Closed systems seem to breed them. Ask Cincinnati fans about Marge Shott, any Raiders or Rams fans about their crap owners. Cry me a river, billionaires.
@r2dad282 the rams have a shit owner?? He paid for SOFI stadium with no public funding and won a Super Bowl 2 years ago. Looks like an owner any team would want in my opinion
@erickarmenta4807 Have you asked any St Louis Rams fans how they feel about their old team and the owner? yeah, not so warm and fuzzy. But as long as billionaires get their way, everyone supposed to be happy, right?
15 years ago, this guy would be saying the Bay Area is "rejecting the NBA" (cuz the Golden State Warriors SUCKED, back draft picks, poor fan support, aging arena?, bad coaching, etc.)
I’m by no means a soccer fan, but I have all the respect in the world for Sac Republic FC and it’s fanbase. I know numerous people who are die hard fans, including people who never were sports fans beforehand. You couldn’t pay me to watch an MLS game, but I’ll occasionally tune in to republic games when they are on the local channels.
I'm actually not a sports person but we went to a republic match to just check it out earlier this year and now i'm hooked. The atmosphere was amazing, the team is great. The local support is awesome for the team and the team for the local area. I'm still learning but they've got new fans in our family and we've since been to another match.
I'm a lifelong soccer fan, but I've only ever been a fan of European or Mexican soccer leagues. I'm trying to get into the local teams (I'm from the central valley). What is it about Sac Republic FC that stands out? Is it just the fans, or do they have a cool history, etc.? I'm also a Kings fan so I do know that Sacramento fans can be extremely passionate
The Republic are all over Sacramento supporting the local leagues, skills camps, etc. Absolutely love the team and the quant stadium next to the abandoned WaterWorld
That's increlli-bad, but sadly true. If the bar is set at Dan Snyder, and he can't even match that, man I don't know about you, but he needs to find a new career.
He really isn't. He was brought in by the mls to fix them becauae they looked like they were going under after 10 years but he carried them to still be a rising business and league. The best one thr Americans have. He's is hardly a bad owner as he's done sooo well, but he's focused more about the economic side of the league rather than the football side of it.
Dude!, another great take on what's happening in Northern California sports. I'm a lifelong Quakes supporter who still can't believe how terrible we've been, (apart from 2012), since re-joing MLS in 2008. I am a Quakes season ticket holder and I gotta say that it feels like everything the club does is the CHEAP way. EVERYTHING. While I love the fact that we have our own stadium, (finally!), it is the smallest capacity in the league, and has a lot of issues. Who the HELL thought luxury boxes were a good idea at pitch level??? I too support all 3 of the USL clubs here, and wish the Quakes would think of the entire region. Sacto not getting into MLS is a HUGE disappointment. Great video. Thanks for always saying what needs to be said.
I'm glad someone mentioned the boxes at pitchside because that has to be the dumbest thing I've seen at an MLS stadium. It was such a corner-cutting, penny-pinching decision. I went to a game at America First Field last year and it is somehow seven years older than PayPal Park and 50 times better.
the stadium is great, thats the only thing i dont think we should complain about. Luxury boxes on the ground level creates a super cool angle to the grandstands, and nobody has ever said the stadium has a bad view. i hear visiting fans talk about how nice the stadium is and how theres no bad seats at least several times a season. it feels like loftus road with the raised stands. please, of all our problems this is not one
@@thetouchback its not a penny pinching decision, its just a quirky design choice and i happen to enjoy it. makes the stands' view feel like loftus road with. its elevation. i overhear portland timbers fans talking about how wonderful a stadium it is whenever they are in town. The stadium is the only thing the earthquakes have gotten right under fisher, of all the things to criticize that is not one
A trip to the Bay Area to watch SJ vs LAFC at Levi's Stadium (May 4th), with a visit to Stinton Beach (north or SF)... was a worthwhile detour on my 2 month long Snowboarding trip (coming from Utah).
I moved to Texas from Sacramento. I attend FC Dallas games but the crowd and the supporters section got absolutely nothing on the Sacramento Republic FC. The Crowd, the game and the Supporters is a sight to see on a hot Saturday night. Lets add on the sights and sounds of the California state fair in the background and its a beautiful sight to see. VAMOS VAMOS VAMOS REPUBLIC!!! ⚽🐻
I love soccer but honestly don't care 2 cents about MLS. USL has a solid level of play that isn't that much worse than the MLS and is still affordable enough to be accessible to the fans. The fact it costs $300M to buy an MLS franchise when the salary cap is like $15m is insane.
Quakes should move to Vegas, then someone start a USL San Jose Team and share the stadium with Bay FC. I live near Paypal, and was a season ticket holder for the Quakes when the new park went in. The first few seasons were pretty good; I enjoyed being so close and the walk in to the park across the bare field, dreaming of the boulevard that was supposed to go in near the park. Gave them up a while ago, once I realized SJ nor quakes won't ever do things to benefit the fan experience. Happy that Bay FC came along. Such a better vibe. USL in SJ would be a step up over the Quakes for sure.
There was Real San Jose when the Earthquakes franchise moved back in 2005. It did draw a few thousands fans for a number of years. Still going on to this day.
