I wish Disney would support soccer more on a national level and sponsor the national team.

[Buzz Rules]

I wish Disney would support soccer more on a national level and sponsor the national team. Granted, I know they host soccer events at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and have partnerships with the professional Orlando soccer teams.

My point is they seem to be willing to do more grass root efforts in Europe where it's already part of the culture than do more to help grow the sport even further within their home country. They could sponsor soccer events all over the country during the Gold Cup and Club World Cup next summer or the 2026 World Cup. Some might say what's in it for them but Disney clearly has no issues helping UEFA (Europe) out:

https://www.uefa.com/news-media/new...ta-schelin-on-encouraging-girls-to-play-foot/

Why can't they do more to help Concacaf (USA's region) as well? Thoughts?

 

[Foxhound3857]

I wish they would sponsor Chess. I love watching the St Louis broadcasts with commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan and GM Maurice Ashley.

 

[Dead2009]

Because Americans as a whole dont really care about soccer unless it's international teams.

 

[tvguy]

Does Disney sponsor any sports?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Because Americans as a whole dont really care about soccer unless it's international teams.

That isn't true. MLS, USL and NWSL are all on the uptrend and are more popular every year.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Does Disney sponsor any sports?

They sponsor Orlando's sports teams and Igner I believe partly owns a woman's soccer team.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Does Disney sponsor any sports?

They are also working with UEFA as well.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Does Disney sponsor any sports?

They also sponsor the Orlando Magic.

 

[Dead2009]

That isn't true. MLS, USL and NWSL are all on the uptrend and are more popular every year.

Does anyone really know the USL exists though outside of people who actually watch soccer? Even for those who watch MLS, do they know there's another league out there? I'm willing to bet they either don't or care TBH.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I mean, the USA pavilion doesn't even sell the national team jersey but sells the national team jerseys of almost all the other nation's jerseys at each of their Epcot pavilion. I just think it's a bit disappointing.

Does anyone really know the USL exists though outside of people who actually watch soccer? Even for those who watch MLS, do they know there's another league out there? I'm willing to bet they either don't or care TBH.

When I went to college, non soccer fans knew about MLS, the minor league (USL), and heard about the women's league. MLS fans know about USL.

 

[Dead2009]

Not all MLS fans know about the USL. That's like saying all NFL fans knew about the USFL/XFL reboots and merger.
I'm a non soccer fan and I knew about MLS but not about the USL or even the women's league until I played the FIFA game one year.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Paramount cares about European soccer (they hold the rights to the UEFA club tournaments) and covers the USA team through podcasts and their Galozo network. NBC Universal only cares about the Premier League.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Not all MLS fans know about the USL. That's like saying all NFL fans knew about the USFL/XFL reboots and merger.
I'm a non soccer fan and I knew about MLS but not about the USL or even the women's league until I played the FIFA game one year.

MLS fans know about USL because we play against them sometimes and have had challenges from them in the past.

 

[ctonkgo]

I think they have their eyes set on a Premier League team. My theory is that rather than buying a Premier League team outright, they are producing FX's "Welcome to Wrexham" with an agreement to buy a large percentage of the club once they reach the English Championship. Ryan + Rob simply do not have the cash to compete with the other squads in the Premier League, where most of the top clubs have literal state backing from oil rich nations.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I think they have their eyes set on a Premier League team. My theory is that rather than buying a Premier League team outright, they are producing FX's "Welcome to Wrexham" with an agreement to buy a large percentage of the club once they reach the English Championship. Ryan + Rob simply do not have the cash to compete with the other squads in the Premier League, where most of the top clubs have literal state backing from oil rich nations.

They should help buy an MLS team in an expansion market. Make MLS more attractive to bigger media markets and investors. Universal and Paramount could as well. The European leagues are facing corruption issues. MLS remains pretty clean. Investing in MLS or USL helps keep the academy system running. MLS could reach a top 10 league status in 20 years with higher investment alone. Some MLS teams are valued monetarily as much as Premier League teams. Wrexham is not making the Premier League anytime soon. And if they did, they would be doomed to relegation within the first 6 months of the season.

 

[HopperFan]

I feel like Disney is only making moves in the sports business that keeps them this side of conflicts. They have owned or had interest in teams ... I don't think they do anymore. Sponsorship is one thing and to not spread themselves very thin it's best to keep it where there is a direct connection like Orlando, partnering for benefits of both companies.

In terms of US Soccer National Teams ... I mean I wouldn't want to be involved with teams with constant drama and conflict and men/women issues. Just stay away from it. Disney needs NO DRAMA and the teams already have corporate backing with the new training campus.

Add they own ABC, ESPN and a sports gambling company. Likely legal is being very careful about where they involve themselves and in what capacity.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I feel like Disney is only making moves in the sports business that keeps them this side of conflicts. They have owned or had interest in teams ... I don't think they do anymore. Sponsorship is one thing and to not spread themselves very thin it's best to keep it where there is a direct connection like Orlando, partnering for benefits of both companies.

In terms of US Soccer National Teams ... I mean I wouldn't want to be involved with teams with constant drama and conflict and men/women issues. Just stay away from it. Disney needs NO DRAMA and the teams already have corporate backing with the new training campus.

Add they own ABC, ESPN and a sports gambling company. Likely legal is being very careful about where they involve themselves and in what capacity.

They could invest in more youth camps and put money as an investment into the new training facility.

 

[HopperFan]

They could invest in more youth camps

They could but how do you choose where? Who do you gift and who do you not?

Here in ATL our team invests very much in to local youth soccer and they are building fields in places where money is an issue. I think the MLS teams should be doing this investment in their communities.

I can't see Disney putting themselves into a nationwide situation where so many want sponsorship and the cost would be prohibitive. Maybe US Soccer Federation should handle the process and ask corporations to help finance it. That would bring the funds indirectly from corporations. Perhaps they do this now, but I'm not aware.

and put money as an investment into the new training facility.

POLITICS are at play here and their money is not needed. I have my own opinions as to why so much money was brought into play by certain people for ATL to get the center ... I think the facility itself will remain a "GA" backed facility and the national corporations will continue on as the USSF sponsors.

 

[ctonkgo]

They should help buy an MLS team in an expansion market. Make MLS more attractive to bigger media markets and investors. Universal and Paramount could as well. The European leagues are facing corruption issues. MLS remains pretty clean. Investing in MLS or USL helps keep the academy system running. MLS could reach a top 10 league status in 20 years with higher investment alone. Some MLS teams are valued monetarily as much as Premier League teams. Wrexham is not making the Premier League anytime soon. And if they did, they would be doomed to relegation within the first 6 months of the season.

That would be cool but MLS may be putting a pause on expansion for awhile after San Diego next year. I'm all for more youth club investment but the MLS needs to figure out how to generate more excitement among it's fans. Messi is obviously a huge draw but in the long term they'll need promotion and relegation between 2 or 3 divisions. Promotion/relegation is why Wrexham is grabbing more headlines and fans than a lot of our domestic clubs are.

Also, I could see any team with Disney's financial backing easily stay afloat in the Premiership. Maybe not a top 10 team (at first), but there are certainly teams hanging in the first division with fewer resources.

 

[hrhdhd]

They also sponsor the Orlando Magic.

I wouldn't say they "sponsor the Orlando Magic." The two entities work together to sponsor charitable work.