MLS NEXT no longer tracking standings for U13 and U14 - WHY?

[Carlsbad7]

I don't think it'll ever change. I don't care what Landon Donovan tries to do. He can't make soccer bigger than what is like 10th most popular league (in terms of MLS).

What's needed is for this to become WAY bigger a business where developing players MATTER because they can sell the players.
But it's a bit of a chicken and the egg conundrum. It'll have to be one of the biggest leagues in the world for America to develop good enough players to sell to Europe... But right now... there is just ZERO incentive too... because MLS teams would rather buy players from Europe or South America on the cheap... yes there are some splashy DP transfer for 8 figures... but most of the times if they need a player for a playoff push, they can get a proven player who's already playing in an adult league and is a professional... and it's very cheap...

Agtee x1000%

MLS is not high level but its able to put on enough of a show that it covers the costs.

This "good enough" thought process is why MLS has a challenge getting new fans. It all comes down to how the league is strucuteed. As franchises of MLS vs independent clubs that happen to participate in a league.

 

[tjinaz]

Agtee x1000%

MLS is not high level but its able to put on enough of a show that it covers the costs.

This "good enough" thought process is why MLS has a challenge getting new fans. It all comes down to how the league is strucuteed. As franchises of MLS vs independent clubs that happen to participate in a league.

Actually.. if you look at the top sports in USA soccer is now 3rd. Not saying MLS is third but soccer is the 3rd watched sport.

American football (NFL) is the most popular sport in the US, with roughly 36–40% of fans calling it their favorite. It is followed by basketball (NBA), baseball (MLB), and the rapidly growing sport of soccer. Ice hockey (NHL) and motorsports also maintain significant popularity. [1, 2, 3, 4]

1. American Football (NFL): The dominant spectator sport in the U.S. (41% of adults report it as their favorite).
2. Basketball (NBA): Frequently cited as the second-favorite sport, boasting high viewership in both the NBA and college basketball (NCAA).
3. Soccer: Has grown rapidly, with recent reports indicating it has overtaken baseball in popularity to become the third-favorite sport.
4. Baseball (MLB): Long considered America's "pastime," it remains a top spectator sport, though its popularity has dropped below basketball and soccer.
5. Ice Hockey (NHL): Consistently ranks among the top professional sports, with a strong, dedicated fanbase. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Since dawn of time and until the end of time, people with resources (connections, networks, money) will utilize what they've got to see that their kids can gain an edge. Not necessarily a bad thing. The problem is people get into gray areas and sometimes downright fraud (Varsity Blues college admissions scandal where $25m in bribes were paid out to sports coaches of colleges... you know all the story). I heard it's very common practice in Newport Beach to get a local doc there to sign off on ADHD or anxiety disorder so that kids can get unlimited time for all their standardized testing... AP SAT ACT...

Not a bad thing? That is terrible and one of the reasons why we can't field the best. Those connections not only put someone in a slot they didn't earn but prevent someone that earned it from being there. Its ALWAYS a bad thing.

 

[Socal-Soccer-Dad]

Actually.. if you look at the top sports in USA soccer is now 3rd. Not saying MLS is third but soccer is the 3rd watched sport.

American football (NFL) is the most popular sport in the US, with roughly 36–40% of fans calling it their favorite. It is followed by basketball (NBA), baseball (MLB), and the rapidly growing sport of soccer. Ice hockey (NHL) and motorsports also maintain significant popularity. [1, 2, 3, 4]

1. American Football (NFL): The dominant spectator sport in the U.S. (41% of adults report it as their favorite).
2. Basketball (NBA): Frequently cited as the second-favorite sport, boasting high viewership in both the NBA and college basketball (NCAA).
3. Soccer: Has grown rapidly, with recent reports indicating it has overtaken baseball in popularity to become the third-favorite sport.
4. Baseball (MLB): Long considered America's "pastime," it remains a top spectator sport, though its popularity has dropped below basketball and soccer.
5. Ice Hockey (NHL): Consistently ranks among the top professional sports, with a strong, dedicated fanbase. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Your list lists domestic leagues for all other sports and then "Soccer" instead of MLS.

I had posted here before and compared domestic leagues ranked by TV rights money and MLS is like 10th or 11th behind SEC and March Madness.

MLS's historic Apple TV money is about 1/10th of NFL's.

You can't count Premier League or La Liga watching soccer fans as how soccer is popular in the US... Certainly not to point to the increasing enterprise that is domestic soccer... the TV money is flowing to Spain and England... to further develop and distance themselves from American soccer market...

Since dawn of time and until the end of time, people with resources (connections, networks, money) will utilize what they've got to see that their kids can gain an edge. Not necessarily a bad thing. The problem is people get into gray areas and sometimes downright fraud (Varsity Blues college admissions scandal where $25m in bribes were paid out to sports coaches of colleges... you know all the story). I heard it's very common practice in Newport Beach to get a local doc there to sign off on ADHD or anxiety disorder so that kids can get unlimited time for all their standardized testing... AP SAT ACT...

Not a bad thing? That is terrible and one of the reasons why we can't field the best. Those connections not only put someone in a slot they didn't earn but prevent someone that earned it from being there. Its ALWAYS a bad thing.

You might have heard about the Newport Beach doc from me...

The gray area exists in South America and European youth soccer too...

The thing is because the market is SO big, you'll get some kids who don't deserve it go through the system but in the end the business is so big that clubs can't afford to not get the best kids into the first team... (to sell or not having to buy...)

The connections aren't what's wrong with soccer in the US. That's merely an excuse.

Again, it's simply that it's a peripheral sport. Just think about it being as big as the NFL... or just imagine it being NFL College Football NBA and MLS combined... because that's essentially what the obsession is in South America and Europe... When you envision that for America, there's no doubt in my mind we can be one of the world's elites... if not the very best...