Photo by Isaiah J. Downing/USA Today Sports
By CARL SETTERLUND
Longtime Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber was making the media rounds on Friday, and he had plenty to say, specifically broaching the topics of MLS expansion and attracting prominent U.S. Men’s National Team players to join the league over options abroad.
“We will do whatever we need to do to ensure that we have the best possible American players here,” Garber said in an interview with the Associated Press Sports Editors on Friday. “We have to be a league of choice for everyone that cares about the game, that’s players and fans.”
The comment continues a public dialogue between Garber and USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who recently stated several times his concerns over the conditioning of MLS players — in most part due to the league’s longer offseason than other professional soccer leagues.
MLS has, of course, recently lured in big names such as Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones, Mix Diskerud and Jozy Altidore. Several others with USMNT experience such as Sacha Kljestan, Juan Agudelo and Maurice Edu have also joined or rejoined MLS in the past couple years.
Thirteen MLS players made the roster for the USMNT’s recent 2-0 friendly win over Mexico.
“My job is to do everything that I can to grow Major League Soccer and to ensure that MLS is going to be a driver of the growth soccer at the highest level in the U.S.,” Garber told the APSE. “It’s not a short-term goal. It’s a long-term objective.
“I do believe our national team coach has a short-term objective. That’s what he’s hired to do… it’s to win the Gold Cup, it’s to have the best possible team in 2018. And our goals and objectives are broader than that, and that’s why we agree on some things but don’t agree on others.”
Garber also interacted with a MLS fans in a Q&A hosted on Facebook, talking about several topics, including expansion, league format, replay technology, and more.
“We will be meeting with our owners and begin discussing future expansion soon,” Garber replied to one questioner. “There’s no doubt that there’s lots of interest from cities and fans for us to expand past 24 teams. We will work on a plan to determine the best and most strategic way to do so.”
One person asked about USL champion Sac Republic FC’s viability as a potential MLS franchise. Garber said the club “has done a great job” but that MLS won’t move forward with any other expansion plans beyond the committed total of 24 until the league’s owners hold a formal meeting.
Several people took the chance to bring up the popular topic of league format. Garber dismissed the idea of switching to a table setup or incorporating promotion and relegation.
“Ultimately, while we operate in a global market, we are a North American league,” Garber said. “Professional sports in this region have been enormously successful from a fan and community perspective. We spend a lot of time with the other soccer leagues, and many of them really admire the North American pro sports model.”
Garber twice gave a vote of confidence to the potential future integration of replay technology, while he also teased some league news after one person asked about transparency. “MLS will make an announcement regarding our player rules next week…. Stay tuned,” Garber said.
What do you think of what Garber had to say? Are he and Klinsmann bound to keep butting heads? Which USMNT player should MLS pursue next? How much further should the league expand?
Share your thoughts below.
The Don is EXACTLY the type of guy Quit Whining should and does like.
JK comes in and rips on American soccer by saying players can’t be great playing here
JK is very condesceding to US soccer fans, constantly telling “the way it is” in soccer.
The Don doesn’t respond by being insecure. He tells JK, no THIS is how American soccer is and this is how American soccer will be.
For guys who don’t like The Don, sorry for you, by he is correct and he is succeeding and I don’t see that changing.
Glad he is on our side.
Aside from my thoughts that artificially keeping teams from being able to win the championship every year is the dumbest structure in soccer.
There is one major problem with relegation.
It isn’t happening….ever.
More of the same lack of vision. A single league with 40 or 50 teams in two or three or four conferences and another 40 knocking on the door to get in. That will be the result in 20 years of this guy’s continued lack of vision and inept leadership. He doesn’t get it and neither does Kraft who’s name has emerged as the primary opponent of rel-pro. Two NFL guys with their collective heads in their collective ass.
How long before MLS fans realize the league in it’s current format is failing. You can doll it up with some nice stadiums and a few rabid fan bases but TV ratings are a joke about the same as bowling. This current TV contract is very little money relative to what other sports in this country get and was mostly charity from ESPN and Fox to be in the good graces of US soccer federation. NBC saw the writing on the wall dropped MLS as soon as they could.
