US Soccer and Volkswagen

Them why don’t you complain to Chevy for sponsoring a foreign Soccer team over the US National Team??

I could care less about somebody's else's national team or Chevy, this is about the USA national, youth teams, and the SUM sell out agreement done without consulting people here.

Nothing screams America like a big foreign car logo on a national team jesery.

This may well be a commercial win for somebody but when you put $$ over country people will voice there opinions.

Lets see some of VW money be used for something rather than adding to the triple digits xxx $millions$ war chest they have already accumulated and are not spending or investing in soccer.

How about increasing their network of scouts, inevesting in infrastructure, fields, more grassroots programs in urban and rural areas, lessen the financial burden on parents, coaches, quit depending on "clubs" to fund just about everything but a couple hundred (fed poverty level) kids who get a token amt spendt on travel.

If these items listed aren’t being benefitted from the deal, then wearing somebody else's logo and advertising for them for 4 years doesn't seem like a good deal to me.
 
I could care less about somebody's else's national team or Chevy, this is about the USA national, youth teams, and the SUM sell out agreement done without consulting people here.

Nothing screams America like a big foreign car logo on a national team jesery.

This may well be a commercial win for somebody but when you put $$ over country people will voice there opinions.

Lets see some of VW money be used for something rather than adding to the triple digits xxx $millions$ war chest they have already accumulated and are not spending or investing in soccer.

How about increasing their network of scouts, inevesting in infrastructure, fields, more grassroots programs in urban and rural areas, lessen the financial burden on parents, coaches, quit depending on "clubs" to fund just about everything but a couple hundred (fed poverty level) kids who get a token amt spendt on travel.

If these items listed aren’t being benefitted from the deal, then wearing somebody else's logo and advertising for them for 4 years doesn't seem like a good deal to me.
Like I said....some people need to find something to be offended by..guess you didn’t have to look to far. Better go check the US Sailing Team too as they are also sponsored by a foreign company.

I guess it’s ok to accept their jobs and tax revenue but unpatriotic to have them in your Nat’l team jersey.
 
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@jpeter
Out of curiosity, what do you believe is an acceptable amount for a non-profit like US Soccer to retain as liquid reserves and investment?
 
I heard the guy who did the deal with ManU at Chevy was let go shortly after the deal was signed.
Chevy sells very few cars in the UK (so I’ve heard. No research to back this up) and the higher ups over there were pissed about the deal.
I wonder how it’s worked out for them since?
If you watch a typical EPL game, you will see many Chinese ads flashing through the electronic billboards behind the pitch. For a global brand like ManU, I imagine for any given match there are more people watching it globally than domestically. Therefore, putting a global brand like Chevy on ManU jerseys makes sense even if Chevy sells very few cars in the UK.

However, no one I know in China pays any attention to USMNT :).
 
@jpeter
Out of curiosity, what do you believe is an acceptable amount for a non-profit like US Soccer to retain as liquid reserves and investment?

MWN, I'm in no way siding with JPeter, and I don't know what the proper amount of reserves should be without looking at their financials and projections. What I do know is that US Soccer's level of investment in developing youth soccer is not acceptable. They only gave out 580 scholarships for DA last year and other than providing the framework and paying for refs (which cost is covered in part with fees we pay to DA) US Soccer has very little investment in youth soccer. It's particularly small in relation to the amount paid by parents to the DA clubs to have US Soccer limit when and where their child plays soccer. US Soccer's lack of buy-in along with its arrogance is why it has failed, and will fail at developing players in its programs.
 
1. The 2018 VW Atlas SUV we bought is a POS. So my vote is NO.:mad:

2. Zildjian Cymbals is one of the world's oldest family businesses. Over 400 years. Originated in Constantinople..what is now Turkey. Been in the US since 1929. Is that American enough?? Still family owned/run. I'm sure there'd be some haters who don't like the way the logo looks. Probably too middle-eastern looking for some given the current War on Terror etc. etc. (I'm very thankful for the L80 line of noise-reducing cymbals they make. Makes listening to my son smash those things much easier given the reduced noise.;))

But yes it's true..you can't hold current VW accountable for what happened decades ago. I'm sure if my grandfather was alive today he wouldn't have an issue with this. He flew 30 missions in a B-17 in the European Theater of WWII fighting the Nazis. I highly doubt he'd be holding a grudge and be against seeing that logo on the front of any of his great-grandkid's jerseys.

I am curious though to see how much work US Soccer put into trying to secure an American-made company on the front of the jersey.
Anheuser-Busch would've been another cool choice. Born in America over 160yrs ago. Until they sold out to a Euro company. :eek:
oh man I was considering the atlas!
 
