Why Messi is Bad for MLS 

I really like the Apple TV deal. It’s been awesome not having to search through Channels to find my team’s games. The ability to watch it on my computer, tv, phone etc. And Apple offered much more than any tv network, especially since their rights weren’t buoyed by USSF rights.

MLS has to compete with the NFL, MLB, NBA, CFB 🏈 , NHL, CBB 🏀 , LigaMX, and the EPL ⚽. When that is taken into account, MLS is on a positive trajectory. MLS is just now rounding-out into a full league (San Diego joins in 2025)..

Personally I would argue that Messi in MLS is what it is. Messi will make a ton of money for the league, and many people might be introduced to Major League Soccer and the fun times that comes with supporting your local club. Not everybody here for Messi will convert to a MLS hard core fan, I'd say 10-15% maybe 20% being overly generous, of all of the new people here for Messi will remain MLS fans the rest won't think about the league ever again unless the league grows to be as talked about as the NHL. I think the overall outcome will put the MLS in a better position than it was prior. It's a league that's been steadily growing year after year, and this will affect it's growth too. And about Messi dominating I'd argue it's too hard to tell if a Messi led Miami team can actually win a MLS cup or Supporter's shield. The current Miami team was really bad, and without Messi it was still the worst team in the league, even with other aging stars like Busquets the top teams that follow the real MLS meta of seeking out young talents or players who are too good for a second division but not able to be top division starter, the teams that do that are the teams that dominate MLS. Look at the top 6 teams in the Eastern conference just about all of them have no aging European star to be seen, and yet they were some of the best teams in the league. I'll use my club the Columbus Crew they just made it to MLS Cup. We're a club with young talent like our 22 year old Goal keeper from St Louis University Patrick Schulte, he won our reserve team the title last year, got signed to the first team, won the position as the starting keeper, and developed a ton over this season with much of the mistakes he made in his Crew 2 days, and early this season days being gone. The last two playoffs games have been determined by the amazing game saving saves by him. In our 2020 title season, home grown player Aidan Morris was a key factor in the 3-0 victory against the Seattle during MLS cup 2020. This current season his game has gotten even better under new coach Wilfred Nancy. He's a key factor in our mid field. Our star man 24 year old Colombian international Cucho Hernandez a premier league player for Watford until transferring to Columbus, he's a player with a ton of talent but he had issues breaking it as a starter in the Premier League, the goals he scored for Watford were often brilliant showing his massive potential, his transfer to Columbus has been wonderful for him. He joined mid season last year and still scored many goals, and in his first full season for the Crew he scored 20 goals in the regular season. Columbus isn't a city that would attract aging big name players, but it is a perfect city for the MLS player. It's comfortable city, that's not too big and it seems those kind of places attract the MLS level star. A young not yet good enough for a top division but too good for a second division kind of player. The old man kind of guy just doesn't work well for the league anymore. If you do have the aging player in your team you need to have plenty of young guns with a lot of talent to truly do well in this league. Messi is the goat without a doubt, and his presence on the field makes his team improve, and he can make some teams look awful. But without a true team of MLS level stars Miami has no chance to win anything more than a leagues cup a open cup, and maybe the Champions Cup which would be huge since it's supposed to be the biggest trophy a CONCACAF team can win. But for a full season of 34 games plus playoffs it's difficult to see Miami win a MLS cup or Supporter's shield without significant improvements of the team. Miami needs a roster built for MLS, and Messi can improve a MLS level roster ten fold. But Miami needs to construct a team that can win games without Messi being on the field for Messi to ever truly dominate the league. A few games and the side tournaments should be the goal for Messi's Miami. Their goal should be pushing for post-season success. But this depends on what they do this off season. MLS is indeed a niche league perhaps it could reach the NHL in terms of popularity however the majority of the NHL season and MLS season take place in two different time frames winter/summer, so the main competition to the MLS is the MLB and for the most part the two leagues attract different audiences. And by the time the other leagues like the NFL, NBA and NHL restart we are reaching the playoffs period in MLS which caters primarily to the MLS hardcore fan.

