Shawn Francis
@theoffsiderules.bsky.social
Twitter refugee. Soccer, music, pop culture + travel. Creative agency guy. Ideas for sale.
Reposted by Shawn Francis
Mike’s Hard Cranberry Sauce
November 27, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Mike’s Hard Cranberry Sauce
San Diego FC owner Mansour on early nerves and making MLS expansion history www.nytimes.com/athletic/682... [via @theathletic.com]
The owner of MLS's record-setting expansion team weighs in on a historic season
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:57 PM
San Diego FC owner Mansour on early nerves and making MLS expansion history www.nytimes.com/athletic/682... [via @theathletic.com]
Reposted by Shawn Francis
Jimmy Cliff, a Jamaican music icon who helped expand the popularity of reggae around the world, dies at 81.
Jimmy Cliff, reggae legend and Jamaican icon, dies at 81
"It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia," his wife, Latifa Chambers, wrote on Instagram.
nbcnews.to
November 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Jimmy Cliff, a Jamaican music icon who helped expand the popularity of reggae around the world, dies at 81.
Reposted by Shawn Francis
Man this is delightful
HAITI ARE INTO THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP IN HALF A CENTURY ❤️
November 19, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Man this is delightful
Carlos Coronel to leave New York Red Bulls as no agreement reached over new deal www.nytimes.com/athletic/681... [via @theathletic.com]
Carlos Coronel to leave New York Red Bulls as no agreement reached over new deal
Coronel is out of contract at the end of December and is eligible for MLS free agency.
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Carlos Coronel to leave New York Red Bulls as no agreement reached over new deal www.nytimes.com/athletic/681... [via @theathletic.com]
No more Lower.com Field, Columbus Crew will have new stadium naming rights deal for 2026 www.dispatch.com/story/sports...
No more Lower.com Field, Columbus Crew will have new stadium naming rights deal for 2026
Columbus Crew announced they mutually agreed to conclude their stadium naming rights deal with Lower.com, announcing a new partnership for 2026.
www.dispatch.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:14 PM
No more Lower.com Field, Columbus Crew will have new stadium naming rights deal for 2026 www.dispatch.com/story/sports...
Former Major League Soccer Chairman Says MLS Pro-Rel ‘Inevitable’ www.forbes.com/sites/stevep... [via @forbes.com]
Former Major League Soccer Chairman Says MLS Pro-Rel ‘Inevitable’
Former US Soccer Federation President Alan Rothenberg says the Major League Soccer calendar change was "inevitable." He says the same of promotion and relegation in MLS.
www.forbes.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Former Major League Soccer Chairman Says MLS Pro-Rel ‘Inevitable’ www.forbes.com/sites/stevep... [via @forbes.com]
How Cold Climate Markets Have Reacted to Seismic MLS Change www.si.com/soccer/how-c... [via @sisoccer.bsky.social]
How Cold Climate Markets Have Reacted to Seismic MLS Change
CF Montréal is the lone MLS club in a cold market that has mentioned playing in another stadium as an option.
www.si.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
How Cold Climate Markets Have Reacted to Seismic MLS Change www.si.com/soccer/how-c... [via @sisoccer.bsky.social]
MLS club officials agree that calendar shift will boost power in transfer windows www.nytimes.com/athletic/681... [via @nytimes.com]
MLS club officials agree that calendar shift will boost power in transfer windows
Chief soccer officers across MLS clubs believe the switch to the European calendar will strengthen their position in the transfer market
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:10 PM
MLS club officials agree that calendar shift will boost power in transfer windows www.nytimes.com/athletic/681... [via @nytimes.com]
MLS, Apple rework terms of media rights deal for earlier ending, in 2029 www.nytimes.com/athletic/680... [via @nytimes.com]
MLS, Apple rework terms of media rights deal for earlier ending, in 2029
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:43 AM
MLS, Apple rework terms of media rights deal for earlier ending, in 2029 www.nytimes.com/athletic/680... [via @nytimes.com]
Can Soccer Stadiums Revitalize American Cities? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/r... [via @nytimes.com]
Can Soccer Stadiums Revitalize American Cities?
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Can Soccer Stadiums Revitalize American Cities? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/r... [via @nytimes.com]
Apple TV Abandons Extra Paywall for Major League Soccer Games www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/dig...
Apple TV Abandons Extra Paywall for Major League Soccer Games
The standalone subscription offering, MLS Season Pass, is shuttering, with all games becoming available to all Apple TV users.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Apple TV Abandons Extra Paywall for Major League Soccer Games www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/dig...
Reposted by Shawn Francis
There's something really funny about a graphic that just reads "GREW UP PRIVILEGED"
November 12, 2025 at 11:47 PM
There's something really funny about a graphic that just reads "GREW UP PRIVILEGED"
MLS owners expected to vote on fall-spring calendar and season format changes: Sources www.nytimes.com/athletic/680... [via @theathletic.com]
MLS owners expected to vote on fall-spring calendar and season format changes: Sources
Substantial change could be coming to MLS's structure and operations following a Thursday vote, sources tell The Athletic
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:53 PM
MLS owners expected to vote on fall-spring calendar and season format changes: Sources www.nytimes.com/athletic/680... [via @theathletic.com]
Reposted by Shawn Francis
🇺🇸 BREAKING: Club legend Walker Zimmerman will depart Nashville SC this winter when his contract expires, per sources.