@watfly,
The opinion you expressed is inconsistent with the organizational structure of US Soccer. US Soccer is a National Governing Body (NGB) under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. Under US Soccer's Bylaws it is supposed to support "youth participation" through its "Youth Council," the members of which are US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer and AYSO. There is a professional council (MLS, USL, and NWSL) and an amature adult council. The structure of US Soccer is supposed to be that US Soccer:
  1. Fields the National Teams (USMNT and USWNT and the youth all-star teams USYNT)
  2. Promotes the sport through its Councils (National Council, made up of the Adult, Pro and Youth)
  3. Regulates the Sport
The Development Academy is just a league that US Soccer created outside its Youth Council, which really pissed off the Youth Council members, especially US Club and US Youth and it continues to create an internal political problem for US Soccer in this regard. The MLS (Pro Adult Council member) goaded US Soccer into creating the league, which is hindsight was probably a mistake, but at the time the MLS needed some Federation assistance because US Club and US Youth were not inclined to play the MLS' game.

From a pure organizational standpoint. US Soccer IS NOT SUPPOSED to make direct investments to Youth programs, that is the job of the Youth Councils. The Youth Council members are supposed to raise their own funds and promote their vision of youth soccer, without much interference from the Federation or the National Council. US Soccer, through the National Council assists the various Councils (Pro, Adult and Youth), helps set their budgets and also makes (or did make) donations to the US Soccer Foundation (a separate 501(c)(3)).

The problem we get into is the vast amount of money that US Soccer receives is generated from its National Team activities and alot of it is earmarked for reinvestment back into the National Team activities. If we redirect those funds to the Youth Council, the National Team suffers.

Are you suggesting that we rewrite the US Soccer Bylaws? Article 312 relates to the Youth Council.
https://www.ussoccer.com/about/governance/bylaws
 
@watfly,
The opinion you expressed is inconsistent with the organizational structure of US Soccer. US Soccer is a National Governing Body (NGB) under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. Under US Soccer's Bylaws it is supposed to support "youth participation" through its "Youth Council," the members of which are US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer and AYSO. There is a professional council (MLS, USL, and NWSL) and an amature adult council. The structure of US Soccer is supposed to be that US Soccer:
  1. Fields the National Teams (USMNT and USWNT and the youth all-star teams USYNT)
  2. Promotes the sport through its Councils (National Council, made up of the Adult, Pro and Youth)
  3. Regulates the Sport
The Development Academy is just a league that US Soccer created outside its Youth Council, which really pissed off the Youth Council members, especially US Club and US Youth and it continues to create an internal political problem for US Soccer in this regard. The MLS (Pro Adult Council member) goaded US Soccer into creating the league, which is hindsight was probably a mistake, but at the time the MLS needed some Federation assistance because US Club and US Youth were not inclined to play the MLS' game.

From a pure organizational standpoint. US Soccer IS NOT SUPPOSED to make direct investments to Youth programs, that is the job of the Youth Councils. The Youth Council members are supposed to raise their own funds and promote their vision of youth soccer, without much interference from the Federation or the National Council. US Soccer, through the National Council assists the various Councils (Pro, Adult and Youth), helps set their budgets and also makes (or did make) donations to the US Soccer Foundation (a separate 501(c)(3)).

The problem we get into is the vast amount of money that US Soccer receives is generated from its National Team activities and alot of it is earmarked for reinvestment back into the National Team activities. If we redirect those funds to the Youth Council, the National Team suffers.

Are you suggesting that we rewrite the US Soccer Bylaws? Article 312 relates to the Youth Council.
https://www.ussoccer.com/about/governance/bylaws

Thanks for the info, so not only is US Soccer arrogant and incompetent they are structurally flawed as a result of its bylaws. US Soccer can't have it both ways. It can't create its own league, DA, that is the alleged "pathway" to the USNT and to "create world class players" and fund it just a little bit and expect it to be successful. This is a classic example of "put your money where your mouth is". This is also a prime example of US Soccer's arrogance, it put its name on it, you pay for it and then tell you when and where your kids will play. If it wants to create its own league that serves as a pathway to its National Team then it should put more "skin in the game". If its bylaws prevent it from investing in and promoting youth programs then it shouldn't be allowed to have the DA, which while minimal, it is investing in, or change its bylaws to allow investment in a DA program. You also state that it's up to the Youth Councils to promote their vision of youth soccer and raise funds for it and that according to the bylaws US Soccer is not to interfere with that vision. Well just a heads up, but US Soccer is interfering with the Youth Councils visions with its own vision of youth soccer through the DA. Not only is it generally interfering with the Youth Council's vision of youth soccer, but on top of that its explicitly controlling players and preventing them from having any other "vision" but that of US Soccer's. If you want to shove your own vision as the top league down everyone's throats than you should raise your own funds to promote it just like the Youth Council's are required. US Soccer should either be all in (or at least a sizable investment) on DA, or all out. They're half assing right now which is why it hasn't been successful. Is there anything in the US Soccer bylaws that prevents them in investing in coaching education? Because improved, more available and lower cost training would go a long way to improve youth soccer.
 
