Cosmos’ COO Stover details NASL’s antitrust stance, MLS/USSF ties at fan event
by DAVE MARTINEZ
Despite saying he was “not at liberty” to discuss the NASL’s potential antitrust lawsuit against U.S. Soccer, New York Cosmos COO Erik Stover certainly painted a bright picture for the league’s case.
Meeting with Cosmos fans for a Q&A viewing party in New York City this weekend, Stover explained, at length, the league’s position for a potential lawsuit against American soccer’s governing body.
“When the Cosmos joined the NASL, there has been a clear pattern of moving the goal on [NASL], and that is something the Department of Justice looks very negatively upon,” Stover began.
The goal Stover is referring to is the evolving Division I standards which are being proposed within USSF requiring a Division I league to have at least 16 teams (Up from 12), 75 percent of the teams in the league must have a population of at least two million (up from one million) and all stadiums must have a seating capacity of 15,000.
Stover labeled these new standards “crazy.”
“The Premier League would not be first division under US Soccer’s rules because Bournemouth stadium is under 15,000. La Liga wouldn’t be first division because Eibar and one other team is under 15k. Atletic Bilbao wouldn’t be allowed in the American first division and it’s crazy. [Requirements] changed and it’s changed every year for the past three years.”
The NASL served notice to the USSF through attorney Jeffrey Kessler, a high-powered sports and antitrust lawyer, warning the Federation of potential litigation over these changes.
But the issue doesn’t stop with first division standards. As Stover explains, reports over the matter do not even “scratch the surface” of what the league hopes to challenge. The deeper issue is the embedded alliance between MLS and the USSF — a nonprofit organization whose stated goal is “to promote and govern the state of soccer in the United States.”
“How can we ever be first division if you keep changing the rules and your committee is made up of nine people from the MLS, someone from the USL, three from the Women’s league and [NASL Commissioner] Bill Peterson?” Stover said.
The Cosmos COO cites several vital tie-ins between MLS and U.S. Soccer that challenge the mission of the national organization. Those include “stacking” the USSF board with MLS operatives, tying sponsorships between the Federation and MLS, MLS’s new affiliation with USL and the mutual USSF, MLS TV deal which Stover says rewards MLS a larger cut than they should be entitled to.
Stover highlighted the collusion with a damning accusation, pointing a finger at MLS and U.S. Soccer for “planting” an article in the New York Times to hurt the NASL. The story in question focuses on the FIFAGate scandal hitting the shores of the U.S. in the form of a fan protest against the Traffic Sports’ owned Carolina RailHawks — a key player in the FIFA scandal.
“They put that article in the paper,” Stover insisted. “That is what we are going to be dealing with and I know we will be ready for the fight”
With what Stover labels “a fundamental problem in the way soccer is run in this country,” the NASL has enlisted Kessler to represent the league — who he labels “one of the most renown attorneys in this country.”
“Our lawyer is as good as they come and he doesn’t take cases he thinks he has a chance of losing,” Stover explained. “Kessler beat the NFL with the Tom Brady deflategate thing — and not a little bit — he whipped their ass!”
Admittedly, Stover says he doesn’t know where the NASL’s position will lead them. “I am not involved in the day to day discussions,” he said. “I know the NASL is very serious and has sent a letter to US Soccer and there will be discussions in the near future.”
Until then, he looks at the entire issue as “a game of chess.”
“NASL made its first move,” he said. “Now we are waiting for US Soccer to make the next move. Obviously, we are trying to win the game, but how we win the game we don’t necessarily know for sure.”
For full audio of the event, visit THIS IS COSMOS COUNTRY PODCAST on soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ticc_pod/cosmos-country-podcast-extra-cosmos-coo-erik-stover-qa
UPDATE: A previous version of this article stated USSF passed the proposed D1 standard changes. That is inaccurate. The changes are still in a stage of consideration and have not been brought to vote.
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191 Comments on "Cosmos’ COO Stover details NASL’s antitrust stance, MLS/USSF ties at fan event"
What’s the endgame here for NASL?
-Division one status
-Seats on US Soccer board
-Pro/rel with MLS
-Merger/Absorbing top teams
-Fundamentally breaking MLS’ single entity
-The systematic destruction of MLS
With MNU leaving and San Antonio possibly dropping, the NASL will be down to 11 teams. MLS will be at 22 teams for 2017.
