAFC fan i dont find it boring because our team is usually in contention for the various cups despite the fact that we usually lose in the final. Maybe the fact that sporting kc kinda sucks is effecting your enjoyment of the league
These last 3 years I have been doing broad content for the entire league even outside of KC and still find myself looking for individual moments of enjoyment all around. What was your experience prior to being a LAFC fan?
@@KEVINCHO_TV Prior to LAFC I was a Club America fan and very casual Liverpool fan. I always hated the Galaxy so when LAFC started I supported them right away and Ive had a blast ever since. Theyve become my #1 team, with Club America falling to #2
I’m going to keep trying with MLS but I just can’t help finding the EFL and the Prem much more interesting. Like I’d rather watch Coventry if Haji Wright is playing than just about any MLS match.
"Joke's on you...I did this for free."
Kev, I am so, so, so sorry.
Banger video though.
Big from you! Thank you king 🤣. Love your work
@@KEVINCHO_TV The River video essay and this one got me hooked, excellent work all around and looking forward to more!
@BrasilianFury thank you! Loving your stuff as well 🇧🇷
LAFC fan here that only really started following the league (or even the sport, really) when LAFC formed. (I guess maybe I'm not supposed to say that too loud but here we are.) Maybe it's a bit easier for us since we've been competitive every season we've been in the league, but I'm still fairly engaged. I do want the league to be higher quality and would love it if the roster construction rules were simpler so that different teams could experiment with different ways of building a team instead of "1-2 DP attackers and mediocrity elsewhere". (I wonder if our standard construction of highly paid attackers attacking poor defenders is why our best players generaly flop when they make it to other leagues, and maybe that's working against the league's stated goals of being a selling league.)
As for corporate ownership, I guess that generally doesn't bother me that much since I don't have the background with other models, having come to MLS from other American sports, that just seems like how it has always been here.
I am pretty bothered by MLS's kinda predatory seeming behavior towards the rest of the US soccer market, such as it is. Opening an MLS franchise in a USL market and snuffing a team out of existence sucks. Shitting on one of the only pieces of soccer history, and the one thing in US Soccer that kind of looks like an open pyramid in the US Open Cup sucks. Leagues Cup just sucks. (I love playing international teams, but that's what CCC is for, I don't need to see the last place MLS team play the last place LigaMX team.) Last year was rough for me with my relationship to the league, I'll be honest.
And prices have definitely pushed me over the edge in the last few years. I will admit that it is largely self-inflicted: I moved my season tickets into a premium section a year ago and it's more than a bit much. I love going to the games, I love bringing friends with me, I love going with my family, and I kind of like the continuity of getting to know my seat neighbors, but I am paying significantly more per-game-per-seat than these tickets go for resale. It would make a lot of financial sense for me to just give up my season tickets and buy resale when I go to games, even in premium sections, and I suspect I'll end up doing that at the end of my current season ticket contract term. Which sucks, I really like being a season ticket holder, but the way season ticket pricing is right now makes me feel like a sucker (it's true, I am) and that's not great.
But, I still look forward to traveling internationally to games (Fuck this year's CCC draw for LAFC in that respect though), and am looking forward to the coming season. (Assuming that LAFC actually has a full roster by the time CCC starts, which looks like maybe an open question.)
How much time do you have? I'll try to make this brief.
Had a roommate from São Paulo my junior year in college. Same year as the Brazil WC. Saw all of the Brazilian exchange students' passion and wanted to be a part of it. Then NYCFC started in 2015. It was my local team. It became my team.
So I defend MLS by saying it's not a monolith. Some places are cringe, yes, others (NYC being one) aren't. There are problems, yes, but being an MLS patriot is different from being an MLS nationalist. (Yeah, I chose those words...I don't regret it.) You can love the league and still demand better. That's what I tell people here in South Korea too.
The team that plays on a baseball field isn’t cringe? 🤔
@chuckobscure5622 Yawn...old joke...heard it all before...
Plus "cringe" is not the same as "maddening". But it ain't anymore since...well, if you don't know by now, you'll find out in 2027 (or if you Googled it...maybe do that first next time.)
I’ve been watching mls since I was kid back in 2012..the league has come along way. At one time the coaches were former college level coaches my team(Fc Dallas had a former college coach) and not really a technical league.. we were league 2/and national league level by today standards.Today I would put us at mid table championship to upper league 1.for the average club, that is Outside of the 1 or 2 super clubs we get every year. The fan base at the local level has exploded across the board.
Yeah I agree with the take of I’m not the biggest supporter of the league as a whole and the way it’s run, but you best believe I’m gonna be a diehard for my team and its players.
Heard Bombon by los palermas at the start of the video and had to stop everything to listen to it again. Representing New England Revs
You better continue doing watch alongs, always enjoy it when you play Portland. That game is always a crapshoot
I am a Rowdies fan til I die 💚💛
The best rivalry in US soccer is the Rowdies and Louisville City. Both are grassroots clubs that have incredible fanbases. We both deserve to be topflight teams, but we will never get that promotion. We love our clubs because we love the game. I hope that USL eventually does pro/rel and maybe in 20 years it surpasses MLS due to actually caring about clubs and fans and not just money
Timbers supporter here. I've never paid more than about $40 to go to a game. The official jerseys cost about the same or less as other professional sports. And, its only really boring if you aren't fully invested in a team.
I do have to agree about the names of the teams. I am all in for the Timbers but gosh that's a stupid name. And the logo, an axe, is kinda dumb too.
How dare you, I think Orlando City is a great name (just pretend the SC isn't there like the rest of us)! lol
I watched MLS from 2013 all the way to 2023 and i will say that MLS was my into for soccer BUT now that i have a local side of my own in the USLC the team here ( Rhode Island FC ) feels more like a proper club and it feels like its for the people. MLS always made it seem like its for the money. the fans always were thown in the back in this league and when the fans started to actually act like real fans, MLS would sometimes just strait kill there progress if its not the way THEY WANT IT. MLS is great when it comes to brrining in great players and really dos give you the feeling of a D1 league but for the fans it just drops dead in some teams. you have 30 teams in your league and i can only really name 6 teams with supporteers that match the Barra/Ultras style.
Long sttory short is that to make MLS better for the new fans or fans now they wanna keep they need to remember this, PASSION > gimmicks
Goated video
Subscribed soon as you said you’re a Liverpool fan. YNWA
I can tell your football IQ is astoundingly high. Thank you Marquis
I was an avid MLS fan for about 10 years, we finally got a team in MN. But honestly got kinda jaded. MLS isn't what it used to be. It's more stale and corporate, and at least on Minnesota most of the supporters culture was killed off by the club. Shouldn't even call them clubs, franchises.
If this league had literally one person who truly loved the game in a decision making position it would be so much better.
I still love it and support it because I wanna see the sport grow in America and I love my club but fuuuuuuuuuuck me I hate all the stupid made up complicated rules these dumbass league owners continue to make. Like I don’t need it to be the best league in the world, I just want a normal format with simple rules that makes it feel like there’s some merit involved and that every game matters.
I was thinking the same thing about old set up for baseball. They could go to 40 teams. Solves congestion and leagues cup can have easy, west, and Mexican team. And they would get match ups in us open cup. And preseason
love your content bro! I would highly recommend you check out the lower divisions like the USL, they have that more grassroots feels and are growing fast. Would love to see some vids from you about this.
Agreed! USL is awesome! I support my semi-professional team in USL 2 and it definitely has a local community vibe! We need to support grassroots in the USA!!!
GO HARTFORD!🟢🔵