Posted by: Richie Bernardo

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

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Overall Rank	City	Total Score	‘MLS’ Rank	‘NWSL’ Rank	‘NASL’ Rank	‘USL’ Rank	‘College Soccer (Div. I Men’s)’ Rank	‘College Soccer (Div. I Women’s)’ Rank
294	Grand Forks, ND	0.62	17	11	10	27	172	285
295	Grambling, LA	0.55	17	11	10	27	172	281
296	Hampton, VA	0.38	17	11	10	27	172	286

Ask the Experts < >

• Scott Wysong Associate Professor and Academic Program Director in Sports & Entertainment MBA at the University of Dallas
• Raiford Guins Professor of Cinema and Media Studies in the Media School at Indiana University
• R. Pierre Rodgers Associate Professor and Academic Program Co-Coordinator of Sport and Recreation Studies in the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism at George Mason University
• Paige Beal Assistant Professor and Chair of Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management at Point Park University
• Matthew Cacciato Instructor of Sports Administration at the Ohio University College of Business
• Kyu-soo Chung Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management at Kennesaw State University
• Kyle Busing Associate Professor of Exercise Science and Sport Management at Schreiner University
• Joey Gawrysiak Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Shenandoah University
• Emmanuel Ayim Assistant Professor-in-Residence in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Daniel R. Sweeney Associate Professor of Sport Business Management in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship at Lindenwood University
• Alex Morawiecki Head Men's Soccer Coach at Hamline University
• Alanna Harman Assistant Professor in the Division of Sport Management at St. John's University College of Professional Studies

Scott Wysong Associate Professor and Academic Program Director in Sports & Entertainment MBA at the University of Dallas What are the biggest issues facing U.S soccer today? Today, soccer is the fifth most popular sport of the Big 5 (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS), with golf, tennis, extreme sports and others eroding soccer’s market share each year. It really should be a case study. Every kid in America grows up playing soccer (it’s pretty easy to learn -- kick the ball in the other net), yet few adults in the U.S. have a desire to watch. At the end of the day, there are a lot of sports fighting for the same sliver of pie. This summer, flipping through the channels, I saw a drone flying competition on ESPN. Unbelievable. What is the long-term outlook for professional soccer in the US? MLS does and says the right things. They have a TV contract with ESPN. They just signed on with Adidas. They have transitioned the last 15 years or so to holding games in soccer-only stadiums. They have expanded to markets that have really embraced soccer, such as Seattle and Portland, and are looking to expand to even more markets. But, it is a very slow growth. I personally think they need to take a risk. MLS had a chance to get four times their current media rights deal if they included relegation (if you are one of the bottom teams, you get sent “down” to a lower league, which gets fans engaged). They rejected the deal, which I think was a bad idea. And, for all those soccer fans who can’t wait until U.S. soccer has international star players and packed stadiums, we’ve already had that; Pele and the NY Cosmos in the 70’s. They were Studio 54 cool and hip. Maybe MLS has to get back to that, and stream games live on Facebook Live, Netflix or Amazon to attract this target market. To what extent has U.S. soccer embraced fantasy sports, including the daily fantasy model? I think MLS got into fantasy only because FanDuel and DraftKings skyrocketed two years ago. Of course, those companies were rocked with some controversies, and have come back to Earth. Because soccer has struggled to grow its fan base, I just don’t see fantasy soccer taking off. What, in your mind, makes a good soccer fan? This is the million-dollar question that MLS and their teams need to do more work on. Take FC Dallas as an example. Early on, when they played at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in south Dallas, they had a very strong Hispanic fan base. Yet, when they moved to a suburb of Dallas (Frisco) that was relatively far away, none of these fans followed. As a very affluent city, the team thought they could attract “soccer moms” in Frisco, yet found out via research that moms who watch their kids play soccer all day Saturday don’t want to go to a soccer game that night. Their next target market was the young millennials who lived in uptown Dallas and identified with European soccer teams. Whether they had ever been to Europe or not, they drank European beers, watched premier league or Bundesliga here and there on NBC or Fox, etc. But, the real identifier was that they were part of a club. That is, FC Dallas, like other MLS teams, has several fan clubs who sit together at games, bang a drum, and wave their flag. So, it was more of a tribal experience for them. If your son or daughter were an elite youth soccer player, would you encourage them to pursue the MLS / NWSL or a premier international league? Yes. I think soccer is a great sport. Players can earn college scholarships and/or go on to play professionally. If I had a son or daughter, I would steer them to a premier international league because of the money and international cultural experience. The U.S. Women’s soccer team just negotiated higher pay and will now receive some of the same travel “perks” as their male counterparts. Do you think other sports should follow this example to increase pay equity between male and female athletes? Yes, I do think other sports should do this. We saw the US Open do this a few years ago, increasing the payout for women tennis players. Quite frankly, in the case of women, they have outperformed men in soccer on the international stage the last 10-20 years, and probably deserve more money. Raiford Guins Professor of Cinema and Media Studies in the Media School at Indiana University What are the biggest issues facing U.S soccer today?