I could see MLS eventually reserving one West and one East spot each year for the top two Division 2 teams in a modified promotion. But I don’t think we will ever see a MLS team move down to serve a relegation type purpose.
If soccer is going to continue to grow within the US, we need to bring live professional soccer to as many fans as possible. A sizable number of cities within the US can support a professional team, provided suitable places to play can be arranged. We have already seen that all sorts of places will support some sort of professional team, but creating or locating decent places to play will continue to be a real challenge.
MLS seems intent on continued expansion, probably a good thing, but I suspect their motivation is more the fees they charge to new owners than growing the game. If MLS is not interested in growing soccer in cities that won’t support a MLS team, USSF has to take a bigger role. (USSF should probably put itself in charge in any case.) The first step has to be to bring some order to the lower divisions and then create sensible league structures, presumably organized regionally to minimize travel costs. Frankly I don’t see that promotion and relegation as particularly relevant to any of this.
If a growing professional soccer in the US is going to boost the national teams, some real thought has to be given, first, to regulating the number of non-Americans who can play at all levels and, second, to the role of the professional clubs, especially the wealthier MLS clubs, in developing young players. If we look at what is going on in Europe, all the national associations are moving towards limiting the number of foreigners and towards promoting development outside the clubs themselves (in large part because professional clubs by themselves have a mixed record at best at developing young players.) The US probably needs to do something similar.
Ian, I don’t know if you’re old enough to remember the old NASL, they had a rule that there had to be a minimum of 4 North Americans on the field at all times. It’s what got me interested in soccer. I became so in love with the game my first job ever as a teenager was working for an original franchise, in the equipment room for minimum wage & a $5 tip per game. The quality was awesome.
Then the NASL changed to the rule where you could only have 4 Non-North Americans on the field at one time.
Yes they spent their way out of business, but the quality of the game dropped through the floor. Interest disappeared fast.
Then they tried it as the MISL, the Major Indoor Soccer League. It was made up of leftovers from the NASL who couldn’t play elsewhere due to quality or age. It was fun for a bit.. then died.
No matter what, at the end of the day, fans want the best quality product on the field, no matter where they come from. That drives revenue, which drives the whole shabang…
I doubt very much whether the quality of play had much to do with the ultimate demise of NASL. It had lots of other problems. What people want in sports is competition, competitive matches, lots of matches between relatively even teams. Most soccer fans around the world don’t really care how what they watch in their local stadium compares with the Premiership or Serie A or whatever.
I also think Americans would be drawn to soccer more if more of the players on the field were Americans. There are of course limits to this, witness the fact that increasing numbers of professional baseball and basketball players are not Americans.
Provided we are interested in improving the US national teams (and frankly I don’t think anyone in MLS cares about this), then we have to provide lots of opportunities for American players to play in a professional environment and to earn a decent living doing so. Limiting the number of foreigners is one step in this direction. There is a worldwide surplus of soccer players and it is all too easy to field a team in the US with hardly any Americans — something teams in the lower divisions have been doing for a long time.
Finally, in limiting foreigners we would be following the example of almost every European nation, even England. The English FA has spent an incredible amount of time and effort in the last decade trying to develop ways to get young English players more meaningful playing time in their domestic leagues. Admittedly, we shouldn’t aimlessly follow the European example, but in this case, the English FA is right. If you want a better national team, you have to make sure lots of young domestic players get playing time in the best possible competitive situation.
MLS made a concerted effort early on to focus on American players b/c they thought that’s what fans wanted. They limited the number of foreign players (at one point, only 3 were allowed). When the league was hanging by a thread (all teams owned by three owners, two franchises contracted, dwindling attendance, minuscule TV ratings), they commissioned a number of surveys to better understand what the fans were looking for. The fans told them loud and clear that they were more interested in quality of play than they were in having U.S. players to root for. Today we see the result of the league listening to the fans.
The U.S. doesn’t have the history of soccer fanaticism that other countries do. A league that values player nationality over quality might work elsewhere, but not here. Fans will spend their dollars elsewhere if they’re not entertained.
