MLS Next and GA merging into one organization

[Anonymous]

The NWSL is sponsoring woman's clubs to align with the league teams for a development path. This is following MLS next and the ECNL league will once again be second class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The NWSL is sponsoring woman's clubs to align with the league teams for a development path. This is following MLS next and the ECNL league will once again be second class.

If this were true there are a couple of issues. First and foremost the NWSL ain't got no money. They have no money now and they have no steady stream for the future. They are six months from done at any point in time.

Second, on the boys side there are people looking for pathway to the pros. Not so in any real sense on the girls side. If this were true you might see some move but ECNL will then become the college vehicle and will still get most of the girls. There is really nothing GA can do in the short term that improves its position. Clubs value the girls side over the boys side

[Anonymous]

Of course they are seeing all the opportunity they ARE missing. ECNL making pockets of $ THAT goes no where but into a few ones. While having the MLS/GA will help the funding of academies for both boys and girls and a path to pro, NT or college. Academy style can support those prospect players that cannot afford the high club fees and travel expenses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course they are seeing all the opportunity they ARE missing. ECNL making pockets of $ THAT goes no where but into a few ones. While having the MLS/GA will help the funding of academies for both boys and girls and a path to pro, NT or college. Academy style can support those prospect players that cannot afford the high club fees and travel expenses.

How does bringing GA into MLS Next help the boys funding? Boys academies are supported by MLS clubs, do NWSL clubs have the excess cash to fund academies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The NWSL is sponsoring woman's clubs to align with the league teams for a development path. This is following MLS next and the ECNL league will once again be second class.

Second, on the boys side there are people looking for pathway to the pros. Not so in any real sense on the girls side. If this were true you might see some move but ECNL will then become the college vehicle and will still get most of the girls. There is really nothing GA can do in the short term that improves its position. Clubs value the girls side over the boys side

I think you are underestimating the delusion of parents and kids. If GA is successful in establishing (or being perceived as having established) a "pathway to the pros" the better girls will migrate there from ECNL and it will become a viable (and in time, primary) pathway to college soccer for girls.

[Anonymous]

what problem would this solve?

[Anonymous]

How much do you thin the ECNL business is producing? They don’t care if 15 of the 24 kids in a team don’t end up playing in college, they care about their revenue in sales of marketing products, brand sponsorship, hotel arrangements, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The NWSL is sponsoring woman's clubs to align with the league teams for a development path. This is following MLS next and the ECNL league will once again be second class.

Second, on the boys side there are people looking for pathway to the pros. Not so in any real sense on the girls side. If this were true you might see some move but ECNL will then become the college vehicle and will still get most of the girls. There is really nothing GA can do in the short term that improves its position. Clubs value the girls side over the boys side

I think you are underestimating the delusion of parents and kids. If GA is successful in establishing (or being perceived as having established) a "pathway to the pros" the better girls will migrate there from ECNL and it will become a viable (and in time, primary) pathway to college soccer for girls.

Agree. College sports are changing drastically. It's really shortsighted to assume the status quo is going to stick.

That said, the thread title is also a figment of OP's imagination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what problem would this solve?

I'm sure clubs would love it because right now if you have one and not the other, you have a problem attracting the gender that you don't have. I don't see what MLS gets out of it unless they turn MLS next into a large league that exists for marketing and pull the academies away from it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The NWSL is sponsoring woman's clubs to align with the league teams for a development path. This is following MLS next and the ECNL league will once again be second class.

Second, on the boys side there are people looking for pathway to the pros. Not so in any real sense on the girls side. If this were true you might see some move but ECNL will then become the college vehicle and will still get most of the girls. There is really nothing GA can do in the short term that improves its position. Clubs value the girls side over the boys side

I think you are underestimating the delusion of parents and kids. If GA is successful in establishing (or being perceived as having established) a "pathway to the pros" the better girls will migrate there from ECNL and it will become a viable (and in time, primary) pathway to college soccer for girls.

Maybe but I doubt it. The girls side is focused on college. Some girls are leaving for the pros but the best girls are still going to college.

DA kicked ECNLs butt. But ECNL is still here better than before. The US pro teams- male or female - cannot be relied on long term. Maybe you can make an argument for the MLS which seems to be having a great run with no end in sight. But not on the women's side.

Maybe over time/

[Anonymous]

MLS Next = Pro or College
Boys ECNL = College

GA = College
Girls ECNL = College

Something is going to happen on the girls side regarding a "pro pathway". I believe NWSL will partner with GA and create NWSL Next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The NWSL is sponsoring woman's clubs to align with the league teams for a development path. This is following MLS next and the ECNL league will once again be second class.

