The playoff numbers look like this... 5 year comparison Conference Semifinals – 1st Leg Avg +/- Home Teams 2005 12,147 NA Chicago NY Colorado Los Angeles 2006 9,533 -21.52% Chicago NY Colorado Chivas USA 2007 14,245 49.42% Chicago NY Dallas Kansas City 2008 10,476 -26.46% New England NY Salt Lake Kansas City 2009 19,985 […]

With the not too surprising news this morning that Chris Cummins is out as coach of Toronto FC, let’s look at the rest of the coaching candidates for dismissal in MLS. Starting from the team with the worst record in the league, the New York Red Bulls, and working our way up the table, these […]

The final regular season numbers look like this... 5 year comparison Final Week YTD Avg +/- GP Avg +/- GP 2005 18,417 6 15,108 192 2006 20,277 10.10% 6 15,504 2.62% 192 2007 20,575 1.47% 7 16,770 8.17% 195 2008 17,338 -15.73% 7 16,460 -1.85% 210 2009 19,916 14.87% 8 16,037 […]

After week 31 the numbers look like this... 5 year comparison WK 31 217 GP YTD Avg +/- GP Avg +/- Avg +/- GP 2005 18,417 6 15,957 15,108 192 2006 20,277 10.10% 6 16,157 1.25% 15,402 1.94% 192 2007 20,575 1.47% 7 16,359 1.25% 16,812 9.16% 195 2008 […]

After week 30 the numbers look like this... 5 year comparison WK 30 209 GP YTD Avg +/- GP Avg +/- Avg +/- GP 2005 18,417 6 15,969 15,108 192 2006 20,277 10.10% 6 16,247 1.74% 15,402 1.94% 192 2007 20,575 1.47% 7 16,600 2.18% 16,812 9.16% 195 2008 […]

It was a welcome announcement that MLS will not schedule matches during the group phase, semifinals and finals of the 2010 World Cup. That means the league will not play from Friday, June 11 through Friday, June 25. The WC round of 16 will be played from Saturday June 26 through Tuesday June 29. Wednesday […]

Over the next two days, many of soccer’s most influential executives from around the world will meet in London, England for the annual “Leaders in Football” conference. Included in that group are three representatives from the United States: Don Garber, MLS Commissioner and CEO; Sunil Gulati, USSF President; and Tim Leiweke, President and CEO of […]

After week 29 the numbers look like this... 5 year comparison WK 29 205 GP YTD Avg +/- GP Avg +/- Avg +/- GP 2005 18,417 6 15,959 15,108 192 2006 20,277 10.10% 6 16,235 1.73% 15,402 1.94% 192 2007 20,575 1.47% 7 16,587 2.17% 16,812 9.16% 195 2008 16,234 -21.10% 7 16,416 -1.03% 16,894 […]

After week 28 the numbers look like this... 5 year comparison WK 28 198 GP YTD Avg +/- GP Avg +/- Avg +/- GP 2005 17,148 9 15,949 15,001 186 2006 19,097 11.37% 6 16,225 1.73% 15,244 1.62% 186 2007 18,727 -1.94% 7 16,578 2.18% 16,672 9.36% 188 2008 […]

With less than a month left in the season, this is promising to be one of the more exciting run-ups the MLS has ever had. The new playoff format which allows wild card teams (teams that finish outside of the top two of their conference)to qualify based on their overall record rather than conference standings […]

After week 27 the numbers look like this... 5 year comparison WK 27 190 GP YTD Avg +/- GP Avg +/- Avg +/- GP 2005 18,227 6 15,033 14,938 177 2006 18,083 -0.79% 6 15,463 2.86% 15,116 1.19% 180 2007 18,241 0.87% 7 16,699 8.00% 16,593 9.77% 181 2008 […]

In my last post on MLS' future, I postulated that the television rights deals of the future will determine the level of play we will see on the field. I also stated that it is my belief that MLS must offer a better quality product on the field in order to achieve higher fees. Kind […]

After week 25 the numbers look like this... 5 year comparison WK 25 175 GP YTD Avg +/- GP Avg +/- Avg +/- GP 2005 15,302 6 14,878 14,912 162 2006 12,373 -19.15% 8 15,115 1.59% 14,997 0.57% 167 2007 18,809 52.02% 8 16,497 9.14% 16,251 8.36% 167 2008 […]

One of the major complains that many have against the MLS is that it is a developmental league. No American dreams of playing for the San Jose Earthquakes or the Kansas City Wizards – they imagine themselves playing in Italy, Spain or England. The best MLS players are always eyeing their European opportunities. Their agents […]

SUMmer of Soccer Continues The 'Summer of Soccer' which began on June 20, rolls on. As of now, over 1,455,000 have attended SuperLiga, the Gold Cup, the World Football Challenge and a variety of club and international friendlies. Since my last post on the SUMmer of Soccer, an International Friendly doubleheader was played and a […]