I mean, TV metrics are fairly important to you know, everything money-wise with regards to the league.
Sponsorship dollars, kit revenue, ad revenue, and, most importantly, the next TV deal all are directly tied into TV viewership. Ticket and concession revenue are really the only soccer related items that arent ratings-driven. I like how you laugh off negative MLS statistics/metrics that you dont agree with while still posit-ing that MLB is on a death spiral.
Fact is, most ratings are in a decline, very few sporting events dont drop year over year in general. However, MLS' ratings drop is even more precipitous than MLB. Guess what is the big revenue driver for most leagues: TV deal. If this kind of ratings slide keeps up, it is going to be very hard for the league's TV partners to want to keep their commitment at the current rates. It will be interesting to see the knock-on effect if there is a leveling off of the MLS TV rights deal; nevermind a potential reduction in the rights.