Tepper is going to make it happen:

"David Tepper seems confident that Charlotte will have an MLS team and says that a team “belongs in Charlotte.” President Tom Glick in constant talks with league as part of process."

I hope not, the league has too many teams now for the available talent.

hapapp wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:36 am

I hope not, the league has too many teams now for the available talent.

Uhh, how?

NFL - 32 teams pulling from a talent pool of the US and maybe 2 other countries
NBA - 32 teams pulling from a talent pool of maybe 10 other countries?
MLS - 27? teams pulling from a talent pool of the entire world

Atlanta just came in and won the MLS Cup in their 2nd year. None of the DPs were American, all brought in from foreign leagues

I don't buy that argument at all

ASU2012 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:47 am

hapapp wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:36 am

I hope not, the league has too many teams now for the available talent.

Uhh, how?

NFL - 32 teams pulling from a talent pool of the US and maybe 2 other countries
NBA - 32 teams pulling from a talent pool of maybe 10 other countries?
MLS - 27? teams pulling from a talent pool of the entire world

Atlanta just came in and won the MLS Cup in their 2nd year. None of the DPs were American, all brought in from foreign leagues

I don't buy that argument at all

As the monetary value increases, I expect MLS will begin competing with European Leagues for top talent within the next 10 years.

I love soccer and am all for the MLS growing, but until Americans fully get behind soccer the MLS will continue to be a JV league to the rest of the world. There are just too many other sports in the US.

ukappfan wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:07 am

I love soccer and am all for the MLS growing, but until Americans fully get behind soccer the MLS will continue to be a JV league to the rest of the world. There are just too many other sports in the US.

"Atlanta United set another Major League Soccer record for season attendance, finishing with an average of 53,002 per game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium."

"United officials said this year's average attendance was 17th highest in the world based on the 2017-18 season."

ASU2012 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:16 am

ukappfan wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:07 am

I love soccer and am all for the MLS growing, but until Americans fully get behind soccer the MLS will continue to be a JV league to the rest of the world. There are just too many other sports in the US.

"Atlanta United set another Major League Soccer record for season attendance, finishing with an average of 53,002 per game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium."

"United officials said this year's average attendance was 17th highest in the world based on the 2017-18 season."

Atlanta averged more than Liverpool and Chelsea last season

I dont care enough about association football to follow the MLS, though I've been to DC United games and had a great time.

I think the MLS needs not to worry so much about "competitive balance" and let any owner who can afford it open up the checkbook. I think many of the best players in the game would love to play in the States, if the money was right. Image how popular the MLS could be if the world's best were playing in it while in their prime, rather than in their retirement. Soccer fans know the MLS is a second rate league on the world stage, and it needs to shed that if it wants to be high profile.

I will get rid of my Panther seats if MLS comes to Charlotte....

Atlanta United has too much of a following here, just like the Braves. A team wouldn't work in Charlotte. Also, change the thread title because it's misleading.

ASU2012 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:16 am

ukappfan wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:07 am

I love soccer and am all for the MLS growing, but until Americans fully get behind soccer the MLS will continue to be a JV league to the rest of the world. There are just too many other sports in the US.

"Atlanta United set another Major League Soccer record for season attendance, finishing with an average of 53,002 per game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium."

"United officials said this year's average attendance was 17th highest in the world based on the 2017-18 season."

Let's not pretend that Atlanta is the typical franchise. The average for the league was just north of 20,000. That's overall a decent figure and soccer is clearly growing in popularity and is widely available for tv viewing. I'm just concerned that the talent pool can't keep up with the pace of expansion. I see the law of diminishing returns at work if the league expands too quickly. Half the league's franchises saw a dip in attendance as did the overall average.

With Austin as #27, the league is going to stop at 28 and I'm not sure Charlotte is first in line. Anything is possible but I think Charlotte would have leap over several other cities.

Forget MLS in Charlotte, I'm still hoping for NCAA basketball in Boone.

ASU2012 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:47 am

hapapp wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:36 am

I hope not, the league has too many teams now for the available talent.

Uhh, how?

NFL - 32 teams pulling from a talent pool of the US and maybe 2 other countries
NBA - 32 teams pulling from a talent pool of maybe 10 other countries?
MLS - 27? teams pulling from a talent pool of the entire world

Atlanta just came in and won the MLS Cup in their 2nd year. None of the DPs were American, all brought in from foreign leagues

I don't buy that argument at all

Theres not too many teams. We are currently pulling talent from SA that isn't ready to go direct to Europe. We can be a landing spot for SA/CA talent before they go to Europe (or stay in US) as well as our own talent.

Eventually the goal will be for most USMNT members to choose to stay home in a competitive, technically challenging league. We're not there yet, but it is vastly different from when my wife and I started watching (post 2014 WC) Very excited for the future of the league.

Personally, I'd like to see a group of ~60 teams, three tiers and pro/rel introduced. It may never work given our franchise business model, but its super exciting for fans of the game to watch matches against the bottom as well as the top.

Also, please keep the league as competitive as possible. I hate watching the Euro leagues where its the same 4 teams that dominate year in and year out.

hapapp wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:22 pm

ASU2012 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:16 am

ukappfan wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:07 am

I love soccer and am all for the MLS growing, but until Americans fully get behind soccer the MLS will continue to be a JV league to the rest of the world. There are just too many other sports in the US.

