The Rise of the Major League Soccer (MLS)
The Major League Soccer (MLS) has been around for more than two decades and has achieved several feats within these years. It grew from having 10 teams in 1996 to having 27 teams competing for the league title.
The management of the league is putting in the effort to ensure the league grows even bigger and better in the coming years. This article will explore the rise of the MLS over the years. Keep reading to learn more!
How is the MLS Rising Rapidly
Major League Soccer (MLS) was launched in 1993 as part of the United States’ bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup. It is the most popular men’s soccer league competition in the United States and Canada.
The first season of MLS began in 1996 with 10 teams representing major cities in the United States. MLS has moved from just having 10 teams to having 27 clubs, with plans to even add more. The league is expected to have 30 teams in less than three decades, which is faster than any other major sport in North America.
Recently, the MLS has seen growth in viewership and attendance as season ticket sales and revenue went up 15% and 25% respectively. Most people might attribute this sudden growth to the arrival of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami.
Although this might be a contributing factor, the league itself has put in place a multi-faceted approach to ensure the growth of the league. One of the giant strides the league made recently is securing a partnership deal with Apple in 2023. This deal gives Apple the global media rights to stream all MLS matches globally, without blackouts.
How the MLS Aims to Dominate Football
The MLS has not been around for long but has achieved several feats in a short time compared to other leagues. For the league, the task ahead is to be among one of the most prestigious leagues in the world. Different measures are put in place to help the league achieve this goal, including partnerships with top international clubs and participation in international competitions.
MLS has formed strategic partnerships with a good number of international clubs in a bid to improve the league’s competitiveness and credibility. These partnerships might be in the form of scouting networks, player loans, and shared knowledge. For instance, the partnership between MLS and Manchester City led to the launch of New York City FC.
MLS teams regularly participate in the CONCACAF Champions League, a top club competition for teams in North and Central America and the Caribbean. Although none of the MLS teams have won this competition, they are showing great improvements in recent years. You can check out more MLS news on Waitakereunited to stay updated about the league.
The MLS has been a league that attracts some of the biggest players around the globe, including David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, and Thierry Henry.
What Attracts Players to the MLS?
One of the reasons why some players move to the MLS is because they want to experience a new way of life. Players who love to stretch themselves might want to experience how the culture of the United States is different from other countries of the world.
For other players, they might make a switch to play against some of the world’s biggest stars, like Lionel Messi and Suarez. They both recently signed a new contract with Inter Miami, one of the top MLS leagues.
The last reason why some players might make a move to the MLS is because of the attractive remuneration that is paid to valuable players. Top MLS clubs compensate their players handsomely and provide them with the right tools to perform optimally.
The Quality of the MLS and its Players Compared to Europe’s Top Five Leagues
The top five European leagues have been around for a while, churning out fantastic players year in and year out. We can’t put these leagues side-by-side with the MLS just yet because the MLS league is relatively young and is just gaining popularity. The top five European leagues include the English Premier League, the German Bundesliga, the Italian Serie A, the Spanish La Liga, and the French Ligue 1.
A good indicator for measuring the popularity of a soccer league is the amount of money spent to bet on it. On this front, the MLS is nowhere near the top five European leagues.
In the 2021 regular season (before the playoffs), an average of 276,000 viewers watched 31 MLS games. This was an increase from the previous season, which recorded a viewership of 233,000. On the other hand, the average viewership of the English Premier League games in the UK alone just for the matches shown on Sky Sports was 1.9 million.
Top Performing Club in the MLS
Inter Miami was top of the MLS league table for the 2023/2024 season with 53 points. FC Cincinnati finished close second behind Inter Miami with just 48 points. Columbus Crew was third on the table with 43 points, with New York RB in the fourth spot with 41 points.
Top Players in the MLS
The player with the most goals for the 2024 MLS season was Cristian Arango, with 17 goals in 23 appearances. But in the transfer market, Lionel Messi is the highest-paid player in the league with a market value of €30 million. Another highest-paid player in the league is Riqui Puig with a market value of €15 million.
The Challenges of the Major League Soccer (MLS)
One of the future challenges of Major League Soccer (MLS) might be fan engagement and retention. How will the league keep the existing fan base engaged and entertained, while still looking for new ones?
Another challenge might be partnerships with big brands that might boost the visibility of the league. Thankfully, the league just bagged a partnership deal with Apple, but more partnership deals like this might boost the visibility of the league.
Conclusion
It is too early to start comparing the Major League Soccer (MLS) to the top five European leagues because the MLS is just starting to gain popularity. Some of the biggest players in the world have played in the MLS like Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Wayne Rooney. Recently, Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami, a transfer deal that boosted the viewership of the MLS league tremendously.
