Walt Disney World Resort agrees multi-year sponsorship deal with new MLS team Orlando City Soccer

[brifraz]

Huge, huge mistake branding our league with European traditions. The league started as a unique American sport. Although not taken seriously by FIFA, it was very popular among Americans. A major complaint of the sport is that so many games end with no winner. In the early days of the league, games ending in a tie would resort to a hockey style, 1 v 1 shoutout which was extremely exciting and something totally unique to the MLS. Also, games were exactly 90 minutes and time was known by all by the use of a clock keeping official time counting down from 45 each half.

I have to disagree. The overwhelming majority of MLS fans are European and South American football fans, who were quickly alienated by the different rules from the football they were used to watching (one of numerous factors attributed to the huge decline in MLS attendance from season 1 to season 2). The rules were changed after 1998 to match those of the rest of the world. At that time, average attendance at MLS was about 14,000 fans per game. Over the past 15 seasons attendance has increased slowly to an average now over 19,000 per game.

If you prefer games to not end in a tie, have a precise clock, and (not sure if you would prefer this or not) have increased scoring, I encourage you to check out the MASL, Major Arena Soccer League. Playoffs just started for that league (which plays in hockey arenas on artificial turf) last week and while their attendance is a little sad (a couple thousand per game, max) and they have no TV deal, all the games are available to watch online.

Go Aberdeen, Newcastle, DC United, and Baltimore Blast (and Jeff Gordon)!

 

[brifraz]

Pertaining to the thread however, Disney has enough out there that they didn't need to do this with the soccer team. Is this a way that they're going to try and entice a certain percentage/demographic to leave the parks and entertain them another way? Will Disney provide transportation to and from the games from the resorts?

I think has very little to do with the parks and getting people to the parks or getting people from the resort to the games. I think it is getting the Disney name into even more into football friendly markets. Our daughter attended the Disney Soccer Academy last summer at WWOS and based on the press releases, it appears the OCFC players will likely be involved in programs like that with Disney (she is going back this summer, so I hope so!). There are MANY who attend that academy from other countries and I think backing an MLS team enhances the image even more of the program.

With the first OCFC game (tomorrow night at 5pm on ESPN2) selling over 60,000 tickets and filling the Citrus Bowl, I think Disney is already feeling pretty good about the investment. In terms of advertising revenue, I know many who will be watching that game on TV just because it is a Disney sponsored team, which improves the numbers for ESPN, who can sell advertising at a higher rate for MLS games, which means...more money in the corporate Disney bank accounts!

 

[brifraz]

Well, the shootout has ruined the NHL. There are too many good games that get ruined by the novelty act. I hope that the NHL adopts the AHL's trial of the 4v4 for 3 minutes, then 3v3 for 3 minutes then shootout if there is no winner for an overtime.

Agree with this 100%! Hate shootouts in any sport. I do like the reduced team size overtime periods (in soccer as well) as a way to determine a winner if necessary.

 

[xdan0920]

Ah, how I missed the dumb American hot takes on soccer. Glad to see people still fighting that fight.

 

[mousehockey37]

Ah, how I missed the dumb American hot takes on soccer. Glad to see people still fighting that fight.

Soccer/Football is one of the biggest international sports. It is catching back on in the US, but it won't be a marquee sport here. It's popularity spikes every few years when you have the Olympics or the World Cup.

 

[brifraz]

Soccer/Football is one of the biggest international sports. It is catching back on in the US, but it won't be a marquee sport here. It's popularity spikes every few years when you have the Olympics or the World Cup.

I used to think that was the case, but in terms of US fans both watching and going to soccer games, the numbers (removing the actual World Cup numbers) show a steady increase over the past 15 years.

TV-wise, those numbers are hard to really look at as viewership has increased greatly, but so has accessibility. 15 years ago, it was tough to find any soccer on US TV - now, between NBC, NBCSports, Foxsports (and FoxSoccer and FoxSoccer Plus), and BeIn sports you have more soccer on US television than ever before. I can easily watch 40 live games each week (my wife limits me to 4 or 5 ) but a decade ago I had to search for the 2 that were on.