• The capability and need to cultivate talent for the national team, when the MSL isn't as competitive as other national leagues;

• Replicating the mistakes of the NASL by turning a domestic league into a retirement home for aging European footballers;

• No risk -- the current MSL league structure would benefit from a relegation model, so that lower leagues become a means to achieve promotion, while top-tier teams fight to avoid relegation.

What is the long-term outlook for professional soccer in the US? To have more U.S. national team players gain experience, skill and knowledge from playing aboard (e.g., Europe and South America). On a personal note: I don't follow "U.S. soccer." I'd suggest that many who support teams in the MLS also follow a “foreign” club. In other words, the "brand exposure" of the Premier League (NBC) and Ligue 1 (beIN Sports) provides continued access to the footballing world, beyond local/national MLS clubs. What, in your mind, makes a good soccer fan? Die-hard support and loyalty. Not supporting a team only when they win (Chelsea), or are fashionable (Real Madrid), or are accessible via merchandizing and sponsorship (Manchester United). Devoted supporters do not separate self from side. They wear the team crest like second skin. It's a life-long commitment (even when relegated). If your son or daughter were an elite youth soccer player, would you encourage them to pursue the MLS / NWSL or a premier international league? I have a 6-year old son who already fantasizes about playing for Leeds United. Should he continue to develop his interest in the sport, I'd love for him to have a youth academy try-out session with the club. The U.S. Women’s soccer team just negotiated higher pay and will now receive some of the same travel “perks” as their male counterparts. Do you think other sports should follow this example to increase pay equity between male and female athletes? Yes, 100%. The U.S. Women's soccer team should earn more than their male counterparts, given the amount of silverware that they've won over the years. R. Pierre Rodgers Associate Professor and Academic Program Co-Coordinator of Sport and Recreation Studies in the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism at George Mason University What are the biggest issues facing U.S soccer today? Relevance. In our sport-crazed American society, some sports just seem to get and keep our attention. Football, basketball -- they are ingrained in our psyche; they’re seen on TV; they are heavily promoted; young and not-so-young fans have favorite players and teams. While football and baseball are the “Big Two,” there is major fan base for “America’s Pastime,” baseball, and hockey. But soccer, while the “world’s game,” doesn’t have the same overall passion. This is puzzling because of scores of youth developmental soccer, renewed interest in the sport following the Olympics and the World Cup, and a growing core of dedicated soccer fans. What is the long-term outlook for professional soccer in the US? With cable and Internet access, more people have ready access to the sport. In the U.S., it’s a mixed bag in terms of growing and maintaining interest. On the one hand, sports bars and ethnic-based businesses frequently carry international matches. Seeing their countries play “the Beautiful Game” is exciting and reminds them of home. On the other hand, while the U.S. has scores of youth soccer players and camps and completive secondary school and collegiate programs, the interest is just not the same. The sport is in constant competition with “American” sports, like football and basketball. Still, with the tie-ins and residual effect of American performance at the World Cup and Olympics, there is an undeniable push to attract interest. Both with U.S. Women’s and Men’s professional soccer, the participants play “for the love of the game.” It’s a slow burn, but with communities building soccer-specific venues and sustained fan awareness, I think U.S. professional soccer will continue to grow. If your son or daughter were an elite youth soccer player, would you encourage them to pursue the MLS / NWSL or a premier international league? There’s no doubt that international soccer is well-regarded and respected across the globe. So young players who “know” and “love” the sport probably could dream of playing for an elite professional team. Plus, the payday is more commensurate with fan interest and profitability. But for a new generation of U.S. soccer players, there is also the appeal of playing “at home,” in their own country. That, and being a part of the drive to make American soccer more relevant, is certainly intriguing for a homegrown player. For my own child, I’d want her or him to be happy and successful. Having her or him play in the U.S. would make it easier to catch more often in person. The U.S. Women’s soccer team just negotiated higher pay and will now receive some of the same travel “perks” as their male counterparts. Do you think other sports should follow this example to increase pay equity between male and female athletes? Doing so in other sports should be a case by case basis. Generally speaking, men and women should receive similar benefits. There was such an obvious discrepancy regarding the U.S. Women’s soccer team compared to the men. Their stance made people take notice and seriously consider the pros and cons of the women’s national team’s position. Paige Beal Assistant Professor and Chair of Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management at Point Park University What are the biggest issues facing U.S soccer today? The most important issue facing any sport is the long-term growth