Originally Posted by bluesdiamond:
“New York Red Bulls have been very proactive through the World Cup on Social Media.
The responses to the posts, suggest healthy interest.
I feel MLS will become more akin to The Championship in England. Already its average gate is higher than The Championship and Bundesliga 2, and higher overall than Bundesliga 2
It is the 9th best attended league in the World, how much bigger it has to be before we in the UK stop patronising the league (IMO I feel that we are) I do not know.
Although it has higher average attandence than English league 2, the NASL maybe needs a boost within its markets. Three new teams are joining the NASL, one stadium announced Virginia Calvary stadium with a 5,500 capacity. But it has to be noted that it will be in the Washington DC Metro area, so in effect Washington will have two pro Soccer teams.
But, I hope that any expansion does not explode like a balloon.”
I think that there needs to be some sort of clarification about the NASL, as it still sees itself as a sort of rival league to MLS, with different rules/regulations (wage limits etc), if perhaps they could be somehow persuaded to become say like MLS 2, or a feeder league, where you could get promoted to the MLS, and MLS clubs could get relegated to the NASL, then that might be easier to comprehend for the neutrals, or people just getting into the sport.
It is good to see the league growing, and the popularity in terms of TV ratings and attendences getting better and better, hopefully this will continue with the new expansion teams (Orlando, Miami, and NYCFC).
I do wonder what the limit will be in terms of teams, as if you look at where the clubs are, there are still large parts of the country, that don't have either an NASL or MLS club, but to try and incorporate the whole country will be a huge ask, as until you get multiple leagues, or a pyramid structure, then trying to fit as many as possible into only a few leagues, just isn't really feasible.
I hope that the leagues continue to grow, and eventually they compete for the top stars in their prime, as that will mean that the sport will truly have cemented itself in the country.