Attendance numbers, though, show a steady rise year by year for MLS with only very slight bumps in World Cup years and indoor soccer (supposedly the American-ized version of the game, faster and more goals) attendance has really not increased much since the 1990s.

The flip side is that soccer has been the most popular participation sport (mainly youth) in the US for over 20 years and has continued to grow during those 20 years. And I've always wondered why the thousands upon thousands of kids who play don't end up watching when they grow up??

In terms of it becoming a marquee sport in the US, never say never. 50 years ago people said there was no chance that american football would be more popular than baseball, but now it is. In Seattle, the MLS team outdraws the MLB team (~44K per game to ~24K per game) and in Portland, MLS and NBA have almost the same average attendance. A decade ago people would have said that was impossible.

I apologize for derailing to some degree, but I am a bit passionate about the sport and have put a lot of time and energy into it (playing, coaching, promoting, ref-ing, running youth leagues).

 

[breakin2]

It's cool to make fun of soccer, right?! Right?!

#dumb

I probably know more about soccer than you do. I've actually been to games at Old Trafford. It was a joke about the relative "minor league" nature of the MLS.

#uptight

 

[stuart]

Semi tempted to go see one of their games when over in the summer. Will keep an eye on their results. Would imagine there will be strips and other merchandise on sale somewhere at downtown or ESPN club. Hopefully the strips wont have prices from Mars like the world cup ones last year.

I do still think its painful to watch how some of the presenters on US tv who have only basic knowledge of football discuss it using metaphors from other sports or have the gaps in their knowledge exposed.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

Well, the shootout has ruined the NHL. There are too many good games that get ruined by the novelty act.

Yeah because ties are awesome!!!!!

 

[mousehockey37]

Yeah because ties are awesome!!!!!

Well, the AHL is trying out a longer OT period. 4 minutes of 4v4 then 3v3 for 3 minutes. It extends OT and you subtract a player a little over halfway through. If they can't settle it in 7 minutes, then they do a 3 round (at least) shootout. So hopefully the NHL picks that up going into next season because 5 minutes sometimes isn't enough.

It's always been a big divide within the sport. Yes, a shootout gives you a winner, but it takes away the team element and makes it about individuals.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

Well, the AHL is trying out a longer OT period. 4 minutes of 4v4 then 3v3 for 3 minutes. It extends OT and you subtract a player a little over halfway through. If they can't settle it in 7 minutes, then they do a 3 round (at least) shootout. So hopefully the NHL picks that up going into next season because 5 minutes sometimes isn't enough.

It's always been a big divide within the sport. Yes, a shootout gives you a winner, but it takes away the team element and makes it about individuals.

The addition of the shootout didn't change the game in any way. No team aspect of the game went missing at all. It simply added an actual resolution to deadlocked games. As long as they keep the shootouts in the regular season and out of the playoffs then they have improved the games.

I also like the AHL system that you described, however they also see the need for a shootout if no one scores.

 

[brifraz]

Yeah because ties are awesome!!!!!

I am assuming based on the quantity of exclamation points that this is sarcasm. Personally, I have no problem with a tie. If two teams are evenly matched shouldn't it be a tie? The only time that it would be absolutely necessary to have a winner/loser would be in playoffs (which the vast majority of world soccer leagues have a plan for which involves 30 minutes of additional game time before resorting to a shootout). When teams tie during the regular season, especially more than once, it creates an even greater excitement over the possible eventual meeting in the playoffs.

 

[brifraz]

I probably know more about soccer than you do. I've actually been to games at Old Trafford. It was a joke about the relative "minor league" nature of the MLS.

#uptight

Your original post also led me to believe that you were mocking soccer fans in the US. Yes, the MLS is far inferior in quality to EPL or Bundesliega or Serie A, but the average attendance is closing in on 20,000 per game so it sounded like your original comment was making fun of soccer.

