Idea: Merge MLS and Mexican League

[Stryker]

What if... MLS and Primera Division Mexico merged?
Single table... and relegation.
Thoughts?

[MFG1]

crazy , the travelling would kill them.

[RedsYNWA]

No DICE

[Stryker]

Split north america down the center horizontally. Only play 5 games a season againest the further region.

[Keyman]

crazy , the travelling would kill them.
Not really, to the southern tip of Mexico isn't it only about 4-5 hours from Toronto by plane?
That's less than Toronto to LA

[Stryker]

I ask this question because like it or not Mexico, the US and Canada will be intergrating at some point. Common currencies and faster jet aircraft in the future will make the idea feasible. Bear in mind Im not talking right now, Im thinking like 15-20 years down the road.

[Stryker]

Not really, to the southern tip of Mexico isn't it only about 4-5 hours from Toronto by plane?
That's less than Toronto to LA
Correct.

[Damien]

http://www.conservapedia.com/images/thumb/9/97/North_america_pol97.jpg/300px-North_america_pol97.jpg

[Stryker]

Anyway, I know it sounds crazy but to be honest I wouldn't be surprised to see it years down the road. Impossible is nothing. :p

[Keyman]

Wouldnt the economics would be difficult though? Although the Mexican teams would most likely have the more talented teams to start with, combining the economics of Canada to the United States with Mexico would be difficult. Once the leagues were united, the purchasing power for MLS teams would be far greater than Mexican teams, would it not? The Mexican Peso is worth far less than the Canadian or American dollar, which would make it hard for them to compete for talent.

I'm not sure if this is true though! haha

[Huginho]

thread of the day

[Blizzard]

Doesn't Mexico play in the opposite season? August through May I think. So do we play in Guadalajara in July or Toronto in January?

[Parkdale]

I ask this question because like it or not Mexico, the US and Canada will be intergrating at some point.

oh really? care to ask an American about that?

or for that matter, ask Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka or Korea how that whole integration thing worked out for them.

[TOBOR !]

he's just saying, is all.

[Jack]

Wouldnt the economics would be difficult though? Although the Mexican teams would most likely have the more talented teams to start with, combining the economics of Canada to the United States with Mexico would be difficult. Once the leagues were united, the purchasing power for MLS teams would be far greater than Mexican teams, would it not? The Mexican Peso is worth far less than the Canadian or American dollar, which would make it hard for them to compete for talent.

I'm not sure if this is true though! haha
Wrong!

The Mexican league has tons of rich owners. Media moguls and oil barons, as well as some shady businessmen. There is more money in the Mexican League than in MLS. The Mexican League is 5th in the world in revenue.

I know we don't get much coverage up here, but it's a hell of a league. Easily up there in terms of quality of players with the big European leagues. A lot of the best Mexican players prefer to stay there because they get paid so well and live like kings.

No way in hell would the FMF want anything to do with poor little MLS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deloitte_Football_Money_League#The_ten_leagues_wit h_the_highest_revenues

1 Premier League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League), http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Flag_of_England.svg/22px-Flag_of_England.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_England.svg) England (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England): $700 mln. average
2 Serie A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serie_A), http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_Italy.svg/22px-Flag_of_Italy.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Italy.svg) Italy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy): $490 mln.
3 Bundesliga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fu%C3%9Fball-Bundesliga), http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Germany.svg) Germany (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany): $389 mln.
4 La Liga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Liga), http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Spain.svg/22px-Flag_of_Spain.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Spain.svg) Spain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain): $275 mln.
5 Primera División de México (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primera_Divisi%C3%B3n_de_M%C3%A9xico), http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Flag_of_Mexico.svg/22px-Flag_of_Mexico.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Mexico.svg) Mexico (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico): $ 160 mln.
6 Ligue 1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligue_1), http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/22px-Flag_of_France.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_France.svg) France (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France): $150 mln.
7 J. League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._League), http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Flag_of_Japan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Japan.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Japan.svg) Japan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan): $129 mln.
8 Eredivisie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eredivisie), http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg) Netherlands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands): $125 mln.
9 The Championship (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Championship), http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Flag_of_England.svg/22px-Flag_of_England.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_England.svg) England (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England): $125 mln.
10 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campeonato_Brasileiro_S%C3%A9rie_A), http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Flag_of_Brazil.svg/22px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Brazil.svg) Brazil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil): $124 mln.

[Redcoe15]

Crazy idea!

[Damien]

oh really? care to ask an American about that?

or for that matter, ask Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka or Korea how that whole integration thing worked out for them.

Don't forget about Hans Island (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_island).

[Beach_Red]

oh really? care to ask an American about that?

or for that matter, ask Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka or Korea how that whole integration thing worked out for them.

Well, you might want to ask Northern Ireland how they like that whole European Community thing, an idea that was crazy fifty years ago.

It really is the next step after free trade.

