How will Covid-19 affect the current MLS season?

0

The sporting landscape across the entire world has been impacted with the coronavirus outbreak. The NBA playoffs were postponed, the MLB baseball season was supposed to have started last month and the Kentucky Derby horse race moved from May to September.

That said, when you look at each sport, each event and each league in the US it’s tough to find anything that’s felt the bite quite as much as Major League Soccer. Maybe the Olympic Games moving runs it close.

Here we look at how and why Covid-19 has impacted the US soccer league.

A disrupted season
Most leagues have been impacted with some even going as far as voiding them altogether. The MLS is operating in a different manner though. Firstly, this campaign was due to be one of the biggest years in Major League Soccer history. Global icon David Beckham launched his long awaited Inter Miami franchise, which was odds on to draw in hundreds of thousands new visitors to live games with millions more anticipated to tune in via TV.

Secondly, whilst a half-completed season in Europe is tough to deal with, the fact our campaign is only two games old almost makes it worse. All clubs will be losing money hand over fist but at least if you’ve played 30 matches you can argue that, for example, sponsors have had a proportion of value for money. That’s not the case here.

There is an argument to say things could work out alright though. Imagine a scenario where Europe’s top leagues, which run September to May(ish) are scrapped. The MLS will likely return with “football” fans craving live entertainment. The television numbers could go sky high; that would boost sponsors penetration and the profile of the league.

The most impacted players in the world
It’s undeniable, the players will be feeling the current situation as much as anyone. It’s true, they earn more money than the average person. Will that make things easier? Yes, undoubtedly. No matter what anyone says, it’s easier to go home to a big house, large yard and swimming pool than it is to a one bedroom flat.

They do have a lot of pressure to come back fighting fit though – even if training facilities are starting to reopen. Take Ligue 1, in France, as an alternative. The league has been called to a premature end, the European Championships are off so, in effect, the players have a five month break. They can ease off a little and enjoy the odd treat with Netflix – the MLS stars can’t.

The other thing that you need to remember – and a lot of people don’t – is that soccer players are still just people. They have families that include vulnerable categories, which is where the leagues diversity comes into play.

The most recent statistics show the MLS to have players of 74 different nationalities plying their trade each week – that’s 16% higher than the next closest, which is the English Premier League with 63. That’s a lot of players stuck miles away from loved ones. You have to be foolish to think it doesn’t impact them.

A league unites

The MLS and the players association have come together in the wake of the pandemic to create MLS Unites. It’s initially a plan that sees all 30 clubs and respective players drive the key messages of coronavirus home to fans. Over and above that, the charitable initiative will see fans given access to educational and entertainment content to help them deal with this difficult time. That can only be a good thing. If it grows into something bigger after we beat Covid-19 then even better.

So, yes, the MLS is one of the most impacted leagues in the world but it could well come through it stronger than ever.

Share.

About Author

Comments are closed.

Shares