MLS Chicago Original Identity

[notkirkcameron]

We've come a long way, baby.

MLS, Opening Day 1998

Chicago Fire

Colorado Rapids

Columbus Crew

Dallas Burn

DC United

Kansas City Wizards (Had been the Wiz only 2 years earlier)

Los Angeles Galaxy

Miami Fusion FC

New England Revolution

New York/New Jersey MetroStars

San Jose Clash

Tampa Bay Mutiny

MLS, Opening Day 2006

Chicago Fire

Club Deportivo Chivas USA

Colorado Rapids

Columbus Crew

DC United

FC Dallas

Houston Dynamo

Kansas City Wizards

Los Angeles Galaxy

New England Revolution

Real Salt Lake

Red Bull New York

[FiddySicks]

We've come a long way, baby.

MLS, Opening Day 1998

Chicago Fire

Colorado Rapids

Columbus Crew

Dallas Burn

DC United

Kansas City Wizards (Had been the Wiz only 2 years earlier)

Los Angeles Galaxy

Miami Fusion FC

New England Revolution

New York/New Jersey MetroStars

San Jose Clash

Tampa Bay Mutiny

MLS, Opening Day 2006

Chicago Fire

Club Deportivo Chivas USA

Colorado Rapids

Columbus Crew

DC United

FC Dallas

Houston Dynamo

Kansas City Wizards

Los Angeles Galaxy

New England Revolution

Real Salt Lake

Red Bull New York

From that, if you ask me, that league has digressed since 98. Same amount of teams, thats good, but youve lost markets in Miami, Tampa St./Petersburgh, and San Jose. And they only gained new markets in Utah and Houston (not a bad place, accually probably better than Miami, Tampa, or San Jose) and doubling up in Los Angeles. And on top of that, KC may lose the Wizards. And finally, teams are changing to more Euro style names, or naming themselves after soft drinks.

If youve got an argument as to why the MLS is MUCH better, try me. Id love to hear it.

[The_Admiral]

You mean it regressed. If the league digressed, that would mean they forgot they were supposed to be playing soccer and took up basketball in the middle of a season.

[Mac the Knife]

You mean it regressed. If the league digressed, that would mean they forgot they were supposed to be playing soccer and took up basketball in the middle of a season.

That might be a good idea, TCR... maybe playing hoops the MLS owners wouldn't lose quite so much money.

Seriously though, MLS may not be better, but they've survived this long, which by and of itself is worthy of no small amount of praise. The ownership groups have collectively lost a reported $300 - 400 MILLION over the years - a staggering amount considering that its soccer.

To their credit, they're trying diligently to build the MLS as the preeminent soccer brand in the United States, and they've succeeded. The only question is if they can ever recoup their losses... and on that, a name change won't help.

[paynomind]

From what I've read, MLS ownership and management knew they would lose money, and knew it would take several seasons to stem the bleeding, and turn the league into world-class, profitable soccer. They are doing that, slowly, each year, with a small amount of progression.

I'm proud of US soccer that the MLS is still around, and I hope to be telling my grandkids that I can remember when the US didnt have MLS and they roll their eyes and call me old.

I think larger names are coming over, pre and post premiership-level play, and that will raise the game. Then, B+ players will just stay in MLS to play, rather than sit in Europe, and eventually, the money will be there to sign some big names.

I just hope the money holds out to get to that point.

back ON topic,

I'd love to see any of these concept logos if anyone has them to share.

[Beantown77]

If youve got an argument as to why the MLS is MUCH better, try me. Id love to hear it.

Have you personally seen any games between 1996 and today?

The quality of play, emergance of US bred talent, construction of numerouis specific soccer stadia and relative financial solublity of many franchises all are reasons that MLS is decidely better today than it was in 1996.

[paynomind]

If youve got an argument as to why the MLS is MUCH better, try me. Id love to hear it.

Have you personally seen any games between 1996 and today?

The quality of play, emergance of US bred talent, construction of numerouis specific soccer stadia and relative financial solublity of many franchises all are reasons that MLS is decidely better today than it was in 1996.

Absolutely correct, Beantown.

I think he was just moaning about the Team names going European.

The play, the excitement of the games, the big names... all of that is far better now.

[-kj]

If youve got an argument as to why the MLS is MUCH better, try me. Id love to hear it.

Have you personally seen any games between 1996 and today?

The quality of play, emergance of US bred talent, construction of numerouis specific soccer stadia and relative financial solublity of many franchises all are reasons that MLS is decidely better today than it was in 1996.

Plus, they stopped trying to "Americanize" the on-field play, getting rid of the ridiculous 25-yard shootout to decide games, changed to having the clock run up and having the referee control the time of the game, got rid of the extra "goalie substitution," etc. Now it's the same game, rule-wise, as the rest of the world.

[DGivens87]

If youve got an argument as to why the MLS is MUCH better, try me. Id love to hear it.

Have you personally seen any games between 1996 and today?

The quality of play, emergance of US bred talent, construction of numerouis specific soccer stadia and relative financial solublity of many franchises all are reasons that MLS is decidely better today than it was in 1996.

Not to get too OT here, but I just went to my first MLS game a couple of weeks ago to see the Revs and Galaxy, and I had a friggin blast. I'm hooked on Revs soccer, and with the WC coming up, I think I picked a great time to learn the sport. Unfortunately, you have to see it in person to appreciate it. Much like NASCAR, TV does not do the sport justice, IMO.