and stability. Youth soccer continues to grow in participation at the expense of baseball/softball and football. Professional soccer is dealing with issues similar to other pro sports; player salary issues and team expansions. Infrastructure growth is strong with new soccer facilities popping up nationwide to meet fans’ and players’ needs. What is the long-term outlook for professional soccer in the US? There’s a strong outlook for professional soccer over the long term -- principally because the youth soccer participation and the audience interest continues to grow and in doing so, provides sustainability. Ad revenue and sponsorships have grown, as advertisers embrace a sport that has gender balance and global appeal. Viewership of games continues to increase spurring media interest and expansion coverage. What, in your mind, makes a good soccer fan? A good soccer fan has a lifetime of engagement as a player or having a son or daughter as a player. If your son or daughter were an elite youth soccer player, would you encourage them to pursue the MLS / NWSL or a premier international league? Yes. The U.S. Women’s soccer team just negotiated higher pay and will now receive some of the same travel “perks” as their male counterparts. Do you think other sports should follow this example to increase pay equity between male and female athletes? The U.S. Women’s soccer team is a unique position of garnering unprecedented ratings for their World Cup appearances. No other female professional sport has been able to deliver that level of interest. The vast disparity in treatment of this women’s team (that existed up until this April’s successful negotiation) will likely be the norm in other women’s sports, until they can demonstrate the same viewership to monetize and muscle parity. Matthew Cacciato Instructor of Sports Administration at the Ohio University College of Business What are the biggest issues facing U.S soccer today? The biggest issue facing U.S. Soccer is whether the Men’s national team can lead from the top. Specifically, can they properly represent the significant growth in participation, skill development and passion that soccer has generated at the youth levels in the United States. Can the men establish and maintain a higher standard comparable to what our Women's team has successfully done? What is the long-term outlook for professional soccer in the US? Professional soccer in the U.S. is clearly on a growth track. There is greater interest in the upcoming MLS expansion than at any point in time. The leagues owners are experiencing gains in franchise values, while new stadiums are creating dynamic environments that enhance fan engagement. Further, the growth and prominence of our women's game provides a healthy balance and camaraderie across the sport. Finally, the increased interest in top-tier international professional leagues has aided Americans’ appreciation of the sport. To what extent has U.S. soccer embraced fantasy sports, including the daily fantasy model? U.S. Fantasy Soccer play is still in its early stages. However, I firmly believe we'll see consistent growth as the 2018 World Cup approaches. I also expect the performance of our national team to be a key influencer on this expansion. Better still, if the IOC establishes an eSports competition for Olympic Sport parallels like soccer, you'll have further legitimization of the space and commensurate market expansion. What, in your mind, makes a good soccer fan? I'm convinced good soccer fans come from two main sources -- families who are aficionados of the international game, and Generation X and Millennial players who were part of soccer's explosive growth in the U.S. These fans realize soccer is the global king of sports, and that their loyalty and dedication to the Beautiful Game over the years is now being rewarded as the game achieves mass appeal in America. If your son or daughter were an elite youth soccer player, would you encourage them to pursue the MLS / NWSL or a premier international league? If I had an elite child, I would trust and support U.S. Soccer's youth development program. That said, I would ultimately urge them to strive for the highest level of competition, and for the time being, that’s abroad. Further, the cultural experience of foreign markets is priceless. Having traveled through Europe I've witnessed the societal importance of the game and how it's part of European's DNA. That's very difficult to replicate here, so you're talking about exceptional young American athletes who likely would be on an NBA, NFL skill position or MLB prospect track. The U.S. Women’s soccer team just negotiated higher pay and will now receive some of the same travel “perks” as their male counterparts. Do you think other sports should follow this example to increase pay equity between male and female athletes? As the father of three daughters it's an easy question to answer -- absolutely. As an academic studying sport in our society, it's an evolution dictated by performance. I applaud the U.S. Women's team and their efforts to create that change as they clearly earned it. I'd welcome similar advancements across other sports and believe swimming, gymnastics, skiing, basketball and hockey are all well-positioned for such efforts. Kyu-soo Chung Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management at Kennesaw State University What are the biggest issues facing U.S soccer today? What stand outs is developing soccer culture in the U.S. In my view, America’s sport culture has been dominated by football. Football means a lot to U.S. sport fans. They support and watch the game as they believe the sport is only played in the