The phrase, “Hey you, support your local team!” has long been a part of football-speak. It is used derisively by fans to mock opposition teams who have fan bases which span entire cities, counties, countries or continents. There has long been a special mystique associated with supporting a local club, the provincial team from down the road. In Milwaukee, citizens take great pride in supporting the Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks and Green Bay Packers. However, when it comes to the most popular sport in the world, association football, American fans tend to be bandwagoners.
My words must be taken with a grain of salt, for I am a die hard Manchester United supporter. As this writer sits and write this, he is wearing a United sweatshirt and knit cap, and his United apparel collection is impressive. However, American football fans don’t often support their local team. In this country, the following for association football is skyrocketing, and walking around town you’re likely to see someone wearing a United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich kit. If that cannot be found, it is certain that you can find someone who often plays FIFA. However, Major League Soccer has yet to fully enter the mainin terms of its following.
That is not said to take anything away from MLS, nor does this writer wish to be accused of “Eurosnobbery”. MLS is coming off its greatest ever season, one which saw average attendance rise to over 19,000 spectators per game and a whole host of new fans following the league after the World Cup. And, on March 6th, the 2015 MLS season will commence. It will feature more fully fledged internationals than any other previous iteration of the league, and stars such as Seattle Sounders and USA captain Clint Dempsey, Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley, new Toronto signing Sebastian Giovinco, LA Galaxy captain Robbie Keane, New York City Football Club captain David Villa, Orlando City SC attacker Kaka, Sporting Kansas City captain Matt Besler and Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez are primed to take center stage. So, this writer is here to tell you to support your local league.
There is nothing wrong with following a European team, and there is nothing wrong with loving a European team. Were this writer to say that, he would be a massive hypocrite. However, there is an awful lot on offer in MLS. No, it is not the Barclays Premier League nor does it boast a team who could go beyond the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League. What it does have is a style of play that is unique, that is American. Around the world, American footballers are renowned not for having superior technical skill or the ability to unlock a defense with one pass, but for playing with an all action, 110% effort style. Hence, MLS is played in much the same way.
There is a remarkable amount of speed in the league, and whether it be Giovinco scampering down the wing, Portland Timbers creative midfielder Diego Valeri scything through the middle of defence, or Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins bullrushing down a defender’s throat, the athleticism on offer is a sight to behold. No, there is no Wayne Rooney bicycle kick nor are there stepover sequences from Cristiano Ronaldo. However, there is strength, power, speed and effort on display for an entire 90 minutes.
In addition to the overall quality in play, which has risen every year over MLS’ 19 year old history and will undoubtedly rise this season, the fan support provided is incredible. As mentioned before, MLS set a league-wide attendance record in 2014 averaging over 19,000 spectators per match. That places it as the third best attended professional sports league in the country, only trailing MLB and the NFL. What is especially remarkable about that is that those leagues have stadiums which are much, much larger. There is only one NFL stadium which seats under 60,000 fans and most seat in excess of 70,000. By contrast, most MLS stadiums seat somewhere in between 18,000 and 30,000 with a couple of notable outliers.
Yet, it is not just the sheer number of fans who come to matches that make the league incredible. No, it is what they do and the atmosphere they generate which makes MLS a unique atmosphere. When attending a match, you will undoubtedly see supporters of every ethnicity, and there will be a section of hard core supporters who sing for the full 90 minutes. At Toyota Park, home of the Chicago Fire, there are dueling supporter’s groups: one is English speaking and chant for the majority of the match while the other is Spanish speaking, and are led by a brass band for the entire 90 minutes. It’s remarkable to see how the players are lifted by the support which they receive, and as a fan the atmosphere is simply something to behold.
So, this season when the need for football comes over you, give your local league a try. There are a minimum of two nationally televised matches each week, and comprehensive coverage is always available here at VAVEL USA. Don’t expect to see Real Madrid on the pitch, but don’t be surprised by the top quality some of these players have to offer. Oy, you! Support your local league!