MLS Commissioner Garber Discusses Issues Facing League

Garber Says Construction Of Soccer-Specific Stadiums Has Enhanced MLS Credibility

BUILDING SUPPORT: Garber said the availability of every MLS game either on TV or over the Internet is “part of what we believe makes us a major league in this country and really is a distinction that separates our sport from some of the other emerging sports. Our goal is to try and make our productions better and try to grow our ratings and do all those things that people take for granted with the other leagues.” Garber also said rights fees have been a "big ship for us. In the early days we had to beg, borrow and steal to be able to get those deals done.” Meanwhile, despite Galaxy MF David Beckham's loan to Italian Serie A club AC Milan and a report that Beckham can opt out of his Galaxy contract after '09, Garber said, "Our expectations are that David will be here for many, many years to come.” He added Beckham "gave us the audience outside of the core." Garber: "Now our goal is to get deeper into our core audience, but also try to go out and spend as much time as we can expanding that audience so our fan base continues to grow” (SPORTSBUSINESSRADIO.com, 11/8).

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