U.S. and/or the U.S. is the top of the sport. Living in the strongest country, U.S. sport fans tend to transfer their glory and pride to football and vice versa. The fans of baseball and basketball are the same, but not as serious. Obviously, soccer doesn’t have that reflection here in the U.S. American sport fans don’t want to watch soccer that has long been the stronghold of European countries. U.S. sport fans usually don’t develop their family heritage in which their family, friends, and neighbors enjoy watching soccer games together on holidays. The biggest issue facing U.S. soccer today is a lack of soccer culture. What is the long-term outlook for professional soccer in the US? I see a bright future for U.S. professional soccer, although its fruition might take a little while. Recently, Adidas has become an official equipment sponsor of MLS. Pouring the big money and resources into the sport would bring many improvements and developments. As MLS has been told about their good management, they would not lose this great opportunity to implement such a big sponsor. The recreational youth participants have steadily increased, as parents have begun to realize how their kids could be victims of football’s concussions (though this is not the only reason for such a growth). The number of MLS’s franchises has increased as well. Importantly, the population of the U.S. is becoming more diverse, with a variety of interests and lifestyles. I’m sure that MLS would satisfy these needs of diverse groups in the U.S. To what extent has U.S. soccer embraced fantasy sports, including the daily fantasy model? I’d like to say fantasy sports is not optional anymore. If we think about how the young generation has been growing up in this IT- and mobile entertainment-oriented society, fantasy sports would be must-have item for any sports. What, in your mind, makes a good soccer fan? “Good” soccer fans cannot be made by themselves; rather, an MLS team can make good soccer fans. Regardless of the location of a team, the key would be how the team makes their fans belong to the community. That is, a good soccer fan should support the team because he/she believes that the team is an asset to their community. Otherwise, they would be better off watching the game of the Premier League or some advanced leagues. MLS teams should think about this seriously. Many would agree that the NFL’s players are tops in the world in terms of field skills and athleticism (so we’re watching them). Yet we all know watching MLS games would not provide as much as those foreign leagues do. Having the sense of community with an MLS team is good enough for being a good soccer fan. If your son or daughter were an elite youth soccer player, would you encourage them to pursue the MLS / NWSL or a premier international league? It depends. I might encourage them if they’re happy to pursue such a path, even though their potential is not strong. Anyway, having a job as a professional athlete would not be a bad choice for my children. Probably the parents of elite youth soccer players will see what sport system their players go through and its tangible benefits, such as college scholarships, and they would seek it on behalf of their kids. I am certainly not the only parent who tries to find every resource and benefit possible before helping the children take a serious path in their sport. The U.S. Women’s soccer team just negotiated higher pay and will now receive some of the same travel “perks” as their male counterparts. Do you think other sports should follow this example to increase pay equity between male and female athletes? Balancing gender equity in sport is necessary, beyond question. But should the way to balance it be higher pay and more “perks?” Well, that’s a different issue, at least for me. Running a sports team is a serious business, of course. I think the U.S. Women’s soccer decided to do so because of the high achievement of the U.S. Women’s soccer in the international stages. But to me, it doesn’t necessarily mean other sports should follow this path. Each sport team and sport business has their unique context that cannot be easily applied to other sports. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t ever doubt the necessity of gender equity in sports, but I’d like to say each sport team and league should find a customized way that is more sustainable not only for the team and athletes, but for the entire sport. Simply, we don’t know the behind-the-scene dynamics to form a judgement about higher pay and more perks. Kyle Busing Associate Professor of Exercise Science and Sport Management at Schreiner University What is the long-term outlook for professional soccer in the US? The long outlook for professional soccer is unclear. Professional soccer in the U.S. doesn’t enjoy the popular acceptance of other professional sports in the U.S. This presents a more significant challenge to soccer in light of recent challenges, like disputes over equality of pay, performance that fails to live up to expectations, kneeling during the national anthem, and behavior of many of its players. While it may not be fair, football’s popularity amongst the general population has meant a willingness for people to remain avid supporters in spite of many of the same issues. Other sports have become part of the U.S. culture, while soccer has not. Unless professional soccer can figure out how to make soccer part of the U.S. cultural experience, soccer will continue to remain an under-supported sport. The U.S. Women’s soccer team just negotiated higher pay and will now receive some of the same travel “perks” as their male counterparts. Do you think other sports