Sequencing: what do we prove first?
Order-of-operations bet: validate demand, production, and economics before locking the most expensive league structure. Precedents include PLL/Kings-style concentration and phased hub→franchise ideas in our own status doc.
The Options
Direct to 8-club regional league
Launch the full Northeast partner-club league on the current timeline (no prior national or hub proof).
Pros
- +Fastest path to real clubs and local revenue
- +Aligns with Mass Rising as on-the-ground prototype
- +Regional travel stays manageable
Trade-offs
- −Highest simultaneous-market operational load
- −Middle-ground launches are where lower-division soccer ventures most often die
Evidence
Centralized hub / limited-week proof
Short, concentrated season or hub-based matches with clear digital + attendance gates before expanding.
Pros
- +Contains downside if the concept does not land
- +Centralized production can match broadcast quality with one crew
- +Analogous to Kings League–style cost structure
Trade-offs
- −Not a full test of distributed local ownership
- −May underweight travel/weekend habit formation
Evidence
Summer showcase / concentrated event first
A PLL-style compressed summer window or festival format to test star draw, media, and sponsors before fixed clubs.
Pros
- +Tests the 50M international-viewer thesis directly
- +Touring limits stadium lease risk
- +Aligns with event-formats outperforming diffuse inventory in US data
Trade-offs
- −Does not prove week-in-week-out club economics
- −Player release and soccer club-centrism are existential risks
Phased: hub or tour Years 1–2, then fixed clubs
Prove product and metrics first; assign or launch fixed markets only after gates (e.g. digital viewership, ticket, sponsor) are hit.
Pros
- +Matches “don’t pick the most expensive model first” principle
- +Data-informed market pick for later franchises
- +PLL moved from tour to home cities phased
Trade-offs
- −Longer path to “real league” narrative
- −Requires discipline on kill metrics
General Discussion
1 comment
- Community· Community
Alternatively, maybe heavily advertise that a pro team is coming to the city and then follow through with option 1. There could also maybe be a "soft launch" pre season to see if the marketing worked or not.