By: Connor Grabowski
List your favorite sports leagues. No, actually do it. Think hard. I'm guessing that your list includes powerhouse corporations like the MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, among others. I wouldn't be shocked to see a cameo from NASCAR, PGA, NCAA or even the ATP World Tour. I would venture to say that most lists have very little regarding the MLS, let alone soccer. Tons of soccer fans, including myself, choose to support other international leagues as compared to the American domestic league. Why? Why is it that most people's fantasy football leagues have a more central role in their lives than the MLS? Soccer IS the most popular sport in the world which makes it an ideal game for the diverse melting pot commonly referred to as America. There is just a certain luster, intrigue, missing from Major League Soccer. I know that you're reading this and agreeing with me. I also know that you can't quite put your finger on what the MLS lacks as compared to other sports leagues around the world. Luckily for you, I'm here to tell you 5 things the MLS can do to gain popularity here in the States.
1.) Marketing
Don't get me wrong, Don Garber, the commissioner of MLS, has done plenty to grow the league. Multiple expansion teams have popped up since his reign began. That being said, it is really quite rare to see a MLS commercial on a channel that doesn't revolve around sports. For example, take the NFL. Though some may not like it, the league is everywhere: on TV, on the Internet, on billboards, on local news, on national news, etc. Even the English Premier League, which is covered by NBC, gets heavy media coverage in America. What the MLS needs is to be covered by television stations during prime viewing hours. In reality, very few are eager to watch an MLS match at 3:00 on a Sunday on ESPN2. The MLS must attempt to appeal to all audiences like how most blockbuster sports teams have mascots for the kids but bars for the diehards. What make the NFL and MLB reign supreme is how they're not just about their respective sports. There's a certain amount of pageantry and media-created drama that the MLS doesn't really seem to have. The MLS is about strictly soccer. There are no popular fantasy leagues, or extremely interesting playoff systems to bet upon. Only soccer. Maybe that type of league calls to you, but this type of league is not typically what makes a league successful in this day and age.
2.) USMNT Success
In my eyes, this is the most important facet of the MLS's quest for importance. If the United States Men's National Team can make a run at a World Cup or defeat a true powerhouse, it could cause a wave of new players to flock to the MLS. A national team success would most likely allow players to respect the American styles and coaching schemes. The players would then theoretically be drawn to the development opportunities of the MLS. If the group of bums called the USMNT can find success while playing in Major League Soccer, then so can they ... or so in theory. I also feel the need to add that the seven statistically largest leagues in the world (according to Bleacher Report bleacherreport.com/articles/1458287-ranking-the-top-20-world-football-leagues-statistically) have corresponding national teams that have hoisted the World Cup. So, the pressure is on boys. We can no longer lose to other countries in big time games and then point the blame at our crappy league. In reality, the finger should be pointed the other way: the league is crappy because of the mediocre national team. We have a country of over 300 million but can't seem to assemble a squad of 11 people to topple the team from little ol' Belgium. Really?! (Yes, I'm evidently still extremely testy about the World Cup loss, but that's not my point here.) I am under the firm assumption that the league can't grow to full potential until the United States wins a World Cup. It's not that far away; I promise.
3.) Remove The MLS's Stigma As A Retirement League
Since the MLS founding some 21 years ago, players upon players have been lured to the league with exorbitant sums of money. This has added evidence to stereotypes that the MLS is merely a league where stars go to die. What the MLS needs to do is to constantly cultivate new young talent. For some time now, the league has done that by raising up soccer stars such as Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, DeAndre Yedlin and more. However, that hard work looks to go unnoticed as more and more former superstars live out their final years as a player in the states. Some of these include: David Beckham, Alessandro Nesta, Marco DiVaio, Thierry Henry, Frank Lampard, Kaka, Rafa Marquez, Juninho, David Villa and many more. To major European players, the MLS contains no real competition and has no credibility to call themselves a powerhouse league. For the league to truly be recognized, they must stop swaying aging stars to their ranks. Of course Frank Lampard adds a new flare and finesse to the league, but if he represents the major summer signing for the league, work must be done.
4.) Ship Over A Player In Their Prime
Now, this goes hand in hand with Step 3. The MLS could really use some more international shimmer but shimmer of younger age. The league has and could theoretically subsidize more money to bring over big name players who aren't nearing their thirties. While it is extremely unlikely for the league to sign a player of the caliber of Messi or Ronaldo, plenty of household names would be eager to play here in the states (for the right price!). In reality, a league like the MLS could be enticing to any player. If incredible paychecks came their way, players could absolutely put up with the slightly lesser competition than La Liga or the Premier League. An ideal target for the MLS to snap up would be someone like James Rodriguez. Of course this is now off the table as James has signed a mega deal with Real Madrid, but before his coming-of-age at this summer's World Cup, he was a mere 22 year old Colombian prospect playing for AS Monaco. Had the MLS acted swiftly and shrewdly, they possibly could have snapped up a future worldwide superstar. So, MLS, all you have to do is sign a bunch of amazingly talented players to come play in your so-called "retirement league." That's not too big of an ask.... right?
5.) Keep Doing What They're Doing
Soccer is the fastest growing sport in America, and the MLS is growing at a pace that few expected. If twenty years ago, someone suggested that the USA is only two decades from a somewhat revered soccer league, they would probably get mocked and laughed at. The truth is that the MLS, though boring and uninteresting to some, has made great strides towards making a splash in the worldwide market. Currently, 19 teams feature in the league every week with four more in the making. Fantastic decisions were made by the GMs in the past year as they attempted to send USMNT players home. In the past few months, Jermaine Jones, Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley have all returned to the nation they call home (even though Jermaine Jones is a dual-citizen but whatever..). I really don't think we're that far away from having MLS jerseys in every store and game coverage on numerous channels. Following the World Cup and the newly extended showings of the BPL, Americans just seem to have a burning desire for soccer. It's near insane to think that the MLS will one day be the size of the BPL or Serie A or any other European league, but the league is definitely making positive strides. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither are major sports leagues. Have patience, people. Now, thanks to me, the league has a complete plan to achieve greatness and relevance in today's markets. You're welcome, MLS. You're welcome, world.
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