should follow this example to increase pay equity between male and female athletes? I do think that other sports should address the pay equity issue. The pay inequality is indicative of the much larger cultural issue of gender inequality, that the U.S. has failed to adequately address. Failing to support women and girls equally serves to reinforce cultural ideas about the value of this group being physically active and physically competent. This actually has a societal effect, in that these messages are received by young girls, and the research suggests this actually has an influence on physical activity participation for young people. Being overweight or obese is currently a significant health problem in the U.S., and anything that has a negative impact on choosing to become physically active should be addressed. The short-term economic arguments about equal pay for women in sport pale in comparison to the economic impact of our population being overweight or obese. I am certainly not suggesting that equal pay for women will solve the problem of the U.S. continuing to get heavier, but aside from being the right thing to do, anything that can have a positive influence on physical activity participation should be done. Joey Gawrysiak Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Shenandoah University What are the biggest issues facing U.S soccer today? The biggest issue facing soccer in the U.S. is establishing a loyal fanbase for a sport that is not amongst the "Big 4" sports in the U.S. (baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey). The U.S. is saturated with its consumer sports, and for soccer to get a foot in that upper echelon of sports is going to be tough. The game is inherently not something U.S. sport fans flock to. Soccer is without question a global sport, but it is not "American" like baseball (our National pastime), basketball (invented here), and football (our most lucrative and popular sport). Soccer is from abroad, is low-scoring, has ties, and is structured differently than our other sports (promotion relegation, point systems, multiple tournaments happening at once, etc.). What is the long-term outlook for professional soccer in the US? I think, despite the issues I described above, soccer has a chance to succeed in the future. I think that soccer needs to keep its course and not change to become more Americanized, with a fixed structure or eliminating the low scoring somehow. Obviously, the structure of soccer is successful, as indicated by its global popularity. So, first and foremost, soccer needs to stay the course and hold on. There are less kids playing football these days due to safety concerns. I have said for years that professional football is in trouble because of the number of youth playing and safety issues. I think that as less and less people play football, soccer will gain them and increase the popularity in the future. What, in your mind, makes a good soccer fan? A good soccer fan is like a good fan for any sport. Someone that understands the game and is an active user. They check scores, have a favorite team, know the structure of the league and playoffs, and are dedicated to the sport through thick and thin. It is always nice to have heavy, dedicated consumers, because they will spend the most money and produce the most revenue for the league, but it starts with getting media users and light users, then moving them up the ladder through constant contact and solid marketing. If your son or daughter were an elite youth soccer player, would you encourage them to pursue the MLS / NWSL or a premier international league? I would not encourage them to pursue any of the above because I know the risks and chances with playing professional sport. If I had to choose one of the two, I would suggest to go where they are happy and getting their fair market value. If they were worried about playing time, I would suggest the domestic leagues. If they were playing for the money or prestige, then the international. The U.S. Women’s soccer team just negotiated higher pay and will now receive some of the same travel “perks” as their male counterparts. Do you think other sports should follow this example to increase pay equity between male and female athletes? Of course, it is nice for the women to get more equity in pay. This is a no-brainer. It would be great if all women that play sports had this same equity, but it comes down to simple economics. The U.S. women's soccer team is finally getting their fair market value, but that is not the case with other sports. The players in the WNBA do not generate near the revenue as players in the NBA. As far as I know, they are getting their fair market value. Ethically, I would love to see true equity across sport and non-sport structures. From a business standpoint, it won't, and as bad as it sounds, should not happen. If a women's sport began generating more than the male counterpart, then I would hope the women would make more than the men. It works both ways. Emmanuel Ayim Assistant Professor-in-Residence in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas What are the biggest issues facing U.S soccer today? The biggest issues facing U.S. Soccer today is the pending qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world, and certainly the biggest world soccer event. Our U.S. Men’s National team has qualified for every FIFA World Cup dating back to 1990. With the steady growth of soccer in the U.S., both on the boys’ and girls’ side, not qualifying for Russia will be a significant setback. What is the long-term outlook for professional soccer in the US? The long-term outlook for professional soccer in the