Ok futbol fans

[ulysses5019]

Who is the new avatar?

[The Tackymobile]

Who is the new avatar?

Victoria Beckham without makeup.

A gimme.

[ulysses5019]

Who is the new avatar?

Victoria Beckham without makeup.

A gimme.

That was close. No wig either.

[The Tackymobile]

Who is the new avatar?

Victoria Beckham without makeup.

A gimme.

That was close. No wig either.

It was the smile, or lack thereof, that gave it away..

[Appa23]

It looks like

Spoiler

Don Garber, Commissioner of the MLS, giving his "State of the League" speech.

[andrewjackson]

It is The Don.

Not sure why you are using the Spanish word for Association Football in your header. There are many names for the beautiful game (fútbol, futebol, calcio, fussball, voetbal, sakka) but in English football or soccer are preferred.

[ulysses5019]

It is The Don.

Not sure why you are using the Spanish word for Association Football in your header. There are many names for the beautiful game (fútbol, futebol, calcio, fussball, voetbal, sakka) but in English football or soccer are preferred.

I just wanted to make sure it caught your attention. It is indeed Don Garber and he was speaking at USC's Marshall School of Business Commissioner's Series. A lot of MLS bigwigs were there. There was even an ex-player or two though I only recognized Cobi Jones. The Series has included the commissioners of MLB, NASCAR and the NBA.

[andrewjackson]

It is The Don.

Not sure why you are using the Spanish word for Association Football in your header. There are many names for the beautiful game (fútbol, futebol, calcio, fussball, voetbal, sakka) but in English football or soccer are preferred.

I just wanted to make sure it caught your attention. It is indeed Don Garber and he was speaking at USC's Marshall School of Business Commissioner's Series. A lot of MLS bigwigs were there. There was even an ex-player or two though I only recognized Cobi Jones. The Series has included the commissioners of MLB, NASCAR and the NBA.

Fair enough.

Any bombshells? Huge new salary cap? Expansion cities for 2011 are Atlanta and Ottawa? Fall-to-Spring schedule? Promotion/Relegation?

Wait. Those wouldn't be bombshells, those would only happen if the speech was April 1.

My guess: steady growth of the sport and the league, establishing profitability, increasing sponsorships, continuing with venue development, looking at roster size and scheduling but unable to make drastic changes at this time, etc.

[ulysses5019]

It is The Don.

Not sure why you are using the Spanish word for Association Football in your header. There are many names for the beautiful game (fútbol, futebol, calcio, fussball, voetbal, sakka) but in English football or soccer are preferred.

I just wanted to make sure it caught your attention. It is indeed Don Garber and he was speaking at USC's Marshall School of Business Commissioner's Series. A lot of MLS bigwigs were there. There was even an ex-player or two though I only recognized Cobi Jones. The Series has included the commissioners of MLB, NASCAR and the NBA.

Fair enough.

Any bombshells? Huge new salary cap? Expansion cities for 2011 are Atlanta and Ottawa? Fall-to-Spring schedule? Promotion/Relegation?

Wait. Those wouldn't be bombshells, those would only happen if the speech was April 1.

My guess: steady growth of the sport and the league, establishing profitability, increasing sponsorships, continuing with venue development, looking at roster size and scheduling but unable to make drastic changes at this time, etc.

I was too busy taking photos to take notes. He talked about the business model. He mentioned that various cities are making presentations for expansion. He likes Miami (even though the previous team folded). FC Barcelona wants to move in there. There was an audience question about league "promotion and relegation" like they have in England and other countries. Since we have no minor league here he said it was not viable.

[andrewjackson]

I just wanted to make sure it caught your attention. It is indeed Don Garber and he was speaking at USC's Marshall School of Business Commissioner's Series. A lot of MLS bigwigs were there. There was even an ex-player or two though I only recognized Cobi Jones. The Series has included the commissioners of MLB, NASCAR and the NBA.

Fair enough.

Any bombshells? Huge new salary cap? Expansion cities for 2011 are Atlanta and Ottawa? Fall-to-Spring schedule? Promotion/Relegation?

Wait. Those wouldn't be bombshells, those would only happen if the speech was April 1.

My guess: steady growth of the sport and the league, establishing profitability, increasing sponsorships, continuing with venue development, looking at roster size and scheduling but unable to make drastic changes at this time, etc.

I was too busy taking photos to take notes. He talked about the business model. He mentioned that various cities are making presentations for expansion. He likes Miami (even though the previous team folded). FC Barcelona wants to move in there. There was an audience question about league "promotion and relegation" like they have in England and other countries. Since we have no minor league here he said it was not viable.

The Miami Fusion didn't fold, they were contracted along with Tampa Bay. They might have folded if that hadn't happened but it did.

And there are definitely minor leagues here:

USL-1: 11 teams
USL-2: 10 teams
PDL: 67 teams

The USL-1 teams from Canada both advanced in the CONCACAF Champions' League and the Charleston Battery, a USL-1 team, made it to the final of the U.S. Open Cup.

I'm not in favor of promotion/relegation but to say there is no minor league is false. I guess he could get away with saying it to this crowd. On Saturday at the Supporter's' Summit not so much.