Having a reasonable opportunity to gain Div. 1 status is the end game. NASL believes that USSF’s position that MLS shall have exclusive D1 status in perpetuity hurts attendance and investment.
Leo they currently have a reasonable opportunity, its up to them to to get there. The NASl should just focus on improving the league and building it to a point where they being to meet those standards. IF the goals move yet again it is because the baseline (MLS) improved and they need to meet that, if they don’t have the money and resources to get there then it isn’t anyone’s fault save their own.
Two problems with that
1.) As they improve, USSF will just keep shifting the goals
2.) It will be difficult to improve and attract investment when it becomes clear that USSF will always be stacking the deck against them
I’m not even a Cosmos fan and I want to see the overly cosey relationship between MLS, SUM, and USSF broken up. There are no checks and balances
Currently the NASL is on a waiver from the USSF to be recognized as D2 they need to focus on being a solid D2 before they should focus on being D1. I don’t think that’s unreasonable to achieve for the NASL. What the NASL is doing would be similar to a baseball player sueing the HOF for having “unrealistic” standards when his lifetime batting average is .260. They just need to focus on improving the product and the infrastructure of the league.
What other country has multiple D1 leagues? I’m in favor of pro/rel but having NASL as a “rival” D1 is counterproductive.
But MLS is not in favor. I agree that having two first division leagues is counterproductive, but I see having one first division hurting the lower divisions plus non-MLS affiliated youth leagues as worse. The NASL is a least trying to do good by the lower divisions while MLS is out for MLS.
I’m saying this as a person who don’t even support any NASL teams.
D3 Usl does not meet USSF requirements for the FC Montreal farm team – they played many of their games this year in a stadium that has less than the required 1K seating and no controllable ingress/egress.
You may think you have a crystal ball but Usl’s not getting D2 without waivers if they even are successful at all. There’s no guarantee they get D2 sanctioning although with MLS’s unfair relationship with USSF and Usl being MLS’s minor league reserve/affiliate league you never know.
NASL average attendances CAPS, top 12 average USL attendances non-caps.
Cincinattini 16,790
Sacramento 11,494
MINNESOTA 8,475
INDY 8,188
Louisville 7,151
San Antonio 6,118
TAMPA BAY 5,754
OTTAWA 5,632
CAROLINA 5,303
OKC Energy 4,999
MIAMI 4,894
St Louis 4,889
Tulsa 4,225
RAYO OKC 4,128
Richmond 4,005
JACKSONVILLE 3,950
Charleston 3,945
PUERTO RICO 3,781
COSMOS 3,734
Rochester 3,717
Wilmington 3,083
Colorada SS 3,069
EDMONTON 2,237
FORT LAUDERDALE 1,350
India.
North America is unlike most of the rest of the world without pro/rel and can support two D1 leagues.
What waiver do they have? And if you say west coast teams, you’re wrong because they have until Feb. 2017 (three years from the last amendment)
a stacked deck is a stacked deck
Well Dan, I guess we will see if there is an anti trust violation or not. But as Sunil said himself, to divest MLS franchises of exclusive D1 status would be an “expropriation of assets”. That doesn’t sound to me like they want to give anyone else a chance to become D1. The evidence is pretty damning.
Or they want to foster a health D1, maybe the NASL should lump its rights with MLS and the USSF and take a cut of that money. That way the league would finally get paid on a TV deal.
Your denying words that came right from the mouth of Sunil Gulati. If someone comes in with a more attractive product, it doesn’t matter because to take away exclusive D1 status would be an expropriation of assets. That’s quite a statement, and very likely will bite him in the ass badly if it goes to litigation. As to the TV deal, One World Sports has plans, so we will see. At least NASL is not locked in to a shitty long term deal like MLS is.
That shitty long term deal pays each MLS team 3.9 mil a season. I would think the NASL would love to have something similar.
Today? Yes. 7 years from now? No, they wouldn’t.
nobody except the worst MLS sycophants believes that that is a good long term deal.
A must read if you care about the future of soccer in this country.
http://www.soccernomics-agency.com/?p=692
As of June 9 last year 10 Premier League clubs were more than $100 million in debt. The average debt in the Championship is $80 million. Real Madrid are $750 million in debt, Barcelona $530 million. “Football is a funny old game”, as an eccentric English soccer player once said.
