NEW YORK — In the 25 years since Major League Soccer’s inaugural season, an awful lot has changed. The uniforms are a little less baggy, the penalty kicks are no longer taken from the halfway line and the inaugural count of 10 teams will triple by 2022.
At a 25th Season Kickoff event in New York City on Wednesday, one phrase was repeatedly used as evidence of soccer’s progress in the United States: MLS has become a “league of choice.”
In the offseason, 10 players have been signed from Liga MX, indicating the attraction that MLS now represents for players in their prime from rival leagues.
“It’s an example of how aggressive we are in trying to win relevance against our neighbors south of the border,” Commissioner Don Garber said.
“For academy prospects or players in their prime, we are now a league that can provide opportunity and value at both ends of the career spectrum.”
Clark Hunt, Chairman and CEO of FC Dallas and the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, emphasized the “league of choice” narrative, while extolling the growth and popularity of top flight soccer in the United States.
“This league really is on the move,” said Hunt, whose father Lamar was among the principal founders of MLS.
Meanwhile, Larry Berg, Lead Managing Owner of the tremendously successful LAFC franchise, speculated that soccer will become the nation’s third most popular sport, behind football and basketball, in the coming years. And Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre offered the impressive perspective that the attendance at his side’s first home opener, against Atlanta Utd, will far exceed the attendance of his first home game in his prior role, as Liverpool CEO.
“Running Liverpool sometimes felt like steering a supertanker,” Ayre said. “MLS, on the other hand, is impressive in its ability to adapt, grow, and change direction.”
Like Nashville, expansion side Inter Miami will also make its MLS debut in the coming days.
“It was nice of the league to give us such an easy opening game!” joked Beckham, referring to the baptism of fire his side will experience in its first match against 2019 Supporters Shield winners LAFC.
“Everything we had to do to get this franchise up and running was a challenge,” said Beckham, whose path to seeing his team take to the field in MLS has been anything but straightforward. “From finding the land and picking the kind of players and manager we want—even down to the tiles we want in the showers—everything was a challenge.”
But for Beckham, the challenges were more than worthwhile. Not only does he hope to create a long-standing legacy in the game, but he savors the opportunity to help uncover the next generation of soccer stars.
“The academy is one of the most important things for me,” Beckham said. “It’s so important to give young players the opportunity to play the game that they love at the highest level.”
Inter Miami and Nashville are certainly hot topics of conversation ahead of the 2020 season—but Charlotte MLS is also creating plenty of buzz ahead of its 2021 debut.
“We can’t wait for the opportunity to play Charlotte,” Ayre said. “The more teams in our local vicinity that we can build a rivalry with, the better. Anyone who’s been around soccer knows the success is built on the rivalries and energy of the fans, so we’re definitely looking forward to playing Charlotte in the future.”
Soccer journalist Grant Wahl is equally enthused about the beautiful game’s presence in the Queen City.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing soccer in Charlotte,” Wahl said. “I love the city and North Carolina is a great place for MLS to go.
“MLS Expansion has gone so well in the last decade or so, and they’ve really made the right decisions, in my opinion, on the cities they’ve added. I include Charlotte in that group.”
Former USMNT star and NBC Sports analyst Kyle Martino is also excited to come to Bank of America Stadium, where his two brothers are Panthers season ticket holders.
“Get ready for some Martinos to be there standing next to you all at the stadium, drinking some beers,” Martino said.
A celebration of the quarter-century milestone gives the opportunity to reflect on MLS’ evolution into a “league of choice.”
“If we can continue to grow in relevance like we have, I’ll be a proud Commissioner,” Garber said.
With Charlotte MLS taking to the field one year from now, and three additional teams joining the fold by 2022, soccer in the United States appears to be continuing on an exciting upward trajectory.
