Germany has strict rules and regulations on the Bundesliga. It limits how much ticket prices can be, the amount of money that can be spent on salaries and overhead compared to revenue, and ownership. It is a sustainable model that has produced one of the most exciting and fan friendly leagues in Europe. Unlike England, Germany still allows alcohol to be sold in the stadium and still has standing room only seating (England did away with this after the disaster at Liverpool, it was a long time coming though with the hooligans and rampant injuries).

Followed the sport a long time and would love to visit Old Trafford and maybe Craven Cottage.

(07-10-2014 07:59 AM)trueeagle98 Wrote:  Germany has strict rules and regulations on the Bundesliga. It limits how much ticket prices can be, the amount of money that can be spent on salaries and overhead compared to revenue, and ownership. It is a sustainable model that has produced one of the most exciting and fan friendly leagues in Europe. Unlike England, Germany still allows alcohol to be sold in the stadium and still has standing room only seating (England did away with this after the disaster at Liverpool, it was a long time coming though with the hooligans and rampant injuries).

Followed the sport a long time and would love to visit Old Trafford and maybe Craven Cottage.

Their standing areas have rows of rails which prevents the crush of people packing in as has happened in other disasters.

From an economic model standpoint Bundesliga is like US pro leagues, especially those not playing baseball. With financial responsibility built into the structure.

The closest thing we have to the English Premier League is college athletics where losing money is the order of the day and everyone counts on the next ticket price increase or next TV deal to bail them out of their over-spending ways.

(07-09-2014 09:40 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  This German team has been a joy to watch outside of the USMNT game. With Fox picking up Bundesliga this year I may watch them more this fall.

Bundesliga rules prohibit any one owner from having a majority or even 50% interest in a club (Bayer, owned by Bayer Pharmaceuticals and Wolfsburg, owned by VW are grandfathered in. Hoffenheim is minority owned by the founder of SAP but he plows so much money into the team that they have advanced from 5th Division (basically an amateur team) in 2000 to top division in 2008).

Because of the ownership structure, tickets are much cheaper than for the English Premier League.

Good article comparing the leagues from 2010
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog...ier-league

Fascinating chart comparing the prices of the two leagues noting that EPL despite far higher revenue the teams are losing money while the German clubs are making a profit. Most interesting is that a person living in Manchester can fly to Germany and buy a ticket for a top level team and fly home for less than buying a ticket to watch Man U or Man City. http://worldsoccertalk.com/2013/07/01/pr...fographic/

What I think is interesting is that Bundesliga requires teams at the top two levels to have youth programs to develop talent. MLS has been doing this and has doubled down with a deal where MLS teams either have to affiliate with a USL-Pro club or field a team in USL-Pro.

Sporting KC's keeper is hurt and will be replaced by a guy from Overland Park who was with Columbus last year and they've recalled homegrown player Jon Kempin from Oklahoma City.

Doesn't start till next year...


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(07-11-2014 07:56 AM)PurpleReigns2012 Wrote:  

(07-09-2014 09:40 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  This German team has been a joy to watch outside of the USMNT game. With Fox picking up Bundesliga this year I may watch them more this fall.

Bundesliga rules prohibit any one owner from having a majority or even 50% interest in a club (Bayer, owned by Bayer Pharmaceuticals and Wolfsburg, owned by VW are grandfathered in. Hoffenheim is minority owned by the founder of SAP but he plows so much money into the team that they have advanced from 5th Division (basically an amateur team) in 2000 to top division in 2008).

Because of the ownership structure, tickets are much cheaper than for the English Premier League.

Good article comparing the leagues from 2010
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog...ier-league

Fascinating chart comparing the prices of the two leagues noting that EPL despite far higher revenue the teams are losing money while the German clubs are making a profit. Most interesting is that a person living in Manchester can fly to Germany and buy a ticket for a top level team and fly home for less than buying a ticket to watch Man U or Man City. http://worldsoccertalk.com/2013/07/01/pr...fographic/

What I think is interesting is that Bundesliga requires teams at the top two levels to have youth programs to develop talent. MLS has been doing this and has doubled down with a deal where MLS teams either have to affiliate with a USL-Pro club or field a team in USL-Pro.

Sporting KC's keeper is hurt and will be replaced by a guy from Overland Park who was with Columbus last year and they've recalled homegrown player Jon Kempin from Oklahoma City.

Doesn't start till next year...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yep. I got the dates from a soccer blog that had it wrong. I don't even know if I get Gol or whatever it is they are on now.

FYI, Netherlands beat Brazil 3-0 for 3rd place yesterday. In today's final, Germany and Argentina have finished regulation scoreless, and move on to extra time. 3rd time in history, and 2nd consecutive time the final has finished the first 90 minutes scoreless.

Germany scores in the 113th minute of extra time to win the 2014 World Cup over Argentina 1-0. Its their first title as a Unified Country since a Jurgen Klinsmann captained West Germany won the 1990 World Cup.

My question to Brazil is....Was it worth 20 Billion bucks?

(07-13-2014 05:29 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  My question to Brazil is....Was it worth 20 Billion bucks?

Ask them after the Summer Olympics in 2 years.

Considering they heartily booed their own Chancellor and the FIFA President at the final...my guess is the citizens feel different than the leadership.

I think Germany is going to win it.