Major League Soccer Targeting Mid-March Start To 2021 Season
Jan 12, 2021, 3:57 PM | Updated: 4:01 pm
Photo courtesy: Real Salt Lake
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Major League Soccer is targeting a mid-March start to it’s 2021 season according to MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
The league traditionally begins its seasons anytime from the end of February to the beginning on March, however, due to the current global pandemic and the dire financial crisis that the league finds itself in, MLS is set to begin a few weeks later than usual this year.
In December of 2020, Garber addressed the media and the league in his annual state of the league address where he notified the league and it’s clubs generated “slightly more than a billion dollar loss” between the 2019 and the 2020 season.
Garber says MLS is targeting mid-March for the start of the 2021 season.
Hints at the real urgency the league has to getting this agreement done in the 30-day window. Perhaps a not-so-subtle nudge at the players to respond to the proposal…
— Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) January 12, 2021
“Although we have one game left to play, the preparations for the 2021 MLS season are ongoing,” Garber told media during his virtual address. “While some uncertainty remains as the pandemic continues, we are reviewing different models and timeframes for the start of the season. As of today, we continue to target early-to-mid March to open the season.”
The loss in revenue came due to the repercussions of the global coronavirus pandemic. Stadiums across the league were empty, concession tickets were not being sold and overall interest within the league was down due to other global distractions.
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However, the current state of the pandemic suggests that fans will likely not be present when the 2021 season starts. There is growing optimism that as the season progresses fans may be welcome back into the hallowed grounds of MLS stadiums.
Nonetheless, despite the tragic financial positioning of the league, it intends on starting soon. MLS will return to the pitch and fans across the world will be able to endure the luxury of professional soccer in North America for the 26th consecutive year.
