Atlanta United is in the MLS final. This is their second season of existence.
This year they averaged 53,100 per home match, the 17th highest average attendance in the world this year, just ahead of AC Milan and just behind Liverpool. 71,800 attended their last playoff match.
They have quickly become the most popular sports team in the city in many ways.
Season tickets for the two-year old club run $385 for the cheapest and $4000 per season for the best seats. I don't know if the final will be broadcast in England, but if it is and you have a chance to watch, it might be a fun one. They are showing what can be done for football in the US.
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What may help it over the next 10-15 years to me is that I believe the NFL is on its way to oblivion. I know of no mother who allows their young boys to play American Football now due to CTE. So I see no real future there. Something will take its place and the MLS has a good shot at it. Is gonna be a multi-generational project.
Sunday 9th 1am
I’d say MLS standard is around Championship level. It’s not as bad as some like to make out - they just focus on attaching more than defending. Which tbh is what English football was like until the 80s/90s. The technique of things like shooting is of a high standard though and probably higher than the Championship.
We still have a lot of coaches who, how do I day this nicely, are of an era from '70s and' 80s Britain. And that's okay to some extent. But that sort of pointy shouty play direct win at all costs type thing doesn't do a lot to develop young players.
Only just now do most, if not all MLS sides have academies, the benefits of which will largely take 10-15 years to feel. But there is still a huge element of "pay to play" for the finest youth club sides. And that kicks kids out of the game, plain and simple. The college game is not a good preparation for the professional game anywhere outside of MLS. And even then, it's influence seems to be starting to wane. MLS is also confusing all of this by, baffingly, continuing to expand without relegation or promotion, and as such continuing to dilute the talent.
I'm 32, and I'm a few years removed from the bits of coaching and helping friends out that I did. And I hope things are changing. I think they will. But whether it's looking at the national teams, and where those players developed, or the 14 months it took to find a, er, qualified (?) coach, Atlanta's attendence, and success, looks more like the exception rather than the rule.
Looking at the attendance lists, of the sides with a capacity of over 40k, none of them are even close to selling out each game. Sides like Seattle, Minnesota, Vancouver, Montreal, New york city, none of these even fill over 60% of their stadiums.
I am mightily impressed every time we go to the Timbers - a cracking atmosphere no matter the opposition.
The thing that puts me off a bit though are the non-grass surfaces. It’s not that cos it may affect the game, they just aren’t easy on the eye.
From new side to MLS Cup winners in just 2 seasons!
Be interesting to see how they get on next season though. Manager Gerardo Martino is leaving to become Mexico manager, playmaker Almiron is on his way and top scorer Martinez will definitely have clubs interested in him.