News Analysis: Why is MLS embracing a playoff format disliked by players and fans?
1 year, 1 month ago

News Analysis: Why is MLS embracing a playoff format disliked by players and fans?

LA Times  

LAFC forward Denis Bouanga, left, greets forward Mario González during the second half of LAFC’s win over Vancouver in the first game of their MLS Cup playoff series on Saturday night. And the early results suggest the fans aren’t buying it, with several thousand empty seats watching both LAFC and the Philadelphia Union roll to convincing wins in the first games of their postseason series. The MLS is always mixing it up, trying something new.” The league defends the three-game first round by saying it’s like World Cup group play, ignoring the fact that it is in no way like World Cup group play, the only similarity being the number of games. In World Cup group play, draws and goal differential not only matter, they’re often part of the strategy; in the MLS playoffs, the only thing that counts are wins, no matter how they’re achieved.

Games World Cup Win League Mls Playoff Playoffs Lafc Format  analysis  playoffs  games  fans  embracing  playoff  players  mls  win  disliked  league  lafc  world  cup  format

History of this topic

Apple TV deal could hurt efforts by MLS to grow its fan base
2 weeks, 3 days ago

Apple TV deal could hurt efforts by MLS to grow its fan base

LA Times  

Major League Soccer’s deal with Apple TV might be good for the league, but it could be preventing casual fans from watching games. While the MLS Cup final between the Galaxy and New York Red Bulls will be shown on Fox and Fox Deportes, the majority of games are now exclusively behind a paywall, courtesy of the league’s broadcasting deal …

MLS might open season with replacement referees after labor deal is rejected
10 months, 1 week ago

MLS might open season with replacement referees after labor deal is rejected

LA Times  

Major League Soccer might open its regular season Wednesday using replacement officials after members of the Professional Soccer Referees Assn. “It’s extremely disappointing that the officials have voted against the tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement,” Nelson Rodríguez, the MLS executive vice president of sporting product and competition, said in a statement. “PRO has informed us of its …

MLS commissioner Don Garber discusses expansion, Apple TV deal and more in exclusive interview
1 year, 9 months ago

MLS commissioner Don Garber discusses expansion, Apple TV deal and more in exclusive interview

New York Times  

As Don Garber enters his 23rd year as the commissioner of Major League Soccer, the league is at a pivotal moment in its history. Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre once called the idea of MLS owners voting for promotion and relegation akin to “turkeys voting for thanksgiving.” “This is the ‘never say never’ thing,” said Garber. “They don’t have to …

MLS has a new playoff format: our writers offer their thoughts
1 year, 10 months ago

MLS has a new playoff format: our writers offer their thoughts

New York Times  

Major League Soccer announced a new playoff format on Tuesday, which will see 18 total teams make the postseason, an increase of two teams per conference. The Athletic has reported that the changes were made in part to create more high-stakes playoff games for Apple as part of MLS’s 10-year, $2.5 billion media rights deal with the tech giant. But …

MLS agrees to 10-year broadcast deal with Apple worth $2.5 billion: Sources
2 years, 6 months ago

MLS agrees to 10-year broadcast deal with Apple worth $2.5 billion: Sources

New York Times  

Major League Soccer has agreed to a new broadcast agreement with Apple that multiple industry sources pegged at 10 years, $2.5 billion. Any matches broadcast on ESPN, Fox, Univision or any other linear networks will also be shown on Apple TV. Apple TV matches will not be shown on local television networks, meaning MLS fans will need to subscribe to …

How will MLS’ Apple TV deal affect the league? Everything we know about the agreement
2 years, 6 months ago

How will MLS’ Apple TV deal affect the league? Everything we know about the agreement

New York Times  

Major League Soccer on Tuesday announced a groundbreaking new broadcast deal with Apple that, according to industry sources, will see the tech giant pay the league a minimum of $2.5 billion over the next 10 years. Fans who want to listen to a local voice will have the option to mute the Apple TV commentary team and listen to their …

MLS media rights deal not likely to be a game-changer, sources say
2 years, 9 months ago

MLS media rights deal not likely to be a game-changer, sources say

New York Times  

With the window for MLS to hit commissioner Don Garber’s stated goal of finalizing a media rights deal by the end of March rapidly closing, multiple industry sources outlined to The Athletic this week details of the league’s ongoing negotiations for a new agreement that will begin in 2023. Media rights deals between sports leagues and American broadcasters League Annual …

MLS wants leagues to have greater voice in biennial World Cup talks
3 years, 2 months ago

MLS wants leagues to have greater voice in biennial World Cup talks

The Hindu  

Major domestic leagues deserve to have a greater say in whether or not FIFA's proposal to shift to a biennial World Cup becomes reality, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said on Thursday. Football's world governing body is conducting a feasibility study into the practicalities of staging a World Cup every two years, a move that has been met with …

Discover Related