Zimmerman is a two-time MLS Defender of the Year winner. Joined ahead of inaugural season. Lifted U.S. Open Cup this year.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Zimmerman is a two-time MLS Defender of the Year winner. Joined ahead of inaugural season. Lifted U.S. Open Cup this year.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Sources: USMNT's Zimmerman to leave Nashville SC, become free agent
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:10 PM
🇺🇸 BREAKING: Club legend Walker Zimmerman will depart Nashville SC this winter when his contract expires, per sources.
Zimmerman is a two-time MLS Defender of the Year winner. Joined ahead of inaugural season. Lifted U.S. Open Cup this year.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Zimmerman is a two-time MLS Defender of the Year winner. Joined ahead of inaugural season. Lifted U.S. Open Cup this year.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
America is now the biggest market for international football www.economist.com/the-world-ah... [via @economist.com]
America is now the biggest market for international football
As well as co-hosting the World Cup in 2026, more and more people in America are watching soccer, and spending on football media rights is rising
www.economist.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:23 PM
America is now the biggest market for international football www.economist.com/the-world-ah... [via @economist.com]
The USL: US soccer league bringing promotion-relegation stateside to capitalise on World Cup fever www.skysports.com/football/new... [via @skysportspl.bsky.social]
The USL: US soccer league bringing promotion-relegation stateside to capitalise on World Cup fever
The USL plans to implement a new first division in 2028 at the same level as MLS that - once promotion-relegation is introduced - will sit at the top of an interconnected three-tier professional pyram...
www.skysports.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The USL: US soccer league bringing promotion-relegation stateside to capitalise on World Cup fever www.skysports.com/football/new... [via @skysportspl.bsky.social]
MLS deputy commissioner, SUM president Gary Stevenson to retire www.nytimes.com/athletic/679... [via @nytimes.com]
MLS deputy commissioner, SUM president Gary Stevenson to retire
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:55 PM
MLS deputy commissioner, SUM president Gary Stevenson to retire www.nytimes.com/athletic/679... [via @nytimes.com]
MLS Commissioner Rules on MLS Cup Favorite’s Stadium Relocation Plans www.si.com/soccer/mls-c... [via @sisoccer.bsky.social]
MLS Commissioner Rules on MLS Cup Favorite's Stadium Relocation Plans
The Vancouver Whitecaps have not confirmed where they will play in the 2026 season.
www.si.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:27 PM
MLS Commissioner Rules on MLS Cup Favorite’s Stadium Relocation Plans www.si.com/soccer/mls-c... [via @sisoccer.bsky.social]
Tata back. www.mlssoccer.com/news/tata-ma... [via @mls.bsky.social]
Tata Martino returns as Atlanta United head coach | MLSSoccer.com
Atlanta United have named Gerardo
www.mlssoccer.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Tata back. www.mlssoccer.com/news/tata-ma... [via @mls.bsky.social]
Kansas City unveils plan for its free 2026 World Cup fan fest www.nytimes.com/athletic/675... [via @nytimes.com]
Kansas City unveils plan for its free 2026 World Cup fan fest
Kansas City will host six games during the 2026 World Cup, but its fan fest will be a staple throughout the competition next summer
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Kansas City unveils plan for its free 2026 World Cup fan fest www.nytimes.com/athletic/675... [via @nytimes.com]
NYCFC’s unbearable wait inches toward its end with a new stadium on the rise www.nytimes.com/athletic/676... [via @nytimes.com]
NYCFC's unbearable wait inches toward its end with a new stadium on the rise
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:49 PM
NYCFC’s unbearable wait inches toward its end with a new stadium on the rise www.nytimes.com/athletic/676... [via @nytimes.com]
Sports Media Pod: MLS viewership surge www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202... [via @sportsbizjournal.bsky.social]
Sports Media Pod: MLS viewership surge
On this week’s Sports Media Podcast, SBJ’s Alex Silverman breaks down the surprising 29% increase in MLS viewership in 2025. Is it the Messi effect, better distribution, or something else? Find out ho...
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Sports Media Pod: MLS viewership surge www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202... [via @sportsbizjournal.bsky.social]
Messi’s $20m salary and MLS’ future. Plus: Dowman, 15, makes history www.nytimes.com/athletic/676... [via @nytimes.com]
Messi’s $20m salary and MLS’ future. Plus: Dowman, 15, makes history
MLS salaries have been revealed, and there are no prizes for guessing its top earner. But what does it say about the competition?
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Messi’s $20m salary and MLS’ future. Plus: Dowman, 15, makes history www.nytimes.com/athletic/676... [via @nytimes.com]
Reposted by Shawn Francis
Post a perfect album from 1989, a perfect music year
October 29, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Post a perfect album from 1989, a perfect music year