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Beginning of the end for NWSL?

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    #1

    Beginning of the end for NWSL?

    Seems the financial difficulties that have plagued the US women’s pro leagues are now chasing top talent overseas. When the #2 draft pick Hailie Mace chooses the Australian W-League over NWSL, how much longer can the league survive?
    https://thewomensgame.com/news/city-...ungster-517848
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    #2
    It certainly doesn’t look good.
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      #3
      At a minimum, put the nail in the coffin for Sky Blue. I don’t see how they overcome all the bad press and player resistance. While Julia Ashley was not as vocal on draft day, she is certainly not a shoe-in to report either.
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        #4
        Women’s soccer is like women’s gymnastics in the USA. Good to watch once every four years as a novelty, especially because we are good. But forget watching it routinely. If we slip from the top, as we seem to be doing, they may not even bother with that. Great at kid level for daycare though.
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          #5
          Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
          Women’s soccer is like women’s gymnastics in the USA. Good to watch once every four years as a novelty, especially because we are good. But forget watching it routinely. If we slip from the top, as we seem to be doing, they may not even bother with that. Great at kid level for daycare though.
          And this is only different on the men's side because we have to actually go 8 years between viewings this time.
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            #6
            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
            At a minimum, put the nail in the coffin for Sky Blue. I don’t see how they overcome all the bad press and player resistance. While Julia Ashley was not as vocal on draft day, she is certainly not a shoe-in to report either.
            Sky Blue has the same issues that killed off the Breakers - minimal owner investment, no identifiable stars, and a losing record. When Lloyd retires, they’re done.

            I don’t know how long the league can go on with 4 or 5 teams that are doing reasonably well and the rest of the verge of collapse.
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              #7
              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
              Sky Blue has the same issues that killed off the Breakers - minimal owner investment, no identifiable stars, and a losing record. When Lloyd retires, they’re done.

              I don’t know how long the league can go on with 4 or 5 teams that are doing reasonably well and the rest of the verge of collapse.
              Minimal owner investment after minimal fan investment. It's a bad cycle. They aren't going to give money away if they can't recoup it at some point in the future fairly confidently.
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                #8
                Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                And this is only different on the men's side because we have to actually go 8 years between viewings this time.
                No, there is a small but loyal contingent of folks following the MLS. Look at stadiums especially in the Northwest. They will survive.
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                  #9
                  Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                  Women’s soccer is like women’s gymnastics in the USA. Good to watch once every four years as a novelty, especially because we are good. But forget watching it routinely. If we slip from the top, as we seem to be doing, they may not even bother with that. Great at kid level for daycare though.
                  If your daughter is a great athlete and wants to take a shot at the pros, find her a tennis racket.

                  https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbad.../#40c08f99405f
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                    #10
                    Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                    No, there is a small but loyal contingent of folks following the MLS. Look at stadiums especially in the Northwest. They will survive.
                    MLS gets circa 22K fans

                    NWSL manages 6K, but that is heavily skewed by a Portland who draws 18K. More like 4K for the rest.
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                      #11
                      Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                      MLS gets circa 22K fans

                      NWSL manages 6K, but that is heavily skewed by a Portland who draws 18K. More like 4K for the rest.
                      https://blog.ticketiq.com/blog/2018/...et-market-2018

                      Actually MLS doing quite well with major expansion plans.
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                        #12
                        Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                        MLS gets circa 22K fans

                        NWSL manages 6K, but that is heavily skewed by a Portland who draws 18K. More like 4K for the rest.
                        Yes and 50% of those 4K fans are kids soccer teams with heavily discounted tickets. No owner should expect an immediate payback on their investment. The women’s pro game is really in its infancy in the US. Your future paying customers are those little kids in the stands; it’s a long-term investment. Small and unprofitable is how all pro sports start out until they build a fan base over a generation or two. Read Red Auerbach’s book “Let Me Tell You A Story” where he describes giving Celtics tickets away free just to fill the stands in the early days. Pro hockey, wrestling, and UFC have similar histories. Unpaid athletes, small venues, and a small core of dedicated fans is how they all started.
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                          #13
                          No real conflict with Mace playing in the W-League since their season ends in February. It would probably be good experience for her, but the conditions are really no better than NSWL. She should talk to Sam Kerr since she’s played in both.

                          https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-...itions/8663044
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                            #14
                            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                            Yes and 50% of those 4K fans are kids soccer teams with heavily discounted tickets. No owner should expect an immediate payback on their investment. The women’s pro game is really in its infancy in the US. Your future paying customers are those little kids in the stands; it’s a long-term investment. Small and unprofitable is how all pro sports start out until they build a fan base over a generation or two. Read Red Auerbach’s book “Let Me Tell You A Story” where he describes giving Celtics tickets away free just to fill the stands in the early days. Pro hockey, wrestling, and UFC have similar histories. Unpaid athletes, small venues, and a small core of dedicated fans is how they all started.
                            Yeah, keep telling yourself that. This sport has no legs. The others you mentioned do/did.
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                              #15
                              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                              Yeah, keep telling yourself that. This sport has no legs. The others you mentioned do/did.
                              Again, the problem in the US is a lack of investment. Ask the EPL or League 1 teams who field professional women's teams why they invested millions when the return is non-existent?

                              Simple. Women make up 50% of the population. The Pro clubs in Europe have the money to invest and want to grow the game. Here in the US, we run the risk of losing our Title IX/College advantage and falling further behind because MLS clubs can't be bothered to invest in the Women's game. Of course, those same MLS owners and managers are now deciding to forgo the college draft for additional allocation money on the men's side. Sign of things to come.

                              The college game will be dead within 15 years and the NWSL much sooner, to the detriment of the US's soccer dreams...
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