Behind your intended sarcasm, there’s an obvious thruth which often can be overcome. The 4-0 Germany vs Sweden example, that’s a harder feat.

Thanks for that insightful analysis. In order for MLS to get the attention like EPL, MLS will have to come to the point when there will be a need to be aggressive to sign big players and throughout the league to take it to the next level. Currently, MLS is like on a safe 2nd level; Nevertheless, feeling comfortable will not take the league to a higher level. When will that next step happen? Who knows!?

And thanks for you support for Atlanta!

As for the growth, it has seen real good growth on what I call the superficial level. Lots of people following the EPL, more people getting into La Liga and the Bundeslige. The US National team draws big numbers at bars for the bigger games. The Metro Atlanta area has a very large and growing Hispanic population that is also big into the leagues from home.

That said the acceptance of MLS has been slower. Awareness of the league has grown and is growing but its not as big as the EPL. For the sake of arguments lets say that Garber gave us a team tomorrow and it would start playing in 2014 with a good owner that put a real effort into marketing the team I would expect the first season the team would draw 15,000 per game. However I think that number could grow a good deal. Atlanta is growing at a quick rate in the same demographics that make up most of the MLS season ticket holders, especially in the supporters section. I think the city has real potential to be a successful MLS market.

Realistically speaking, aside from Euros/WC viewership, how much more popular football, aka soccer, has grown up to be locally? Do you all have a minor league team of sorts? Your insight on that will be appreciated.

Good to know you are in Atlanta.

Based on a local newspaper about MLS popularity:

“Miami may not have an MLS team anymore, but apparently it still has MLS fans. The league has discovered that Miami is one of the top three television markets for MLS games among non-MLS cities, along with San Diego and Atlanta.

I live in Atlanta so I have no MLS team. I did pick Sporting to win MLS Cup before the season and at the start of the playoffs so I am hoping that they can pull it out at home.

“Now Houston picked up a decisive 2-0 victory in the first leg all but assuring them safe passage to the next round over SKC.”
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Assuring them safe passage to the next round?? You just jinxed your team by saying that.

Do you not realize being ahead 2-0 is the most misleading score because the other team starts to feel “assuring” as you put it. If not, ask Germany what happened to them at the end with a 4-0 lead vs Sweden in the last qualifier.
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dreadpirate82 said:
“The good news for SKC is that 2-0 is “the most dangerous lead!!!!!!”, as we all know.”
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Exactly! I was not amazed at Houston’s play in this game even if they won 2-0. SKC, spank them Dynamo at your LIVESTRONG football pantheon in front of your passionate fans!