Photo by Ronny Sison on Unsplash
Compared to its European and South American counterparts, football (or soccer) has taken a long time to find a solid fanbase in North America. Most fans of the sport tend to watch La Liga or Premier League games remotely while waiting for UEFA tournaments to kick off.
The MLS has had to fight for fans, corporate sponsorships, and the idea that soccer in the States is too inferior to other major leagues around the world to be worth watching. In fact, many consider the MLS to be a retirement league for Europe’s great stars.
It began when David Beckham went to LA Galaxy in 2007. Following his move from the Premier League, stars like Kaka, David Villa, and Andrea Pirlo all followed suit. They ended up with big-money deals that only further muddied the integrity of the MLS.
These moves heightened the notion that the MLS wouldn't produce talent and would be a retirement league for those looking to move on from competitive leagues. Still, the MLS continued to pour money and resources into attracting big names that would (hopefully and eventually) attract fans.
To the surprise of many, it worked. By 2013, the MLS was behind only the MLB and NFL in terms of average attendance for the season. Since then, the league has only become more popular and gained momentum as the ‘new sport’ to watch with friends considering the novelty and cheap ticket prices.
Last year’s champion, Seattle Sounders FC, is one of the league’s most successful franchises. However, Atlanta United is quickly climbing in popularity. The southern club is proof that fans are willing to
wager on US sports like soccer and will pack into stadiums to see their team compete.
Though Atlanta United hasn’t won an MLS cup since 2018, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium regularly sees upwards of 68,000 spectators during season play. They’ve even recently signed Miguel Almirón to the team for a contract worth upwards of $25 million.
In short, Atlanta United and Seattle Sounders FC are both clear examples that the MLS has found that foothold it was searching for. Further proof comes from the recent expansion of the MLS to Miami and Tennessee.
Inter Miami CF Brings Latino Identity to the MLS
One reason many point to the budding success of the MLS is the increasing number of fans with Latino and South American heritage. The US is a melting pot, and a hearty love for soccer is the latest spice to be added.
Inter Miami is a clear example of the Latino influence in the league. Inter Miami CF is an English shortening for Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, which marks the first franchise to be dubbed with a Spanish name. In another truly internacional move, the club’s formation was spearheaded by a Beckham-led group (Miami Beckham United).
The club played its inaugural match against Los Angeles FC in early March of 2020. They lost 1-0 and, unfortunately for fans of the new club, have struggled
to improve their record. However, they just completed the signing of the world-class striker Gonzalo Higuaín, the current holder of the single-season goal record in Italy's Serie A.
At the moment, they’re sitting at 11th place (of 15) in the MLS’s Eastern Conference. Still, the club has managed to conjure three distinct supporter groups already: The Siege, Southern Legion, and Vice City 1896.
Photo by Soccer Blur on Unsplash
Nashville SC Manages to Gain Footing in the Heartland
While Inter Miami made waves for the club’s ode to their city’s Latino heritage and pride, Nashville SC made waves simply by existing in a state and city that’s passionate about the other football in America. (It’s clear by the SC that this city only has room for one football.)
However, lower-league soccer teams had been playing in Nashville since 1989. And, interestingly enough, the push for the MLS to settle in Nashville was partly funded by Minnesota Vikings (an NFL franchise) co-owners from the Wilf family.
Nashville SC played its first match against Atlanta United that saw almost 60,000 spectators pack into Nissan Stadium. Though Nashville SC lost 2-1 against Atlanta, the first game marked the largest attendance for a soccer match in Tennessee’s history.
Currently, Nashville SC is treading water in 9th place (of 15) in the Eastern Conference, just two places ahead of Inter Miami. Both
new clubs faced off against one another in early September and tied 0-0.