A sponsor would be beneficial to the MLS?

I'd like to open a debate about whether it would be good if the MLS was sponsored by a large company,for example Coca Cola MLS or the MLS General Motors something as the Liga BBVA in Spain. I think that it would be a good thing and recognizable abroad in addition this great sponsor in turn would give impact to the championship. Sorry for the translation i hope that you understand.

Nope I hate this idea.

multiple listing service MLS

or MLSMLS for short.

I think it would come off as inauthentic to the typical sports fan.

What would help is "MLS on NBC brought to you by Geico," or some shit like that.

Would it pour more money into MLS and help the quality of the league improve and provide more exposure? If so, I'm for it. If not, then no need.

God I hate the Spanish

How can you say that about our neighbors to the North?

it's probably coming

look at the jerseys. Correct me if I'm wrong but i believe MLS is the only sport in the US with sponsors on their jersey. The reason this hasn't been controversial is because it is done with soccer all over the globe and is generally accepted. Try to put a sponsor on MLB,NFL, or NBA and you would have a mutiny.

WNBA, NASCAR, cycling...

Practice jerseys sure, but the idea isn't as far fetched or "mutiny inciting" as you'd believe.

The NBA is 9/10 of the way to doing it: http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/...and-Governing-Bodies/Jersey-sponsorships.aspx

The Spaniards you hate you. So equal

I think it would be to help the MLS, but it is my opinion and maybe it is wrong.

Perhaps, but I hate you more and and have so for longer. ********in' Queen Isabella

In what way, other than simply a few million dollars per season for some company to advertise? MLS isn't losing money, it doesn't need a cash infusion and such a sponsorship would be a pittance compared to the worth of the Owners.

It certainly doesn't add to the prestige of the league, compared to other sports or sporting events. The acceptance of MLS and US Soccer today isn't because of anything that MLS or it's sponsors have done in the last 2-3 years, it's all part of the organic growth caused by the 94 WC/MLS96 Launch and the continual presence of professional soccer. We are standing at a point where MLS has been around longer than a generation of players that will be joining it's teams.

So yes, you are wrong.

It all depends on how much we are talking about. Sprint paid 75M a season for their Nascar sponsorship, if someone stepped up that big for MLS (not saying they would) then MLS would be foolish to turn them away. 75M is more than the entire league budget (Non DPs) for all salaries and probably coaching staff. Doubling investment over night could significantly improve and speed up the growth of the clubs. If that can happen from one single sponsor, I think MLS would seriously consider it. As far as the branding issues, in a strange way it works to MLS favor. Because other leagues (EPL, La Liga, and soon to be the new Mexican league) have league sponsors, so to many fans it would look like MLS is simply following the path of the top leagues in the world. If MLS was the only one who sold out, then I could see consumers having a bad taste in their mouths about it, but because it is common now, I don't see that happening. It is kinda like when I look at fantasy jersey designs on this board about future expansion clubs. People actually DESIGN the advertising on the jersey. It is in a way shocking that Americans don't want the city or name of the team to represent the team but now think that American Airlines or Allstate will look 'classy'.

Its a different world as far as sports advertising, especially in soccer. So for me, an MLS sponsorship makes sense if enough cash is there. All of the shirt sponsors combined made MLS about 30-35M, and you could have argued that MLS owners didn't need the money then...but they took it. If a naming sponsor could do much better than that (maybe even double it), then I am sure MLS would have no problem selling out again for the right price.

That's all anything ever depends on.

I generally try to avoid indulging in fantasies. It doesn't make for good discussion.

Not really. Most of it would be wasted initially on overpaying players currently in MLS, followed by an influx of talent that really isn't worth the expense and a lot of marginal MLS players in the lower leagues in the US, that few if any, give a rat's ass about.

You're missing the point, a "sponsor" won't make the league more popular or legitimize it as the "5th Major Sport" or any of the other things that people think money will instantly fix.

If that happens, then all those leagues will have on MLS is the 50-120 year head start and being the most popular leagues in their respective countries. Money doesn't close that gap.

They tend to put advertising on those jerseys from Companies that don't already advertise on MLS shirts and apparently have no desire to, even though some of them advertise heavily in other countries, I wonder why that is? Probably has something to do with eyeballs.

It's not a matter of "selling out", it's a matter of MLS being popular enough to garner a sponsorship that isn't "Chico's Bail Bonds".

Because Amway, Herbalife, and Xango are so much better?

Well we are discussing League Wide sponsorship. I think I would have started supporting FC Dallas if Waste Management came on as the Stadium/Shirt sponsor for Chicago a few years back.

MLB jerseys have always had sponsors during games in Japan. Yes, regular season 'count in the standings'-style games, just in Japan

golf, bowling . . ..

To be fair, golfers and bowlers don't wear a set jersey like team sports do.

fair enough . . . but everything they wear is sponsored.

As long as its a well known multinational company, Id have no problem with it. I dont think sponsoring MLS would have the same stigma attached to it like say if the NFL or MLB had a naming rights sponsor. But lets face it the big 4 sports arent exactly needing more cash.

lol you guys are something else. Disagree just to disagree. Some kind of weird pathology going on here.

yeah dude practice jersey. Try putting Gillette on the front of the game jersey instead of Patriots. Or instead of the Yankees across the chest try putting AIG.

this kind of advertising is culturally accepted in soccer. But not in NBA/NHL/MLB or NFL. And yes if you tried it you would have a mutiny.

Moving the goalposts? your original statement was MLS was the "only sport" and it was pointed out that a number of sports do have sponsorship on their actual event jerseys (NASCAR, WNBA, cycling, plus individual sports like golf and bowling). If you meant "Top 4 sports" then you should have said that.