Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[AlaCyclone]

Very interestingly, it was the 2nd most popular summer sport next to baseball when I was a kid. And that was during the Jurassic era.

I was Pre-Jurassic! I remember Pele coming to the N.A.S.L. That was a great concept ahead of its time. However, there was NO soccer infrastructre in the U.S. at the time, but teams in NYC (Cosmos) and Tampa Bay (Rowdies) drew well. Now, the entire M.L.S. draws well.

 

[Pope]

I don't know if someone already posted this link, and I feel a little naughty for doing so, but if you find PAC tears delicious (especially Utah tears), then you should check out this Utah podcast.

 

[Scruff]

When watching the USA in an international competition, soccer becomes one of my favorite sports... likely only behind football. I have not been able to get into MLS. I'm not sure if they need more big names or more competition with countries like Mexico, but it hasn't done it for me. I'm certainly not subscribing to Apple to watch.

 

[jdoggivjc]

I’ll admit, I watch very little soccer. So to me, it seems like a sport where commercial breaks would be far and few between. Based on the US model of squeezing in as much advertising as actual sports coverage, how would that work for soccer?

This is a serious question I wonder about. I love auto racing. I used to be a huge Indycar fan and always tuned into NASCAR, but have switched to F1 since they don’t have commercials during races. NBC has ruined Indycar for me with it basically being one long commercial with a little racing sprinkled in.

Football almost lends itself to TV and commercials with all the breaks in action it does have.

They already do it one of two ways:

1. Forego commercials while the game is being played. Meanwhile, Every few minutes the TV announcer says that "this segment of the game is sponsored by this company", as well as logos appearing on the screen every so often. Meanwhile, pregame, halftime, and postgame are overloaded with commercials from said sponsors.

2. Picture-in-picture. When it's time for commercials, the ads air in the bigger window while the game continues being broadcast in the smaller window.

Option 1 is currently used for most soccer broadcasts already, while option 2 is used in things like auto racing, pro wrestling, etc.

 

[Scruff]

Cyclone Larry agrees!

 

[Urbandale2013]

When watching the USA in an international competition, soccer becomes one of my favorite sports... likely only behind football. I have not been able to get into MLS. I'm not sure if they need more big names or more competition with countries like Mexico, but it hasn't done it for me. I'm certainly not subscribing to Apple to watch.

The problem with US soccer is it mirrors the other leagues to much. You continue to be invested to much in the same cities that are overloaded with sports. This has been my argument for a while now, but if you had a true promotion and relegation system that included many cities throughout the country it would improve. As it is I don't have any real connection to a MLS team. The closest is probably St Louis as I'm a Cardinals fan, but still that is difficult for me to care. If/when the DSM team gets started I'm going to be all in as a fan of them. Once more places get legitimate local teams (not amateur teams like the Menace) the grassroots support will grow exponentially.

 

[Scruff]

The problem with US soccer is it mirrors the other leagues to much. You continue to be invested to much in the same cities that are overloaded with sports. This has been my argument for a while now, but if you had a true promotion and relegation system that included many cities throughout the country it would improve. As it is I don't have any real connection to a MLS team. The closest is probably St Louis as I'm a Cardinals fan, but still that is difficult for me to care. If/when the DSM team gets started I'm going to be all in as a fan of them. Once more places get legitimate local teams (not amateur teams like the Menace) the grassroots support will grow exponentially.

I definitely think its a lesson for college football on Linear vs Streaming too. When they don't have fans or need to grow the fan base, linear is more important. I'm not paying for Apple TV to watch it. Put it on TV for the next decade and I could easily get into it. I could easily find a team in KC, STL, or Chicago.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

When watching the USA in an international competition, soccer becomes one of my favorite sports... likely only behind football. I have not been able to get into MLS. I'm not sure if they need more big names or more competition with countries like Mexico, but it hasn't done it for me. I'm certainly not subscribing to Apple to watch.

