Finalists emerge as MLS plans to replace Don Garber as commissioner

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7452438/2026/07/17/mls-commissioner-finalists-don-garber-replacement/

MLS owners are expected to vote in early August on the league's first new commissioner since Don Garber took charge in 1999

5 points · 5 comments · view on lemmy.world

5 Comments

CombatWombat@feddit.online · 2 pts · 37d (4 replies)

I think getting a minority owner as mls commissioner is about the Sounders only hope of staying relevant

Nathanson is a former Fox executive who oversaw the network’s successful bid to win the 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cup rights. He is a minority owner in the Seattle Sounders and a director of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. His media background will no doubt be seen as a strength for a league that will be negotiating a media deal sooner than expected. Several sources pointed to the media rights negotiation as a vital part of picking any new commissioner.

mortalic@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 36d (3 replies)

Other that getting wrecked by Portland this week, the sounders are pretty consistently one of the better teams. Why do you think they have a hard time being relevant?

CombatWombat@feddit.online · 2 pts · 36d (2 replies)

The Sounders FO is pinching pennies on the transfer market to be able to afford to build a soccer-specific stadium in Renton. I think moving out of downtown is going to make it hard for the Sounders to stay relevant locally, as will the new winter calendar, and that putting a poor product on the field is going to make it even worse. Seattle isn't like New York or LA where the city is a draw to international players, so our fanbase was our main draw, and as ownership whittles the fanbase down to fit in their new, smaller stadium, we're losing the main draw to the team.

mortalic@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 36d

Ahh good insight. Thanks for sharing. I hope that isn't what happens but who knows. With the seahawks getting bought up I wonder if lumen or whatever they call it now will be empty soon

dogslayeggs@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 35d

Sounders have such a good thing going with their stadium, but it will be tossed out so some rich people can make slightly more revenue from concessions.