November 17 – New MLS franchise New York City FC, which joins the league in 2015, has announced Etihad Airways as its shirt sponsor. The club has also announced a kit deal with Adidas and will play in the same light blue colour – with the same sponsor – as sister club Manchester City.
By Ben Nicholson
November 10 – A report has been published in the US detailing a cost-benefit analysis of Washington-based MLS club D.C. United’s proposed soccer specific stadium development. The 406-page report suggests that the benefits will outweigh the costs.
By Ben Nicholson
November 5 – MLS 2014 season TV viewership figures for ESPN show a slight rise from 2013, following the trend of increased attendance figures. However, excepting 2013, each year since 2006 has recorded more viewers than 2014, proving there is still much to do in terms of popularising the MLS on television.
By Ben Nicholson
November 3 – The MLS has broken its season long attendance record, averaging 19,147 fans per game. Eleven teams saw an increase in attendance figures, whilst eight teams suffered drops in attendance.
By Ben Nicholson
October 29 – Chivas USA, of the MLS, has officially ceased operations. The MLS will unveil in a press conference today the new ownership group who will take over the club from the MLS.
October 27 – CONCACAF completed its first Women’s football development summit yesterday with 39 of its 41 member associations present in Philadelphia, coinciding with the finals of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship at PPL Park in nearby Chester, Pennsylvania.
October 24 – Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber says an apparent lack of political will is hindering David Beckham’s bid to set up a new franchise in Miami.
By Paul Nicholson
October 23 – IMG has signed an eight year TV and media representation deal with Major League Soccer (MLS) and the national federation, U.S. Soccer, to sell rights outside the US and Canada, The agreement, starts in 2015 and runs through to 2022.
By Paul Nicholson
October 17 – The fight against match-fixing took the next, and ground breaking, steps in El Salvador this week with meetings to discuss a roadmap that will make match manipulation a crime under the country’s laws. The talks in El Salvador are intended to become a blueprint for discussion with government and agencies region-wide.
By Ben Nicholson
October 16 – Heineken has become the official beer sponsor of the MLS. The five-year deal is values at approximately $50 million, which includes media and marketing commitments. More than $3 million will be paid annually for rights to the MLS.
By Ben Nicholson
October 14 – Just a fortnight after Sacramento Republic FC won the USL Pro Championship, the second tier of US professional football, the club has added an impressive list of local investors to its shareholder roster. The capital of California is chasing the final MLS expansion spot and the new stakeholders boost the club’s financial credentials in terms of local support for their venture.
October 10 – CONCACAF has announced it will host a two-day women’s football seminar October 25-26, in Philadelphia, coinciding with the semi-finals and final of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
By Ben Nicholson
October 10 – The New York Red Bulls have been granted a hearing with the Supreme Court of New Jersey to settle its tax dispute with the Town of Harrison. The club is seeking reimbursement for tax paid on its Red Bull Arena, claiming exemption is statutorily permitted.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 8 – FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb, world football’s most influential powerbroker in the global bid to stamp out racism, has issued another hard-hitting indictment of progress – or lack of it – and says a major challenge lies ahead to make sure the 2018 World Cup in Russia is void of discrimination.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 8 – One of North America’s leading sports industry executives has questioned the wisdom of European clubs playing lucrative fixtures in the United States, whether pre-season or, as is now being suggested once again, competitive Premier League games.