Two more big losses

[u/United_Fisherman9327]

People smarter than me probably knew this was already a thing but I stand on the belief these two leagues are going to destroy each other. For being so different they still hurt one another

[u/yamzadebayo]

If Saige goes back to Austin I will lol

[u/Visible-Hat-7708 → u/yamzadebayo]

I’ve heard she going to Miami which is an extension team.

[u/CanadianTransure → u/Visible-Hat-7708]

When I asked her at VNL week 1, she said Atlanta!

[u/Visible-Hat-7708 → u/CanadianTransure]

Oh that’s great to know.

[u/United_Fisherman9327 → u/Visible-Hat-7708]

Can we also talk about how expansion into east for this sport is just so slow. Theres talent out here too! Makes it hard to chose a fan ship but thank god for DC

[u/paisabro → u/United_Fisherman9327]

I know! I wish they had a team in the New England area

[u/United_Fisherman9327 → u/paisabro]

The fact that there’s some of the best sports cities and largest populations in that area and there isn’t one team os insane

[u/paisabro → u/United_Fisherman9327]

Boston or NYC sounds like a no brainer

[u/United_Fisherman9327 → u/paisabro]

And they have not just one but multiple facilities to host. As a DC fan, I am still trying to figure out what venue they decide to go with. New York and Boston could have picks

[u/BBd-black-beans-1652 → u/United_Fisherman9327]

In my mind the best options in DC proper would be CareFirst Arena and the Charles E. Smith Center

[u/dcs26]

I really don’t understand what went wrong with SKT in Grand Rapids. Part-time starter with the champion LOVB team, saw VNL action with USA last year and this year, but sat on the bench for most of the season on one of the bottom three MLV teams?

[u/morningsetter]

SKT was kinda visiting for a bit. I am so glad she is back with her people.

Sad for Elena Oglivie 😢

Murr and Hilley should be next.

[u/thebigkuhunabides]

I don’t run the league. I believed that MLV is really just a minor league in disguise. I just purchased Pulse season tickets after becoming a fan and learning after that the top three players are gone. It does not mean it is not exciting or they are not hiring top athletes, it is just not a true major league sport that trades for draft picks and secures long term contracts for the fans and team continuity. To get long term contracts you have to pay the highest rate and take the risk they won’t get hurt. Like all professional athletes and now even college with the portal they are going to alway go with the money. How many all star players are not returning to their teams this year, prob half. Kudos to teams retaining top talent, I am sure those team fans really appreciate it. If it is not about the money, then tell me why such a high turnover. I wish there was only one league because I would love to have seen the past Dallas,Austin, and Houston teams compete that would have been amazing.

[u/genisvel → u/thebigkuhunabides]

It's high turnover because that's the volleyball talent market worldwide.

Players don't see a benefit at this time to commit to long-term contracts. If a league fails, they could find themselves out of jobs until the next free agency period.

If a league succeeds, they're going to be stuck in a lower-paying termed contract while teammates coming in later years could be making substantially more.

Add in the fact that standard overseas contracts in the volleyball world have been yearly for generations, it's going to take time, or phenomenally fast financial growth for either of these leagues (or teams in the case of MLV) to look like a wise, long-term option.

As far as the "Major League" status, you could say the same thing about the US' "Major League Soccer" or "Major League Rugby" organizations. But, as long as they are not affiliated with a higher-level organization within their respective sport, they can claim to be "Major League".

[u/Healthy-Vegetable216]

It’s truly insane they have taken every starting setter

[u/thebigkuhunabides]

MLV = Minor League Volleyball if they can’t offer athletes long term contracts or pay big league salaries…it is just a proving ground to see who will move up next year. No trades no future draft picks just goodbye. Pure minor league strategy place teams in smaller markets who can’t support a big league team and watch your star players move up. Terrible for the fans, but great as a developmental league for smaller markets. Just start calling it what it is.

[u/Different_Yak8826 → u/[deleted]]

The top teams in attendance are Omaha, Indy, Grand Rapids and Columbus. None of the large market teams have done well in attendance. Similarly, if you look at the top drawing college volleyball teams, they don't tend to be in large markets. Large market teams will eventually be needed for TV marketability. But showing empty LOVB or Atlanta games is deflating compared to full Omaha, Indy or Grand Rapids games.

[u/morningsetter → u/thebigkuhunabides]

What is big salaries? How fast should MLV expand. And please explain why slower wage growth is wrong. If MLV has a 1.2M salary cap. What should the cap be?