My point is that competition provides the entertainment. If that were not the case, why does minor league baseball continue to prosper? In fact, minor league baseball has been surprisingly profitable over the past 20 years or so. Even at AAA, the quality of play can be quite dreadful, however, nothing like the majors — and then you have mid-major basketball and Division II and Division III in all sports and so on.
Moreover, how “good” is MLS soccer? I have been a season ticket holder almost since the beginning of the league and enjoy the games. But I suffer no delusions about the “quality” of the play.. Never mind comparison with the Premiership, the technical quality of play in the lower English divisions is probably superior to MLS. And, how long will be take for MLS to achieve “quality” of play that approximates, say the English Championship? Not for a very long time, if ever.
And does the introduction of foreign players really improve the “quality?” After all, only a handful of MLS players have played in any of the major European or South American leagues. A great many of them come from countries where the quality of soccer is no better than in the US. Better athletes in many cases, perhaps, but technically better soccer players? (if there is a distinction) I am not sure.
“If that were not the case, why does minor league baseball continue to prosper?”
Because baseball is far more entrenched in the fabric of American culture and history than soccer has ever been.
Moreover, how “good” is MLS soccer? I have been a season ticket holder almost since the beginning of the league and enjoy the games. But I suffer no delusions about the “quality” of the play.. Never mind comparison with the Premiership, the technical quality of play in the lower English divisions is probably superior to MLS.”
Very, very doubtful. Perhaps watch a little more of those lower division English games. Many of them make MLS look like the Premier League.
“And, how long will be take for MLS to achieve “quality” of play that approximates, say the English Championship? Not for a very long time, if ever.”
If ever?! You are seriously overrating the Championship and underrating MLS.
“And does the introduction of foreign players really improve the “quality?” ”
Without a doubt, yes. We’ve seen that since the beginning of the league. The quality of play is head and shoulders above what it used to be, in large part due to the introduction of a greater number of foreign players.
“Better athletes in many cases, perhaps, but technically better soccer players? (if there is a distinction) I am not sure.”
If you’re talking about U.S. players being generally more athletic and less technical than their foreign counterparts, you’d be correct.
I will ignore the obnoxious, sneering tone and concentrate on the example of minor league baseball. According to you, folks are going to minor league games largely or only because baseball has a long history in the US. Yet all those people could watch much “better” baseball on TV or by traveling a bit further and paying more to see a major league game. Your earlier post argued that they would do just that because the “quality” of play is so much better, which it is.Twenty years ago or so the evidence seemed to support your position, but since then attendance at minor league games has improved and many teams are reasonably profitable.
Why is that? I would argue that, in fact, the “quality” of the play is not all that important; that people like watching live competitive games, especially if they take place in clean, comfortable, friendly surroundings and if the price is not too high and if they don’t have to travel too far. I would argue further that this is precisely the model US soccer should follow. I realize that this would offend the soccer snobs if only because you would be attracting the much condescended to family trade, but they are butts in seats which is after all what we are aiming for.
And it would be that much more attractive if a good number of the players on the pitch were Americans.
The US is a very large nation and there are a number of cities that have an interest in joining MLS. I believe that the league will continue to expand to as many as 40 teams (2 Conferences of 20). This will ease some of the expense and difficulties associated to the travel for games. Top team from each conference gets a Supporter Shield. Top 6 teams from each conference will be in the playoffs, keeping that North American feel.
Free Agency will eventually come about, but it is going to be slower than many would like. In the next CBA the age and/or years of service required to obtain Free Agency will drop to 5 & 25 (I hope).
As for Pro-Rel, I just don’t see the ownership groups ever adopting this here in the US. As much as we fans may want it, there is a lot of money that could be lost by a club being dropped to a lower level.
Without pro/rel I’m not that much interested in MLS. Pro/rel is of course doable in this country. Anyone who thinks it isn’t is an absolute buffoon and should be mocked and ridiculed incessantly.
So watching the crap teams at the bottom of the table is truly what makes football special to you?
