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league anytime soon.
Every time I’m engaged in or hear discussions about the MLS format, the 3 main “criticisms” I’ve heard is –
1. It’s a single entity league.
2. It has a closed membership, so there’s no promotion and relegation.
3. There’s a salary cap, which prevents teams from getting “top” stars.
This is my opinion –
First let me say that I don’t think MLS needs to adopt the popular European model to be successful. It’s a young league (now in it’s 19th season), and MLS has to find a system that is going to grow and strengthen the league, thereby making it profitable.
Single entity league – I agree with this for the start, to make sure that the proper systems are in place and help each team to have an equal footing. In the next 5 – 10 years I would be in favor of changing to operating as an association of independently owned teams and adopt a corporate structure like the NFL.
Closed membership with no promotion and relegation – Have no problem with this. It’s a system that’s been used in other professional sports here (NBA, NFL, MLB & NHL), and they are very successful and profitable…..There have been MLS teams that have had a very bad season one year and through improved scouting, management & coaching came back the next year to be one of the top teams in the league (last season DC United had the worst record in the league, winning only 3 games, and so far, this season, they have the best record in the eastern conference & have qualified for the playoffs).
Salary cap – Don’t get rid of it. It helps to maintain parity in the league and forces teams to focus on youth development, scouting, management and coaching to improve, grow and win. For MLS first 18 seasons they have had 10 different champions & 7 in the last 10. Compare that to EPL who has 4 and 3 during the same time period; Bundesliga 6 & 4; La Liga 5 & 3; and Serie A 5 & 3.
NOTE – So far MLS has done a very good job growing the league and making it profitable. Last year I saw a publication listing the most profitable soccer leagues by revenue and MLS was ahead of the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Belgian Pro League, Scottish Premier League, Swiss Super League, Norwegian Tippeligaen, Superleague Greece and the Danish Superliga, all older than MLS. The Dutch Eredivisie generated only 90 million euros more (452 to 362).….MLS will now (starting next year) get $90 million per year from the new TV contract, up from $25 million, Adidas has renegotiated its contract & increased its annual payment by $10 million and Etihad has signed a contract with them.
Every time I’m engaged in or hear discussions about the MLS format, the 3 main “criticisms” I’ve heard is –
1. It’s a single entity league.
2. It has a closed membership, so there’s no promotion and relegation.
3. There’s a salary cap, which prevents teams from getting “top” stars.
This is my opinion –
First let me say that I don’t think MLS needs to adopt the popular European model to be successful. It’s a young league (now in it’s 19th season), and MLS has to find a system that is going to grow and strengthen the league, thereby making it profitable.
Single entity league – I agree with this for the start, to make sure that the proper systems are in place and help each team to have an equal footing. In the next 5 – 10 years I would be in favor of changing to operating as an association of independently owned teams and adopt a corporate structure like the NFL.
Closed membership with no promotion and relegation – Have no problem with this. It’s a system that’s been used in other professional sports here (NBA, NFL, MLB & NHL), and they are very successful and profitable…..There have been MLS teams that have had a very bad season one year and through improved scouting, management & coaching came back the next year to be one of the top teams in the league (last season DC United had the worst record in the league, winning only 3 games, and so far, this season, they have the best record in the eastern conference & have qualified for the playoffs).
Salary cap – Don’t get rid of it. It helps to maintain parity in the league and forces teams to focus on youth development, scouting, management and coaching to improve, grow and win. For MLS first 18 seasons they have had 10 different champions & 7 in the last 10. Compare that to EPL who has 4 and 3 during the same time period; Bundesliga 6 & 4; La Liga 5 & 3; and Serie A 5 & 3.
NOTE – So far MLS has done a very good job growing the league and making it profitable. Last year I saw a publication listing the most profitable soccer leagues by revenue and MLS was ahead of the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Belgian Pro League, Scottish Premier League, Swiss Super League, Norwegian Tippeligaen, Superleague Greece and the Danish Superliga, all older than MLS. The Dutch Eredivisie generated only 90 million euros more (452 to 362).….MLS will now (starting next year) get $90 million per year from the new TV contract, up from $25 million, Adidas has renegotiated its contract & increased its annual payment by $10 million and Etihad has signed a contract with them.
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