New MLS Labor Agreement

***NEWS FLASH***

MLS League management and the Players Union have signed a new 5 year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) which has me breathing a sigh of relief! I've been trying to provide a framework of information to show the rise of soccer in America. I've been trying to focus on the growth of Major League Soccer, the relatively new (when compared with other leagues) professional soccer league in America. So when I heard the news that the MLS Players Union was planning to go on strike this upcoming season I was obviously concerned about the validity of my argument!
Not only was I worried for the sake of my argument, but also as a soccer fan I was worried for the future of the league.
A few bullet points of recent events:
• 1st CBA expired on January 31, 2010.
• CBA was extended 3 times until it officially expired on Feb 25, 2010.
• March 11, 2010 Players Union votes 383-2 in favor to strike if no agreement is made by on March 25, 2010
• 25 player representatives and league officials meet on March 17, 2010 in Washington D.C., along with federal mediator George H. Cohen.
• March 20, 2010 Players Union and MLS come to terms on a new5 y ear CBA


Out of the depths of a crisis comes the shimmering hope of progress for a small, but growing league. Instead of a potentially crippling strike by the Players Union they find themselves with more rights and freedoms within the league. The terms of the new MLS CBA were explained in detail on the website of the Columbus Crew:
http://blog.dispatch.com/crew/2010/03/more_on_the_cba.shtml

There were only 2 MLS franchises that made a profit through the 2009 MLS season. However, great strides are being made, attendance is improving, and interest appears to be increasing. With the 2010 World Cup set to take place this summer, the addition of the Philadelphia Union, and the grand opening of the new $200 million Red Bull Arena the league is set for a big year.

Media Coverage of Soccer in America

Although nothing can replace the experience of going to a soccer specific stadium, and watching a match in person, the media's role in helping the popularity of the sport increase is vital.
A brief history of the leagues television coverage can be foung on the ever popular Wikipedia. For our purposes, we'll leave it at the following:

1.) In the inaugural season MLS signed deals for coverage on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, while Univision, Galavision, and Telemundo broadcasted matches in Spanish.

2.) Fox Sports World (later renamed Fox Soccer Channel) and Fox Sports en Espanol began televising matches in 2003.

3.)MLS Direct Kick, the leagues premium television package now show every out-of-market game; ensuring that every match is televised.

4.) The 2007 season is the first season that every league match is televised live, and many were aired on national television.

Those are just a few bullet points to consider.

Just like any new start business, marketing is THE crucial life source that will get your company off the ground. Believe it or not, MLS is a business in the business of making a profit. From the leagues beginnings until 2007 the league had to PAY broadcasting companies to televise league matches. 2007 marked the first year in the league's history that television rights were sold to networks for a profit. This is a critical stepping stone in the progress of soccer in America.

ESPN is widely considered as THE sports authority when it comes to media coverage of any sports in America. Not only in America, but across the globe. This sports media mecca now features at least one MLS game a week, often times with pre and post game coverage. Additionally, they provided full week long coverage of the events, interviews, and anticipation the 2009 MLS Cup between Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy.