Orlando City F Justin Meram said that "'certain markets' are 'holding back MLS,' while in central Florida the local team is more popular" than the Magic, according to ESPN.com. Meram said, "Training facilities, stadium, fans, just kind of the whole package. You're seeing in Atlanta, LAFC, Portland, Seattle, here in Orlando, Kansas City, they're doing it right. And I think if you can get all the other clubs to get on board it's going to be a fantastic league the next 10, 20 years." He added, "To see where MLS was in 2011 to now, you see these training facilities, the players coming in, it's crazy to me to see how much it's grown and how impactful it is around communities now. It's fantastic. In Orlando here, the Magic is kind of, they're behind us. And for me that's fantastic." Asked what one thing he would change about MLS, Meram said, "I honestly think charter flights -- every match" (ESPN.com, 4/7).
ADDED BENEFITS? ESPN.com's Tom Marshall noted Liga MX Club America coach Miguel Herrera believes that MLS is "growing, but the competition still has plenty of work to do to catch" his league. Herrera said, "They are growing well and doing things right, (but) I still insist that our league is strong and I still think we're on top of their league." Herrera said that MLS was "doing things 'under the table' outside of formal salaries to attract players to the league." Herrera: "They have three designated players that are different. They've started to do things under the table. Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) goes to MLS and what he supposedly earns with the Galaxy is nothing compared to what he earned in Manchester. Naturally they gave him something aside so he'd be happy to go to the league" (ESPN.com, 4/7).