As a Fire fan, I resonate with SJ fans. SJ and the Fire are MLS sleeping giants. You are correct about SJ not reaching out to broader Bay area communities. However, MLS has a bigger fish to fry than USL: LigaMX. Despite the negative feedback of the Leagues Cup, those matches, far surpassed US Open Cup matches. Fire vs Club América was a hella better experience than Fire vs Indy Eleven. In my humble opinion, MLS has a bigger fish to fry (LigaMX).
The Don Garber Respect Fest is old and worn out. 1996 people. We are now in 2024. How many freaking decades will it take to create a NORMAL football league. Garber still thinks its 2000 and we have to be very careful. Meanwhile, the most supported team in USL, the Sac Republic continues to pack their metal seat bleacher stadium every game. Don Garber has no clue about NorCal. Moreover, Garber is intentionally ignoring NorCal, letting John Fisher have his way while at least 10 million potential paying soccer fans are perpetually confused.
The roots may not preform well (next year we win the whole thing for sure) but damn are games fun. Cheap tickets, great crowd, and you get to go home to a city plastered in the teams logos. It really means something to get out the door to start the day and just see a guy in a roots hoodie walking his dog. MLS will never have this (but in all seriousness please give us Messi we need it so bad)
I'm looking forward to the _Roots_ & _Soul_ having their OWN dedicated stadium on the Malibu Lot adjacent to the Coliseum, in time for their 2026 seasons.
Few years ago I was at work. Started a conversation with an older gentleman with pre-2014 Quakes gear on. I mentioned how Fisher should invest in the team. The man got annoyed and asked if I knew who he was. I said no and he said that he was Tom Fox... the guy who was the mediator between Fisher and Garber. The man who helped make the deal happen for the San Jose Earthquakes to come back.
You make a good case ... Here in Sacramento you will see a fair number of jerseys or flags for Sacramento Republic FC, local news coverage, and community outreach ... The San Jose Earthquake, by contrast, have even less of a profile here than the major European clubs, or Mexican clubs, most of which are more accessible, as with the USL, thanks to ESPN + (the same is not true for watching Women's Football ⚽ here, which takes a bunch of services to watch for NWSL and ... Nothing for European clubs).
I agree that it's a shame the women's game isn't more accessible. I hope it improves, and I suspect it might, when the new _women's pro league_ (USL Super League) starts soon. I'm looking at you, ESPN+ 👀
It should be pointed out that in addition to the USL, the NWSL (the top women's league) has also made inroads into Northern California recently via Bay FC. Unlike the Earthquakes, Bay FC has done a great job so far with marketing the club as an alternative to the Quakes even though they share the same stadium. In fact Bay FC has outdrawn the Quakes at every home game this season & already has set attendance records for PayPal Park. It certainly helps Bay FC that they have an ownership group (which includes USWNT players like Brandi Chastain who famously won the 1999 Women's World Cup) that cares about growing the game in the region & having a good on field product. Then in addition to Bay FC, all of the USL teams mentioned in the video either already have a women's team or are beginning the process of entering a women's team in the USL W League which is starting play in the next few weeks. Throw in a college soccer powerhouse in Stanford both on the men's & women's side (who are always in the national title picture) & there is no shortage of soccer alternatives to the Earthquakes in Northern California.
i’m from around an hour north of sacramento and even all the little farm towns have great soccer communities. nobody could handle how hard the region would go for an MLS team in sac
You don’t have to look just at the USL Championship. There are some teams in League 1 that are fostering organic followings in their communities. There are also a handful of teams in League Two (look at Ballard FC). I’ll be watching that Sacramento - San Jose game and pulling hard for Sacramento. There’s apart of the MLS that’s threatened by a second division that’s not going away, and this would be a major “cupset” if it happens at that makeshift stadium by an abandoned water park.
Yeah the MLS owners don't want to lose versus USL teams, that's one reason for dropping the open cup, that and the MLS doesn't have the TV rights to the open cup.
Just found this video and this account, but THANK YOU for bringing this up and pointing out how terrible MLS is becoming. And it’s sad because MLS was riding a huge wave 10 years ago after the USMT got the hype going two world cups ago.
Don't forget that they actually changed the name *again* after they moved to Houston, they originally called the team Houston 1836 and Tony Kornheiser asked if the mascot was a calendar.
Bay Area is a huge football area. I was at the 1st MLS game, San Jose Clash in Santa Clara's stadium. Eric Wynalada scored the first goal. I went to all the 94 WC games at Stanford. Good luck getting tickets now. Donovan was great for the then renamed Earthquakes but has since been a dumpster fire.
MLS used Sacramento as leverage to up the ante from other expansion locations. That's fine; Central California is different culturally than the Bay Area in many ways, and we have a constant supply of young kids to foster our youth academies.
I also stop watching much of MLS because it left me when they moved games to Apple TV+. Now I don’t get to see local games that used to be as part of RUclips TV. To be honest not sure how MLS expects to grow the league behind a pay wall. Now, I am instead watching more EPL via Peacock than MLS and I also could care less about Messi.
Sac Republic are in a cheap bleacher style stadium in an awful location and are still drawing. I can't even imagine if they got a real stadium built somewhere like the Railyards. That would be incredible.
Well said - _Oakland Roots_ & _Oakland Soul_ are doing an excellent job reaching out to the community, as well as trying to grow the game at the youth level.
John Fisher being a cheap, shit owner? Not a shocker. As someone who lives in the Bay Area, no one really cares for the Quakes. Most people only care about the Giants, 49ers, or Sharks. Hell, I think more people are still Raiders fans, despite them moving to Vegas half a decade ago.
I used to go to Earthquake games before the move to the new stadium. When they went to the absolute trash that was Buckshaw. The quality of the seating that is. But, I had a lot more fun there than I ever did at Paypal Park. Me and my family with some of my teammates would go to the Stanford Stadium games every year for almost a decade to watch the fireworks after the game. For one of those games I was one of the kids that was brought onto the field to hold the flag of the teams and I remember it was such a cool experience. My older brother got to be a ball boy for a game. Now it’s like damn, we used to have a good season every now and then but as soon as we get a good player now we give them away.
Good on ya, back in the day in the UK we had the league teams 4 divisions 92 teams in total with no access to the structure, however ouside of that was a thriving non league scene several leagues filled with teams from the surrounding areas. The only time non league teams met league teams was via the FA Cup or friendly matches. Over time the league system in the US will evolve what shape it will take who knows but change will happen.
I've been an Earthquakes fan since I was 7-8 years old, and im turning 20 next week. I've never seen a football club that is so seemingly neglected that every time an ounce of progress is made by the team it gets reported as huge news. I'm hoping a new team can start in the South Bay/Silicon Valley area so while I will never stop supporting San Jose (unless fisher moves them to Vegas) I can have some hope of having a local team with owners who care about them.
I was at the SJ-Oakland match and was disappointed to see the two fan groups of the Quakes not join in on the Sell the team or F*ck John Fisher chants that the Oakland fans did.
I remember a lot of people at UC davis were driving over for the sac republics semifinals run in the us cup open, too bad refs rigged it for orlando lol
Great channel btw...I dont know a great deal about American Sports, but Im taking a bit of a deep dive into your channel to see what i can learn for myself... One thing that blows my mind is your love for College Football and the crowds it gets, here in the UK...if you played for your College team, you'd be lucky to attract the players families and thats about it
You touched on something that changed my sports outlook around 15yrs ago. I grew up a HUGE baseball, basketball and American football fan and I hated football. (soccer) Cut to around 15yrs ago when I started watching the EPL. I was amazed at stories about clubs from small towns that played in their counties biggest league. That was/is unheard of in American sports. Sure you have the big 6 over there and the system isn't perfect but that idea that you CAN play from a small local division to playing against some of the greatest clubs in the world is awesome. I fell more and more in love with football. A couple years back and I found on YT the story of the Dorking Wanderers. To sum it up quickly they were a group of friends that became a club in the lowest of lowest divisions in England in the late 90s. Today they are in the 5th tier of English football (they were playing in the same league as media darlings Wrexham) and the guy who built it all is still around as the owner and coach. Very cool!! I now prefer Italian league more than EPL but regardless I haven't seen a baseball game in probably 5yrs, an American football game in 7yrs and basketball has probably been 10yrs lol I also follow our local USL team (Phoenix) and used to complain about why we don't have an MLS team but the more research I've done the more I would rather see our club stay in the USL. As you said the clubs seem to be more involved with the community and there is a sense that they are OUR team and not the owner's club like MLS and other pro sports organizations. You randomly popped up on my feed and i tossed your video on as "background noise" since I love the Sac Republic story as an outsider. But about a minute in I stopped what I was doing and just watched lol thanks for the content and explaining some things I didn't know being that I'm not in that area. Will be looking into more of your vids!
The main reason the San Jose Earthquakes are getting rejected is because they're losing. They would be plenty popular in Northern California if they were winning and always a contender to win the MLS Cup. You don't get bandwagon fans when your team sucks, and the majority of fans and growth come from bandwagoners. The Sacramento Republic are seeing success because they are winning and everyone loves a winner. We can talk about the magic of supporting a local team, but we must be honest and acknowledge that the magic always goes to those who win, and those who lose only have their ride-or-die fans left.
I'm a Sac Republic fan here, and I couldn't agree more ... there's an authenticity to the USL that isn't corporate. They have local community groups at the games, and then local community places support the games with watch parties, and it feels uniting as a community. Plus, our team is really good. The rival teams are mostly local places I know well... it's not a place I have no connection to, like Orlando or Cincinnati. Heart health park is awesome!
When Landon Donovan left San Jose literally no one in the Bay Area cared about the Quakes cause they were known for horrible recruiting / scouting process cause they only accepted higher end privileged players (Wondolowski was mediocre my brother was better than him at Chico State, he was a rich daddys boy that went to De La Salle)
11:32 As a former SJ Earthquakes fan, I have less respect for the ones that have stuck after years of indifference from the 'club' to the fans. The MLS team has zero history. Its just a money grab lol. Oakland Roots and the East Bay Stompers at this point have more history as they were formed by locals and are actual clubs, not a franchise or 'brand'
Forever upset that Fresno let Fresno FC. Hate that this city refuses to adapt and modernize and lets awesome opportunities like this always slip away 😒
USL is my second most followed league after the Premier League. Mostly because my local club is in USL (New Mexico United, loved our underdog victory against RSL) The only thing I watch MLS at all for is Inter Miami and Messi.
Is the open similar to our FA Cup in England... We have a similar problem atm, in that 2.7% of the clubs that take part i.e. The Premier League are dictating the rules of the cup to the detriment of the other of the other 97.3% of clubs that take part
I view the attitudes toward the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as similar to those toward the League Cup or whatever corporate name it is currently going by. For years, EPL teams tried to eliminate it but weren't able to, and now it has become a fairly big deal. It could easily be the same here in the States, but MLS sides need to buy in. And that shouldn't be hard, considering it is the only other silverware available outside the league.
