Remembered we do have a MLS thread so let's use it! I like Tron would like to see it progress! Watch Euro soccer often but if MLS could get better who wouldn't want to view our league more! I could watch games at regular times!
Since its rough start in the 1990's, Major League Soccer has expanded to 20 teams, owners built soccer-specific stadiums, average MLS attendance exceeds that of the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League, MLS secured national TV contracts, and the league is now profitable.
OK, let's get serious! Here's a recent article concerning increased attendance this season so far as Tron mentioned!
After almost two-thirds of the 2015 season, Major League Soccer is averaging 21,142 fans a game, up 10.4 percent over last season's record average of 19,149. The increase is largely attributable to the arrival of expansion teams Orlando City and New York City FC, which are averaging 33,960 and 28,785, respectively, to rank second and third in MLS behind the Seattle Sounders, who have led the league in attendance in each of their seven seasons. Chivas USA which averaged only 7,063 fans a game in 2014, folded.
Now the salary cap issue with being able to get top talent from Euro leagues without having scrubs filling up the rest of the roster!
The league also released its salary cap figures, which it should be noted were collectively bargained with the MLS Players Union. The salary cap for 2015 will be $3.49 million, for the 20 players comprising the senior portion of the roster. The remaining eight players on the supplemental roster do not count against the salary cap, with roster spots 21 through 24 having a minimum yearly salary of $60,000 while those taking up spots 25-28 will have a minimum annual salary of $50,000.
And even if the salary cap increased significantly, the present TV revenues from the 2014 contract below probably won't cover it!
MLS has their new TV deal. They have their new (and old) TV partners. They have their future. They have their money. But does MLS have a good TV deal? The agreement, to run through 2022, will see ESPN and FOX become equal broadcast partners in the league, with each broadcasting one match a week, on Sundays, and sharing the playoffs.
One could look at this as MLS finally making the leap to getting TV contracts like American sports' heavyweights, but the reality is that MLS is not the Pac-12. It is not the SEC, the NBA, NHL or MLB either. And $90 million, the reported annual rights fee for MLS, is not $252 million, the Pac-12's ESPN and FOX take, which doesn't include the Pac-12 Network revenu
:
