Image 1, 2012 mls all-stars Source: mls com

In the MLS the talent pool is increasing with the likes of Jermaine Defoe, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley just arriving, the talent is starting to grow and now international players might consider MLS to start or end their careers. The MLS still doesn’t have the resources and culture to compete with its overseas competitors yet but its growing faster than any league in North America. As the league is only 19 years old and was created because FIFA made it a condition for the U.S.A to host the 1994 World Cup, it is no surprise the league is as small as it is. However with high caliber players such as Thierry Henry, Robie Keane, Allessandro Nesta and Rafael Marquez they are not only helping league development training soccer in Canada U.S is completely changing. The youth development has transformed from what it was before many coaches are now going to Europe to receive there FA coaching license and discover of the secret of creating young protégés. European coaches are coming here also looking to build their resumes for experience and to find the next star. We are now starting to see more homegrown players come into the league and dominate and effectively compete in tier 1 European leagues. Players such as Brek Shea (Stoke City), Dwayne DeRosario (Toronto FC), Landon Donovan (L.A Galaxy) who was on loan with (Everton) for a couple months Michael Bradley who played for (A.S Roma) and now plays for (Toronto FC) Tim Howard (Everton), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham) & Jozy Altidore (Sunderland) etc. The MLS is starting to attract & grow players that the rest of the world will recognize. This will cost clubs and the league a bit of money to keep these players in the league and happy.

Which brings us toward the second topic will be discussing salaries & wages. Compared to other leagues the MLS salaries & wages are a little different of its counterparts in Europe. The MLS is very strict and has set rules around designated players, wage caps and the ability to prohibit proposed transfers. However clubs are free to pay designated players as much as they we would like this mostly thank to investors, fan base and location it is easier to lure players to Toronto or LA than it is Seattle and Philadelphia. As the arrivals of international player’s increases, salary caps and wages are also increasing, for the MLS this is necessary if to attract talent and keep players from going overseas.



Graph 1, MLS players annually salaries, Source: prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com

As you can see in graph (1), the red line represents the average salary. 2013 average was $148,693.26 which is an increase of 61% in just 7 years. The Pink line represents the median which was $75,500 that has only increased 5,500$ meaning the guys who get playing time and are good enough to make the starting rosters makes around that much which fairly low for a professional sport. However you can see that in 2009 there is a huge jump on the red line of $20,000 and another jump of around $35,000 in 2010. This mainly because of the arrival of British Superstar David Beckham who arrived in 2009 and Thierry Henry who arrived in 2010. These two players to increase salary caps and wages of not only their clubs but of all teams in the league, And with of the arrival of the Toronto FC trio and the potential arrival of Chelsea legend Frank Lampard and Barcelona maestro Xavi Hernandez this will surely continue to increase, especially since the current agreement between the MLS and the MLSPU expires in December 2014. As a result of the leagues increase in revenue, salaries, league growth, and popularity, salaries will be a big topic of discussion at the players’ union meeting.

This leads to the third topic of discussion, popularity. Popularity of the MLS has surprisingly made gains among the 35 – 54 age demographics according to forbes.com. The Main fan base is among Hispanic, European settlers & the idealistic population in the U.S. The league is starting to see more loyalty and commitment in its fans. Fans known as “deadheads” are those that are at each game day in, day out traveled from venue to venue to experience the music and the culture that accompanied it. Other Leagues in the North America see this, are envious and are trying to build that same atmosphere in their sport. With the atmosphere growing there has stadium have are selling out. Teams are getting so popular that they have those increasing their stadium capacity for example San Jose earthquakes will have a new stadium built by the end of 2014.

Image 2 Seattle Sounders stadium also the Seattle Seahawks stadium nearly sold out. Source: Bigsoccer.com



Graph (2), MLS Popularity, ESPN.com

In graph (2) you see a big increase in the fan base. From 2002 – 2007 there was only an increase of 1.9% in fans and .3 of avid fans but, in 2012, 35% of the American populations admitted to being fans of the MLS and 7.3 % said they were avid fans in which is an increase of 6.7% . Since these increase NASL and other expansion teams were able to join the league such as Toronto (2007), San Jose (2008), Seattle (2009), Etc.

In Image (3) you can see that there are currently 19 teams in the MLS since and within the next 5 years the league will have 7 new teams. Orlando city which we will sponsored by NBA Superstar LeBron James and England Legend David Beckham, New York city FC, Atlanta, Minneapolis, St Louis, San Antonio and Miami. The MLS has also adapted the Europe style of division soccer teams like Montreal, Vancouver, Portland and Seattle used to play in the NASL but for winning the division they were promoted to the MLS. Not every NASL who wins the division gets to go to the MLS they need to have the financial background for the MLS approval. The next financial possible team to join from the NASL will be FC Edmonton. With all these teams coming to league that means there will be more room for international players and places for young talents come and play.

In conclusion, the MLS is a fun growing league with a great talent level and helping to develop future North American talents, the salaries and wages of the players are increasing to respectable annually incomes & the league is growing with its many expansion teams and popularity of the accumulating is growing almost European fan base standards. We hope that with all that information, we have provided you with enough information and went in depth enough and you will use this information for your necessities.

References:

Farley, Richard , May 1^st 2012, Looking at some MLS salary data), http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/01/major-league-soccer-salaries-payroll-wages-2012-sporting-intelligence/

Morell, Alex, November 8^th 2013, After Flirting With Failure, Major League Soccer Popularity Now Surging, http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexmorrell/2013/11/08/after-flirting-with-failure-major-league-soccer-popularity-now-surging/

Van Piper, Tom, March 20 2014. March Madness Ratings And Revenue Keep Reaching New Heights. http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanriper/2014/03/20/march-madness-ratings-and-revenue-keep-reaching-new-heights/

Smith, Chris, November 20^th 2013, Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Teams, http://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2013/11/20/major-league-soccers-most-valuable-teams/