U.S. is very bright. The sport is growing among youth soccer participants. The salaries of designated players in MLS (Major League Soccer) are now in the range of the other mainstream sports in the U.S. Despite the growth and expansion of MLS and the presence of the NWSL (National Women's Soccer League), I would still admonish young soccer players to aim for a soccer scholarship financed undergraduate degree, before making their splash in the professional ranks. What, in your mind, makes a good soccer fan? A good soccer fan comes in many forms and at different levels of identification. I believe a good soccer fan ranges from the soccer mom/soccer dad who never played, but is interested in educating themselves for the sake of their son/daughter who shows an affinity for the game. The spectrum also swings to the other end, of someone who played youth soccer, maybe some college soccer, and perhaps even dabbled in professional soccer, who loves the game and the game is an extension of who they are. In our country, we have millions of adults and young adults who played soccer as youth. If this critical mass translated to active consumers of soccer, the sport would thrive at even greater heights in the U.S. If your son or daughter were an elite youth soccer player, would you encourage them to pursue the MLS / NWSL or a premier international league? I am a father of three, two boys and a daughter. If any of them developed the love of the game like I had when I was a youth, college and pro soccer player, I would encourage and support their ambitions. As with most parents, I would love for them to play domestically so that we can attend their games. However, if they blossomed into European league caliber, then they would be able to afford to fly us over the pond to support them in Europe. The U.S. Women’s soccer team just negotiated higher pay and will now receive some of the same travel “perks” as their male counterparts. Do you think other sports should follow this example to increase pay equity between male and female athletes? The issue of pay equity is foreign to some males, until you get married or have a daughter. As a father of a beautiful and comparatively athletic young girl, I support pay equity for female athletes. As a part-time youth soccer coach, I recognize that there are some very talented young females, as well as our boys. Your gender should not be a limiting factor in compensation. You should be compensated based on your skill and level of contribution to the sport. Daniel R. Sweeney Associate Professor of Sport Business Management in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship at Lindenwood University What are the biggest issues facing U.S. Soccer today? The biggest issue facing U.S. soccer today is one of perception of quality at the 1st Division. The quality of on-field play has dramatically improved in MLS over the years, however, the league still lags well behind many of the top leagues in the rest of the world in this area. So, while we continue to see dramatic growth in the game in the U.S. in terms of quality, investor interest, market interest, and television partnerships, it’s important to remember there’s still a long way to go before we see the sport go “mainstream” and command the dollars and attention of the other sports leagues. The league has proceeded very cautiously in the first 20 years of existence, not wanting to repeat the mistakes of the defunct NASL of the 70s and 80s. They’ve taken the long view and have done a simply phenomenal job at growing the game. That said, in the not too distant future, the league is approaching a crossroads where they will have to decide if the single-entity salary cap system is what’s best for continued growth of soccer and MLS. Until the league attracts and can pay the best global talent, it won’t be viewed as one of the best in the world, and it won’t see the type of dollars we see in the other major sports leagues. What is the long-term outlook for professional soccer in the US? The long-term outlook for the pro game is phenomenal. It’s truly a great time to be involved in soccer in the U.S. present day. There has been increased interest from investors and fans alike across the U.S. in many markets, big and small, all up and down the pyramid. That said, what the professional pyramid will look like in the future is uncertain. With MLS having only a handful of expansion franchises left to award, it appears many medium- to large-sized markets with designs on pro soccer franchises at the highest level of play will be left out of the top division when the dust settles. That will create a lot of volatility in the pro game here, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Once that happens, those left out very well could decide to form a rival 1st Division entity to challenge MLS at that level. There is precedent for this in other major sports leagues. If that does happen, it could very well end up leading to a complete upheaval in the structure of the pro game here, and push soccer in North America from a closed league structure to one of promotion and relegation, where teams can move up and down divisions. Promotion and relegation, were it to ever happen, is still many years away for several major reasons. First, the buy into MLS has dramatically increased with the latest round of expansion. With the league asking new investors to put down $150 million for league membership, it would be next to impossible to send those teams down to the second division in a few years where, at present, profits are practically non-existent. Second, relegating any MLS team at this time or in the foreseeable future would serve the