Alright, so let me preface this with I’m not a soccer guy. I completely respect the game and the athleticism, etc. However, I just can’t get excited about a game that in its biggest event, The World Cup, teams “advance” by losing. It just goes against my competitive nature. Another thing I don’t get about soccer is the strange worship of some of the players, and the catering to their whims.
Case in point, Lionel Messi. Messi is arguably the best player the game has ever seen. He’s Michael Jordan on the pitch. It is a HUGE deal that he has left playing professional soccer in Europe for the MLS team in Miami. I get it. That being said, If Michael Jordan in his prime left the NBA for the Italian League, do you really think they would have changed the width of the foul lane or the distance of the three-point line (both are significantly different than the NBA) because he’d never played with those in America? That’s essentially what’s happening with Messi.
He’s never played a soccer game on artificial grass. It’s been speculated that he would refuse to do so. The problem is that some of the stadiums in the MLS have artificial surfaces. Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium is one. I would say fine, don’t play then. That’s an easy win for the home team. Here’s the rub, not only has the Commissioner of the MLS said he expects stadiums to change for Messi, BUT ( and this is a big BUT) teams are charging a huge premium ticket-wise for games against Miami and Messi. How big a premium?
According to WCNC, the cheapest tickets for the match are around $150 for the upper deck seats. The lower deck seats are almost completely sold out and resale tickets are listed from around $300 with many tickets being listed for well over $1,000. For comparison, Charlotte FC’s next home MLS match against Los Angeles FC has tickets from $15 to $200.
This could be a PR nightmare. What to do? As of right now, Charlotte FC isn’t budging. Honestly, I don’t know if they can for this reason. One of the biggest bones of contention between the NFL Players Association and the league’s owners is the dangers of playing on artificial vs. natural grass. If Messi’s perceived demand is met, it gives huge credence to the NFL players’ argument. The owners can’t afford that kind of leverage shift. And if you connect the dots, who owns Charlotte FC? David Tepper. He’s also the owner of the Carolina Panthers.
So, who will blink first? This is gonna get good. As someone with no dog in the fight, I can’t wait to watch this game of wills. It’s far more entertaining and intriguing than the actual soccer match.
#MLS commissioner Don Garber recently said it was his expectation that teams with surfaces would look to install temporary grass for Messi matches, but it would be the decision of every club.
— Nick Carboni (@NickCarboniWCNC) July 20, 2023
5 Things You Need To Know: USA Women's FIFA World Cup
Equal Pay Bill
The United States women’s soccer team has had a long battle to be paid as much as the men’s team. “The Equal Pay for Team USA Act, passed late Wednesday, will require all athletes representing the United States in global competition to receive equal pay and benefits in their sport, regardless of gender,” ESPN reported back in December.
USA pose for a photo during the New Zealand Football Ferns official FIFA Women’s World Cup. Photo by: Phil Walter/Getty Images