#Aberdeen1982/83 (Sir Alex before Man U)

 

[FutureCEO]

Good for football in the states but until the quality of play improves and the MLS stops being known as a retirement league (Kaka, Gerrard, Beckham), the MLS will never be that popular.

I see more EPL games on TV than I see Revolution games which is only an hour from my house.

 

[Nubs70]

Yeah because ties are awesome!!!!!

If you have never played the game, I understand your sarcasm.

 

[Nubs70]

I am assuming based on the quantity of exclamation points that this is sarcasm. Personally, I have no problem with a tie. If two teams are evenly matched shouldn't it be a tie? The only time that it would be absolutely necessary to have a winner/loser would be in playoffs (which the vast majority of world soccer leagues have a plan for which involves 30 minutes of additional game time before resorting to a shootout). When teams tie during the regular season, especially more than once, it creates an even greater excitement over the possible eventual meeting in the playoffs.

Ties also hamper the sportsbook.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

I am assuming based on the quantity of exclamation points that this is sarcasm. Personally, I have no problem with a tie. If two teams are evenly matched shouldn't it be a tie? The only time that it would be absolutely necessary to have a winner/loser would be in playoffs (which the vast majority of world soccer leagues have a plan for which involves 30 minutes of additional game time before resorting to a shootout). When teams tie during the regular season, especially more than once, it creates an even greater excitement over the possible eventual meeting in the playoffs.

You know, I'm just going to have to agree to disagree on this. There is nothing exciting nor anticipation-building to me about a tie. Shoot outs are exciting to me... shoot outs make me want to come back and pay more $$. Ties just don't.

I realize that the teams were evenly matched, I really do. But I don't see what harm a shoot-out in the regular season does.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

If you have never played the game, I understand your sarcasm.

Exactly. I've never played hockey before, like the VAST majority of people paying to see NHL games. I grew up watching it, but have never even lived in a place where anyone plays hockey. The shootout makes a regular season game much more enjoyable. It doesn't affect the normal match at all. It's an add-on that's very exciting and brings a resolution to the game.

 

[brifraz]

You know, I'm just going to have to agree to disagree on this. There is nothing exciting nor anticipation-building to me about a tie. Shoot outs are exciting to me... shoot outs make me want to come back and pay more $$. Ties just don't.

I realize that the teams were evenly matched, I really do. But I don't see what harm a shoot-out in the regular season does.

Exactly. I've never played hockey before, like the VAST majority of people paying to see NHL games. I grew up watching it, but have never even lived in a place where anyone plays hockey. The shootout makes a regular season game much more enjoyable. It doesn't affect the normal match at all. It's an add-on that's very exciting and brings a resolution to the game.

I would compare it to a baseball game being tied after 9 innings and instead of extra innings having a home run hitting contest, or an American football game being tied at the end of the game and having a one-on-one race for the endzone between one offensive player and one defensive player. As a fan, I would not like either of those possibilities.

As a player, I absolutely hate the shoot out. I have been on and coached teams that were excellent players and very successful on the field but abysmal at penalty kicks. Since there is generally only one PK in every 4 or 5 games, it is not a skill that the majority of players spend a lot of time on - even most professional teams only have one or two PK takers (and, heck, Lionel Messi, one of the best players in the world, consistently has problems making them).

 

[stuart]

Penalties are great to watch...so long as its not your team. They are hellish to watch if its your team taking them. The last game I was at with penalties I was pretty sure the guy in front of me, same age, late 20s, was gonna take ill. Being behind that goal, and a nervy end to game hadn't helped anyone's cause.

Here we are, as 2014 Scottish Cup Winners, the mighty St Johnstone, knock out FC Luzern of Switzerland in the UEFA Europa League at a near capacity crowd at McDiarmid Park last July

St. Johnstone v Luzern penalty shoot out 24/7/14: