Sounders Owner Adrian Hanauer said that MLS teams' "financial losses will be 'astronomical' due to the leaguewide shutdown brought on by the coronavirus pandemic," adding that losses "could reach in the billions," according to Jeff Carlisle of ESPN.com. Speaking to the website Sounder At Heart, Hanauer said losses could soar to "hundreds of millions, billions, really big numbers," but the MLS ownership is "solid and committed to the league and their teams long term." Hanauer pegged the Sounders' losses in the "tens of millions of dollars." But he said that MLS' single-entity structure has "been a benefit during the crisis." Hanauer: "The ownership is rock solid. ... Some of those [single-entity] principles are what will allow this league to survive and thrive coming out the other end" (ESPN.com, 4/15).
MANAGERS ON FAN-LESS GAMES: On Long Island, Ryan Gerbosi notes no fans in the stands "might be the new reality for MLS clubs." NYCFC coach Ronny Deila acknowledged that reality: "If that’s how it is, then we have to make the best out of the situation." He added that "getting back on the field behind closed doors may be the best option for MLS, but it still will be bizarre." Deila: "Hopefully things will get much better and we can start playing with fans as quickly as possible. If it doesn’t happen this year, then we have to do everything we can to give the TV viewers and the fans a lot of games and something to watch on television" (NEWSDAY, 4/16). LAFC coach Bob Bradley said, "Games without fans are sad in a way, but we are also in unprecedented times. I know that the kind of discussions that lean toward restarting without fans, that’s still a way to reconnect" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 4/15).