Like I said....some people need to find something to be offended by..guess you didn’t have to look to far. Better go check the US Sailing Team too as they are also sponsored by a foreign company.

I guess it’s ok to accept their jobs and tax revenue but unpatriotic to have them in your Nat’l team jersey.
Here are a few more Fortune 500 companies who had their hand in the Nazi Regime. Let’s go get em!:D
http://www.cracked.com/article_1576...ne-500-five-popular-brands-nazis-gave-us.html
 
Surprised IKEA wasn’t on the list. My father in law refuses to step foot in one because they were sympathizers.
 
He also refuses to buy a bmw or Mercedes. But drives a Lexus. I guess Pearl Harbor wasn’t that big of a deal to him.
 
He also refuses to buy a bmw or Mercedes. But drives a Lexus. I guess Pearl Harbor wasn’t that big of a deal to him.
Did he explain that one to you? :confused: My wife’s grandfather (who is still living) survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. He’s okay with German and Japanese vechicles.
 
1. The 2018 VW Atlas SUV we bought is a POS. So my vote is NO.:mad:

2. Zildjian Cymbals is one of the world's oldest family businesses. Over 400 years. Originated in Constantinople..what is now Turkey. Been in the US since 1929. Is that American enough?? Still family owned/run. I'm sure there'd be some haters who don't like the way the logo looks. Probably too middle-eastern looking for some given the current War on Terror etc. etc. (I'm very thankful for the L80 line of noise-reducing cymbals they make. Makes listening to my son smash those things much easier given the reduced noise.;))

But yes it's true..you can't hold current VW accountable for what happened decades ago. I'm sure if my grandfather was alive today he wouldn't have an issue with this. He flew 30 missions in a B-17 in the European Theater of WWII fighting the Nazis. I highly doubt he'd be holding a grudge and be against seeing that logo on the front of any of his great-grandkid's jerseys.

I am curious though to see how much work US Soccer put into trying to secure an American-made company on the front of the jersey.
Anheuser-Busch would've been another cool choice. Born in America over 160yrs ago. Until they sold out to a Euro company. :eek:
I test drove the VW Atlas I passed on it. Though I did have a 2004 VW Touareg V8 All Motion. I have to say it was a badass vehicle. Chirped on corners. It was the one year it was almost identical to the Cayenne Turbo.
 
I’m curious how many boycotters of brands served their country? One of the reasons why taxpayer bailout money went to the auto industry wasn’t to keep capitalism alive. It was to keep them in business in case we need production of military items.
 
Can’t say I’m a fan of the big ole sponsor logo taking over the front of jersey’s, hard to see or tell what’s being represented when the large “XYZ” logo is centered & so much bigger than the team name which is off to the side often for example.

There has been previous USA Olympic sport programs sponsored by foreign companies out of desperation, hope, or whatever the case was from the one of the worst made vehicles of all time: Yugo to Mizuno a Japanese company that makes pretty good quality products.

Last article I read was that USSF has/had $100-110 million dollars in reserves or investments and SUM operates as a subsidiary of Major League Soccer.

That relationship and that fact that SUM negotiated this deal is what is troubling to me. Is MLS calling the shots for the National, Youth teams, and for US soccer through a company; Soccer United Marketing LLC that very few know anything about and was only reportedly created for “Marketing” purposes by MLS but now does much more than that in reality.

Somethings don’t jive quit right in this setup and the legal, marketing, accounting and Investment activities/costs could be quiet high as a result. Perhaps so much they can take away from the actual positive impacts or contributions to us soccer, especially from a youth or coaching standpoint. For example of the 500+ or so scholarships given by USSDA to low income participates that amounts to slightly more than 600k a year. The coaching courses to advance licenses have go up in price while there are fewer offered.

So what does USSF actually spend there profit on from the national teams and tournaments? How much of every dollar do they take in goes to SUM? or what are they spending on legal, marketing, investment, and accounting fees/costs per year?

SUM and other firms are not working for the USSF for free and they do get a cut of these deals, % of whatever it is but of course this is not advertised or transparent at all. Cost of doing business related to what they are contributing to US soccer is what? For every 100 million in profit what in the world are they doing with it?

Where is the return on the investment? Adding reserves for what? A rainy day when the US women don’t make the cut seems unlikely so why do they need these large amounts stashed anyway for a non profit? Just in case fewer people decide to buy ticket to the national team tour events, gold cup or whatever?

Seeing how soccer is what the 3rd or 4th most popular played sport now in the USA, there should be enough possible sponsors to choose from where we don’t need to react out of desperation or greed & take on some questionable deals without regard to how the general public may receive them or not. By the reaction on the USSF sites and others so far appears to be a negative overall on this VW deal but there is always Fahrvergnügen to fall back on maybe VW with paint some of there autos red, white, and blue so the USSF & SUM folks have some new rides to the showcases or events.
 
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