Anyway, the above article is based on nothing more than rumor and speculation. MLS investment is of course speculative but I don’t think there’s any proof MLS is in financial trouble.
Leo, you believe that seven years from now NASL will have a TV deal worth $3.9m per team per season? I sure don’t. More likely NASL is defunct and lower division soccer consists of an expanded USL and maybe some other league that forms in the interim.
Leo,
I thought you were better then that, you give me a link to some guy who bases is numbers on hearsay and “Anonymous” sources. As a lawyer you know that’s no good. At the end of the day for 7 years each MLS club will get around 3 million dollars, what is so bad about that?
“Some guy”? You’re kidding, right? And why is everyone obsessed with my profession? Stop making me a subject of your conversation please.
Yeah buddy some guy on a blog, who post very little facts and hearsay. Don’t care if he’s a professor, he needs to show his “work” and he doesn’t. So once you give me something from a viable source then I’ll take it seriously.
So you’ve never heard of Soccernomics? OK then.
Leo, maybe we’d lay off your profession if your name didn’t include a link to your firm’s website. You do that 1) to troll for business and 2) because you think people will be impressed.
Slowleftarm’s obsessive jealousy of me just depresses the **** out of me. Can someone please tell him to stop talking about me. It’s sad, and embarrassing, to both of us.
Leo please tell us about all of your amazing made-up accomplishments again.
NASL is not on a waiver to be D2.
MLS was on a waiver to be D1 with San Jose being in a 13K stadium for quite a few years until this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt9SN7Y-z-A
I’m really curious to see how Rebecca Ruiz of the NY Times responds, if she does, to this allegation. That’s pretty strong stuff (i.e. actionable) from Stover if he doesn’t have any proof.
She responded on Twitter:
“What turned us on to NASL’s ties to Traffic? The US indictment unsealed 5/27, graph 30”
Hey erik! Reyna likes his coffee with milk and two sugars. remember that for next year when you’re interning in the bronx.
slightly off topic: Reyna will be lucky to have a job next year after the job he’s done in the bronx
NASL doesn’t need a waiver for West Coast teams because they don’t have to meet that requirement until Feb. 2017 (three years from amendment)
So try again. What’s the NASL on waiver for?
Plus, San Francisco City FC is on the verge of getting approved to start in 2017 (if everything goes right in today’s NASL board meeting with the club owner).
SF City Fc is NOT the group that wants to put a club in SF. So I’m interested to see who is though. Also the owners have voted against keeping ATL league run, so I would think they’re folding.
Correct, NASL are not on any waiver. There’s so much disinformation from the anti-NASL crowd who dont follow the league or educate themselves on it to properly comment on the league.
This is all going to be very interesting. The USSF is a strangely run organization. I want nothing more to see the Cosmos playing on the highest level, but i do agree that this is the United States and we don’t have 2 leagues that are division one at the same time. Unless you suddenly shift everyone around and make 2 conferences in the league
US doesnt have divisions in other sports like soccer does either but no reason not to have two D1 leagues if the market supports them.
NHL and WHA were both major leagues in hockey, different qualities of league as the NHL was better and much older but both major leagues. No one told them how big their arena’s needed to be or how many teams they needed to be considered major league or the population size of markets.
The National League and American League (baseball) and NFL/AFL (football), the NFL/USFL…
So lets give the NASL 15 years to get to the point where MLS is now and then we can revisit this conversation. Until then the “lawsuit” from NASL may turn out to be an empiric victory at best, similiar to the USFL’s suit against the NFL.
Also what players were paid in the old CBA is still more then the average NASL player gets paid right now, so what’s your point?
So you’re complaining of not having rich enough owners to compete with MLS then? Also having D1 status is not going to magically make everything better. Sponsors will still choose MLS over NASL and fans will not all of sudden appear at the stadiums. Saying a YUGO is a sports car doesn’t make it one my friend.
It’s not complaining they are not rich enough, it’s that the riches club owners instead of the best clubs are allowed to be in MLS. That’s not growing American soccer, that’s just grow Fan Entertainment.
