MLS NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT GOOD FOR AMERICAN SOCCER
In the year of a World Cup, the last thing United States soccer needed was for their major professional league to have a work stoppage. Luckily, last week, that stoppage was avoided when the powers that be agreed to a new five year deal starting with this season and going through 2014. In a year when you want to promote your sport you want to actually be playing. I’m glad MLS Commissioner Don Garber and MLSPU Executive Director Bob Foose came to their senses and realized this.
Considering how well the expansion went last year with Seattle coming into the league and setting attendance records and revitalizing the league, and that 2010 will welcome in another new franchise in Philadelphia, this is not the time to have a stoppage. Also in 2010, New York breaks in their new stadium, Red Bull Arena (which, from the pictures I’ve seen looks very much like Stamford Bridge in London), and the new team in Philly opens a new soccer only stadium, PPL Park, in June. And, in 2011, two more expansion teams come into the league, in Portland and in Vancouver. The league is as popular as it has ever been, with a better depth of quality players trickling into the league (a little too slowly for some people, but it is happening), and the wise decision of expanding into markets that are ripe for soccer, like Seattle, who had just lost their professional basketball team and were looking for a team to rally around.
There are four things important to the success of soccer in North America in the near future.
One: Some success by the U.S. team at the World Cup. I think by “some success” I mean they must get out of the group round of 32 and into the field of 16. That at the very least. A final 8 would be great. A final 4 outstanding. Anything beyond that is dreaming.
Two: Getting quality players into the league, mainly players from Europe and South America. Keeping their stars like Landon Donovan in the league, and attracting more of the David Beckham types; guys who have had great success in Europe and want to come to the U.S. while they still have some skills. Around age 29 or 30, not ages 35 and older.
Three: Keeping games on TV. Not just MLS, which is on ESPN and Fox Soccer Channel, but even making sure the Premier League from England, the Serie A from Italy and the leagues in Spain, Germany and Argentina stay on TV here as well.
Four: Soccer only venues. This may not sound like a big deal, but I think it is vitally important to have soccer only stadiums in the MLS. Stadiums like they have in Los Angeles, Colorado, Salt Lake, Chicago, Columbus, New York and a few others. Get out of the American Football stadiums. The only exception to this rule that I can think of is in Seattle, where for some reason Qwest Field seems like a soccer stadium, even though it is home to the Seahawks as well. The new stadiums in Philly and in New York (actually in New Jersey) are going to be something special. Red Bull arena was designed to be a neighborhood stadium like they have in England. It looks so much like a London stadium it is eerie.
Those are the things soccer in America needs. The first step in that is keeping soccer going, and it looks like the new collective bargain agreement will do just that.
The MLS season kicks off officially on March 25th, with the expansion Philadelphia Union playing in Seattle against the Sounders.
By: Ron Furlong
DFN Sports Staff Writer
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