practical purpose of killing that franchise. The league, and its member teams, are simply not on strong enough footing yet in their respective markets to go from “major league” to “minor” from one season to the next. Third, at present, the vast majority of clubs within the second division in the U.S. are not in a position to compete at the Division 1 level if promoted. Most play in small stadiums and have severely limited revenue generating capabilities, especially given that TV money is limited and revenues are currently very much ticket-driven. What, in your mind, makes a good soccer fan? A good soccer fan in the U.S., at present, is one who appreciates the beautiful game at any level and enjoys watching soccer, even if they know it’s not the best product out there. They invest themselves in the club, the community, and each other. If your son or daughter were an elite youth soccer player, would you encourage them to pursue the MLS / NWSL or a premier international league? Well, given the current soccer climate in the U.S., if my son were an elite player, I would encourage him to find opportunity in a premier international league. Notwithstanding earning potential, premier international leagues, at this point, would offer my son a chance to play and train against and with some of the best in the world. From a development and growth perspective, those premier international leagues have to be the choice present day. For my daughter, my advice might be different. The NWSL is a premier women’s league globally. The level of talent in this league is phenomenal, and would provide my daughter with an excellent opportunity to grow and develop her game. The U.S. Women’s soccer team just negotiated higher pay and will now receive some of the same travel “perks” as their male counterparts. Do you think other sports should follow this example to increase pay equity between male and female athletes? This is a question of equity versus equality. Should U.S. soccer pay women soccer players what they’re worth? Or, should they be paid the same as men, irrespective of comparative value? Well, the answer depends on who and how one defines “worth” and “value.” From a revenue generation perspective, U.S. Women have actually done quite well when compared to their male counterparts. This would seem to suggest that they should be compensated justly. However, for discussion sake, let’s assume that the U.S. Women generated far less than the U.S. Men recently. Would that mean they have less worth or less value than the men? When it comes to major domestic sport governing bodies, such as U.S. Soccer, compensation at the highest level should align more closely with that organization’s mission statement, and not income statement. Based on U.S. Soccer’s mission statement, I would suggest the answer is a resounding -- no. U.S. Soccer’s mission statement is as follows: “to make soccer, in all its forms, a preeminent sport in the United States, and to continue the development of soccer at all recreational and competitive levels.” Given its mission, it makes perfect sense for U.S. Soccer to treat it male and female athletes equally, in perks and in pay. Any sport organization must examine its own mission or reason for existence in determining how it treats its male and female athletes. Alex Morawiecki Head Men's Soccer Coach at Hamline University What are the biggest issues facing U.S soccer today? For me, we've evolved as a soccer nation significantly over the past 10 years, with the adoption of the USDA, but it is still so new, and really a radical shift toward what the rest of the leading soccer nations have been doing for a long time. This model places and emphasis on developing players, with the main focus to develop them to become professionals. Our country is also unique, in that if you do not make it as a pro, you have the opportunity to play at the intercollegiate level. To continue to close the gap on more advanced nations, we need this system to be supported, and for our best coaches to gravitate toward youth. At moment, our top coaches are still coaching kids at the U16 - U18 age groups. If we can continue to develop coaches and put an emphasis on technical development at younger levels, we can continue to move a positive direction. The winning vs. development at these younger ages is also a tricky point to navigate. At the end of the day, educating parents, players and coaches so that we can really place an emphasis on development is critical, in my view. What is the long-term outlook for professional soccer in the US? Very strong and positive. Like anything, it will take time to move forward, however, we are really witnessing powerful growth as the MLS continues to expand. Investment is being made and fans are really getting behind the game. I look toward mid-size cities, like Cincinnati, with what they've been able to create from a followership standpoint in FC Cincinnati. It's incredible. The game has started to attract more and more kids at younger age groups, and families are on board. What, in your mind, makes a good soccer fan? In my mind, a good soccer fan is someone who supports the team in a passionate, yet respectful way. Soccer is the world’s game -- regardless of what country you find yourself in, you don't have to go far to find people who love this game. You see now that the MLS and other leagues around the world are putting an emphasis on acceptance of differences in race, religion and ethnicity. It's really fascinating to me that in a game in which everyone loves and follows, you still have inherent racism or prejudice against players at the highest levels. Continuing to use the game as a catalyst to stomp