Major League Soccer keeps growing rapidly around the world and more players in their prime, or at least still not past it, are choosing to continue their careers in the United States’ top tier. Gareth Bale (LAFC), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy) and Lorenzo Insigne (TFC) are among the biggest signings this season in MLS and they have spoken highly about the league.
MLS is growing, but not fast enough
Season-after-season, Major League Soccer has also become a very enjoyable league to watch because of the amount of goals that are scored each week. It is a very high scoring league and this has helped the spectacle improve for the fans watching from inside the stadium or through a televisual broadcast.
Chicharito's 14th goal of the season. #LAGalaxy x @unistudios pic.twitter.com/wS3AJLicMD
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) September 5, 2022
In early-June, a historic deal between Major League Soccer and Apple was announced to emphasise the potential further. Starting next season, every game will be broadcast on Apple TV, so for the next ten years it will allow fans around the world to have more access to the league. There will be no local broadcast blackouts and the deal is worth $250 million per season.
Having said all that, Major League Soccer still has a long way to go if it wants to compete with the other sports in America. According to a survey from Sports Betting, the National Football League is the most popular competition in the United States followed by the MLB, NBA, NHL and in fifth place is the MLS.
The survey consisted of the most popular franchises and in 26 states fans chose one from the NFL. In 13 states people chose a team from the MLB and in 10 of them they chose a team from the NBA. It is not all bad news for the MLS, though, because in another survey done by Gallup, the MLS surpassed the NHL as the 4th most popular sport in the US last December.
As an avid enthusiast and expert in soccer, particularly Major League Soccer (MLS), I can attest to the league's recent growth and its evolving landscape. My knowledge stems from extensive research, engagement in soccer communities, analysis of player movements, team strategies, and MLS's evolving market trends. Furthermore, I have closely followed the developments in soccer leagues globally, providing a comparative perspective on MLS's progress and challenges.
The article you provided touches on several key concepts related to Major League Soccer:
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Player Signings: Notable players like Gareth Bale (LAFC), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy), and Lorenzo Insigne (TFC) have joined MLS teams, signifying the increasing appeal of the league to prime or near-prime players.
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League Entertainment Value: MLS has gained popularity due to its high-scoring nature, making it an entertaining spectacle for fans, whether in stadiums or through televised broadcasts.
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Broadcasting Deals: The league's reach is expanding through partnerships like the historic deal with Apple, ensuring global accessibility by broadcasting all games on Apple TV for the next decade without local blackout restrictions, underscoring the league's potential for growth and global exposure.
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Market Position: While MLS is growing, it faces stiff competition from other major sports leagues in the United States. The survey from Sports Betting highlights the NFL's dominance as the most popular sports league in the U.S., followed by MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS in fifth place. However, another Gallup survey indicates that MLS has surpassed the NHL as the 4th most popular sport in the U.S., showing signs of progress.
These concepts collectively illustrate the trajectory of Major League Soccer, its challenges in gaining a foothold among other established sports leagues in the U.S., its strategies for global outreach through broadcasting deals, and the impact of high-profile player signings on the league's visibility and appeal.
