MLS Hits a Fork in the Road

As we begin the 2014 Major League Soccer Playoffs, it’s always important to look ahead for the future of both the league and the sport. While it’s still fighting for importance on a national scale, MLS has done an impressive job lasting nearly two decades so far. Yes, there have been both contractions and major rebrands, but that has happened in every major sports league in the US during the existence of MLS. The league has been able to stay relevant despite the mercurial play of the US Men’s National Team (USMNT), whose performance is quite often the measuring stick for how the US Soccer scene is seen to be doing. These past two World Cups have shown consistent higher play though, given their qualification into the knockout rounds in South Africa and Brazil.

If you are a soccer fanatic in America like myself, then you have already heard the exchange of words between MLS Commissioner Don Garber and USMNT manager Jürgen Klinsmann lately. Klinsmann, a German that has both an impressive playing career and decent managerial career, was very outspoken that the American league is far behind the level of international play and needs to catch up in order for the US to compete for World Cup glory. As someone who has been an ardent supporter of Klinsmann from the get-go (I always felt his predecessor Bob Bradley was tactically inept), I see the merits to this argument and support it wholeheartedly. The “MLS is bad” argument is supported by a number of groups, but I really only feel that way because of the salaries they have for most of their players.

The average player in MLS is not being paid a poverty level wage by any means, but many players work other jobs on the side in order to make ends meet and ensure their families don’t have to want. That being said, these players look like paupers when compared to salaries abroad in comparative top flight leagues. The reason we have to compare the salaries in top level leagues only is because MLS markets itself as a premier, top division league in this country, and they have that spot in the list of American soccer leagues. When your average salary is just $58,000 a year, it’s fair to see why talent would rather chase money overseas. The average salary for a player in the English Premier League in 2013, arguably the top domestic league in the world, was $2.58 million a year.

Whoa.

While the quality of play is definitely a step above, it’s no wonder they have been able to get to that point by allowing exorbitant salaries compared to the US. Yes, there is far more money in the sport overseas, but MLS has not done enough to show it deserves the influx of capital that would transform the league into a global powerhouse. If you were to compare the recent TV deals (where a major influx of money comes from for the teams), you would also see the paltry returns MLS has had compared to the English Premier League. Between the television money, advertising, and bigger stadia (increased ticket sales), it’s no wonder why there is more money in that league.

For MLS and US Soccer to hit that point of international relevance, AKA a deep World Cup run into the semifinals by the national team and an MLS squad winning the CONCACAF Champions League (a regional competition of the best teams in North and Central America), the salaries have to be raised across the board. Eventually, I would prefer there was no salary cap. That would be detrimental to small-market clubs like Salt Lake, Colorado, and Houston, almost dooming them to cellar-dwelling in the standings until they have a new owner and influx of capital to compete at the highest level again.

In fact, those markets are where the CBA negotiations will probably run into issues. Those small-market owners will be some of the staunchest opposition, but all three of those teams have competed for the MLS Cup in the past five years. Those owners have done a lot with a little. Despite potentially weakening the aforementioned teams, the average salary needs to be higher. While MLS does have a number of aging stars like Thierry Henry and Kaka on mega salaries, they are the one percent. For what their clubs are spending on them, they are having to skimp elsewhere. My favorite club in MLS is the Seattle Sounders (until Atlanta begins play in 2017), and I know that the new increased salary offered to Obafemi Martins, a potential MLS MVP candidate for 2014, means some of the squad players will be released for newer, cheaper talent.

Therefore, this offseason’s new collective bargaining agreement, or CBA, negotiations are mega important. Not every team can be wise and lucky like FC Dallas and get diamonds in the rough at a young age like Fabian Castillo and Tesho Akindele on contracts not set aside for Designated Players. DPs are players on the roster who don’t count towards the salary cap the same way most of the team does, and each club has up to three of them. I wouldn’t blame Castillo or Akindele to chase the money overseas if the club can’t afford to keep them due to the CBA limiting a club more than needbe. After all, we’ve seen guys like Andy Najar go abroad and find success (left MLS for more profitable pastures in Belgium). I would hope that the CBA makes sure the players get more money, which in turn comes from the owners putting more money into their franchises from the recent TV deal or higher ticket sales. I would love the average salary tripling in value after this off-season for the next CBA, but I would be alright with a value much closer to six figures for the average player than $58,000. It would help lead the right direction of growth for US Soccer.

Without this, my other lofty goals for US Soccer will fall by the wayside. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of pieces that US Soccer needs to have happen, but an MLS that attracts better, younger talent with more competitive salaries is essential. Foreign talent at a higher level will see money in a great environment and be more likely to come, meaning that Americans who want to play and start will have to be better as well. That leads to a better USMNT as well, even if I prefer most national team starters playing abroad in the highest level possible. I want to see the US win the World Cup in my lifetime. I just hope that MLS is able to help us get there.