out hate and racism is something that is very powerful and unifying. To this end, I feel we have a long way to go, but there is at least an awareness of the issue and we need to change. If your son or daughter were an elite youth soccer player, would you encourage them to pursue the MLS / NWSL or a premier international league? At this point in time, the pathways to become a professional player are certainly in place. The benefit we have in our country is that if you reach a certain point and it doesn't look like you're ready to pursue a professional level, you have the option of gaining an education while still developing at a high level in college soccer. As the MLS continues to evolve and place more emphasis on youth development, I believe we will still see a good number of players electing to pursue college. Only the elite will be ready to pursue an all-out pro career. The U.S. Women’s soccer team just negotiated higher pay and will now receive some of the same travel “perks” as their male counterparts. Do you think other sports should follow this example to increase pay equity between male and female athletes? I do. It's something that they deserve and should be compensated for. Their sacrifices and commitment are equally valid as men’s, regardless of sponsorship and television rights. I think it is a positive move and speaks volumes about where the game is heading for women. Alanna Harman Assistant Professor in the Division of Sport Management at St. John's University College of Professional Studies What are the biggest issues facing U.S soccer today? First, it is important to recognize that soccer has experienced significant growth in North America in terms of participants. In Canada, soccer has taken over ice hockey as the most popular sport (based on participants). So, while challenges exist, significant growth has also occurred. I believe that one of the biggest challenges facing soccer in terms of developing fandom like we see in other professional sports is access to the sport and developing a crowdculture around soccer. While more and more Americans are versed on the rules of soccer and have participated in the game, their ability to continue their social identity with the sport remains challenging due to the lack of access. Knowing when and where to tune into a game requires significant effort on the part of the fan, a high-end fan would be willing to put forth this extra effort, but a new fan is unlikely to, and they are therefore lost to another competitor. This is in such contrast to American football, when you can tune on your television and easily be informed of the many college games available for consumption on a Saturday afternoon, or the options available the following day on Sunday that for all purposes is owned by the NFL. Growth of fandom requires easy access. What is the long-term outlook for professional soccer in the US? The long-term outlook for professional soccer I would suggest is highly dependent again on increasing access. The professional league in the U.S. has been able to capture high-end level fans who have shared their positive experiences and recruited others to also become fans. Relying on this approach for continued growth is challenging, as it can be a slow process that may reach a point of saturation. Again, making the game available to the new or casual fan will increase their interest. There is also a huge opportunity right now for soccer in the U.S., as one of America’s favorite pastimes is riddled in ethical controversy. While the NFL continues to make money and high-end users continue to embrace the game, more fans are questioning the ethics of watching athletes cause permanent damage to themselves, some have compared this to going to the Colosseum and watching gladiators compete. As we saw last season, for the first time the NFL saw a decrease in viewership, and some of this may be attributed to these types of ethical concerns. Soccer may be able to capitalize on this. What, in your mind, makes a good soccer fan? I believe the type of fan that any sport organization wants is a high-end user. Someone who can provide guaranteed revenue through the purchase of season tickets. A fan that possesses an emotional connection to the sport or team is also ideal, because they are invested and less likely to be turned off because of poor results. With regards specifically to soccer, I think fans that can increase the enjoyment of the experience are ideal -- selling sport to a fan is not just about the sport but the entire experience, and developing a culture that promotes appropriate fandom can enhance the experience. If your son or daughter were an elite youth soccer player, would you encourage them to pursue the MLS / NWSL or a premier international league? I believe that the pursuit comes from the athlete. I also believe at this juncture there is still a significant difference in skill level between the two leagues, and the skill level of the athlete would determine where they could be placed. The U.S. Women’s soccer team just negotiated higher pay and will now receive some of the same travel “perks” as their male counterparts. Do you think other sports should follow this example to increase pay equity between male and female athletes? The U.S. Women’s soccer team has taken an appropriate and necessary stand to assist in educating the public on the gender discrepancies that exist in sport. Instead of providing a direct response to this question, I would ask you, if you had a daughter, how would you explain to her that her contribution at her place of work is not as worthwhile as her male counterparts’?

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