But Pump, you can’t force owners to spend there money on NASL if they don’t want too. You need to create a product that is enticing, going through litigation is not the way to do it. As a matter a fact I would think it would make people LESS likely to join up.
You know you talk about “not being a fan of any NASL team”. But you come off as the biggest NASL nuthugger in this discussion.
I agree. A least give the NASL a realistic time line until they can get all those things.
But its not the USSF that’s creating the problems for the NASL. It’s not them that got them involved with Traffic and its not them that caused franchises in Virginia and OKC to not happen and for the attendance issues of the Strikers, Eddies and Cosmos.
What illegal activity has Traffic committed to assist NASL. Still haven’t heard one.
So when NASL teams sign over the hill players (Raul) its cool but when MLS does it its bad? Come on man think! If NASL teams could afford it they would have tried to sign those players but they can’t because it doesn’t make financial sense for them, and that’s not a bad thing they just need to get to that point where they can compete with MLS for those player.
NASL’s created a stable strong D2 and done well as a 5 yr old league.
Moving the goalposts to protect a 20 year old MLS league the way its been done by USSF is simply wrong and unfair and done to protect them.
Leave it at 12 clubs and a reasonable stadium size for 75% of clubs like 10K and have that as your D1 requirements. Market will decide the major pro independent leagues (MLS/NASL)performance and success.
I’m going an over/under of 85 comments on this article.
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It will be interesting (really boring) to see mls bots justify IGNORING CENTURIES OF AMERICAN HISTORY to support the continued existence of the mls MONOPOLY and ratify the double dealing of corrupt USSF helping mls and no other league in US – none.
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Speaking of double dealing and conflicts of interest – wonder what D.O.J. thinks about USSF getting his salary from mls?
(Btw, now that USL is a mls reserve league it is also de facto a part of mls)
Please don’t try to be clever, you don’t pull it off at all. So what about the Gettysburg address has implications about this? Or maybe you meant the war of 1812. Stop, you can’t do it and the more you talk the less you make sense.
Did you skip the years they spoke about monopolies? In school? Or did you go the Putin school of history and public speaking?
Monopolies like MLB, NFL, NHL and the NBA. Those monopolies? Yeah I know of them and honestly history is on MLS’s side not NASL. You realize that, right?
mls bot malfunctioning , alert alert alert
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Alert!
You must go through a lot of tin foil at home, please call 1-800-LIFENET there are people their that can really help you in this time of mental health issues. I’m serious get help.
You should go to history.com and learn about monopolies in the US, or if you can read go open a book.
I was a history major in college so don’t need too, but I’d suggest you call that number I gave you.
If you don’t know the benefits of the free market (as demonstrated by US history in particular) then you went to some sh$t show college – or your daddy’s rich.
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#bushleaguemlsbotshaverichdaddys
I absolutely know the benefits of a free market and the NASL and MLS are free to sign anyone they wish. So explain to me why Herculez Gomez decided to sign with Toronto for LESS money then the Cosmos were offering? And why Giovanni Dos Santos, KAKA, Gerrard, Pirlo, Villa and a whole host of other players signed with MLS clubs instead of NASL ones? What could of compelled those players to sign with MLS instead of NASL?
Pick me OpenCupFan!!!!!!! I know the answer.
Considering how MLS overpay for those players and the type of country the United States is, it should not be no shocker older players would pick MLS over one NASL club. Also, Gomez is at the end of his ropes weather he pick the Cosmos or not. MLS may given Gomez the lowest offer, but Canadian teams can get into CONCACAF Championship League easily. It don’t even take being the best MLS team, just do good in a crappy Canadian tournament that even Montreal won.
Marcos Senna didn’t even realize that the Cosmos didn’t play D1 soccer when he signed!
Quick Q – what other country has multiple divisions 4s? We have many.
How many people here think they can create a d1 league if they get to keep the tv money brought in by the Men’s and Women’s US Nationsl teams?
mls just started at the top. You know there were other existing leagues at the time.
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NASL is stronger than mls so far, mls is nothing w/o USSF support, NASL has everything on its own.
There will never be a merger between the leagues. When MLS can just come in and take whatever franchises they wish, Minn utd and Montreal for example. There is no need for a merger, and honestly a merger only benefits NASL as suddenly those franchises are now worth a whole lot more then they were before, while MLS gets teams like Edmonton that can’t get more then 4k. Now if all the NASL clubs had built stadiums and got good crowds then it makes sense but until then merging creates a weakened league.
