MLS won League of the Year at the annual Sports Business Awards, marking the third time the soccer league has taken home top honors since the inaugural event in '08. The NBA had won back-to-back in '18 and '19. MLS earned last night's award, in large part, due to its recent expansion news. By '23, the league will feature 30 teams. MLS Commissioner Don Garber accepted the award on behalf of the league. “An award like this doesn’t happen without thousands and thousands of people who really care about Major League Soccer, who really care about building soccer in North America and working hard to make our league relevant,” Garber said.
TEAM OF THE YEAR: The Blues won Team of the Year, as the franchise elevated its profile in '19 winning its first Stanley Cup in its 52-year existence. It was the organization's first time winning an SBA award. On-ice success for the Blues also translated into surges in sponsorship revenue, new full season ticket memberships and regular-season attendance. Atlanta United FC took home the hardware last year. “Winning this award ... is a celebration of a remarkable, passionate, determined and talented staff that made it possible,” Blues President Chris Zimmerman said while accepting the award. “All of this defines a team for us.”
FACILITY OF THE YEAR: The Warriors’ Chase Center won Sports Facility of the Year in the first nomination for the new MANICA-designed 18,064-seat basketball-only arena. The Warriors moved to Chase Center for the '19-20 NBA season after calling Oakland’s Oracle Arena home for 48 years. Chase Center and Thrive City, its adjacent mixed-use development in S.F.’s Mission Bay neighborhood, cost $1.6B to construct. "A 100 percent privately financed arena and an 11-acre multi-use project in San Francisco, was just a crazy idea in the minds of Joe Lacob and Peter Guber 10 years ago when they bought the Warriors,” said team President & COO Rick Welts, in accepting the award. “To all the teams, arenas and stadiums who gave us advice and helped us bring our vision to life, thank you, and we welcome the chance to pay this forward and be the same kind of resource to other teams as they create their perfect new home.”