[Keyman]

Wrong!

The Mexican league has tons of rich owners. Media moguls and oil barons, as well as some shady businessmen. There is more money in the Mexican League than in MLS. The Mexican League is 5th in the world in revenue.

I know we don't get much coverage up here, but it's a hell of a league. Easily up there in terms of quality of players with the big European leagues. A lot of the best Mexican players prefer to stay there because they get paid so well and live like kings.

No way in hell would the FMF want anything to do with poor little MLS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deloitte_Football_Money_League#The_ten_leagues_wit h_the_highest_revenues


Well, I said I wasn't sure! :p

Thanks for clearing that up. I knew it was a league of high quality football, but I didn't know it was so economically successful. Very interesting.

[stretchthetruth]

Well, you might want to ask Northern Ireland how they like that whole European Community thing, an idea that was crazy fifty years ago.

It really is the next step after free trade.


and we'll all sit back and watch as we find ourselves with zero national sovereignty, and a one world government... but this isnt the thread for that stuff...

i doubt the leagues will merge - i cant see the mexican football public being into it...

[Jack]

Well, I said I wasn't sure! :p

Thanks for clearing that up. I knew it was a league of high quality football, but I didn't know it was so economically successful. Very interesting.

Huge money in football down there.

It's all over everything. There are some big rivalries. Sol vs. Corona. Televisa vs. TV Azteca. Coke vs. Pepsi. The telephone companies. They all have a stake in the league and the teams. Huge TV money. SKY and cable companies and all that. There is a lot of money and a lot of pressure and football is a part of the fabric of everyday life. You can literally watch it on TV from Friday night, all afternoon Saturday and all day Sunday too... several games on several different channels and there is huge money in the TV contracts and revenue.

Mexico has a lot of poverty, don't get me wrong, but I also saw a lot of things improve a lot in the 8 years I lived there (it's more than 10 years since I went). There is a much more solid middle class than ever before and there is money all over the place.

That would be something like the NFL merging with the CFL.

[Beach_Red]

and we'll all sit back and watch as we find ourselves with zero national sovereignty, and a one world government... but this isnt the thread for that stuff...

i doubt the leagues will merge - i cant see the mexican football public being into it...


Oh, this is a pretty crazy thread, it should be wide open.

The thing is, TV reveues will become a huge issue and teams from bigger markets that can draw bigger ratings and will want to play other teams from the same size markets.

Like Jack says, there are big owners of some Mexican teams. Who knows, if someday they could make more money playing teams in New York, LA and Toronto than they could playing against smaller teams in their own league, they'd be tempted. It's not so much what the fans want, it's what the most fans want and what the owners want.

[H Bomb]

I watched some Mexican games when i traveled down there last year and there is obviously tons of money. Everything is sponsored, down to the goal icons on TV. Some good footy too.

[stretchthetruth]

Oh, this is a pretty crazy thread, it should be wide open.

The thing is, TV reveues will become a huge issue and teams from bigger markets that can draw bigger ratings and will want to play other teams from the same size markets.

Like Jack says, there are big owners of some Mexican teams. Who knows, if someday they could make more money playing teams in New York, LA and Toronto than they could playing against smaller teams in their own league, they'd be tempted. It's not so much what the fans want, it's what the most fans want and what the owners want.


i'd be into it... Tijuana road trip!!!!:drinking:

[Jack]

i'd be into it... Tijuana road trip!!!!:drinking:
Tijuana's a rough town...

[Cambridge_Red]

Good luck winning anything the Mexican league would tear us a new one. It would help us but definately not help them. It won't happen.

[TFC*FAN]

Yes, it could logistically happen. But there's no historical precedent as to why it would. Why wouldn't european markets have merged already?

If this untapped resource, being soccer in Canada and the US, is to live up to its expectation, then why would it ever need to merge with a league as big as Mexico's?

To take this point to absurdity, we should merge all the Caribbean Islands as well.

[stretchthetruth]

Tijuana's a rough town...

tell me about it! marissa od'd in the alleyway after she saw luke cheating on her, and who can forget when ryan chased volchok down there, and seth got a tattoo! oh and something about donkeys...

[colman1860]

tell me about it! marissa od'd in the alleyway after she saw luke cheating on her, and who can forget when ryan chased volchok down there, and seth got a tattoo! oh and something about donkeys...

POST OF THE DAY:D:D:D

[Stryker]

Well if nothing else Im happy to have at least given you all something to discuss.
Anyway on a personal note, I think the idea is completely possible, nay.. I'll go one step further to say that IMO its likely. When and why? Many years from now. Immigrants and their prodigy will become the backbone of MLS. It will raise audience numbers as well as the level of "home grown" talent. Higher salaries will also undoubtedly attract talent from across the pond. Thus, putting it somewhere "close" to mexico's league. So when you consider all this and add the fact that many are pushing for a north american currency, the idea isn't nessacarily as absurd as it sounds.
Again, a long long ways off though.