As an Arsenal fan for many years I get the drama at the bottom of the table but to dismiss MLS because it doesn’t have pro/rel is a shallow perspective.
Encouraging people to be mocked and ridiculed incessantly is precisely the kind of thing that makes everyone hate the pro/rel zealots.
I would love pro/rel, but until you figure out how to convince MLS owners, it’s a pointless thing to discuss.
try the mirror for your buffoon hunt, you can’t miss
Here we go again 🙂
I know I’m going to get hated replies but Garber needs to realize we need an MLS2. Once he gets an MLS 2 running then 3 and 4 will come even easier.
We all know is MLS is D1 and MLS can easily have 26 to 32 teams. If I was garber, I would go for 32 or 30 but again, MLS needs an MLS 2 in in order to spread the name of the league in the world and specially in the U.S.
I also don’t get part of garber and company not being interested in a D2, besides a farm league that can D3.
By having an MLS2 ( not a farm league) but a real D2 can make miracles for our soccer fans and national team, and if we want pro/reg then an MLS2 is really needed.
I know people say pro/reg is not American or not needed in MLS but if you ask me, it would make wonders for MLS1.
For example, cap MLS1 at 30 or 32 teams. East and west, you play your conference twice and have about 6 to 8 inter league games and make the playoffs shorter.
By having a large number of teams in MLS1, an MLS2 would be the perfect ( but not a farm league)
MLS2 can have 20 to 24 teams and top 2 from each conference or just top team from each conference would be going up, staring pro/reg. If I was garber, I wouldn’t relegate the new and old MLS teams due to respect of growing the league and the teams fighting to stay or not go down would have reserved spots for them.
For example, original MLS team from 1 to 30 don’t go down ( like galaxy and the newest expansion team)
Teams in reserved spots, 31 and 32, which would be one in each conference (west and east) would be fighting to stay in MLS 1. I can explain more but I get more hatred and it would be up to MLS how they would promote and relegate the reserved spots in MLS1.
I actually would love to reserved 2 in each conference, making it 4 reserved spots, Letting them battle for D1 supremacy.
Any comments.
A balanced schedule won’t work in a country this big without putting certain teams like Vancouver at an extreme competitive disadvantage.
Sounds good as long as pro/rel is in the plans at some point. 40 teams is easily doable, in two twenty team divisions. Then you can play a balanced schedule, have a true Supporters Shield winner, and still have playoffs (although hopefully not with 12 teams). Absolutely no reason why that can’t happen and yes I’m aware of all the usual arguments against.
What you describe is the path to board acceptance among the American sports public. MLS keeps growing for other reasons than creating vertical divisions but eventually they’ll realise it’s potential to capture fan’s imaginations. I think a 2nd division composed of MLS caliber teams and fan bases would have the potential to be the most exciting 2nd division in the world.
the usual arguments against pro/rel are made up by the same 5 bigsoccer bozos that have no life. Pro/rel is obviously doable in this country. It has worked every else. I’m tired of listening to anti-pro/rel rubes. They don’t understand soccer culture.
tired of the argument that it works everywhere else. they don’t understand American sports culture and more to the point, the fiscal realities of building a league here in America.
not saying pro/rel is impossible, I would also like ot see it here eventually, but timing is everything
How can you say that when you rip a champion “2nd division” team? So who is going to see relegated teams? And the arguments against pro/reg are valid and have to be answered. (Travel, what type of ownership, what to do with teams who pay hundreds of millions of dollars to be in MLS)
It was inevitable, there are way too many cities who are potential MLS sites as the popularity is growing. Already MLS and USL are arguably too large, but there are still major cities and markets without teams. Someone asked about USL and using them for pro/rel and Garber of course shot that down, I like the idea of using a merger to create MLS1, MLS2, and MLS3, which still provides a minor league system and provides a way to keep expanding.
MLS and USL are too large? Every major sports league in the US supports 30-32 teams and is doing well. MLS will have no problem supporting the same number of teams. They’re just growing into it. But to say they are too large isn’t even up for debate, they most definitely are not too large.