I have read on multiple occassions that only two teams in the MLS are actually making money. I assume they are LA and....the Fire? Anyways, this seems hard to believe with average league attendence coming to around 16,000 this season. What exactly is the salary cap right now cuz I def think they need to bump it up substantially to keep the league's momentum going.
Actually, I think it was Dallas and LA. I remember hearing that Columbus is technically profitable until you factor in league debt or something. I'd imagine that Chivas (with its league best sponsorships) and Toronto (with a sold-out Season ticket base, little team based-debt, good sponsorships) are pretty close.
MLS needs to follow the model of European and S. American leagues and get - wink, wink, nudge, nudge - "help" from the local governments.
I have only seen two confirmed as profitable, the Galaxy and FC Dallas. From the BBC in July, 2007: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/low/football/6904077.stm Generally, MLS projects any team playing in a SSS should be profitable. The exception is Columbus, in large part because it has never been able to sell the naming rights to Crew Stadium. From the Columbus Disptach in 2006: Link: http://www.dispatch.com/live/contentbe/dispatch/2006/06/30/20060630-G1-01.html Garber adds that stadiums are critcal:
The part about all clubs being profitable by 2010 is misquoted. What garber actually said is that the league as a whole will be profitable by then. As in, with single entity, the league's bottom line will be positive. That can happen before every club is making profit. Although with beckham, I don't know if that'll happen much sooner.
Getting rid of the black hole of rent payments named Giants Stadium (in 2009, I guess) is really going to help the profitability of the league as a whole and specific teams (a some/all of those expenses are shared amongst all of MLS). If, someday, DCU can build a SSS and get out of RFK and it's similar (though not nearly as bad) rent situation, the league will be in much better shape.
Beckham has sold well over 500K jersey alone I am thinking the G will set a new profit record. I do expect to see about half the league turning a profit this year or next at the latest. Chivas has poor attendence BUT has very good jersey sales and before Becks by far the best sponsorship deals.
The number Garber throws out is five teams to be profitable by the end of this season...based on no actual facts, I would say: 1) LAG 2) Dallas 3) TFC ^ These three are pretty much guaranteed 4) Chicago (profit or break even) Fifth one...Colorado or New England?
In exchange for what? In Europe and SAmerica soccer clubs have the power to influence voters, heck..No local government would even try to go against a local club because the allegiance to the club is so much more important than any political colour for a huge part of the population.
Unfortunately I think we will never see the real numbers. It is in the owners interest at the point to not make the league look too profitable otherwise the union will begin pressing them for salary increases.
MLS will always ignore all other revenue such as youth fields, renting out the stadium for other events, and who knows what other ancillary revenue streams. It is in their best interest to continue to appear unprofitable as a league so that the players union doesn't gain leverage. However they do have to appear profitable as a total package to investors so there is a fine line to how they announce these things.
considering how crappy the players are paid. If I were them...id be pushing for the cap to go up some
I would have to put TFC second only to LA for profit. With a sold out stadium (priced pretty much the same as any other team), a SSS (they sold the naming rights to the stadium to BMO for some nice money), a shirt sponsor, and merc sales that apparently blew Addidas out of the water (no, they don't compare to beckham sales, but they are probably better than any other team) I can't see how Toronto didn't turn a nice profit this year.
I saw an article earlier this year where Graber said LA,TFC,Dallas,Colorado and Chicago would all be in the black this year. I would guess New England and Columbus lose very little as they own the stadiums. NY,DC,KC,Chivas,SLC and Houston probably lose alot though.
That would be my guess -- all will have a full season in a SSS. Chivas may be closer than people think because of their sponsorship dollars.