[troy1982]

Interesting idea.
MLS has thought about it and it is why we have the SuperLiga. The most logical thing to do in my opinion is to expand the SuperLiga to 32 teams, 16 from MLS 16 for the Primera Liga in 8 groups of 4 play home and away with games in the spring and fall but not the summer.

[Cashcleaner]

Won't ever happen in the foreseeable future, nor do I think it would be a good idea. Let's stick to playing Mexican clubs thru CONCACAF, not as part of the same league. Let's not forget that the Primera Division is MILES ahead of MLS. A partnership would be a step back for the Mexicans, I think.

[StandUpIfYouHateChelsea]

Huge money in football down there.

It's all over everything. There are some big rivalries. Sol vs. Corona. Televisa vs. TV Azteca. Coke vs. Pepsi. The telephone companies. They all have a stake in the league and the teams. Huge TV money. SKY and cable companies and all that. There is a lot of money and a lot of pressure and football is a part of the fabric of everyday life. You can literally watch it on TV from Friday night, all afternoon Saturday and all day Sunday too... several games on several different channels and there is huge money in the TV contracts and revenue.

Mexico has a lot of poverty, don't get me wrong, but I also saw a lot of things improve a lot in the 8 years I lived there (it's more than 10 years since I went). There is a much more solid middle class than ever before and there is money all over the place.

That would be something like the NFL merging with the CFL.

its funny cause thats about 1% of brazil , now theres a country that breathes football....

[Jack]

its funny cause thats about 1% of brazil , now theres a country that breathes football....
I've not been to Brazil, but believe me, Mexico breathes football.

I highly doubt it's 1% of Brazil. But maybe something more like 50%.

Brazil also has about twice the population.

[Stouffville_RPB]

interesting thought. don't think it would ever happen but i'm all about raising the interest level of soccer in canada and this would definately do it.

[JDG]

Doesn't FIFA have rules in place to prevent this from happening?

[SilverSamurai]

Doesn't FIFA have rules in place to prevent this from happening?

Which is exactly why it could happen. It's FIFA!

Anyways, Jack pretty much nailed it all about Mexico.
They are crazy about their footy. Some of the things I've seen sponsored made me wonder, why? Aka Chivas have their own rice and water brands!

Unfortunately the difference b/w the very poor and even middle class is crazy.

But their is TONS of $$$ in Mexican footy.
They probably get a TON more money then we get in hockey even.

Anyways, the Mexican 1st division would run circles around MLS, although if we finally got "Bimbo" here I'd be all for it!
http://www.infofutbolonline.com/futbolmexicano/jersey_chivas.jpg

[Canadian Blue]

I am not sure if FIFA would allow it.

[giambac]

What if... MLS and Primera Division Mexico merged?
Single table... and relegation.
Thoughts?


sure go ahead and merge them. Then you can call them

Divsion 1 - Mexico league
Divsion 2 - MLS:cool:

[Cashcleaner]

^ Funny 'cause its true.

[flatpicker]

the main question is...
if a single league was formed between US Can and Mexico, what would it be called? What would the sport be called??

What's that MLS slogan? "Futbol, Football, Soccer"?
Might become even more appropriate!

[Stryker]

sure go ahead and merge them. Then you can call them

Divsion 1 - Mexico league
Divsion 2 - MLS:cool:

You don't think the level of MLS will have elevated greatly 10 years from now?

[Huginho]

You don't think the level of MLS will have elevated greatly 10 years from now?

who knows, but it still won't happen.

[daner90]

Thanks for the cool lesson in Mexican football Jack!
Did not know any of the stuff you posted. Wow

[Jack]

Thanks for the cool lesson in Mexican football Jack!
Did not know any of the stuff you posted. Wow
I picked up a couple of things while living down there. :p

[rocktml]

Mexicans would laugh at that idea. The Mexican league has been around for a while now. Too much history to merge now.

[Stryker]

Mexicans would laugh at that idea. The Mexican league has been around for a while now. Too much history to merge now.
Indeed. A hundred years plus. But one would think they'd jump at the chance to kick the piss out of american teams on a regular basis.
Now that would make for some serious club rivalries.

[Toronto Ruffrider]

Indeed. A hundred years plus. But one would think they'd jump at the chance to kick the piss out of american teams on a regular basis.
Now that would make for some serious club rivalries.

Would the Mexicans really care? Something tells me that those games would only be a popular draw in the U.S. I could be wrong, but I can't see fans of top-flight football in Mexico so much as batting an eye at the lacklustre American game. We all know how popular Chivas USA is on either side of the U.S./Mexican border.

[egoodwin]

too far to drive

[RedRum]

I would do a Mexico away game just to listen to Jack hurl megaphoned insults at the keeper in Spanish for a half :D

You guys dont know what you missed at Canada vs Honduras.