Biggest difference between FC Edmonton and half the McWendys in McWendys league soccer is that … Drum roll … FC Edmonton is profitable.
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#bushleaguemlsbot
HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA
YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT!!!
How does a club that averages 3k and has immense travel expenses become profitable? Please do enlighten me on that point, because from all outside appearances they are losing money hand over fist.
Look into before you talk.
So your answer to making an outrageous claim about Edmonton being profitable is for me to look into it!? WOW dude, you are a class of crazy I’ve never seen in my life.
I’m not doing your research, you claim they’re losing money – prove it. Good luck buddy.
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You know how I know mls teams are losing money? mls cries about it all, the time.
MLS teams also built academies and are developing young US talent for the future. The nasl is doing nothing in this regard – again very minor league and 3rd division like!
What player did MLS developed without the lower divisions and college soccer developing them first? Even players from MLS’s homegrown squad was developed else where before joining MLS (that includes Yedlin). Also, it took MLS past a decade and a half to build academies. For the longest, they just drafted players in from college.
Right, the Red Bull “Academy” is no different from Cosmos B, only less successful.
Never said Cosmos B is successful than the Red Bulls, but since we are that topic, for a young club the Cosmos are going a great job trying to develop players. The Red Bulls had 20 years to build on they’re while the Cosmos and NASL itself is still considered new.
How is Cosmos B more successful than RBNY’s academy? Guys like Miazga and Tyler Adams were developed by RBNY and are playing for the USMNT age group teams. Guys like Wright and Velala may be Cosmos players for now but they weren’t developed there.
I’d love to see Cosmos B play Red Bulls II. That’s the only way to determine the better team. Red Bulls II are in their first season of play in the USL and have already won a playoff game. Red Bulls Under 23 won the NPSL National Title last year, and are now in the PDL. I’d say they are at least equally successful as Cosmos B.
really boy you went a long way to reach your conclusions through a maze of assumptions and predictions. I disagree.
So MTF gave a list of actual accomplishments by RB academy sides (he didn’t even mention their successful academy youth teams at lower age levels) and you say “I disagree.” At some point don’t you need facts or is following the Cosmos just a matter of blind faith?
In 1994, before there was MLS, the US made it to the Round of 16 at the World Cup.
20 years later, thanks to MLS developing players, the US made it to the round of 16 at the World Cup.
So let’s shut the **** up about how great a job MLS has done developing players.
And, for the record, I support MLS and Red Bulls, but **** development of players is **** development of players.
20 years mls developing talent and national team is half Euro, great job mls.
And how many UMSNT developed by NASL? Ibarra – and even he’s gone already and the club he played for is joining MLS.
In 6 months, NASL has developed as many as McWendys league soccer has in 20 years.
Like who?
Seriously? You and DangerMan are the only things mls produces.
What USMNT players has NASL produced? I’m still waiting.
What a straw man argument.
1 – If mls isn’t producing world class talent for the usmnt then why does it get all these perks from USSF?
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That’s the question. 20 years and the USMNT is half Europeans, mls is a failure. Definitely time to look elsewhere.
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Again, why is the USMNT giving money to mls? That should concern al, of us.
It isn’t “half Europeans”
Next straw man argument please.
Let’s be real. MLS is not producing world class talent and as the
“fist division” they should be. The USMNT, at this point in MLS history, have to be scrambling to find Europeans whose fathers were US servicemen who were to Goddamn lazy to buy condoms.
Let’s call MLS on this “developing talent for the Nats bullshit.”
As for NASL, they’re the 2nd division so logically they wouldn’t have a great National team presence.
None of which changes the fact that MLS is **** at producing international quality players.
Damn, already up to 50 comments, you should have taken the over!
I’m dying of laughter. 19 of them are yours. You ticking fucking time bomb.
I can’t believe you counted. You’re the best.
I can’t believe you posted 1/3 of the comments and pointed to the post count as proof of fake Cosmos legitimacy, aspy.
And another third of the comments are from Leo Glickman trolling for clients.
What’s makes mls d1 if it is only survive because of USSF protection?
