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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- The latest episode of the World Soccer Talk Podcast is presented by Sling - sling-tv.pxf.i...
This week's news that USL Super League aims to launch a D1 women's league in 2024 is big news. It's a shot across the bow to NWSL who is already established as a D1 league. Could the United States be facing a situation where it has two D1 women's leagues next year?
To discuss this and many other related points, Christopher Harris and Kartik Krishnaiyer host the latest episode of the World Soccer Talk Podcast.
In addition to discussing NWSL vs USL Super League, they analyze what the latest development means for Apple and MLS in their decision to launch a free trial of the MLS Season Pass streaming service halfway through the regular season.
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I think all of these Soccer Wars are destructive nonsense and the USSF is delinquent in its responsibility to the game. However, given we have these things, this seems like a sensible move from USL. They've realised they're in the crosshairs now the NASL has disappeared and MLS are no longer cooperating with them. They need to establish a wider base so that if it all goes tits up, they're in decent position.
I agree. USSF has failed the sport by being packed with MLS insiders, refusing to sanction amateur leagues, multimillionaire ownership requirements, etc. Our "Division 1" leagues are basically just walking anti-trust violations, attempting to use USSF as a vehicle to restrict competition by refusing to sanction competitors.
You read a comment saying that no other streaming service offers a home team package. That's true because historically the streaming sports deals were usually for out of market games. Home matches are normally on regional cable TV channels. I was a subscriber of MLS's old streaming service from years ago. I don't think I would subscribe to the current service. It's included with my season tickets.
I feel like USL Super League establishing a team in Lexington is not only in the hopes of piggybacking off the popularity of the soccer in Louisville, but also to create derby value with Racing Louisville. At a minimum, this would allow Lexington to profit from promotional friendlies vs. Racing Louisville, but could also be a move to convince Racing to move to USL Super League. Racing's ownership group already has plenty of ties with USL through their brother team of Louisville City FC. It's not improbable that USL would like to create enough incentives to capture that team if Super League (and Lexington) really takes off.
With regards to USL Super League and NWSL it is all about how the teams market themselves to the local market. USL Super League have picked up strong markets and it is my belief that if they start today on building the market they will be ready to go day one. It is also the perfect way for USL to put USL Championship and Super League together in a package to put on ESPN+ and UA-cam internationally.
With regards to Apple, it's all about the product on the pitch and Chris, you stopped yourself from admitting the product on the pitch outside a few teams is lacking. You can put all the glitz and glamor on a product but if the product being sold (the actual game) isn't consistently good the people will catch on and they have for years. Games going 7:30 until after midnight isn't helping either because those on the east coast aren't going to stick around often for 10:30 starts. I doubt the numbers would be any better if the price point was 24.99 or 49.99.
Apple isn't going to take losses for long and if Apple aren't close to meeting their delta number for year one they will pull the plug. There's a reason the Apple has outs in the contract news got out and there have been no denials: Apple is already considering using it. The month trial is a hail mary that will fail. It is my belief if customers haven't already subscribed they aren't going to. Your right this is a blueprint, but Apple will pull the plug if they aren't meeting their target to process how to market to other leagues later.
It's not just MLS. It's most American sports.
The regular season is meaningless.
MLB TV has single team and radio plan options, but MLB TV also has blackout zones for home team markets.
I will only take the time to open the app on my TV to watch my local team's match. Then log off. I have zero interest in taking the time to open Apple TV app for additional content, MLS or otherwise
I agree with the assessment that there's less buzz around MLS this year. Also, it felt to me that the quality of play had been improving each year until this season.
The interface with the app is not formatted well for TV viewing. It's meant to be viewed from a phone and that's terrible.
Without a pro/rel system the best result from this new USL league would be an eventual merger with NWSL.
That may be what ends up happening but creating the Super League with a merger in mind is not what USL started with. They want to create a women's pyramid like how they have been on the men's side. They now have the USL W League and creating the Super League. After a few years of sustainability and success with the SL we will most likely see them creating a second pro tier that would be the equivalent of USL League One. Whether they start pro/rel themselves internally or not, USL has bigger ambitions that simply creating a competing league to force a merger.
The true best case scenario is that USL has picked the correct "sleeper" markets and puts pressure on NWSL to go on an unsustainable expansion spree which ends with USL Super League picking off the best NWSL clubs. If Lexington and Super League is successful, don't be surprised if Racing's ownership decides to pivot to the Super League. Depending on how the dominoes fall, they might not be the last.