"Atlanta United set another Major League Soccer record for season attendance, finishing with an average of 53,002 per game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium."

"United officials said this year's average attendance was 17th highest in the world based on the 2017-18 season."

Let's not pretend that Atlanta is the typical franchise. The average for the league was just north of 20,000. That's overall a decent figure and soccer is clearly growing in popularity and is widely available for tv viewing. I'm just concerned that the talent pool can't keep up with the pace of expansion. I see the law of diminishing returns at work if the league expands too quickly. Half the league's franchises saw a dip in attendance as did the overall average.

With Austin as #27, the league is going to stop at 28 and I'm not sure Charlotte is first in line. Anything is possible but I think Charlotte would have leap over several other cities.

I think what you're seeing with Atlanta is going to be the "new norm" for expansion teams. Everyone said "no way soccer catches on in Atlanta" and look what's happened.

Also, no chance MLS stop at 28. It will most likely be 32, but 0% chance that 28 is the limit.

AppKing21 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:21 pm

Atlanta United has too much of a following here, just like the Braves. A team wouldn't work in Charlotte. Also, change the thread title because it's misleading.

#MLSto919

AppKing21 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:21 pm

Atlanta United has too much of a following here, just like the Braves. A team wouldn't work in Charlotte. Also, change the thread title because it's misleading.

What's misleading about it? Tepper is about to walk in as the richest owner in MLS. It's gonna happen

As a Charlotte resident, here is my question: Is Mr. Tepper planning to use HIS money to make this happen or will this billionaire come to city officials looking for taxpayer funding? If it's the former, I don't really care, if it's the latter, I'm dead set against it.

I was previously involved in this whole thing in regards to the city, County, and the ownership groups. This whole thing is a mess. If Tepper wants to fork out the money himself, it will happen quickly. If he wants the City or County to fork out some cash, it will go nowhere fast. There is a lot of support in different leadership positions, but no one can agree and the money just isn’t there. Memorial stadium is the ideal location for it all, and that has been a cluster since the get go.

Trust me, Unless Tepper starts leveraging the Panthers, this won’t gain legs unless he forks out the cash.

ASU2012 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 2:09 pm

hapapp wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:22 pm

ASU2012 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:16 am

ukappfan wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:07 am

I love soccer and am all for the MLS growing, but until Americans fully get behind soccer the MLS will continue to be a JV league to the rest of the world. There are just too many other sports in the US.

"Atlanta United set another Major League Soccer record for season attendance, finishing with an average of 53,002 per game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium."

"United officials said this year's average attendance was 17th highest in the world based on the 2017-18 season."

Let's not pretend that Atlanta is the typical franchise. The average for the league was just north of 20,000. That's overall a decent figure and soccer is clearly growing in popularity and is widely available for tv viewing. I'm just concerned that the talent pool can't keep up with the pace of expansion. I see the law of diminishing returns at work if the league expands too quickly. Half the league's franchises saw a dip in attendance as did the overall average.

With Austin as #27, the league is going to stop at 28 and I'm not sure Charlotte is first in line. Anything is possible but I think Charlotte would have leap over several other cities.

I think what you're seeing with Atlanta is going to be the "new norm" for expansion teams. Everyone said "no way soccer catches on in Atlanta" and look what's happened.

Also, no chance MLS stop at 28. It will most likely be 32, but 0% chance that 28 is the limit.

Eventually they may go to 32 but not in the immediate future. There are probably half a dozen cities a head of Charlotte.

And in news equally as interesting I painted my garage.

hapapp wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 6:51 pm

ASU2012 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 2:09 pm

hapapp wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:22 pm

ASU2012 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:16 am

ukappfan wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:07 am

I love soccer and am all for the MLS growing, but until Americans fully get behind soccer the MLS will continue to be a JV league to the rest of the world. There are just too many other sports in the US.

"Atlanta United set another Major League Soccer record for season attendance, finishing with an average of 53,002 per game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium."

"United officials said this year's average attendance was 17th highest in the world based on the 2017-18 season."

Let's not pretend that Atlanta is the typical franchise. The average for the league was just north of 20,000. That's overall a decent figure and soccer is clearly growing in popularity and is widely available for tv viewing. I'm just concerned that the talent pool can't keep up with the pace of expansion. I see the law of diminishing returns at work if the league expands too quickly. Half the league's franchises saw a dip in attendance as did the overall average.

With Austin as #27, the league is going to stop at 28 and I'm not sure Charlotte is first in line. Anything is possible but I think Charlotte would have leap over several other cities.

I think what you're seeing with Atlanta is going to be the "new norm" for expansion teams. Everyone said "no way soccer catches on in Atlanta" and look what's happened.

Also, no chance MLS stop at 28. It will most likely be 32, but 0% chance that 28 is the limit.

Eventually they may go to 32 but not in the immediate future. There are probably half a dozen cities a head of Charlotte.

That's actually not true. MLS is very interested in being here. They have had representatives here for about 3 years now helping the Independence ownership group (Jim Mcphillemy) prepare. When I was more involved in the situation, Charlotte was one of two or three cities that MLS was focusing on.

I personally could care less. Soccer not my thing, but no disrespect, don't mind playing or watching World Cup.