In honor of Wayne Rooney’s superb strike against West Ham over the weekend, MLSsoccer.com has compiled five of the best long bombs in MLS history. Check out this short read and five pixeled but awesome video clips. FC Dallas makes the cut as our fans had the pleasure of watching Jair put one past an absolutely FURIOUS David Ousted (pictured below).
When MLS commissioner Don Garber announced the league’s plans to expand to 24 teams by 2020, supporters groups and soccer cities around the country began their respective campaigns to bring MLS to their home. Since its inception in 1996 the league has steadily grown from 8 to 19 franchises. Historically, MLS can attribute this growth to the incredibly passionate fans and “supporter’s group culture” in markets like Salt Lake City, Portland and Toronto. MLS fans (average attendance of 18,600 fans per game in 2013) have surpassed NBA fans (17,300) and shockingly, America’s top soccer league now outdraws its top basketball league.
what IS in Orlando
As cities across the country make their expansion bids, supporter’s groups are turning to social media as a unifying force to gain followers (literally and online) and strengthen their cities chance at being awarded one of the 24 franchises. Orlando City SC was awarded MLS’ 21st franchise last November after a strong online effort and social media driven expansion campaign. OCSC launched an online petition that reached its goal of 15,000 signatures in less than two weeks thanks to Twitter and their #Mission15K hashtag. They also created a website home for their expansion campaign “OrlandoBelievesInMLS.com.” Orlando City SC’s efforts yielded their city and fans MLS’ 21st franchise. Around the country, places like St. Louis, Atlanta and Minneapolis are selling MLS on the viability of pro soccer in their city. The San Antonio Scorpions are following Orlando’s lead and unifying their support for a new franchise online. They also started an online petition and are using the hashtag #MLSready along with a newly created Twitter handle, @MLSinSA.
What COULD be in San Antonio
Major League Soccer lists critical prerequisites for any aspiring MLS club. These pre-requisites include deep-pocketed owners, a soccer specific stadium and legitimate fan interest. The first two prerequisites are very easy to prove, either you have them or you don’t. Social media is making it much easier for clubs to prove they have the third prerequisite, legitimate fan interest.
Because I have no one else to tell
heather schramm-lifestyle photographer
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