FanNation

If you're going to raise the entry fee, then raise the salary cap with it.

MadridistAmericano | 04/30/08, 10:37 AM

Sure. Why not? It should cost something to own a pro soccer team. The MLS cannot afford "cheap" owners at this juncture. They need serious bidders with some serious coin to become owners to elevate the game. If it costs them something, they'll be more inclined to take it seriously, rather than treat it as just another experiment.

DCruiser | 04/30/08, 11:09 AM

Agreed. Raise the cap! It's sad watching teams with 3-4 good players, and the rest are just bargain basement "fill-ins"... The Galaxy are a prime example.

D-Wreck | 04/30/08, 11:17 AM

They should raise the cap but in a way that will buoy the bottom, not the top.

dynamic | 04/30/08, 12:14 PM

Defidently should raise the cap. That's the MLS's biggest problem right now. If the cap is higher, more talent comes in and the league gets better faster. We're defidently big enough to be able to afford it now.

Stauff Nation TB | 04/30/08, 12:15 PM

I'll throw a tidbit out there for MSL fans. Sebastian Le Toux should be a player next year. This is a young guy out of France, plays for Seattle's USL team. He was the MVP of that league last season, and there are rumors he's already signed with the MSL Sounders that will start play next year. A lot faster than anybody else on the field in these USL game. Appears to be better than Maykel (sp) Galindo, the Cuba guy who defected, played briefly for Seattle in the USL a few years ago and now is exceeding expectations in the MSL. Keep an eye on Sebastian Le Toux.

Good Newz Kennels | 04/30/08, 01:01 PM

anyone know what the actual salary cap is at? just curious. simply put they should double or triple it. and add some DP slots per team.

Just like in Spain, they should have a rule but for non-Americans (from the whole continent). no more than 3 non-Americans on the team. what'd you think?

ctsubasa | 04/30/08, 01:03 PM

hey good newz kennels, what's the deal with your profile pic? that's sad and disgusting.

on to MLS. yes, raise the salary cap pronto!

Madrid Fan | 04/30/08, 01:51 PM

Your dog looks a little better. I've got a lab too (black), and he lets me hear about it every time he walks by the computer and sees that I'm still using that photo. Hard to believe that Michael Vick is actually going to get another chance to play again in the NFL -- but he will.

Good Newz Kennels | 04/30/08, 02:24 PM

welcome portland...this would be a great addition to MLS...next st. louis...

Evertonius | 04/30/08, 02:26 PM

Agree with MadristAmericano. If you are going to raise the fee, you need to raise the cap.

J. HOVA: ALL FOR THE LOVE | 04/30/08, 02:37 PM

Madridist Americano that is.

J. HOVA: ALL FOR THE LOVE | 04/30/08, 02:37 PM

Portland? Meh. I am looking for Montreal as the next team in. I think TFC's rapid fans mean that Canada needs/deserves another team.

I don't see any problem with raising the expansion fee to $40 M and I agree that the cap should be raised to, but not by leaps and bounds (such as doubling it to 4 M).

crosscountrycpjon | 04/30/08, 02:50 PM

Portland is an ideal MSL city. They don't have an NFL or MLB team there, so the team would be warmly embraced.

Portland-type cities are perfect for this league.

Sounders-Timbers was always a very nice rivalry in the NASL, and that could be rekindled.

Good Newz Kennels | 04/30/08, 04:38 PM

Its MLS, not MSL. Go Timbers!

ZersYo | 04/30/08, 07:14 PM

@ctsubasa | 04/30/08, 01:03 PM

the cap was at 2.45 million last year and it escalates yearly. Most have put the number at 2.75 million this year.

If they got it up to $10-15 million the league would explode in quality overnight. That is about how much top FMF teams spend and they have a nice league. Plus, more people want to come to the US than to Mexico generally speaking so we'd get the cream of the crop looking to play on this side of the world.

Don't expect it to happen until the agreement runs out after next season though. Oh they should also consider dumping single entity at this point. It served it purpose. It's time to let these owners compete. Kelly Gray has a blog on Goal.com where he discussed this yesterday.

Back OT: Portland would be a great addition. The Timbers are really well supported and the location would make a natural rival for Seattle and even San Jose. Sure it would make the league more West Coast heavy, but there is more interest in soccer on the west coast so we should just roll with that rather than trying to jam square pegs into round holes.

sithomeandrot | 04/30/08, 08:43 PM

quick note on the 'if you raise the fee you have to raise the cap' argument. I agree the cap should be raised eventually, but they are still paying off operating losses. most people agree that with Beckham and the stadiums and the TV deals the league is on track to be near the black or at least be to a place where it is all 'good debt' on the books.

If they can sign up 4 more franchises before the CBA is renegotiated that is $40 million extra dollars they can bank and collect interest on before the cap has to go up in anyway. It makes sounds business sense.

Also, don't forget that the buy in fee includes the bigger cherry of getting in on SUM. The revenues SUM has been generating has been massive and the folks who bought in at $30 million got quite the bargain. The fee increase represents this increased value in SUM more than anything else.

sithomeandrot | 04/30/08, 08:47 PM

I'd rather see Montreal too. Canadians seem to be more knowledgable about the game. Maybe Detroit as well, and hope to lure in south-western Ontario in their fan base. The Pacific northwest is just too dull. Seattle deserves a team, but that's all.

salvi1113 | 04/30/08, 10:55 PM

I think St. Louis would be a bad idea too. It's too whitebread of a city to support soccer. Washington, Toronto, and LA are the most successful MLS cities, and they are also very diverse cities. How New York can't draw more than 9000 is just a mystery to me, sort of contradicts everything I just said.

salvi1113 | 04/30/08, 10:58 PM

I'm in Seattle. There are definitely rivalries with Vancouver and Portland, with those cities being within driving distance (3 hours). You get a large number of fans traveling from those cities to Seattle for games. So if you can get all three of those cities in, it will help.

Good Newz Kennels | 05/01/08, 01:56 AM