News of the deal broke on SBD
They say timing is everything.
That may be how Major League Soccer PR feels about the Sports Business Daily story which revealed their massive four-year deal with German car maker Audi.
As negotiations with the MLS Player Union were going down to the wire, the SBD article claimed:
“A source described the deal as one of the largest in MLS history and Audi’s largest U.S. sports marketing expenditure.
“The sponsorship includes a national TV package, on-field and stadium branding across the league, 30 player appearances, digital and social media and the rights to use MLS player likenesses.” (our italics)
So in the midst of desperately fighting off the players’ demand for Free Agency, MLS is selling their faces and bodies off like actresses on the books of a modeling agency.
While it is believable that one wing of MLS is impervious to what is going on elsewhere, surely those in the MLS/Audi negotiating room were aware of the stall over players’ rights issues?
It cannot make any sense at all to be selling off the players’ likenesses for millions of dollars in one boardroom while sitting opposite their union denying those same players the right to Free Agency, in another. (There is no mention of the Players’ Union being party to the deal in the article). It leaves a horrible image imprinted on the mind.
(see: “They aren’t showing us any respect.” – Latest on the MLS labor situation)
The potentially embarrassing revelations in the article continue:
“The experiential portion of Audi’s MLS sponsorship will be supported by a $3M budget the first year and $2M per annum in the subsequent three years.”
That’s a cool $9m for hawking cars at fans with their favorite players used as salesmen.
Already under criticism from fans and media for their complete silence on the strike issue, while still bombarding fans with sales pitches, the SBD story is a harsh dagger into the heart of the league’s continuing position, but far more into the perception fans may have of the league they by and large are very loyal to.
Last night, this site wrote an editorial asking for clarity and some communication from the league on the CBA talks.
The leaking of the Audi deal increases the need for the Commissioner to make a statement with the same alacrity he did when USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann irritated him.
Mr Garber was right to defend the league position then. Now it is right that he does so again even when he may come under hostile fire.
Editorial: MLS silence on CBA has backfired