Second, on the boys side there are people looking for pathway to the pros. Not so in any real sense on the girls side. If this were true you might see some move but ECNL will then become the college vehicle and will still get most of the girls. There is really nothing GA can do in the short term that improves its position. Clubs value the girls side over the boys side

I think you are underestimating the delusion of parents and kids. If GA is successful in establishing (or being perceived as having established) a "pathway to the pros" the better girls will migrate there from ECNL and it will become a viable (and in time, primary) pathway to college soccer for girls.

Maybe but I doubt it. The girls side is focused on college. Some girls are leaving for the pros but the best girls are still going to college.

DA kicked ECNLs butt. But ECNL is still here better than before. The US pro teams- male or female - cannot be relied on long term. Maybe you can make an argument for the MLS which seems to be having a great run with no end in sight. But not on the women's side.

Maybe over time/

The women need to have league minimium salaries that players can afford to live on before they think about subsidizing youth programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The NWSL is sponsoring woman's clubs to align with the league teams for a development path. This is following MLS next and the ECNL league will once again be second class.

Second, on the boys side there are people looking for pathway to the pros. Not so in any real sense on the girls side. If this were true you might see some move but ECNL will then become the college vehicle and will still get most of the girls. There is really nothing GA can do in the short term that improves its position. Clubs value the girls side over the boys side

I think you are underestimating the delusion of parents and kids. If GA is successful in establishing (or being perceived as having established) a "pathway to the pros" the better girls will migrate there from ECNL and it will become a viable (and in time, primary) pathway to college soccer for girls.

Maybe but I doubt it. The girls side is focused on college. Some girls are leaving for the pros but the best girls are still going to college.

DA kicked ECNLs butt. But ECNL is still here better than before. The US pro teams- male or female - cannot be relied on long term. Maybe you can make an argument for the MLS which seems to be having a great run with no end in sight. But not on the women's side.

Maybe over time/

The women need to have league minimium salaries that players can afford to live on before they think about subsidizing youth programs

No they don't. All NWSL has to do is ring the dinner bell and parents will come running.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The NWSL is sponsoring woman's clubs to align with the league teams for a development path. This is following MLS next and the ECNL league will once again be second class.

Second, on the boys side there are people looking for pathway to the pros. Not so in any real sense on the girls side. If this were true you might see some move but ECNL will then become the college vehicle and will still get most of the girls. There is really nothing GA can do in the short term that improves its position. Clubs value the girls side over the boys side

I think you are underestimating the delusion of parents and kids. If GA is successful in establishing (or being perceived as having established) a "pathway to the pros" the better girls will migrate there from ECNL and it will become a viable (and in time, primary) pathway to college soccer for girls.

Maybe but I doubt it. The girls side is focused on college. Some girls are leaving for the pros but the best girls are still going to college.

DA kicked ECNLs butt. But ECNL is still here better than before. The US pro teams- male or female - cannot be relied on long term. Maybe you can make an argument for the MLS which seems to be having a great run with no end in sight. But not on the women's side.

Maybe over time/

The women need to have league minimium salaries that players can afford to live on before they think about subsidizing youth programs

No they don't. All NWSL has to do is ring the dinner bell and parents will come running.

If you mean pay to play, sure. NWSL could make a lot of money having academies that cost obscene amounts of money and lead nowhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The NWSL is sponsoring woman's clubs to align with the league teams for a development path. This is following MLS next and the ECNL league will once again be second class.

Second, on the boys side there are people looking for pathway to the pros. Not so in any real sense on the girls side. If this were true you might see some move but ECNL will then become the college vehicle and will still get most of the girls. There is really nothing GA can do in the short term that improves its position. Clubs value the girls side over the boys side

I think you are underestimating the delusion of parents and kids. If GA is successful in establishing (or being perceived as having established) a "pathway to the pros" the better girls will migrate there from ECNL and it will become a viable (and in time, primary) pathway to college soccer for girls.

Maybe but I doubt it. The girls side is focused on college. Some girls are leaving for the pros but the best girls are still going to college.

DA kicked ECNLs butt. But ECNL is still here better than before. The US pro teams- male or female - cannot be relied on long term. Maybe you can make an argument for the MLS which seems to be having a great run with no end in sight. But not on the women's side.

Maybe over time/

The women need to have league minimium salaries that players can afford to live on before they think about subsidizing youth programs

No they don't. All NWSL has to do is ring the dinner bell and parents will come running.

If you mean pay to play, sure. NWSL could make a lot of money having academies that cost obscene amounts of money and lead nowhere

Most of MLS Next is pay to play.

Only the Acadamies are free.