Garber did say MLS is done expanding into Canada, where it already has three teamsGETTY IMAGES
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said that he "envisions the league growing" beyond 28 teams, according to Steven Goff of the WASHINGTON POST. The MLS has plans to "expand to Cincinnati next season and Miami and Nashville as early" as '20, and Austin "seems certain to get a team" as well. Those expansions would "leave one expansion slot available in getting MLS to it's stated goal of 28 markets." However, Garber said, "There has been so much that has gone on in the last decade or so in this sport, that has been empowering a lot of interested cities across the U.S. and Canada. It is really in the context of what the country will support." Garber added that MLS is "done expanding in Canada," which already has three teams. However, Goff noted with several U.S. cities "interested in bidding for teams -- and willing to pay expansion fees" exceeding $100M -- MLS "will not necessarily put the brakes on additional markets." Garber said, "We will grant the 28th team in the next 12 months and then have to decide if we want to go forward, beyond 28 teams. That is a discussion that is taking place." Goff noted the next MLS BOG meeting is Thursday in N.Y. Prospective expansion cities "include Sacramento, St. Louis, Detroit and Phoenix" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/8). FORBES' Mike Buteau wrote "no matter what most U.S. sports fans think" of MLS, the "numbers are hard to argue with." Witnessing how Atlanta United and the Sounders -- a team which "draws 40,000 fans per game in a stadium they share with the NFL's Seahawks -- have been able to successfully pair their NFL-MLS partnerships, has opened Garber's eyes." Garber said of other teams sharing stadiums with NFL or other non-soccer teams, "We're probably more open to thinking about it now that we've seen two examples of success with large stadiums" (FORBES.com, 12/9).
SUCCESS IN ANY MARKET: Garber addressed further expansion in an appearance on Fox' broadcast of the MLS Cup. He said, "I believe MLS can succeed in any market. Five years ago, we never thought we would have a team in Atlanta, and look at what we have here today. So many cities want to have professional soccer, and they all want to be a part of the MLS family. They've got crowds they are trying to satisfy. That time's going to come when we're going to talk about it in our board meeting (this) week" ("MLS Cup," Fox, 12/8).
SELL, SELL, SELL: Garber said that the transfer deals that saw young players like Whitecaps F Alphonso Davies and Red Bulls MF Tyler Adams move to the German Bundesliga "should be a model for all clubs." Garber: "We need to become more of a selling league. We've been buying for so long. But as we've gone through analysis, it's hard to justify the investment we've made in players and the investment we've made in domestic development. We have to have something that turns the model around or it's going to be unsustainable." The AP's Paul Newberry noted Davies, 18, is "joining Bayern Munich as part of an MLS record" $22M transfer. Garber added that Atlanta United "could be exploring transfer deals" for stars like F Josef Martinez and MF Miguel Almiron (AP, 12/7). THE ATHLETIC's Paul Tenorio noted MLS "has fought against any perception that it was a selling league," interpreting the label "as a negative one." The belief was that if MLS "was suddenly cast as a stepping stone, it could never be considered on par with the top leagues in the world." Tenorio: "What MLS failed to see, however, was that it needed to become more involved in the global soccer economy. By choosing not to sell players, it was losing opportunities to grow the league and enhance its reputation" (THEATHLETIC.com, 12/7).
PEACH OF A PROGRAM: Garber also said that what is happening in Atlanta "continues to astound him." In Atlanta, Doug Roberson noted Atlanta United "broke its over average attendance mark this season" and saw an attendance of 73,019 for Saturday's MLS Cup Final against the Timbers. Garber said that more than 800 media members "were credentialed for the game, the most in league history." He added, "The club is one of the great stories in [the] history of the league. It is embraced by people from all walks of life. Games are the place to be." Garber: "Their success shows that there really is no limit to what MLS can be." He also said that MLS "still prefers soccer-specific stadiums, but won't rule out future teams using larger venues." He said that a "key factor that drives success" is how Atlanta United and Owner Arthur Blank have "embraced this team with equal branding" between the club and the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 12/8). PRO SOCCER USA's Jordan Culver wrote a "clear line had been drawn between MLS then and MLS now." ESPN's Taylor Twellman said of matches in Atlanta, "It's unreal how quickly Atlanta has turned the corner and come into the league" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 12/9).
