By Andrew Warshaw
September 11 – Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber has vigorously defended the unique structure and calendar of his 20-team league, says David Beckham’s Miami franchise is close and insists MLS is not simply a retirement home for ageing foreign stars looking for a career-ending financial windfall.
With his league celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Garber was invited to speak at the Soccerex forum in Manchester earlier this week and used the opportunity to give a wide-ranging explanation of why what works for much of the rest of world doesn’t necessarily work for the United States.
The two most notable differences is the March-December calendar used by the MLS in contrast to the traditional August-May season and, just as controversially, the fact that there is no promotion and relegation which fans in many traditional footballing nations ridicule.
Garber refutes the suggestion that a closed-shop system totally devalues professional soccer in his country.
“I don’t believe that’s true. In whose eyes? We have our games live on television all round the world and the ratings are excellent. There is no promotion or relegation in (ice) hockey or basketball and it works pretty well. It won’t happen any time soon in the MLS.”
“We are committed to competitive balance. Every season fans should have the thought that their team can win the Championship, not just shooting to get relegated or make the Champions League or Europa League. That’s not something we subscribe to. In our 20 years, nine different teams have been champions.”
He also defends the MLS scheduling, pointing to severe winter conditions in much of the country.
“I admit it’s a really challenging issue (but) to start any earlier than March, which is difficult already, is almost impossible. We’ve looked at the model. You can’t play (earlier) in places like Denver, Toronto, Montreal, Kansas City and New York. Half of the league would have to play on the road for a month and that’s competitively unfair.”
“I don’t know who we are harming. Our calendar works for us. It would be really bad for our fans and players to play in February when it is 10 degrees and there is four feet of snow on the ground.”
Comparing the size and stature of the MLS now to when it first started, Garber said: “We are college students now compared to toddlers. The early days were pretty difficult and getting it right took a lot of vision, and sweat and blood.”
With the US likely to bid for the World Cup in 2026, Garber argues the sport has grown “in ways which have probably exceeded most people’s expectations.”
“There is way more interest in investing in MLS today than there are teams for sale. When I came in 16 years ago you couldn’t even give a team away because of the losses. We feel pretty good about where we are and the best days are still ahead.”
“We don’t have 100 years of professional football history and we are competing against four other major (North American sports) leagues that have been around for 100 years and we are trying to do that in a way in which will ensure that the league will be around for a long period of time. That involves a commitment to things which are core equities of ours which may or may not be part of other leagues. Competitive balance ensures some level of financial stability, it also allows you to create a fan base. In England, for instance, you don’t have to worry about creating a fan base.”
Garber admits that the MLS is light years away from creating its own world-class stars. “We haven’t come remotely close to creating a Lionel Messi or a Wayne Rooney or a Cristiano Ronaldo but that takes generations of the culture and I believe that time will come.”
He takes to task those who perceive the MLS as a resting place for high-profile imports. Recent arrivals have included David Villa, 33, Steven Gerrard (35), Andrea Pirlo (36), Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, who are both 37.
“The international players who come into our league are surprised at the level of play and the seriousness. The average age of the 35 players we signed in the window was 27. It is just that people pay attention to the four or five world-class names. “
Garber says David Beckham’s search for a permanent home for his new Miami team is almost complete. “They are making a lot of progress. It’s had a lot of fits and starts in terms of trying to find the right site but the right location is key and I’m confident they’ll get something down soon.”
Regarding further expansion, he confirmed that four more teams should arrive by the end of the decade – Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Miami. But travel distances are a major challenge, given that other sports are often grouped regionally. “We have to figure that one out.”
And the ultimate goal? “It will be generations before we are at the level of the Premier League or Bundesliga but we want to be part of the conversation so that MLS becomes a league of choice. We have a lot of wealthy owners. That time is coming. Everybody told us pro soccer would never succeed in America and we’ve proved it can.”
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