Garber says Miami stadium is a must-have if MLS is to grant Becks franchise
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.
Concacaf
IMG adds MLS and US national teams to its TV sales catalogue
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.
CONCACAF ups the stakes in war on match-fixing with ‘criminalising’ initiative
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.
Heineken quenches its US soccer thirst with MLS deal, and looks for more
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.
Sacramento’s richest back the Californian capital’s MLS bid
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.
Philadelphia venue for landmark women’s football seminars
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.
Red Bulls tax row gets wings as it heads for Supreme Court
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.
Webb demands more on racism and bangs the drum for more World Cup slots
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.
Leiweke questions whether English PL invasion is in US national interest
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.
More rumour than reality as club sale hype excites the MLS market
October 5 – MLS franchises continue to create heat and rumour with Red Bulls saying that any offer of $300 million for the franchise would be agreed and completed within 48 hours, while news of Chivas USA’s sale expected in the next couple of weeks has thrown up controversial Cardiff City owner, Vincent Tan,, as a potential buyer.
San Antonio put stadium plans in place in race for MLS
By Ben Nicholson
October 3 – San Antonio’s MLS expansion bid campaign has slipped under the media radar in recent weeks. Las Vegas’ clamor for city backing and Sacramento’s joy at their on-field success and off-field visits from MLS reps have kept the formerly favored San Antonio bid relatively underrepresented. Perhaps unjustly as the bid appears to tick the appropriate boxes.
Kaka breaks MLS salary record as huge gaps open between big names and the rest
By Ben Nicholson
October 1 – The MLS Players Union has released its annual review of salaries for each of the league’s players. The list reveals a league record in the form of Kaka’s impending $7.17 million to play for the new MLS team Orlando City SC, usurping David Beckham’s previous high salary mark by a rough half million.
Date overlap as FIFA makes 2016 blockbuster events official
By Paul Nicholson
September 29 – After a longer than anticipated wait, the Centennial Cup America has been officially added to the 2016 FIFA events calendar. The dates mean that the oldest international cup competition in the world will overlap with UEFA’s revamped 24-team Euro 2016 championships for 16 days.
MLS infrastructure: clubs build their stadium bases
By Ben Nicholson
September 29 – With new MLS teams cropping up around the US, and existing teams rejuvenating, the creation and expansion of stadiums has been in the forefront of minds and proposals all round country. Here is an update on the current happenings.
US Soccer and Nike stand by Hope Solo, despite domestic violence charges.
By Mark Baber
September 24 – U.S. Soccer is standing by its decision to allow women’s national team goalkeeper Hope Solo to continue to play in the period up to her November 4 trial on domestic violence charges. Nike have also said they will stick by the player.