From what I read from SportsBusinessDaily is that MLS is still losing money and wont have a way to pay it back even if tv rights go up. http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2017/03/03/MLS-Season-Preview/MLS.aspx
The league may be operating at a loss (which will make Stefan Szymanski happy since he say's you need to loose boatloads of money to be a real soccer league), but the overall business under which the league operates? That's SUM, and that may be a different story. Also, the title of this thread sucks. And its sensationalist bent would suggest this thread belongs elsewhere.
MLS may be losing money but all the businesses that surround the league (which by some strange coincidence are all owned by the leagues owners and investors ... strange) are making money hand over fist.
Pay who back? Any losses experienced for the year are incurred by the ownership, with at least some written off for tax purposes. The venues, thus far, are appearing fair investments that in the absolute worst case scenario can be sold as real property. I'm not saying it's ideal but it's not a calamity compared to 15 years ago. Bottom line: Given the owners involved and their collective wealth and business savvy I'm willing to bet they have a fair understanding of what they're doing. Panic? I think not.
Did Jorge Vergara lost money over the years? 2005 expansion fee 5 mil, 2014 he sold the franchise for 70 mil.
The super volcano we like to refer to as Yellowstone national park is already thousands of years past due to explode and wipe out life on earth.
Worse case scenario if the league isn't making money by 2024 announce that there are suddenly 4 more expansion slots available and that was the secret strategy all along, then 4 years later announce that the super secret strategy was 36.
And Keith Richards, who will promptly impregnate Carlos Ruiz, thus ushering in a new era of super humans.
Big Freeze theory, but I support the Big Rip... you sir are now my enemy because you think things that I don't think...