OK, I admit that I am copy-catting the NFL thread, but with no ill-will meant towards "American" Football. I just happened to start following - and became absolutely captivated - by Major League Soccer this year, and we are currently in the midst of the Playoffs for the season.
MLS soccer has expanded from 10 teams to 19. This past year, attendance at MLS games has exceeded attendance at NBA and NHL games!. The notion that Football, Baseball, Basketball, and Hockey are America's "Big 4" and Soccer is some orphan-euro-latino stepchild are OVER. The US now has a "Big 5" Professional Sports Industry. Anyone who doesnt believe that should take a look at the 25,000-seat Red Bull Stadium in Harrison NJ or the caliber of the players that the NY RedBulls, the Chicago Fire, the LA Galaxy, Sporting Kansas City, or the San José Earthquakes have attracted. (And I'm not prejudiced just because I coached soccer and all 6 of my kids played...although my youngest son is on Varsity Football right now )
And, just because I fucking love Red Bull Stadium (and close-to-despise CitiField), here's a Blogpost of mine from this past summer:
Tully's Page: A Tale of Two Stadiums: NY Red Bulls, and Mets' Citi Field
So, I didnt know if there were any other soccer nuts on board, but I figured, what the hell.....
MLS soccer has expanded from 10 teams to 19. This past year, attendance at MLS games has exceeded attendance at NBA and NHL games!. The notion that Football, Baseball, Basketball, and Hockey are America's "Big 4" and Soccer is some orphan-euro-latino stepchild are OVER. The US now has a "Big 5" Professional Sports Industry. Anyone who doesnt believe that should take a look at the 25,000-seat Red Bull Stadium in Harrison NJ or the caliber of the players that the NY RedBulls, the Chicago Fire, the LA Galaxy, Sporting Kansas City, or the San José Earthquakes have attracted. (And I'm not prejudiced just because I coached soccer and all 6 of my kids played...although my youngest son is on Varsity Football right now )
And, just because I fucking love Red Bull Stadium (and close-to-despise CitiField), here's a Blogpost of mine from this past summer:
Tully's Page: A Tale of Two Stadiums: NY Red Bulls, and Mets' Citi Field
So, I didnt know if there were any other soccer nuts on board, but I figured, what the hell.....
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