FYI – given the level of analysis of DangerMans posts, I want to go on the record that I don’t believe he went to an accredited school in the US. But, I don’t doubt he has a certificate of completion from mls bot technical re-education school.
DangerMan – paying more to selected employees demonstrate free market, whole point of a monopoly is having mores money than you deserve.
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Real question is why is money that was earned by the USMNT and women’s too actually being used to pay mls’ bills?
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Hey, where can I sign up to get some of the money made by the men’s and women’s USNTs?
Nope a Monopoly is having NO competition at ALL, as you just confirmed that is not the case. Thanks for making my point.
Why is USMNT money being used to support mls? mls monopoly.
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Incidentally, your post proves the level of your education. That argument was of Putin level analyses, congrats.
Now I know why you don’t post on bigsoccer anymore, this level of “intelligence” obviously got you banned. You need to start a conspiracy theory soccer blog! LOL
When you got your sh$t show history diploma from that Putin approved learning institution they clearly didn’t teach how to do any research. Go look into tv contract USSF got before they bundled with mls and the tv contract they had to settle for when they bundled with mls.
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You still haven’t told us the name of that spectacular (sarcasm) institution where you got your (b.s.) history diploma – I’d love to what school gives out history diplomas w/o teaching anything about monopolies, or doing research. Does your diploma have the word Putin on it?
Why should I tell you anything on this website,but you know what when I get my breakfest at the McDonalds drive thru that you work at I’ll tell you what school I went too. So tell me when you’re working and where and I’ll stop by. I’ll just have coffee cause I really don’t eat at Mikey D’s, Just ask to work the drive thru that morning and we’ll chat. Sound fair?
I would react to things in person just like I did here, no doubt about it. Unlike you, I won’t accept someone trying to demean another person because of their economic status. Too bad this is a foreign concept to you.
Oh because what you said was better? Two wrongs make a right? Is that it? I honestly in all my heart feel bad for you. I do not know your religious beliefs and I may just be opening myself up for more of your “Blog Justice” but I will pray for you. Last thing I have to say is; enjoy the game tonight!
I never attached a negative connotation to working at McD’s. It’s a very valid line of work, I just used an educated guess as to your employment. That is all.
I agree with most of this. I would just say I don’t think the problem is MLS, the problem is the USSF. MLS is just being what it is, a business. So is NASL. The USSF is not doing it’s job, which is being a non-profit charity supporting the best interest of soccer in this country, if its driving concern is protecting the investment of MLS franchise owners.
I want to also point out that Stover said that the NASL isn’t Division 1 ready yet.
I agree with Leo. The problem with the American soccer has always been the USSF’s lack of growing a stable soccer pyramid and leagues. Never in American soccer history have we ever had a completed first division soccer league, promotion & relegation and a soccer league ran like a soccer league. Never. Every single first division we ever had always fold before they stop expansion and some folded because we wouldn’t stop expanding.
Might break 150 comments on this one.
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#greentideworldwide
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Support your local independent soccer clubs!
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And remember, mls hates you!
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I agree too. My problem is,with the USSF,not MLS. It’s USSF changing the rules every 6 months. MLS is D1. NASL, needs to strengthen themselves and grow. Then challenge. But this suit will b interesting to watch
[…] “The Premier League would not be first division under U.S. Soccer’s rules because Bournemouth’s stadium is under 15,000,” Stover told Cosmos fans on Sunday, according to Empire of Soccer. […]
NASL is desperate their business model is not working and they don’t have the money to keep the league afloat.
With Atlanta folding, Minnesota going to MLS, San Antonio moving to USL, The railhawks also will fold since they can’t find an investors.
No major television contract in the near future, poor attendance, no major sponsorships, terrible stadiums , no ownership of stadiums, no local or national media coverage.
these are some of the problems that face NASL so why not take a last shot at suing for anti trust, they have nothing to lose at this point.
It’s not all bad news buddy. Two new teams starting next year, SF, OKC and Chicago on deck. SA not going anywhere. The truth is that money is coming into the league, why do you think that is? All of these people with net worth of $100m + are just morons who enjoy wasting their money?
A lot of teams leaving san antonio is as good as gone, we heard many times that NASL is adding team and nothing happens , even if they do they will play in high school stadiums without any TV deals.