The MLS needs to work in the USL and other leagues in our ladder as the soccer version of the baseball farm leagues. They’ll never do promotion/relegation, but I think that’s the next best thing
I would prefer an independent USL league, imagine teams like Sacramento, Louisville, or Charleston just existing to feed MLS, it seems like a horrible idea imo
I know this video is about NorCal, but, DCFC made a deal with CBS sports, and EVERY SINGLE ONE of their games is on that TV channel. And if you have a Michigan address, they let you stream it for free. I think the USL has the framework to usurp the MLS in the next 10-15 years, because of teams like Sac Republic, and DCFC. Their community outreach is outstanding, and growing the game from the ground up, is how we build a proper soccer culture here in the US.
The DCFC crest is amazing. What a cool way to incorporate a piece of the city into the team's identity. In fact, most USL clubs have done a great job of creating logos that really connect with the local areas they represent. It is another small thing that gives fans another source of pride when representing their team.
As a european that stumbled on this video i think usl is the future of american soccer because of their grassroot ideoligy you need to build up a tam and fanbase before you go for the big money or money in general
I love Monterey Bay Union but damn we suck! Haven’t even made playoffs, I just wish that since we don’t even make playoffs that they at least invest in home talent in the 831! For God’s sake we have 2 powerhouse high school soccer teams in the NATION! Alisal and Watsonville are absolute powerhouses constantly being ranked nationally and they still get tough challenges from other teams in their league. There’s definitely a lot of talent and passion in the 831, let the team be run by the home talent!
Had no idea Nobby Solano was going to be coaching back in the UK. I remember him with Newcastle. I think the USL growth is important. I think what might happen is eventually MLS buying USL, but that benefitting the US pyramid system. If MLS decides to try to not buy but eliminate the competition, there will be supporters that get disgusted by the league and not support MLS.
So basically the reason why NorCal is rejecting MLS is because John Fisher is a shit owner
Closed systems seem to breed them. Ask Cincinnati fans about Marge Shott, any Raiders or Rams fans about their crap owners. Cry me a river, billionaires.
@r2dad282 the rams have a shit owner?? He paid for SOFI stadium with no public funding and won a Super Bowl 2 years ago. Looks like an owner any team would want in my opinion
@erickarmenta4807 Have you asked any St Louis Rams fans how they feel about their old team and the owner? yeah, not so warm and fuzzy. But as long as billionaires get their way, everyone supposed to be happy, right?
15 years ago, this guy would be saying the Bay Area is "rejecting the NBA" (cuz the Golden State Warriors SUCKED, back draft picks, poor fan support, aging arena?, bad coaching, etc.)
@@davidday2373Two totally unrelated topics compared in a comment that lacks logic...
John Fisher saying that PayPal Park is "Outdated”. That’s just an excuse to try and move the earthquakes to Las Vegas alongside the A’s
And he was the one who approved it
Paypal park outdated when it only opened like a decade ago. Fun
@@stewgotz1So earthquakes are moving?
its such a nice stadium too
They can go.
Sacramento republic beat three mls teams in the 2022 us open cup to reach the final. Im proud of my team.
Indomitable!
No one in Sacramento gonna forget the quakes republic game from last week.
I’m by no means a soccer fan, but I have all the respect in the world for Sac Republic FC and it’s fanbase. I know numerous people who are die hard fans, including people who never were sports fans beforehand. You couldn’t pay me to watch an MLS game, but I’ll occasionally tune in to republic games when they are on the local channels.
That’s crazy lol. MLS is fun
That first championship win from sac was legendary
I'm actually not a sports person but we went to a republic match to just check it out earlier this year and now i'm hooked. The atmosphere was amazing, the team is great. The local support is awesome for the team and the team for the local area. I'm still learning but they've got new fans in our family and we've since been to another match.
I'm a lifelong soccer fan, but I've only ever been a fan of European or Mexican soccer leagues. I'm trying to get into the local teams (I'm from the central valley). What is it about Sac Republic FC that stands out? Is it just the fans, or do they have a cool history, etc.? I'm also a Kings fan so I do know that Sacramento fans can be extremely passionate
Thnx lol I’m a sac fan and I love them so much ❤
The Republic are all over Sacramento supporting the local leagues, skills camps, etc. Absolutely love the team and the quant stadium next to the abandoned WaterWorld
John Fisher is a the worst owner in
Professional sports he makes Dan Snyder and Dean Spanos as competent owners.
Google The Reading Fc owner
I agree John 💩🦨🤮fisher is the worst owner to infinity and beyond
That's increlli-bad, but sadly true. If the bar is set at Dan Snyder, and he can't even match that, man I don't know about you, but he needs to find a new career.
Dan Snyder is out. But he tried to pimp his cheerleader squad to geezer buddies, he's far worse than Fisher.
He really isn't. He was brought in by the mls to fix them becauae they looked like they were going under after 10 years but he carried them to still be a rising business and league. The best one thr Americans have. He's is hardly a bad owner as he's done sooo well, but he's focused more about the economic side of the league rather than the football side of it.
