As the '11 MLS season gets underway tonight, sports industry execs have mixed feelings about the pace of the league's expansion, according to results from a Turnkey Sports poll taken in February. Forty-four percent of execs said MLS expansion is right on track, followed closely by 40% saying expansion is moving too quickly. Execs feel Miami will be the market most likely to be named home to the league's next expansion team. When asked what MLS most needs to reach the next level, 21% of respondents said it needs more domestic stars, while 18% felt the league needs better TV contracts (THE DAILY).
Which of the following best describes MLS' pace of expansion? |
| RESPONSE |
% |
| Right on track |
44% |
| Moving too quickly |
40% |
| Moving too slowly |
2% |
| Not sure/No response |
14% |
Which of the following does MLS need most to reach the next level? |
| RESPONSE |
% |
| More domestics stars |
21% |
| Bigger/better TV contracts |
18% |
| U.S. men's national team to win World Cup |
17% |
| Better quality of play |
13% |
| More publicity |
9% |
| More international stars |
7% |
| More time |
5% |
| Soccer-specific stadium for each team |
3% |
| More sponsor support |
1% |
| Not sure/No response |
6% |
Which of the following is most likely to be named the next MLS host city?* |
| CITY |
% |
| Miami |
24% |
| Atlanta |
11% |
| San Diego |
11% |
| St. Louis |
10% |
| San Antonio |
8% |
| Baltimore |
6% |
| Phoenix |
4% |
| Minneapolis/St. Paul |
2% |
| Nashville |
1% |
| Not sure/No response |
23% |
* Excluded from the list are Vancouver and Portland, which are set to join the league this season, and Montreal, which is poised to begin play in '12. N.Y., a candidate for a second team, was also excluded from the list.