Many people with a lot of money constantly make bad investments and that what is the NASL is a bad investment.
MLS average attendance in 2015: 21,327
NASL average attendance in 2015: 5,907
Other NASL off-the-field stuff: so much uncertainty and shadiness that I don’t even have time to list it.
NASL on-the-field: I don’t really have to talk about the quality of NASL play, do I?
Acute delusions on display.
Your comparing a 20 yr old MLS to NASL, plus some of the MLS attendances are quite padded as well with about a quarter of the league’s franchises having large percentages of empty seats when they claim high attendance numbers.
NASL dealt with Traffic(suspended), who’s legal issues in another area did not touch the NASL at all. They’re assets are in the process of being sold off.
MLS has had dealings in the past with Blazer, a very shady figure, who was MLS man of the year in 2006 and helped the league get their first TV contract.
1 yr old MLS: the highest avg attendance was 28,916 at LA, the lowest avg attendance was 10,213.
So comparing 1 yr old MLS to Modern NASL, MLS still brought the larger crowds. Comparing % of seats is useless information. I would rather fill 50% of 100K seat stadium then 75% of a 10,000 Seat stadium. 50,000 fans vs 7,500 fans (Do you see why comparing % of seats is worthless?)
The new NASL , is a great new league , considering that its been around for just 3 yrs… And they have the right rules to develope the league and players faster…. New York Cosmos , probably have had more success in just 2 full years now , on the field than.most mls teams ,or NASL teams have…. A successful first team ,very good reserve team and soon to be academy with the right people leading it .
This^^^
In what sense have Cosmos had more success than MLS teams?
in what ways have they had less ? at this point of the reboot
Well they didn’t win a thing last year and they’ve been knocked out of the Open Cup by the first MLS team to take it seriously the past two years. I think they “won” a ten game “championship” this spring but that’s nothing to write home about. Even if they win NASL it’s still just a minor league trophy.
won the soccer bowl in 2013 did u forget ? I find your post to be so predictably boring why is that ?
Right they won a minor league trophy – and that makes them more successful than an MLS team how?
By that logic Galaxy are more successful than Arsenal because since 1996 they’ve won more league titles. The quality of the league matters and NASL doesn’t compare well quality-wise to MLS.
who said that ? makes them more successful ? your analysis is quite simplistic plus is extremely subjective and lacks any basis in logic. Please worry about the Harrrison Metrostars – judging by their history there is plenty to worry about.
Cosmos beat MLS’s NY Red Bulls last year without 3 of their starters. Then they won vs MLS’s NYCFC this year who fielded a strong lineup and took it seriously.
Merger will happen.
with single entity still in existence? I’m not so sure about that.
Not a merger, more like the NHL absorbing teams from the WHA in the late ’70s. I could seen the Rowdies, Indy and the Canadian teams eventually buying in to MLS, but the Cosmos could be left out in the cold. MLS has filled their market, unless they become Long Island’s team.
I disagree 100%
There won’t be a merger, more likely two D1 leagues in 5 years with MLS and NASL, maybe sooner.
that sounds right to me
I don’t see a merger in the foreseeable future like 10 years out
wowowwowo different day SOS – 10 times the amount of comments than plastic padded attendance Blue man group and the Harrison Metrostars. Like why ????????????????????????? cmon why ?
MLS v. NASL matchups, 2013-2015
MLS has 12 wins
NASL has 9 wins.
MLS, a 20 year old league with every advantage, has only managed to win 57% of its games against brand new teams playing in a 3 year old league. And that Union v. Cosmos result in 2014 was highly suspect. Should be 11 to 10 if referreeing didn’t favor MLS.
great stats Leo thank you.
Except that MLS teams played reserve sides in most of those games so the results don’t actually tell you anything. Nice try.
you see William, when NASL teams lose an Open Cup game, it’s because we’re bad. When the MLS franchises lose Open Cup games, it’s because of something else. Unbelievable.
So MLS teams played their first-choice teams in most of those games? Sorry, but it matters whether or not a team bothered to use its best players. And for the record I don’t agree with playing reserve teams in the Open Cup – teams should take it seriously.
But if we’re talking about using the games as a barometer of the relative quality of the two leagues then it absolutely matters whether MLS teams played their first teams or a bunch of scrubs or something in between.
