The MLS fan surveys we do every year @speedwaysoccer.bsky.social are some of my favorite pieces of content we do. We had 541 respondents 40 states and every MLS market, with questions on topics like roster rules, TV product, and MLS media coverage. I'll thread some of my favorite responses below 🧵 - ThreadSky

benwright.bsky.social • 118 days ago

The MLS fan surveys we do every year @speedwaysoccer.bsky.social are some of my favorite pieces of content we do. We had 541 respondents 40 states and every MLS market, with questions on topics like roster rules, TV product, and MLS media coverage.

I'll thread some of my favorite responses below 🧵

Comments

dickmac999.bsky.social•118 days ago

So sorry I missed the chance to respond.

grabowskib.bsky.social•118 days ago

Great recap of the fans !! I do wish for more “mainstream” coverage, and wish Apple too more of a role in that, but hey…STL CITY SC !! #ALLFORCITY

benwright.bsky.social•118 days ago

First of all, I'm still blown away that we got this many fans to respond, and it feels like we got a pretty solid sampling from all over the country. Obviously Nashville was our biggest base, with ~42% of our answers coming from Middle Tennesse, but still... this is pretty cool.

benwright.bsky.social•118 days ago

Most of the roster rules comments were along the lines of opening spending, removing roster restrictions and designations, and instituting a general floor/ceiling model. A lot of calls to remove Leagues Cup altogether, as well as making the schedule less stop/start with international breaks.

benwright.bsky.social•118 days ago

Fans were generally still happy with the Apple TV product, but were again frustrated by the schedule and said that having every game kick off at 7:30 local time significantly impacted their ability to watch other games besides their preferred team, especially if they watched a game in person.

benwright.bsky.social•118 days ago

In general, fans were frustrated with traditional media coverage of MLS, but are happy with soccer-specific and independent media coverage. MLSSoccer dot com was the main site fans say they use, with The Athletic and ESPNFC close behind.

benwright.bsky.social•118 days ago

To the surprise of absolutely no one, fans say they follow @mattdoyle.bsky.social and @tombogert.bsky.social more than anyone else for MLS news. @joeclowery.bsky.social, Paul Tenorio, @andrew-wiebe.bsky.social and @jeremiahoshan.bsky.social were the other most-followed writers.

benwright.bsky.social•118 days ago

This comment nailed how MLS handles their media relations:

"The best teams embrace local coverage and are enthusiastic about offering access. The worst teams act like local media is dangerous and that they have to protect their narrative.”

jwalkerrt.bsky.social•118 days ago

This is surprising to me but good for the league. I figured many still watched other leagues more. I never watch other MLS teams other than my own during the regular season. I’ll watch the playoffs until Orlando crashes out like usual.

itradedmyeyes.bsky.social•118 days ago

We've made it!

>“Columbus Crew fans have replaced Seattle Sounder fans as the most obnoxious, self-centered in the league.”

#crew96

thsolomonbooks.bsky.social•118 days ago

itradedmyeyes.bsky.social•118 days ago

Crew fan here. I was extremely happy with the on-field product at the time I took the survey. (Still pretty happy, though)

>“Align schedule to the rest of the world.”
I'm surprised to see someone added this unprompted.

jwaynef.bsky.social•118 days ago

Do y'all have plans in the future to collaborate with other club's local media groups to have specific surveys for all MLS clubs? I think it would be fun to read each club's fan base responses to questions about specific expectations/pain points of their clubs to see what irks each group

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