Dude!, another great take on what's happening in Northern California sports. I'm a lifelong Quakes supporter who still can't believe how terrible we've been, (apart from 2012), since re-joing MLS in 2008. I am a Quakes season ticket holder and I gotta say that it feels like everything the club does is the CHEAP way. EVERYTHING. While I love the fact that we have our own stadium, (finally!), it is the smallest capacity in the league, and has a lot of issues. Who the HELL thought luxury boxes were a good idea at pitch level??? I too support all 3 of the USL clubs here, and wish the Quakes would think of the entire region. Sacto not getting into MLS is a HUGE disappointment. Great video. Thanks for always saying what needs to be said.
I'm glad someone mentioned the boxes at pitchside because that has to be the dumbest thing I've seen at an MLS stadium. It was such a corner-cutting, penny-pinching decision. I went to a game at America First Field last year and it is somehow seven years older than PayPal Park and 50 times better.
@@thetouchback - 11:45 So the Quakes owner is going this way, seriously?
ruclips.net/video/xcwJt4bcnXs/видео.html
the stadium is great, thats the only thing i dont think we should complain about. Luxury boxes on the ground level creates a super cool angle to the grandstands, and nobody has ever said the stadium has a bad view. i hear visiting fans talk about how nice the stadium is and how theres no bad seats at least several times a season. it feels like loftus road with the raised stands. please, of all our problems this is not one
@@thetouchback its not a penny pinching decision, its just a quirky design choice and i happen to enjoy it. makes the stands' view feel like loftus road with. its elevation. i overhear portland timbers fans talking about how wonderful a stadium it is whenever they are in town. The stadium is the only thing the earthquakes have gotten right under fisher, of all the things to criticize that is not one
A trip to Monterey to watch the Union play and going to the beach is way better than going to Earthquake game
A trip to the Bay Area to watch SJ vs LAFC at Levi's Stadium (May 4th), with a visit to Stinton Beach (north or SF)... was a worthwhile detour on my 2 month long Snowboarding trip (coming from Utah).
Sac republic games are better than roots quakes and Monterey games
@@Orenpine10 you should come to the game in Monterey against Sacramento tomorrow then
John Fisher needs to be banned from ownership
I moved to Texas from Sacramento. I attend FC Dallas games but the crowd and the supporters section got absolutely nothing on the Sacramento Republic FC. The Crowd, the game and the Supporters is a sight to see on a hot Saturday night. Lets add on the sights and sounds of the California state fair in the background and its a beautiful sight to see. VAMOS VAMOS VAMOS REPUBLIC!!! ⚽🐻
My state just got a team… RI FC, USL is so fun it’s what has made me interested in the sport.
I love soccer but honestly don't care 2 cents about MLS. USL has a solid level of play that isn't that much worse than the MLS and is still affordable enough to be accessible to the fans. The fact it costs $300M to buy an MLS franchise when the salary cap is like $15m is insane.
im a usl fan to be clear but pretending like USL is close to MLS level is unserious at best and plain wrong
I live in Salinas and more people support MBFC then the earthquakes
Hell yeah 💪💪
I went to s Sacramento FC match and it was electrifying. So much fun!
as a republic fan, burkle will never ever be forgiven for what he did and he can rot in you know where
I don't blame him though, buying "Neverland Ranch" was a way cheaper venture than footing the MLS bill for Sacramento.
Stockton?
@@judeknowles2319 that is close enough lol
Quakes should move to Vegas, then someone start a USL San Jose Team and share the stadium with Bay FC. I live near Paypal, and was a season ticket holder for the Quakes when the new park went in. The first few seasons were pretty good; I enjoyed being so close and the walk in to the park across the bare field, dreaming of the boulevard that was supposed to go in near the park. Gave them up a while ago, once I realized SJ nor quakes won't ever do things to benefit the fan experience. Happy that Bay FC came along. Such a better vibe. USL in SJ would be a step up over the Quakes for sure.
There was Real San Jose when the Earthquakes franchise moved back in 2005. It did draw a few thousands fans for a number of years. Still going on to this day.
As a Fire fan, I resonate with SJ fans. SJ and the Fire are MLS sleeping giants. You are correct about SJ not reaching out to broader Bay area communities. However, MLS has a bigger fish to fry than USL: LigaMX. Despite the negative feedback of the Leagues Cup, those matches, far surpassed US Open Cup matches. Fire vs Club América was a hella better experience than Fire vs Indy Eleven. In my humble opinion, MLS has a bigger fish to fry (LigaMX).
Great video. The level of detail and research done for this video is incredible. Can't wait for this channel to take off, you deserve it.
Republic FC fan for life. A force for good for soccer in Sacramento.
The Don Garber Respect Fest is old and worn out. 1996 people. We are now in 2024. How many freaking decades will it take to create a NORMAL football league. Garber still thinks its 2000 and we have to be very careful. Meanwhile, the most supported team in USL, the Sac Republic continues to pack their metal seat bleacher stadium every game. Don Garber has no clue about NorCal. Moreover, Garber is intentionally ignoring NorCal, letting John Fisher have his way while at least 10 million potential paying soccer fans are perpetually confused.
The roots may not preform well (next year we win the whole thing for sure) but damn are games fun. Cheap tickets, great crowd, and you get to go home to a city plastered in the teams logos. It really means something to get out the door to start the day and just see a guy in a roots hoodie walking his dog. MLS will never have this (but in all seriousness please give us Messi we need it so bad)
Dom Dwyer will be our savior.
I'm looking forward to the _Roots_ & _Soul_ having their OWN dedicated stadium on the Malibu Lot adjacent to the Coliseum, in time for their 2026 seasons.