This video seems like a video that’s just fearful for MLS to hit a downfall after Messi. But its clear you too are new to the league and fail to see the longterm impacts and what players like Beckham, and such have done to the league. Like you mentioned the league averaged about 300,000 viewers per game. But then decided to choose ONE game, mind you being a debut game, of Messi and made a comparison of the league. On one hand, yeah there is a significant drop off in viewership when messi isnt playing but he’s also no bring in 3+ million people to watch every single game either. That was just his debut. And people know about the level of MLS and its only natural that Messi is going to burst onto the scene when he started to play. Look at what Ronaldo did to Saudi Arabia. Why is it when Ronaldo goes to Saudi Arabia, its praised but when Messi does it in MLS, its talked down upon? Literally same shit 😂😂 Only difference is Saudi have unlimited money and MLS is confined to their salary caps cuz, being brutally honest, the culture doesnt exist in the United States compared to the rest of the world. If the MLS has unrestricted salary caps, the league would fold pretty fast and certain markets would dominate heavily and the smaller ones would fall and fold all together. There’s a reason previous leagues in the US have failed before. Messi does being in revenue, we all know this and while he himself will eventually leave and so will his viewership, the league itself will continue to grow as it has before. When Beckham came and left, the average viewers in the league still increased every year. It was higher the season after he was gone (2014) compared to the season before he joined, (2006). On that same note, you mentioned viewership dropped in the last 3 years. Lets see what happened? Hmm, oh yeah COVID 😂😂 You’re very selective on what you say to make things look worse than it actually is. Everyone knows the obvious. But stretching the truth while also not explaining why is funny. MLS will continue to grow and have another burst of growth like it did with Beckham. You do make one good point, MLS definitely screwed itself with Apple. A lot of true MLS fans didn’t like the Apple Deal at all. That’s how i knew you’re a new person to the league, cuz any true fan knows Apple TV screwed over all the other ways of watching MLS games. But MLS did lowkey hurt itself as they couldve made a better deal for sure had they known Messi was coming. Regardless this video was fun to watch and seeing new people to the league realize what it is and helping the rest of us grow the league as it has been. Even people to care enough to make videos about it, and are fearful of the league’s growth after Messi leaves.

ZLATAN was sent back to Europe as a LOSER in MLS... And went on to win a Championship in Serie A. How bad is Serie A?

MLS average Payroll has DOUBLED every 5 to 6 years, steady growth.

The Apple TV deal does cause a barrier for entry, but honestly it isn’t too much worse than having MLS on channels like FOX that do not care at all. For $100 a year I can watch any game I want, I don’t even need to get the actual AppleTV subscription. I get that paying that price on top of other streamers isn’t feasible for some, but I think it’s the best coverage the league has had in a long time. And hey if you do like watching MLS on FS5 or whatever channel they have it on nowadays, they still show a few games on there. Either way, I don’t think there’s any reason to get out of it. Anyone making a tv deal with MLS knows that Messi is only here for a few years, I don’t think anyone else guarantees MLS as much at this point.

MLS already has larger Total Attendance than Ligue 1 🇫🇷 and when San Diego joins, MLS will likely surpass Série A 🇮🇹 and La Liga 🇪🇸 in Attendance too.

MLS Salaries have been DOUBLING every 5 years, and MLS actually has Subscription "kickers" built into the Apple TV deal. Once AppleTV subscritpions reaches a certain number, MLS earns dollar-for-dollar exactly what Apple TV earns. And i think signing Messi made them reach that Subscription minimum.

What a lazy take.

At the end of the day, there are too many subscriptions right now. I am not going to pay more money to Apple TV to watch MLS soccer. No offense to the MLS. But I already pay for Sunday Ticket, NBA League Pass, RU-vid TV in general, and Peacock for Premier League soccer.... I am not paying Apple TV for just Messi dominating everyone.

-MLS should change its structure to how the European League functions,Instead of following the play-off mode NBA and NFL have -This will bring about more interest from less fortunate communities hence thus a bigger who are more talented. -Not the previledged college going players that play football just for fun. -Then Join the continental competitions in Americas like copa libertadores. -Basically make the game global thus you will also get South American fans(fanatics) watching MLS. -I mean US has the money,just a bad strategy.

82,110 filled the ROSE BOWL 🏟 on 4th of July for a mid-season LAFC vs Galaxy rivalry game. And that was *_BEFORE_* the Messi signing.

Re-format the season tournament, make the East v West playoffs its own tournament, and start relegation as a way to deter mediocrity

MLS = 6th most WORLD CUP players. MLS actually sent the most players to the WORLD CUP than every league in the world outside of the Euro-Big 5. (that even before Messi joining).

Wrong on NCAA football game, you know nothing and nobody in that realm

MLS should removed the salary cap

I appreciate the time and effort that you put into these videos. Very entertaining, and they deserve more views!

When Messi was on that streak he played some of the worst teams. Every team has had the ability to do this, but they bring in players that were past their prime. Robbie Keane and Beckham were the exception.

I mean I don’t really think MLS can overtake any of the major sports in the USA any time soon regardless, and getting older and popular players is there best chance

Outdated takes

I think Americans have a very star driven mentality in sports so signing big names is essential but only part of the equation. those stars in Europe like Messi and Beckham showed the MLS set up a level of work ethic and professionalism from the other side of the pond MLS needs to internalise those

Love the take and I 100% agree man. The Apple TV is such a huge issue. Very few people have it, including myself. I’ve been interested in the league before, but the requirement of Apple TV killed it for me

1st also W vids man