Major sports annoyances

[Bruce]

Yes, MLS isn't the best in the world. But it is our local league and can produce good players and have its moments. I find MLS to be more exciting than the top European leagues because of the NA-style parity and top-heavy nature of signings here, which spend more on attacking players.

The league's popularity depends on the region...in oversaturated markets like Chicago and NYC, MLS is going to seem small because it's competing with too many other sports. In markets like the Pacific Northwest or Orlando, it's a big enough deal to have equal coverage to other local teams in media and draw big crowds.

I wonder if there is any chance that one of the top European leagues would be willing to work out an affiliation deal with MLS? Have the entire league move to the US for the first 4 or 6 matches of the season and require teams to loan players to their MLS affiliates.

This was actually attempted for a season back in 1966 by the United Soccer Association, who brought 12 teams to play 12 matches during the European offseason. The teams were rebranded to represent "their" new homes, e.g. Aberdeen FC of Scotland becoming the Washington Whips, and they drew about 8,000 per game.

The league merged with another to form the North American Soccer League, which would become a juggernaut and grew far too much to sustain itself before collapsing in the 1980s.

[1995hoo]

People calling MLS "the MLS," or for that matter calling MLB "the MLB," except in the situation where the term is an adjective ("the MLS schedule runs from late winter to mid-fall"). It stands for "Major League Soccer." You obviously wouldn't say, for example, "DC United play in the Major League Soccer" (setting aside that Charles Barkley "in the Annapolis" TV commercial). You'd say "DC United play in Major League Soccer." So why would anyone think they need to insert "the" when abbreviating it to "MLS"?

[formulanone]

In MLS cities, some fans care about their local team but couldn't care less about the rest of the league.

Uh, I think this occurs with all other team sports everywhere; not everyone is a fan of the sport for the sport's sake.

Once their team is out of the playoffs/tournament/finals/bowl game, there's a lot of people who just tune out.

[Roadgeekteen]

In MLS cities, some fans care about their local team but couldn't care less about the rest of the league.

Uh, I think this occurs with all other team sports everywhere; not everyone is a fan of the sport for the sport's sake.

Once their team is out of the playoffs/tournament/finals/bowl game, there's a lot of people who just tune out.

In Boston, barely anyone cares about even our own MLS team.

[triplemultiplex]

Can we get at least 25 years out of a stadium before the sports team starts grousing about getting a new one?  What a tremendous waste of our collective resources.
Oh boo-hoo there's not enough cocaine in the luxury boxes and hardly anywhere to park your helicopter.  You're breaking my heart.

[GaryV]

Once their team is out of the playoffs/tournament/finals/bowl game, there's a lot of people who just tune out.

Like in the 2nd or 3rd week of the season for Detroit teams?

[texaskdog]

So tired of so many penalties or that declined penalties are announced.

At least in football the officials know they need to keep the audience informed of what's going on (be it penalties or video review). In MLB, the audience typically has no idea on why a review might be called or other administrative tasks as the umpires aren't miced up. It even is a detriment to away announcers, who are still calling games remotely. (Jon Sciambi has brought this up numerous times this season, at least once when an umpire ejected someone in a dugout. Since the camera angle pointed over the dugout at the ump, the broadcasters had no idea exactly who was ejected, something they need to be able to communicate to viewers.)

If it's declined who cares?  Huge waste of time that extends the games.  It's like when someone tells you all the things they could have done.  If you didn't do them what's the point?

[texaskdog]

Can we get at least 25 years out of a stadium before the sports team starts grousing about getting a new one?  What a tremendous waste of our collective resources.
Oh boo-hoo there's not enough cocaine in the luxury boxes and hardly anywhere to park your helicopter.  You're breaking my heart.

True.  that's why prices keep escalating.

[I-55]

Can we get at least 25 years out of a stadium before the sports team starts grousing about getting a new one?  What a tremendous waste of our collective resources.
Oh boo-hoo there's not enough cocaine in the luxury boxes and hardly anywhere to park your helicopter.  You're breaking my heart.

True.  that's why prices keep escalating.

Well when helicopter boy and luxury girl are the ones supplying the most revenue they'll be the ones accommodated in the stadiums

[Alps]

People calling MLS "the MLS," or for that matter calling MLB "the MLB," except in the situation where the term is an adjective ("the MLS schedule runs from late winter to mid-fall"). It stands for "Major League Soccer." You obviously wouldn't say, for example, "DC United play in the Major League Soccer" (setting aside that Charles Barkley "in the Annapolis" TV commercial). You'd say "DC United play in Major League Soccer." So why would anyone think they need to insert "the" when abbreviating it to "MLS"?

"The NFL," "the NHL," "the NBA." People generally just say "baseball" vs. "MLB" but I think the dominant mode in conversation is "the" when abbreviated.

[Scott5114]

Well, that's because "the NFL" expands to "the National Football League", which makes grammatical sense.

Although now I want to say something like "The Rangers are a team that play the baseball" just to fuck with people.

[1995hoo]

People calling MLS "the MLS," or for that matter calling MLB "the MLB," except in the situation where the term is an adjective ("the MLS schedule runs from late winter to mid-fall"). It stands for "Major League Soccer." You obviously wouldn't say, for example, "DC United play in the Major League Soccer" (setting aside that Charles Barkley "in the Annapolis" TV commercial). You'd say "DC United play in Major League Soccer." So why would anyone think they need to insert "the" when abbreviating it to "MLS"?

"The NFL," "the NHL," "the NBA." People generally just say "baseball" vs. "MLB" but I think the dominant mode in conversation is "the" when abbreviated.

I've never heard anyone call it "the MLB"  when speaking, though I've certainly seen it written that way.

[Bruce]

Can we get at least 25 years out of a stadium before the sports team starts grousing about getting a new one?  What a tremendous waste of our collective resources.
Oh boo-hoo there's not enough cocaine in the luxury boxes and hardly anywhere to park your helicopter.  You're breaking my heart.

True.  that's why prices keep escalating.

Y'know, there's one major league in this country where you can still get tickets for less than an arm and a leg in normal times.

I've gone to a few Sounders games for under $10 to sit in the lower bowl by searching around on secondary markets. MLS is generally more affordable, though in some markets with limited stadium capacity you'd have to get your foot in the door early for cheaper season tickets.

[Scott5114]

Y'know, there's one major league in this country where you can still get tickets for less than an arm and a leg in normal times.

Yeah, you can see some Kentucky Derby qualifying races in person for free.

[Roadgeekteen]

Once their team is out of the playoffs/tournament/finals/bowl game, there's a lot of people who just tune out.

Like in the 2nd or 3rd week of the season for Detroit teams?

Hey the Red Wings won 4 cups not too long ago

[Flint1979]

Once their team is out of the playoffs/tournament/finals/bowl game, there's a lot of people who just tune out.

Like in the 2nd or 3rd week of the season for Detroit teams?

Hey the Red Wings won 4 cups not too long ago

Oh it's been awhile they haven't won since 2008.

[triplemultiplex]

Y'know, there's one major league in this country where you can still get tickets for less than an arm and a leg in normal times.

Yeah, you can see some Kentucky Derby qualifying races in person for free.

But if soccer and horsies were more popular, you can bet those leagues would be pulling the same shit.

[Bruce]

You can get overcharged to watch soccer in this country if you want...just if the teams playing are from Europe, Mexico, or it's a national team game.

The 2026 World Cup will have some really high ticket prices, guaranteed.

[Scott5114]

Y'know, there's one major league in this country where you can still get tickets for less than an arm and a leg in normal times.

Yeah, you can see some Kentucky Derby qualifying races in person for free.

But if soccer and horsies were more popular, you can bet those leagues would be pulling the same shit.

Admission isn't a principal source of revenue for horse racing, and wasn't even when it was more popular than it is today.

Hell, admission for the Derby itself, which is more or less the Super Bowl for horse racing, was only $75 this year if you bought it more than a month in advance.

[michravera]

Soccer fields are too big.  Heck, why not just play on a 40-acre square?

An average-sized professional soccer pitch is 76,900 sq ft (but there are size variations allowed by FIFA), while an NFL field is about 47,700 sq ft. Not too different in the scheme of things, which allows the two sports to share stadiums when properly designed.

Yes but in football the teams actually score

So do soccer teams. We just use normal counting.

(Another major annoyance: the ignorance of soccer, the one true world's game, displayed by the American public)

American football scores more. American football has far fewer 0-0 (before overtime) games than association football does.

Quality over quantity.

A goal is something that has to be earned, while a touchdown is just the expected end of a play.

A good scoreless draw is far more entertaining than a six-goal match. If you gave the sport an actual shot, you'd understand.

I've given it a shot, but the field is too big.  That means there's too much just piddling around by the players.  Shrink the thing in half, and I bet it would be a lot more entertaining.

Cut the pitch to 50 m and what you have is basically Hockey with too many people on the ice, too big of a ball, and players and a ball that move too slowly. It was exceptional and exciting, but a USA female player hit a goal from 54 m. A 50 m pitch would likely eliminate most of those 1-0 games, but I have a feeling that it would go too far in the other direction. 25-24 shootouts would be more common. The thing that I hate is that FIFA and IAAF don't make tracks and footy pitches compatible. 83 m straightaways and a 100 m pitch make it hard to hold races and matches in the same place.

[texaskdog]

Can we get at least 25 years out of a stadium before the sports team starts grousing about getting a new one?  What a tremendous waste of our collective resources.
Oh boo-hoo there's not enough cocaine in the luxury boxes and hardly anywhere to park your helicopter.  You're breaking my heart.

True.  that's why prices keep escalating.

Well when helicopter boy and luxury girl are the ones supplying the most revenue they'll be the ones accommodated in the stadiums

Minnesota was really into buying billionaires stadiums, and then they got to sell "seat licenses"

[texaskdog]

Y'know, there's one major league in this country where you can still get tickets for less than an arm and a leg in normal times.

Yeah, you can see some Kentucky Derby qualifying races in person for free.

But if soccer and horsies were more popular, you can bet those leagues would be pulling the same shit.

Admission isn't a principal source of revenue for horse racing, and wasn't even when it was more popular than it is today.

Hell, admission for the Derby itself, which is more or less the Super Bowl for horse racing, was only $75 this year if you bought it more than a month in advance.

Think of the cost per minute!

[NWI_Irish96]

Y'know, there's one major league in this country where you can still get tickets for less than an arm and a leg in normal times.

Yeah, you can see some Kentucky Derby qualifying races in person for free.

But if soccer and horsies were more popular, you can bet those leagues would be pulling the same shit.

Admission isn't a principal source of revenue for horse racing, and wasn't even when it was more popular than it is today.

Hell, admission for the Derby itself, which is more or less the Super Bowl for horse racing, was only $75 this year if you bought it more than a month in advance.

Think of the cost per minute!

14 races on the card, an average of about 2 minutes per race, so 28 minutes at a cost of $2.68 per minute. Similar to paying $160 for an NFL ticket or $130 for an NBA ticket.

[jeffandnicole]

Y'know, there's one major league in this country where you can still get tickets for less than an arm and a leg in normal times.

Yeah, you can see some Kentucky Derby qualifying races in person for free.

But if soccer and horsies were more popular, you can bet those leagues would be pulling the same shit.

Admission isn't a principal source of revenue for horse racing, and wasn't even when it was more popular than it is today.

Hell, admission for the Derby itself, which is more or less the Super Bowl for horse racing, was only $75 this year if you bought it more than a month in advance.

Think of the cost per minute!

14 races on the card, an average of about 2 minutes per race, so 28 minutes at a cost of $2.68 per minute. Similar to paying $160 for an NFL ticket or $130 for an NBA ticket.

But there's only 1 race that really matters. You're not buying one Superbowl ticket to see 14 games.

[NWI_Irish96]

Y'know, there's one major league in this country where you can still get tickets for less than an arm and a leg in normal times.

Yeah, you can see some Kentucky Derby qualifying races in person for free.

But if soccer and horsies were more popular, you can bet those leagues would be pulling the same shit.

Admission isn't a principal source of revenue for horse racing, and wasn't even when it was more popular than it is today.

Hell, admission for the Derby itself, which is more or less the Super Bowl for horse racing, was only $75 this year if you bought it more than a month in advance.

Think of the cost per minute!

14 races on the card, an average of about 2 minutes per race, so 28 minutes at a cost of $2.68 per minute. Similar to paying $160 for an NFL ticket or $130 for an NBA ticket.

But there's only 1 race that really matters. You're not buying one Superbowl ticket to see 14 games.

The first 3 quarters of an NBA game don't really matter either, but you have to buy a ticket to the whole game.