Many people, even major soccer fans have a hard time getting into MLS. The quality of play is just horrific compared to the international game. It’s like trying to get an NBA fan to watch college basketball games without a tie in. Just doesn’t work well. Now when you have a team in your city it’s a little different

 

[Dr.bannedman]

yall need to touch grass. hop in the pool. drink some vodka

 

[Clonefan94]

They already do it one of two ways:

1. Forego commercials while the game is being played. Meanwhile, Every few minutes the TV announcer says that "this segment of the game is sponsored by this company", as well as logos appearing on the screen every so often. Meanwhile, pregame, halftime, and postgame are overloaded with commercials from said sponsors.

2. Picture-in-picture. When it's time for commercials, the ads air in the bigger window while the game continues being broadcast in the smaller window.

Option 1 is currently used for most soccer broadcasts already, while option 2 is used in things like auto racing, pro wrestling, etc.

Disclamer - for ease football is Am. Football for this post. I know some get mad when you call it soccer, but it’s just easy for this case.

I get how they do it, especially #2, I am still a racing fan. I’m just having a hard time seeing networks and advertisers going for it, unless forced to by football becoming insanely unpopular. Right now, even if soccer were equally or slightly more popular than football, football is going to get the nod because of built in commercial breaks. Let’s be honest, that’s why tv exists, to sell commercials.

That is why NASCAR went to the stages, to get more planned commercial breaks. It was never my favorite racing, but is unwatchable now. I hope for the sake of soccer fans it works out. I just don’t see major networks replacing football with, unless you convince advertisers that superimposing their logo on the field for the game is worth as much as 10 commercials during the game.

 

[exCyDing]

I think we underestimate the power of the media sometimes. As soon as they start to consistently reference CTE and other brain damage in relation to football, it’s in trouble. And they do consistently bang a drum when they get on to something. This isn’t meant to be political or debate to what degree global warming is an issue…but look at the way they talk about that right now. Practically every article or story related to heat, fires, storms, etc. references “human caused global warming”. Again, hoping we don’t go down that particular path - my point is when they get on to something, they change how people talk about things.

Right or wrong, it can be a feedback loop. Outlet A reports it, then there’s reports on reporting it, etc. iIf it gets audience attention, it picks up speed. Once there’s an audience for a topic, everyone kind of has to report on it.

That’s not to attack the validity of the reporting, or the importance of the topic, it’s just media outlets and their audiences are all part of an ecosystem. The audience is shaping demand for stories, while the media companies provide options and respond to demand.

 

[Clonefan94]

yall need to touch grass. hop in the pool. drink some vodka

What if I told you, I’m posting from the pool after mowing this morning?

 

[t-noah]

“Long term”…and who knows what the media landscape is like then. We’re just as likely to have a contraction and breakaway of 24 teams, or we stick to the super-conference model without the PAC in play.

This is probably too much projection at this point, but what would 'contraction' look like again? and who would be the 24, and decide on, the "24" teams?

 

[Dr.bannedman]

What if I told you, I’m posting from the pool after mowing this morning?

as am i.. muahahahah.

 

[cyatheart]

Is the contract even finalized yet for the BIG? I heard they were still trying to finish all the details.

If they add OU and UW, where are they going to put the extra 15 games a year, all the exclusive windows are taken by Fox, CBS, and NBC? The only revenue they would add would be BTN subscriptions in Oregon and Seattle, which could be fairly significant, but I have no idea how much.

And, if you are Iowa, Minnesota, Rutgers, Illinois, or any of the rest of the bottom of the big ten, you just get relegated to the big ten network for all your games. Oregon and Washington would be fine adds if you didn't have 10 other worthless teams in the big ten taking a full share. I mean if you really look at the big ten, they are severely overpaying about 2/3 of the conference.

 

[RezClone]

All logical common sense points. Ironically, the conference of geniuses have proven themselves to be immune to common sense, if nothing else.

Don't underestimate the influence of ideology in the decision making of the Pac 12-3. IMHO, "academics", with respect to their importance to the Pac and the Big 12's lack thereof, has always been meant to be a loaded term and a nicer way of saying, "we will not be associated with those backwards hillbillies in the truck stop conference, no matter what, period."

The elitist brass know a large portion of their fan base uses those terms regularly, and they feel the same way. In that sense, Pac country is pretty unified. Arguably, it's one of the top ways, and perhaps only way, that conference is unified. After reading so many comments from their fans and piecing it together with what media and administrators have said, I get the sense that they really do view the totality of our existence in the Big 12 as something akin to a Nascar race/Trump rally/Joel Osteen worship service.

