MLS commissioner Don Garber appeared at the Sports Business Journal/Sports Business Daily Sports Facilities and Franchises Ticketing Symposium in New Jersey to talk all things MLS. You can read more of his answers to questions about the league here, but below are a couple of his responses to questions about MLS:
On where the league is looking to expand:
"We are focused on New York. It’s a big market. The Cosmos have a great legacy and they have a great soccer history that so far the Red Bulls have not been able to tap into. … The challenge for [the Cosmos] is to build a stadium, and as we all know New York City is not the easiest place to build. And we’ve put a high price on the 20th team. In 2007 we were asking around $7 million, and last year [teams] sold for $40 million. This could be in the $75 to $100 million [range]."
On Livestrong Sporting Park:
"It is a beautiful facility, one of our best. Think of a Midwest version of Red Bull Arena. The ownership is great, they are young, technical-minded guys. They think differently. I think Livestrong was an innovative deal, and with the brand’s recognition in the cancer fight, I think they can do well with that. Clearly they will have something to manage if something does happen with Lance Armstrong. We are hopeful they won’t have to."
A video interview with Garber answering more questions is after the jump:
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What do you think about Garber's comments?
Share your thoughts below.
they’d have to completely restructure the league to do that, i.e. break it up.
um, not to nit-pick, but the twin cities are more like 5 hours from milwaukee.
Money wasn’t the issue.
If Chivas wants to target Latino fans that is fine, but re-brand it to something more general such as Soles or Halcones or something.
Oh, yeah, and move to San Diego.
I totally agree.
Also, if their intent was to attract Latino soccer fans, they have completely ostracized any traditional supporter of other Mexican teams such as Club America, Pumas, Cruz Azul, etc. They will never support Chivas.
Furthermore, if the fan is not of Mexican descent they won’t want to support Chivas, a team that is synonymous with Mexico.
How about there are just no more expansion teams? If a team wants to enter MLS they have to follow the Seattle/Portland/Montreal blueprint, ie. have an existing team, with a strong fan base, that shows is can support a top flight team in the long run. If the Cosmos want to be an MLS franchise, then they should start in a USL division and work their way up. First show you can support a team before MLS makes the investment in you. And once MLS reaches 20 (my preference) or 22-24 (what would probably happen) then parlay the idea of having to be a USL team to become an MLS team into promotion/relegation. I mean SportsCenter featured a Blackburn-Wolves highlight from last Sunday, something like that wouldn’t work here? This may not be the most profitable model for MLS, but it would create the best on pitch product. And be fun as hell.
You do realize that San Jose is the 10th largest city in the country, don’t you?
NYC CAN and WILL support another team; RB fans are 90% from NJ. There’s a fan base from NYC 5 Boroughs and Long Island that can’t get to RBA even if they wanted to (unless they had 2 hours of traffic to spare). New york City is not a small town last time I checked and is full of potential fans. NYC team is the way to go!!!!
Cosmos don’t have enough money to fund a west coast academy team anymore. How will they build a stadium and pony up 75 mil?
Not one person on here mentioned Phoenix, AZ which would increase rivalries for LA and the Texas clubs. Chives USAa is the worst brand in the league, move them to SD or Phoenix and let them start over…
As far as the Cosmos are concerned, MLS should jump all over that. A strong NY brand would make the NY/NJ MetroStars, MetroStars, Red Bull NY, or New York Red Bulls be shown as the joke that they are. Let them be the New Jersey Red Bulls and allow the Cosmos dominate them and show that the new York brand is always better than the new jersey brand (see Knicks and nets). Let David Beckham reinvest all that money he didn’t deserve into a strong NY Cosmos club.
actually, San Jose is more laughable. I get why expansion is wanted by Garber: to have presence in all parts of the country and as an important factor in national tv contracts. However, FIfa says 20. Do we want the World cup again? We wont get it if we’re in violation. Cap it at 20 US teams, plus 4 in Canada, and maybe the Islanders.
they would also need a new persona. MLS allowing Chivas USA in was way too much of a political hot potato. The mexican-ChivasGuad fans dont respect Chivas USA because they think its too non-Mexican and non-hispanic Amer. fans probably think its a little too foreign in character. There’s a ton of Raider fans in LA. I dont think it all goes back to when Raiders were in LA. What I’m saying is that California fans are used to supporting teams on other sides of the state. In other words, San Diego Surfer Goats would probably still have fans in LA area.
