MLS Players Association approves concessions to get 2020 season back on track

The MLS Players Association took a massive step to get the season back up and running.

As with all professional sports league in the United States and Canada, the MLS suspended operations in mid-March on account of the global pandemic stemming from COVID-19. The season had just been under way, as the 2020 campaign went into hiatus right before Week 3’s scheduled matches.

On May 31, the MLSPA took a big step in helping get the season back underway. Per the MLSPA’s Twitter account, on Sunday evening, “MLS Players voted to approve a package of economic concessions for the 2020 season, modifications to the recently agreed-upon CBA including its extension by a year, and their agreement to participate in a summer tournament in Orlando.”

The MLSPA announced all players took a salary reduction, as well as concessions to team and individual-based bonuses. It was a tough decision for the players, but they want to get back to playing, as long as they can feel safe about a return to the pitch. In short, the MLS is coming back here very soon.

MLS Players Association approves summer tournament in Orlando.

The intriguing part in all this is the agreement to play in the summer tournament in Orlando. All 26 teams will meet at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World near Orlando to train for a few weeks before playing in a one-of-a-kind tournament. It would be a five-match group stage, a knockout tournament and consolations to ensure everyone plays the same amount.

Depending on how quickly the owners approve of the MLSPA’s proposal, we could have MLS matches that count by the end of June or early to mid-July. The MLS has growing exponentially in the last 25 years with four expansion franchises coming in the new few years to make it 30 teams. Nashville SC and Inter Miami FC were in their inaugural seasons in MLS before the shutdown.

MLS is the latest North American professional sports league to have a plan in place for resuming their season. While the NBA and the NHL are close in their processes of returning as well, the MLB continues to get in its own way over money and looks to be the last of these four leagues to return. The NFL and the upcoming college football season won’t start play for a few months.

With the MLSPA approving these economic concessions, we’ll see MLS soccer before you know it.