Yes, at some point the rubber meets the road financially, but I think we don't fully appreciate how high that bar is for them, and the lengths they will go in order to stay true to "academics". I really do think decision makers would seriously consider just about anything to save face on this point, in their opinion, and they would have a significant degree of public support from fans and alumni in doing so.

We can and should find this deeply offensive as ISU graduates, fans, etc.

To further illustrate this point^^^...

Watch this 25 min long podcast and count how many times they say: "We need to try to join the Big 12"

... I'll save you the time, it's ZERO!!!

**They sort of hint at it, dance around it, AND in fact they say everything that means the same thing but stay short of actually saying it, BUT THEY JUST CAN'T BRING THEMSELVES TO EXPLICITLY SAY IT!

***WHY????***
A) They will get A LOT of flack for it from a lot of Utah/Pac 12 ppl
B) Their egos won't let them eat that much crow.

 

[AttackOfTheClones]

The Big 12 has never been in a better negotiating situation than right now--the next 2-4 weeks

~ Big 10 appears to say 'no' to more expansion
~ Big 12 has a small window to grab Oregon and Washington
~ Big 12 new TV deal $31 million/school vs Big 10 approx. $70 million
~ BIg 12 would be a last resort for the uppity Pac 12 remaining schools
~ I'd be pleased with Arizona, ASU, and Utah to get to 16

~ West virginia (I like them) should try to get into the ACC
~ UCF? still don't understand this. They had 2-3 good fb seasons, and we now will never to get rid of them. They are a commuter school; annoying, and an afterthought in Florida. They don't bring eyeballs to the the networks.
~ Memphis, SMU, SDST, Tulane, UConn? Never understood the infatuation with old WAC teams, and the latter, etc. Just a terrible idea

 

[Cloneon]

The Big 12 has never been in a better negotiating situation than right now--the next 2-4 weeks

~ Big 10 appears to say 'no' to more expansion
~ Big 12 has a small window to grab Oregon and Washington
~ I'd be pleased with Arizona, ASU, and Utah to get to 16

~ West virginia (I like them) should try to get into the ACC
~ UCF? still don't understand this. They had 2-3 good fb seasons, and we now will never to get rid of them. They are a commuter school; annoying, and an afterthought in Florida. They don't bring eyeballs to the the networks.
~ Memphis, SMU, SDST, Tulane, UConn? Never understood the infatuation with old WAC teams, and the latter, etc. Just a terrible idea

I like most of what you say, but WV -> ACC on so many levels shouldn't have even been mentioned. And, I think UCF in a decade, given their recruiting grounds, does make it a good play both with media value and quality of football.

 

[AlaCyclone]

Many people, even major soccer fans have a hard time getting into MLS. The quality of play is just horrific compared to the international game. It’s like trying to get an NBA fan to watch college basketball games without a tie in. Just doesn’t work well. Now when you have a team in your city it’s a little different

I had this conversation the other night in Milwaukee!

For me, I am flexible with soccer: USL, MLS, Liga MX, Premier League, etc. They are all enjoyable. I will be a season ticket holder when they finally get the new stadium built in DSM with what I believe will be a USL franchise.

Hockey I am fine with Iowa Wild as a substitute for the NHL. Equally enoyable to me.

I prefer College Basketball more than the NBA, but I like both. Two different good experiences. I prefer the college environment, but the NBA skill is incredible to watch. However, I have zero interest in the Iowa Wolves.

I love College Football, and I like the NFL. I'd rather go to a random college game, but an NFL game every once in a while is a treat.

As for college football itself, I enjoy going to Drake PFL games from time to time. Doesn't bother me one bit that it's not Big Xii or B1G level. Not as good, but I'd rather go to a Drake game than no game at all. Just like being in a stadium on game day.

Baseball is a different story though. I love MLB, but Minor League and College Baseball do not interest me at all. So, I get your point about soccer with many people. I am just more flexible on that particular sport.

 

[Scruff]

yall need to touch grass. hop in the pool. drink some vodka

It's Big 12 in Mexico, not Russia. Drink some tequila or mezcal. Margaritas if you need a mixer.