Best Club for Youth Soccer Development?

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I'm at a loss at the statement above.... EPL plays direct? Isn't there like 20 teams in that league? Your blanket statement doesn't work not to mention you probably don't even follow EPL closely enough to understand.
I wouldn't say that the MLS is crappy either, the league is improving each year and with all of the new ideas coming down from the top man things will get even better. The style of play for US Soccer is changing and getter better.....we are creating an identity which we've never had....there are a few things that will help create that identity and that is aligning all of the different levels of talent in one line....
There are things going on out in the soccer world that someone like you doesn't even have a clue.....the MLS is our nations league and slowly but surely it will become a reputable league.

Just watch the DA Program as it morphs into a popular feeder program where great players come out of it.
Then watch the ECNL finalize their alignment with MLS and the Womens League by early next year. ECNL is in talks with MLS and Womens League right now and plans or set for this.

You can b!tch all you want and say that ECNL is Nike and MLS is Adidas. It doesn't matter in the short term because I can promise you that Nike will be cutting a massive check in 2018 when they bid for the MLS. In 2018 you will see Nike having Womens Pro League and MLS, which will include all ODP and all MLS affiliated clubs. In 2010 Adidas renewed their contract for $220 million....the soccer landscape has changed so much since then and by 2018 there will be a huge portion of Super Advanced Level Soccer that will be held by MLS and affiliates (including Womens Pro League, because they are an affiliate of MLS)....

I've heard Nike is willing to up the ante to $1 billion to get it all back. There is money to be made. Nike wants to fund the Mens DA and the Womens DA alone which is great news for all of you Timbers Alliance members.

I do think Nike will make a big run at MLS when the contract is up. However, very presumptuous on your part thinking the Women's League will still be around in 2018. Not much money to be made there, clearly.

[Unregistered]

I do think Nike will make a big run at MLS when the contract is up. However, very presumptuous on your part thinking the Women's League will still be around in 2018. Not much money to be made there, clearly.

They have a good structure now. Don't pay your players anything and charge cheaply for seats. It should be sustainable.

[Unregistered]

They have a good structure now. Don't pay your players anything and charge cheaply for seats. It should be sustainable.

Just wait until they get aligned with ECNL, they will be rolling in the money then.

[Unregistered]

They have a good structure now. Don't pay your players anything and charge cheaply for seats. It should be sustainable.

They charge $20 for a good seat, but I always wind up spending $150 in food, beer and gear. It is usually 30 min wait just to get into the onsite store.

I think they make a lot of money on the concessions and high mark up gear.

If you get 10,000 people for a nice sunny afternoon game and sell a mountain of $7 to $9 beers and $4 bottles of water, it's hard to go wrong.

[Unregistered]

They charge $20 for a good seat, but I always wind up spending $150 in food, beer and gear. It is usually 30 min wait just to get into the onsite store.

I think they make a lot of money on the concessions and high mark up gear.

If you get 10,000 people for a nice sunny afternoon game and sell a mountain of $7 to $9 beers and $4 bottles of water, it's hard to go wrong.

Just to clarify the $150 = $60 of beer for me and $90 of food and gear for the family...

[Unregistered]

They charge $20 for a good seat, but I always wind up spending $150 in food, beer and gear. It is usually 30 min wait just to get into the onsite store.

I think they make a lot of money on the concessions and high mark up gear.

If you get 10,000 people for a nice sunny afternoon game and sell a mountain of $7 to $9 beers and $4 bottles of water, it's hard to go wrong.

On any given weekend for NWSL, if there are 10,000 fans at a Thorns game then there are about 11,000 fans total at all of the games. One strong franchise does not make for a very strong league.

[Unregistered]

On any given weekend for NWSL, if there are 10,000 fans at a Thorns game then there are about 11,000 fans total at all of the games. One strong franchise does not make for a very strong league.

Thank you!

Is the league entirely dependent on Portland for success? The other clubs need to figure it out!

[Unregistered]

Thank you!

Is the league entirely dependent on Portland for success? The other clubs need to figure it out!

Need to put an exciting product on the field. NWSL teams are only about 3-4 skilled players deep at best. If the league can survive until such time as this is more like 8-10, then maybe there is hope for the long term.

[Unregistered]

Need to put an exciting product on the field. NWSL teams are only about 3-4 skilled players deep at best. If the league can survive until such time as this is more like 8-10, then maybe there is hope for the long term.

There is plenty of skilled women players. The problem is that too many people are not interested in watching women play anything other than beach volleyball.

[Unregistered]

There is plenty of skilled women players. The problem is that too many people are not interested in watching women play anything other than beach volleyball.

Portland has a beach volleyball team?