The MLS CBA is set to expire on Jan. 31, and the MLSPA has "postured itself as though a strike is possible," with union reps repeatedly saying their strike fund "could support a stoppage," according to Pat Brennan of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. MLS Commissioner Don Garber said all negotiations with the union are "in good faith" and the league is "working hard to try to reach an agreement." He added that he is "hopeful that a deal could be agreed upon." Brennan notes more talking points are "expected to emerge in the coming days from all parties related to the expiring CBA and labor talks." Meanwhile, as the first year of the new MLS Cup Playoffs format comes to a close, Garber indicated that he was "pleased with the feedback he's received on it." He said, "We dramatically changed a league that's going into its 25th season and tore up the old format and started from scratch and created this one-and-done and moved our championship game up a month, which is a pretty remarkable change in our schedule. Compelling games, high television ratings, lots of great, passionate fans and a (MLS Cup final) with 69,000 people at CenturyLink Field that sold out in about 20 minutes" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 11/7).
LOT OF POSITIVE MOMENTUM: Garber said it “does make me happy” that Sunday's MLS Cup in Seattle sold out so quickly. He said, "This is a team that’s earned the right to host the MLS Cup. It’s had such a successful run and been in the playoffs every year since it existed but never hosted the championship game, so I knew it would sell out.” However, he added he was "not quite sure I thought" all tickets would be sold within 20 minutes. Garber said of the Sounders’ fan base, “It speaks to where our country is. America has become this great soccer nation. The sport’s growing from the bottom up, and MLS is driving a lot of that growth. Teams like the new LAFC and Seattle and Atlanta and Toronto and all of those clubs are building this great fan culture. ... The sport’s got a lot of momentum, and MLS is driving that. And in many ways it’s capitalizing on some of this real euphoria and excitement about the sport of soccer in our country” ("Get Up," ESPN, 11/7).