Man I’m I glad I discovered your channel, I was sitting here hoping for more soccer content and BAM, love it
Few years ago I was at work. Started a conversation with an older gentleman with pre-2014 Quakes gear on. I mentioned how Fisher should invest in the team. The man got annoyed and asked if I knew who he was. I said no and he said that he was Tom Fox... the guy who was the mediator between Fisher and Garber. The man who helped make the deal happen for the San Jose Earthquakes to come back.
You make a good case
... Here in Sacramento you will see a fair number of jerseys or flags for Sacramento Republic FC, local news coverage, and community outreach ... The San Jose Earthquake, by contrast, have even less of a profile here than the major European clubs, or Mexican clubs, most of which are more accessible, as with the USL, thanks to ESPN + (the same is not true for watching Women's Football ⚽ here, which takes a bunch of services to watch for NWSL and ... Nothing for European clubs).
I agree that it's a shame the women's game isn't more accessible. I hope it improves, and I suspect it might, when the new _women's pro league_ (USL Super League) starts soon. I'm looking at you, ESPN+ 👀
Sac Republic fan here, no we do not want to support San Jose. We love USL, fuck MLS
It should be pointed out that in addition to the USL, the NWSL (the top women's league) has also made inroads into Northern California recently via Bay FC. Unlike the Earthquakes, Bay FC has done a great job so far with marketing the club as an alternative to the Quakes even though they share the same stadium. In fact Bay FC has outdrawn the Quakes at every home game this season & already has set attendance records for PayPal Park. It certainly helps Bay FC that they have an ownership group (which includes USWNT players like Brandi Chastain who famously won the 1999 Women's World Cup) that cares about growing the game in the region & having a good on field product. Then in addition to Bay FC, all of the USL teams mentioned in the video either already have a women's team or are beginning the process of entering a women's team in the USL W League which is starting play in the next few weeks. Throw in a college soccer powerhouse in Stanford both on the men's & women's side (who are always in the national title picture) & there is no shortage of soccer alternatives to the Earthquakes in Northern California.
I'd like to see a Women's pro soccer team in Sacramento. I think it would do well.
Sac was also set to get an NWSL franchise but Ron Burkle put them in San Diego instead. Another reason to hate his ass.
@@FoxyPiratess There is a semi-pro club that is part of the USL W League.. The California Storm.
Stockton Cargo!!! LFG
i’m from around an hour north of sacramento and even all the little farm towns have great soccer communities. nobody could handle how hard the region would go for an MLS team in sac
When i was a season ticket holder i met another season ticket holder that would drive down from Chico for home games
I love the USL! Die hard Rowdies supporter here.
COYR!
Same here, although my support is in the 510 (Roots & Soul for me). I love the raw nature of the USL, which improving year by year.
Chingón amigo!! I’ve never been to a MBFC game even tho I live 20 min away 🫠🫠 I been lagging it
You don’t have to look just at the USL Championship. There are some teams in League 1 that are fostering organic followings in their communities. There are also a handful of teams in League Two (look at Ballard FC).
I’ll be watching that Sacramento - San Jose game and pulling hard for Sacramento. There’s apart of the MLS that’s threatened by a second division that’s not going away, and this would be a major “cupset” if it happens at that makeshift stadium by an abandoned water park.
San Francisco needs a MLS team bad!!!!!
Go watch SFcity FC.
Yeah the MLS owners don't want to lose versus USL teams, that's one reason for dropping the open cup, that and the MLS doesn't have the TV rights to the open cup.
SPOT ON commentary. I agree with everything said. You get it. New subscriber.
Just found this video and this account, but THANK YOU for bringing this up and pointing out how terrible MLS is becoming. And it’s sad because MLS was riding a huge wave 10 years ago after the USMT got the hype going two world cups ago.
Been to 4 FC Republic matches this year and it’s awesome ! Saw the Republic beat the MLS Earthquakes !
Don't forget that they actually changed the name *again* after they moved to Houston, they originally called the team Houston 1836 and Tony Kornheiser asked if the mascot was a calendar.
I actually loved the name Houston 1836 and I don't understand why they didn't keep the logo.
Thank goodness they changed it...
@@manzac112 Because they thought it would be racist towards Mexicans.
Detroit City FC ‘til I die! Screw the MLS.
Bay Area is a huge football area. I was at the 1st MLS game, San Jose Clash in Santa Clara's stadium. Eric Wynalada scored the first goal. I went to all the 94 WC games at Stanford. Good luck getting tickets now. Donovan was great for the then renamed Earthquakes but has since been a dumpster fire.
Ahahaha. Rick Rude was brutal on the mic, not gonna lie. His charisma was unmatched.
The fans certainly aren't, Sac has been BEGGINGGGGG for an MLS team for as long as I've lived here
Sac games are fun man, doing to watch roots then get some tacos after 💯💯
GO REPUBLIC FC !!
MLS used Sacramento as leverage to up the ante from other expansion locations. That's fine; Central California is different culturally than the Bay Area in many ways, and we have a constant supply of young kids to foster our youth academies.
More people are interested in watching Bay FC than Earthquakes around here
BRAVO!!!
Every moment of this video is right on point!
Derbies are the future, not MLS.
I also stop watching much of MLS because it left me when they moved games to Apple TV+. Now I don’t get to see local games that used to be as part of RUclips TV. To be honest not sure how MLS expects to grow the league behind a pay wall. Now, I am instead watching more EPL via Peacock than MLS and I also could care less about Messi.
I have Apple+, and I too wish the soccer games weren’t there. I hate having to waste time flipping past them to find something worth watching.
apple tv is much better than cable
Sac Republic are in a cheap bleacher style stadium in an awful location and are still drawing. I can't even imagine if they got a real stadium built somewhere like the Railyards. That would be incredible.
Well said - _Oakland Roots_ & _Oakland Soul_ are doing an excellent job reaching out to the community, as well as trying to grow the game at the youth level.
John Fisher derby about to go hard tomorrow
I am a Roots AND Quakes fan, will be at the game tonight at PayPal. Got love for both teams in both leagues but its #FisherOUT
Don’t tell John about Indy’s mayor wanting to bring mls to Indy using taxpayer money over supporting its local USL build a stadium.
The USL owner wanted it all paid by tax payers. And Indy 11 just showed up like 8 years ago.
As a Northern Californian, this makes me sad😭😭😭
John Fisher being a cheap, shit owner? Not a shocker. As someone who lives in the Bay Area, no one really cares for the Quakes. Most people only care about the Giants, 49ers, or Sharks. Hell, I think more people are still Raiders fans, despite them moving to Vegas half a decade ago.
I used to go to Earthquake games before the move to the new stadium. When they went to the absolute trash that was Buckshaw. The quality of the seating that is. But, I had a lot more fun there than I ever did at Paypal Park. Me and my family with some of my teammates would go to the Stanford Stadium games every year for almost a decade to watch the fireworks after the game. For one of those games I was one of the kids that was brought onto the field to hold the flag of the teams and I remember it was such a cool experience. My older brother got to be a ball boy for a game. Now it’s like damn, we used to have a good season every now and then but as soon as we get a good player now we give them away.
Great video. Def going to a Roots game now
Riverhounds fan here in solidarity from the other side of the country
Good on ya, back in the day in the UK we had the league teams 4 divisions 92 teams in total with no access to the structure, however ouside of that was a thriving non league scene several leagues filled with teams from the surrounding areas.
The only time non league teams met league teams was via the FA Cup or friendly matches.
Over time the league system in the US will evolve what shape it will take who knows but change will happen.
AMEN great video!!
You are the voice of NorCal sports bro 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Much appreciated!
Really enjoyed this. I love grassroots football where people and club ownership care equally.
As someone who grew up in monterey county and now lives in Sacramento, im happy for my cities and towns. Kudos on the rick rude reference
I've been an Earthquakes fan since I was 7-8 years old, and im turning 20 next week. I've never seen a football club that is so seemingly neglected that every time an ounce of progress is made by the team it gets reported as huge news. I'm hoping a new team can start in the South Bay/Silicon Valley area so while I will never stop supporting San Jose (unless fisher moves them to Vegas) I can have some hope of having a local team with owners who care about them.
Love the USL. Roots 4 Ever!
The football in the USL is awful though
I was at the SJ-Oakland match and was disappointed to see the two fan groups of the Quakes not join in on the Sell the team or F*ck John Fisher chants that the Oakland fans did.
Go roots !! Enjoyed the video 👏
the owner of sac republic also purchased huddersfield FC of the english championship, which is certainly interesting
I’m just dying for Stockton to get a usl team
Indy mayor would rather do business with someone other than the local cub.
That guy got fleeced by real businessmen. What a clown.
I remember a lot of people at UC davis were driving over for the sac republics semifinals run in the us cup open, too bad refs rigged it for orlando lol
Great channel btw...I dont know a great deal about American Sports, but Im taking a bit of a deep dive into your channel to see what i can learn for myself...
One thing that blows my mind is your love for College Football and the crowds it gets, here in the UK...if you played for your College team, you'd be lucky to attract the players families and thats about it
You touched on something that changed my sports outlook around 15yrs ago. I grew up a HUGE baseball, basketball and American football fan and I hated football. (soccer) Cut to around 15yrs ago when I started watching the EPL. I was amazed at stories about clubs from small towns that played in their counties biggest league. That was/is unheard of in American sports. Sure you have the big 6 over there and the system isn't perfect but that idea that you CAN play from a small local division to playing against some of the greatest clubs in the world is awesome. I fell more and more in love with football. A couple years back and I found on YT the story of the Dorking Wanderers. To sum it up quickly they were a group of friends that became a club in the lowest of lowest divisions in England in the late 90s. Today they are in the 5th tier of English football (they were playing in the same league as media darlings Wrexham) and the guy who built it all is still around as the owner and coach. Very cool!! I now prefer Italian league more than EPL but regardless I haven't seen a baseball game in probably 5yrs, an American football game in 7yrs and basketball has probably been 10yrs lol
I also follow our local USL team (Phoenix) and used to complain about why we don't have an MLS team but the more research I've done the more I would rather see our club stay in the USL. As you said the clubs seem to be more involved with the community and there is a sense that they are OUR team and not the owner's club like MLS and other pro sports organizations.
You randomly popped up on my feed and i tossed your video on as "background noise" since I love the Sac Republic story as an outsider. But about a minute in I stopped what I was doing and just watched lol thanks for the content and explaining some things I didn't know being that I'm not in that area. Will be looking into more of your vids!
