Financial Worries Cloud Future Of MLS

Despite better exposure and television ratings, MLS is in financial straights, as it is losing $100 million annually.

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On the surface, Major League Soccer is doing well. Their television deal with ESPN and NBC Sports has given them unprecedented exposure and with the league expanding to 20 teams next season, all signs should be pointing up.

Wrong. Dead wrong.

Commissioner Don Garber is concerned about the financial beating the 18-year-old league is taking, as he admitted that MLS is losing $100 million annually due to player signings, stadium issues and overall league infrastructure. Add the fact that the labor deal with the players taps out on January 31, and suddenly, the MLS picture becomes muddled.

”I can say without doubt that our owners did not expect that by this time we’d still be needing to invest the level of money that we have been investing, and that’s just the reality of where our business is today,” said Garber.

The arrival of Orlando City and New York FC — along with the folding of Chivas FC — will put MLS at 20 teams next season. Garber said the hope is to expand to 24 teams by the end of the decade, which will also include a franchise in Miami that will be co-owned by soccer icon David Beckham. Adding Miami will depend on if the franchise can work out a stadium deal.

D.C. United, New England and New York FC currently are without stadiums, although New York FC will use Yankee Stadium on a temporary basis. The loss of MLS stalwarts Landon Donovan and Thierry Henry at season’s end also leaves the league lacking in star power.

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