As far as expansion goes the league shouldn’t be done with the midwest yet. Proximity to currnet teams should play a larger factor The way I see it should ne done in three phases and adding 5 teams. The first two should be
Phase 1
St. Louis 3 hours from KC and Chicago
Nashville 4 hours from St. Louis, 5 from Chicago(Nashville is also the gateway to the south)
Phase 2
Milwuakee 10 hours from KC, 2 from Chicago 5 from Columbus
Phase 3
Oklahoma City 4 hours from KC, 5 from St. Louis, 3 from Dallas
Twin Cities, 7 hours from KC 3 from Milwuakee ,7 from Chicago
I’m sorry did you say Oakland? Hahaha
You’ve got to be effing joking
The Cosmos would def have a negative impact on the Red Bulls, thats why they should change the name to NJ, 80 percent of fans are from the garden state anyway. NY NJ rivalry not a NY derby when one team plays in Jerz…some serious jumping ship is going to happen unfortunatly
All places that deserve teams before NY: Miami, San Diego, Minnesota, Atlanta, hell I would even pick Oakland if we are going with the two teams in a city theme but maybe because I hate NY. Also there should be more than 20 teams, the U.S. is roughly the size of Europe.
Everything I’ve heard indicates MLS is capping the league 20 teams. That’s why this 20th spot is so contentious.
If a city wants two teams they should allow another. make them play in the second division and let it grow. Then offer promotion/relegation.
IF MLS are able to put a team in NY for $75 million or more, they will NOT stop expanding. Realize the original investors had a lot of money and risk on the table for a LOOONG time.
They will be happy to get repaid and start making money. It is happening and they will want it to continue.
It will be hard to stop others from following their lead, after seeing recent successes. I would guess that Seattle has a franchise value at more than 2x what they paid for it. Probably a lot higher than that.
Plus Seattle ownership is rolling in the cash right now. Philly, Vancouver, Portland same trend to a lesser dollar amounts.
Next stop is not 20….next pause is not 20 even.
As a Galaxy fan and a lover of San Diego, I couldn’t agree more. There are 3 million people in San Diego county, which has its own soccer history and the potential for a domestic rivalry with LA and international friendlies with Club Tijuana. And since it would be a relocation, Don Garber could still have his precious Cosmos as the 20th team.
I would like to see the Cosmo’s resurrected. I think it would be great for the league. I would like to see a team in the South as well. Don Garber has said that the league will not stop at 20 teams. But it will take a break before adding 21-22.
with regard to the players short playing career, i hear you. which is why im all for them getting their passport and globtrotting for a better wage…we all have career choices to make.
for the execs and team owners, is say grown, but do it smartly. you cant give any yokel with cash today a franchise in his or her backyard, when there isnt the business to support it. how many nba, nfl and mlb teams have relocated to tap into a stronger fan base? The nba and mlb recently had to straight out takeover ownership to preserve the franchise values (hornets and dodgers?).
i get that better salaries will attract better players to the league, however, you gotta guard against “lifting all boats” for players who frankly dont warrant the check every two weeks just to fill out a roster, and the inevitable overpaid star/dp.
as the league grows over the next 15/20 yrs i will be surprised if no teams relocate or shut down (and reappear) due to financial problems. whether its through debt or whatever, when revenues dont cover expenses, that’s a problem that needs to be resolved one way or another.
Oh, as for FSC, I think that is an issue with providers for the low def broadcasts. FSC maybe sending an HD signal, but Comcast, U-verse, et al, aren’t transmitting it in HD. I agree, though, there’s nothing like seeing the beautiful game in HD. Can’t wait for Saturday’s European Championship.
“Well if anyone can build a stadium and make a presence in NY, it’s the management team behind the Cosmos. And they’re doing everything right.
All they need now is for Beckham to retire…”
And for the organization to actually have some money which they don’t have.
Marketing is great, but if you got no money to put up to show then step away from the mic. The Cosmos are all show and no $$$
NY doesn’t even fully support the team they have and they want to add another one? If they regularly had to turn away fans at the gate then maybe there is a market for a second team but that isn’t the case.
IMO No city deserves 2 teams. That being said they should move Chivas USA to San Diego.
What about this comment?: The soccer audience is big. Chelsea versus Manchester United had 550,000 viewers this year.
That can’t be a right number, can it? Seems too low.
As for another team in NY, if the Cosmos come back, great. But I think a future MLS team is playing in Fort Lauderdale right now in the NASL/USL. They have a Robbie running it and they’re playing in an SSS and drawing well. And they’re not called Miami. It bodes well.
Spot on! FSC plays a pivotal role in providing soccer to the American masses, but it’s 2011 for crying out loud! Either get a deal done with Time Warner or move MLS to Versus. That will increase ratings on the spot.
I think the name is fine, but just move to Boston.
I understand the Cosmos have an historical legacy in NYC, but I would imagine their expansion into MLS will have a serious negative impact on NYRB. Red Bulls are already unable to fill their shiny new stadium. The addition of a legacy team like Cosmos will only pull people away from NYRB more. In a franchise league that’s counter-productive.
Go support your Southeast teams that YOU ALREADY HAVE like Portland and Vancouver and Seattle and Montreal did and maybe theyll think about putting an MLS team there. But if teams in the Southeast keep having to take seasons off because of terrible attendance, dont be surprised when the MLS continues to stay away.
exactly…where is there a history of passion left? rochester? orlando?