Now, back on topic...does anyone know if the Revs had any other names prior to their inception in 1996? I understand it may have always gone by "Revolution" (in keeping ties with not only the local history, but owner Bob Kraft also owns the Patriots), but I was just wondering if any other names were batted around prior to the franchise being called the Revolution.

[FiddySicks]

If youve got an argument as to why the MLS is MUCH better, try me. Id love to hear it.

Have you personally seen any games between 1996 and today?

The quality of play, emergance of US bred talent, construction of numerouis specific soccer stadia and relative financial solublity of many franchises all are reasons that MLS is decidely better today than it was in 1996.

Absolutely correct, Beantown.

I think he was just moaning about the Team names going European.

The play, the excitement of the games, the big names... all of that is far better now.

No, not just moaning about the Europeanizing of the MLS. Im Just pointing out that the MLS seems to now feel that it is important to follow the trend of Europe to gain any real interest (and now that i think about it, with the success of Soccer in Europe, maybe thats not such a bad idea). Also pointing out that the MLS for the most part has lost a few big name markets and has had to take on coorperate sponsorship (as in team naming, very unlike most American professional sports) for funding. And when you say that the talent is better than 96, well yeah, thats great but it seems that any time you see a real talent in the league they tend to do what Landon Donavan did (although he is back now). For the most part, the MLS was a really good league IMO. But then San Jose went away and so did any of the little interest i had in the league.

[gosioux76]

And when you say that the talent is better than 96, well yeah, thats great but it seems that any time you see a real talent in the league they tend to do what Landon Donavan did (although he is back now).

I don't think that MLS players taking the leap overseas should be looked upon as a bad thing.

The fact that MLS players can make the transition is a testament to the growing quality of play in the league.

It's going to be a long time before world-class caliber players -- American, English, Brazilian or otherwise -- choose the MLS over other leagues, thanks largely to the inability to pay superstar wages.

Until then, we'll stay lower on the soccer food chain. And by sending our best players to Europe, we're only improving the quality of the U. S. Men's National Team.

That said, Donovan should have stayed in Germany. I think he would have developed into an even more solid player. That's my two cents.

[dfwabel]

Continuing the OT, Commissioner Garber expects MLS to trun a profit in 2010. 2010!!! I have been to a then Metrostars game and DC United match, both in 2002. It was OK, but i did it more to get the on the list of places where i have been to a game/event. I think the key is that kids like to play soccer, not necessarily want to go see it played, live or on TV. No matter who from Europe or South America is brought in, they will be paid too much and allocated to a large city.

It looks as if Real Salt Lake is finding it difficult to get public financing for either SLC proper or the suburbs. A potential complex for Philly (at Rowan College) may not be ready intime for their expansion plans.

They got rid of the "solid" 90 minute game and nearly had difficulty with that as most stadium scoreboards don't have sirens like their arena counterpart.

[NYCdog]

  And finally, teams are changing to more Euro style names, or naming themselves after soft drinks.

You might wanna check that.....

Houston's Euro name is on the verge of being "86ed" ....or shall I say "1836-ed"

Club America, which has long desired a team in this market (as Quake fans know) is on the verge of getting their wish. And if you thought Houston's attendance was good now, imagine what it will be like with its team bearing the name of Mexico's famed Club America.....

Can you say "Cha-Ching" en espainol?

[Beantown77]

Also pointing out that the MLS for the most part has lost a few big name markets and has had to take on coorperate sponsorship (as in team naming, very unlike most American professional sports) for funding. And when you say that the talent is better than 96, well yeah, thats great but it seems that any time you see a real talent in the league they tend to do what Landon Donavan did (although he is back now).

When most of the talent left MLS for overseas (Bocanegra, Gibbs, Beasley, McBride, Moore, to name a few), MLS was compensated for the transfer, thus helping the league out financially.

This is the way it works in the rest of the world. Players are sold to other teams all the time. What this means is the the level of talent in MLS is decent enough for consideration by the other leagues overseas. This is a very good thing.

Donovan said in an interview with Jeff Bradley (on MLSnet) that he was not happy with his time in Germany off the field and couldn't be happier to be back stateside in SoCal.

As for 'having' to take on corporate sponsorship, the Red Bull deal was made because it was a gaurantee of financial stability, a capital investement and an effort to divest Phil Anschutz of a franchise as a way of diversifying ownership. Any company could have done the same thing RB did, but they actually stepped up and showed MLS the money.

[CC97]

I'm waiting for the league to change it's name from MLS to something more international... not saying i'm looking forward to it, but it's bound to happen.

The emergence of the US Soccer Team is another benefit of the league... there's no way anyone imagined the USA ever ranking as high as 4th in FIFA's rankings back in 1996... but here we are.

Hopefully Toronto FC (who I plan on referring to as the Reds) along with future Canadian MLS franchises will help boost Canada's FIFA ranking up from somewhere in the 80s

[totc]

What were the other originals?

? DC United were 'Washington Spies'.

Hippiecrap. They were supposed to have been the Revolution, but it was rejected and given to New England.

[cyandlux]

So, after reading all this - here I am left with this one question, where's the Rythm logo!?!