My prayers have clearly not been answered cause Fisher is still waking up every morning
The main reason the San Jose Earthquakes are getting rejected is because they're losing. They would be plenty popular in Northern California if they were winning and always a contender to win the MLS Cup. You don't get bandwagon fans when your team sucks, and the majority of fans and growth come from bandwagoners. The Sacramento Republic are seeing success because they are winning and everyone loves a winner. We can talk about the magic of supporting a local team, but we must be honest and acknowledge that the magic always goes to those who win, and those who lose only have their ride-or-die fans left.
Spot on
Bro that dude should just sell the team to someone who actually wants it and will give money into the team
being a Timbers supporter, I got no dog in this…but I completely understand anyone who’s fed up with MLS’s bs lmao
I'm a Sac Republic fan here, and I couldn't agree more ... there's an authenticity to the USL that isn't corporate. They have local community groups at the games, and then local community places support the games with watch parties, and it feels uniting as a community. Plus, our team is really good. The rival teams are mostly local places I know well... it's not a place I have no connection to, like Orlando or Cincinnati. Heart health park is awesome!
I barely watch US Football but having followed the A's saga, im watching tomorrow
Even though I support the Quakes and Monterey Bay FC, it was a very rewarding experience when MBFC beat the Quakes in the Open Cup in 2023
Republic Fan here, as much as I would love to have my team in the MLS, I’d want the league to have a proper relegation/promotion system.
When Landon Donovan left San Jose literally no one in the Bay Area cared about the Quakes cause they were known for horrible recruiting / scouting process cause they only accepted higher end privileged players (Wondolowski was mediocre my brother was better than him at Chico State, he was a rich daddys boy that went to De La Salle)
your brother was not better than him
MLS should be sued again for antitrust exemption violations.
Im trying to bring USL to Utah. Sick of the MLS billionaire boys club and their monopolizing of American soccer
11:32 As a former SJ Earthquakes fan, I have less respect for the ones that have stuck after years of indifference from the 'club' to the fans. The MLS team has zero history. Its just a money grab lol. Oakland Roots and the East Bay Stompers at this point have more history as they were formed by locals and are actual clubs, not a franchise or 'brand'
as a european , moving a team to another city always seems weird , you can't move teams because they are connected with the city
I’m an American and I 100% agree
Forever upset that Fresno let Fresno FC. Hate that this city refuses to adapt and modernize and lets awesome opportunities like this always slip away 😒
USL is my second most followed league after the Premier League. Mostly because my local club is in USL (New Mexico United, loved our underdog victory against RSL)
The only thing I watch MLS at all for is Inter Miami and Messi.
Is the open similar to our FA Cup in England...
We have a similar problem atm, in that 2.7% of the clubs that take part i.e. The Premier League are dictating the rules of the cup to the detriment of the other of the other 97.3% of clubs that take part
I view the attitudes toward the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as similar to those toward the League Cup or whatever corporate name it is currently going by. For years, EPL teams tried to eliminate it but weren't able to, and now it has become a fairly big deal. It could easily be the same here in the States, but MLS sides need to buy in. And that shouldn't be hard, considering it is the only other silverware available outside the league.
The MLS needs to work in the USL and other leagues in our ladder as the soccer version of the baseball farm leagues. They’ll never do promotion/relegation, but I think that’s the next best thing
USL used to have the junior team of the MLS teams
Now MLS makes it a separate league
@@ddddirge not a junior league. I think it translates more to loans here.
I would prefer an independent USL league, imagine teams like Sacramento, Louisville, or Charleston just existing to feed MLS, it seems like a horrible idea imo
@@viewingstorm8930 well with promotion and relegation not a possibility it looks like that or doom
@@Tunda2 considering the USL has stayed independent this long, and it’s ownership hates MLS, it’ll never happen so get over it
I know this video is about NorCal, but, DCFC made a deal with CBS sports, and EVERY SINGLE ONE of their games is on that TV channel. And if you have a Michigan address, they let you stream it for free. I think the USL has the framework to usurp the MLS in the next 10-15 years, because of teams like Sac Republic, and DCFC. Their community outreach is outstanding, and growing the game from the ground up, is how we build a proper soccer culture here in the US.
The DCFC crest is amazing. What a cool way to incorporate a piece of the city into the team's identity. In fact, most USL clubs have done a great job of creating logos that really connect with the local areas they represent. It is another small thing that gives fans another source of pride when representing their team.
love to see the passion outside the mls!!
As a european that stumbled on this video i think usl is the future of american soccer because of their grassroot ideoligy you need to build up a tam and fanbase before you go for the big money or money in general
I love Monterey Bay Union but damn we suck! Haven’t even made playoffs, I just wish that since we don’t even make playoffs that they at least invest in home talent in the 831! For God’s sake we have 2 powerhouse high school soccer teams in the NATION! Alisal and Watsonville are absolute powerhouses constantly being ranked nationally and they still get tough challenges from other teams in their league. There’s definitely a lot of talent and passion in the 831, let the team be run by the home talent!
I agree
Rick Rude...? I love this fucking channel man. You do good work.
Had no idea Nobby Solano was going to be coaching back in the UK. I remember him with Newcastle. I think the USL growth is important. I think what might happen is eventually MLS buying USL, but that benefitting the US pyramid system. If MLS decides to try to not buy but eliminate the competition, there will be supporters that get disgusted by the league and not support MLS.
I swear San Jose should have those back to back championships
Great video!