Comments on: How much is enough? http://www.ericpz.com/soccer/how-much-is-enough/ Many wonder what's going on in my head...most wonder if anything is going on, here's a place to find out. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:29:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Nathan http://www.ericpz.com/soccer/how-much-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-1818 Nathan Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:37:12 +0000 http://www.ericpz.com/?p=3042#comment-1818 My prediction: the EPL will expand over to the US and put a team somewhere on the East Coast (most likely NYC). My prediction: the EPL will expand over to the US and put a team somewhere on the East Coast (most likely NYC).

]]> By: rw http://www.ericpz.com/soccer/how-much-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-1798 rw Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:37:09 +0000 http://www.ericpz.com/?p=3042#comment-1798 First off, the MLS versus EPL ratings comparison isn't really all that important. And it isn't the negative thing that it may seem on the face of it. Because ultimately what's good for soccer in the US is good for MLS. Just like interest in the national team drives interest in MLS. Interest in foreign leagues is good for the game, and will eventually lead to more interest in MLS. But, second, you're spot on in regards to how MLS should be "marketed". Sure the Galaxy got a lot of attention and screaming girls in the seats when they brought in Beckham. But ultimately the big star idea is not a recipe for long term success. Building local die-hard support is. I'm from Portland, and it's exciting to see the Timbers continuing to do just that. The Timbers attendance in this record-setting season has been great, but it wasn't that much different last year when we finished last (ouch. hard for me to even say that). The team is a part of the city's identity. If you tie the two together -- growing interest in foreign leagues and teams with strong local identities and grassroots support -- ultimately the guy watching EPL games on TV will discover that he might be able to get a similar experience in his own city. True, at this point, it's obviously not on the same level. But he can go to a game, sit with the rowdy fans, stand and sing -- and eventually he starts to live and die with his local team. And then starts watching more MLS games from other markets on TV because the team he loves is in the same league. First off, the MLS versus EPL ratings comparison isn’t really all that important. And it isn’t the negative thing that it may seem on the face of it. Because ultimately what’s good for soccer in the US is good for MLS. Just like interest in the national team drives interest in MLS. Interest in foreign leagues is good for the game, and will eventually lead to more interest in MLS.

But, second, you’re spot on in regards to how MLS should be “marketed”. Sure the Galaxy got a lot of attention and screaming girls in the seats when they brought in Beckham. But ultimately the big star idea is not a recipe for long term success. Building local die-hard support is. I’m from Portland, and it’s exciting to see the Timbers continuing to do just that. The Timbers attendance in this record-setting season has been great, but it wasn’t that much different last year when we finished last (ouch. hard for me to even say that). The team is a part of the city’s identity.

If you tie the two together — growing interest in foreign leagues and teams with strong local identities and grassroots support — ultimately the guy watching EPL games on TV will discover that he might be able to get a similar experience in his own city. True, at this point, it’s obviously not on the same level. But he can go to a game, sit with the rowdy fans, stand and sing — and eventually he starts to live and die with his local team. And then starts watching more MLS games from other markets on TV because the team he loves is in the same league.

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