It’s going to be an agonizingly slow build if they ever intend to become popular nationally. Accept the paltry ratings and focus on filling small, soccer specialized arenas, so the atmosphere feels like (brace for it) a soccer game.

they are doing quite well.mls broke their own best record attendance from last year. it will take time for mls to get decent ratings I don’t know why you guys are so shocked the ratings were bad. Also TeleFutura’s coverage of the MLS Cup Saturday drew 485,000 viewers (up +58% from ’11). so MLS is gaining fans with the latino community or telefutura stole some viewers from espn?

Beckham didn’t play for every team, so where was that “rising tide lifts all boats” effect?

Why do they play during the NFL and NCAA football seasons? Can’t they figure out a schedule during the summer when they may only be third to baseball and golf?

The 2012 regular season started in March.

Fair enough. I enjoy playing golf, but I can’t watch it. Which explains why I am a shitty golfer.

And why in the hell did the weaker team get the home game first?

This is actually the way it’s done in Europe as well. They play the favorite away first because they are the better team, they should be able to get at least a tie and be able to come back home for the second leg where they should nearly always win. It also allows them to know exactly what they need in order to advance, whether they can play for a tie or whether need to win the game.

I like soccer but I don’t get offended when the non-soccer fans crack jokes about MLS. It’s boring ass soccer, especially compared to foreign leagues who’s games are readily available on tv. What I don’t understand is how soccer haters are the same people who watch televised golf, baseball or nascar. Infinitely more f**king boring than watching an MLS game…

Gotta be a golfer to enjoy watching. It’s the only way to appreciate the difficulty and strategy of various shots, as well as the philosophy and flaws in the pro’s swings

i love golf.

Me too. I really enjoyed the tournament this weekend.

For some perspective from last weekend, the game was outdrawn by every college football title game except Conference USA. It was outdrawn by Golf’s World Challenge, whatever that is.

A) I’m surprised it outdrew the C-USA game (even though I have no idea who played in it). B) Golf writers, “The World Challenge barely outdrew the MLS Cup, whatever that is.”

the atmosphere feels like (brace for it) a soccer game.

No better atmosphere. A Barca-Madrid, Milan Derby, Celtic-Rangers crowd would put even the most rowdy SEC crowd to shame.

Kansas City did that quite well this year. Which is why so many were pissed off about the playoff format.

Damn it.

Why do you hate America?

The game was moved from its customary spot opposite Sunday Night Football to a Saturday afternoon spot, opposite the SEC title game which did a 10.0.

Never helps. Madrid Derby was also on at the same time I believe, which for fans actively seeking to watch a soccer match was the better watch. Falcao, Ronaldo, etc…