75-100$ mil franchise fee for Cosmos is a total bluff. He’s trying to feel out to what extent Cosmos organization is willing to spend for its DPs. We all know that if they dont the likes of Cristiano, Messi and Iniesta, then the Cosmos wont be like the old Cosmos and people will stay away. Red Bulls should make their shirts dark navy, with that Sun image into a milky way swirl, and the two bulls into Taurus bulls whose shape is outlined with stars and barely recognizable….and a new name “NY Cosmic Bulls”..then sign a major **** name (Fabregas)
haha i see what you mean but its better than what MLS had been through. Remember when these same pro athletes were making around 30K (I think Holden was being paid 35K at some point). A pro athlete can only work until he reaches his mid to late 30s so anything less than 85K is not a smart career move.
When referring to the league, its better that they reach the point where the execs get greedy (come on, its inevitable haha) than when they had to force clubs to shut down like those in Florida.
I’d rather MLS had a greed problem than a debt stricken problem
Well if anyone can build a stadium and make a presence in NY, it’s the management team behind the Cosmos. And they’re doing everything right.
All they need now is for Beckham to retire…
Bring the 3D!
not to nitpik at your last comment, but this brings to mind…please highlight this moment in time. there will be a day, maybe 15/20+ years from now when we’ll be calling MLS players typical pro athletes, overpaid and pampered.
as of now, many folks seem to be in a hurry to ratchet up the cash machine. it really is inevitable that MLS will have to walk the road that NFL is currently, NBA is right on their heels. MLB and NHL have been there and done that, and they’ll do it again. greed is good?
I would guess almost none. He represents the ownership group and works on a salary. He might own a percent of the corporation (via stock) but those are only valuable if he A) grows the league and B) sells them.
He’s a really fantastic commissioner and people don’t give him enough credit as a business leader. From a soccer perspective you’ll never make everyone happy, but from a business perspective he’s been amazing. The next hurdles for the league to clear is increasing TV ratings, having MLS enter the fabric of American sports the way the National team has (though only every few years in actuality) and compete on the field with other leagues.
I hate hate hate the Revolution so much. Sorry not the team but the ownership. WTF! How easy and how much sense would it make to rebrand the team and give them their own stadium in Boston! F* sake!
Celtic Boston FC – now that is SICK!
Te echo some of the things said above…
NY doesn’t need another mls team. the southeast does and so does st. louis. I grew up in st. louis and everyone plays there. Half the 1950 World cup team lived there for crying out loud!!! The southeast is a huge market, maybe not atlanta per se, but somewhere in Florida – Jacksonville, Orlando, or Georgia – athens, atlanta, savannah (long shot) could work.
When asked about television ratings, I thought this was particularly interesting:
Q:”It’s the elephant in the room. I have to ask you about television ratings. The league has had growth in attendance but TV has been relatively flat the last three years. How do you grow these numbers?
A:”I had lunch with an NHL friend and we spoke about their deal with NBC/Versus.”
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I, like many, was disappointed when a deal wasn’t made with Versus/NBC. Reason being 99.9% of people with cable/satellite providers offer Versus in….HD!!….
No disrespect to Ives’ employer but FSC is a contributing factor in why the ratings are so poor, imo. The production value, sets and a lot of their personalities are amateur…not the least of which their telecast quality is horrendously poor.
As much as I want to support our countries only dedicated soccer channel, FSC, I have a hard time doing so when they continue to bathe in mediocrity.
Want the ratings to improve Garber? Trade in the grainy video and upgrade by pushing the envelope and letting the majority of your audience watch their procuct in HD on another network is a great start.
100M + land prices + stadium building in one of the most expensive areas in the country.
Thats a lot of money for a potential owner to cough up in the beginning.
Agree, the southeast needs a team. How much of the 100M is going straihjt to Gerber?
signs that the league is growing at a tremendous pace. MLS was begging for new teams…i mean look at how ChivasUSA was born for God’s sake! The last few spots for new teams wanting to enter this league is extremely high in demand and it would be a stupid business decision not raise the franchise fee. Apart from making more money, the higher franchise fee also allows two more things: 1) Potential owners have to take this seriously and be prepared(see Jeff Cooper and St. Louis) and 2) More incentive for MLSPA to demand a higher salary cap/wages
I feel the same way, Korey. Why give NY the 20th spot when they already have a team while other cities/regions have none? So annoying!
The Revolution would be a great franchise if they were in Boston, but sadly they are located far, far away, in a hellish location named Foxborough.
not sure why Garber insists on raising the franchise fee. he wants another team in new york but at the same time is making it much harder for them. building a new stadium is tough and expensive enough, especially in nyc.
Ugh, bring a club to ATLANTA!!!!! The south needs one.
70 – 100 mil is a lot of cash
i think the NY focus is all wrong, with teams in boston, phili and Dc there should be enough rivals to make NYRB more impactful,and they aren’t. I feel its like when MLS went to florida because it should work. I think MLS needs to continue to go places that have shown a passion for soccer.