How many times do I have to tell you, you are not allowed to address me directly. You are a **** ant; I don’t address lowly **** ants directly.
What Leo meant to say is “I have no response to your argument so I am going to personally insult you instead.”
He does that in court too which is why he only represents DUI defendants. Who else would hire him?
I got that you’re a DUI lawyer who gave me a long list of made-up accomplishments as a reason that you won’t respond to my posts. Of course, you respond to my posts all the time so that was also something you made up.
No one would know a thing about your profession if you didn’t troll for business, posting under your real name and linking to your firm’s website on every post.
FC Edmonton also was robbed last year in the Canadian Championships vs MLS’s Montreal Impact, bogus pk call in the 95th and last minute to win. Ref acknowledged mistake later.
This year again FC Edmonton drew MLS’s best club 1-1 in Vancouver and then lost in the last minute to the Caps by a goal.
great info thanks !!!!
sorry, meant to say Open Cup matchups.
Come down bro, it’s just a soccer website.
that’s true especially for that HARRISON TEAM
[…] el marco de una reunión con aficionados de su equipo cubierta por Empire of Soccer, Stover consideró que a los mejores torneos domésticos del mundo les costaría cumplir con la […]
I just came to make a comment but after reading the other comments I went into my shell and clammed up. I need a hug. I’m scared. Please someone.
hahahahahahahaa
Wow, who knew this forum would go so well.
After reading this tomorrow I’ll be buying season tickets to the ny cosmos. And yes I have season tickets to NYCFC but I clearly see what the ussf is doing to the nasl so I’ll be supporting them now.
I agree with LEO – when the MLS side wins then its like this massive superiority in talent between the 2 leagues – if the NASL wins then its well the MLS side is just bunch of guys that work at walmart yea its our backups that play behind our backups 4th stringers right ?
and if you don’t agree with that just go reread this thread.
remember the nasl cannot even beat Div. 3 teams in USL since they lost 7 STRAIGHT to them. When nasl teams beat MLS teams in 7 straight games they can talk about it.
if the cos-shmos played good soccer they would have more fans like the local MLS teams.
Criminally indicted traffic sports is still the major power player in nasl, they have not divested anything yet, nor any action to that affect, they also still fully own the railhawks – THEY ARE CRIMINALS!
here is a guy with a long winded repeated posts AGENDA
hahahaahahahah what a clown thanks for the comedy relief I needed a laugh – turf field I hear this repeatedly like are you playing on the turf field do u have turf toe is this a concern for u ? seems as though Raul while not ideal for him has played every game on that dreaded turf field – hahahahahahahaahahahaha
I agree what it amounts to is raining on our parade so I will do the same to theirs. One good turn deserves another. NEW YORK IS GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
reason the 0-7 vs USL stat keeps coming up is that it is 7 STRAIGHT games nasl lost, which is very, very bad. Could you imagine if MLS lost 7 straight games to lower division sides in nasl, that would be crazy. Likewise losing 7 STRAIGHT to 3rd div. USL shows just how bad the nasl teams are, don’t care about a couple wins here and there in past years…
Do u work for the USL ? have some financial stake ? u seem like a one trick pony
Of course, because caring about those wins changes ur the,way u present ur argument
I don’t think New York is very “green” since only about 4000 people show up to Cosmos games, and that number is probably over inflated and gets padded with bobblehead nights.
I keep hearing that 4,000 number over and over its just not true and I go to every game every game I have not missed a game since August 2013. Like did I say I go to every game ?
Here are the fall attendances so far: 3647, 4503, 3607, 4006, 5257, 5089, 3438.
Average is 4221 a game. Looks like those posts you’re complaining about are pretty close.
MLS after 20 years is an aweful 1st division league.
Alternate leagues exist because they have sucked for long. Take it from me….attended first metrostars home game with nearly 50,000 hopeful fans excited soccer was back.
Not so much……
If NASL teams are willing to pay MLS franchise fees and build a stadium I don’t see why they shouldn’t be allowed to be promoted to MLS. But you have to take into account that MLS relegated teams are very likely to go into bankruptcy. And in terms of both attendances and the quality of football there’s very little difference between NASL and USL. This seems like a last desperate bid to make NASL relevant.