MLS, MLSPA Continues Negotiation Process Over Collective Bargaining Agreement
Jan 21, 2021, 10:09 AM
The national anthem is sung prior to Real Salt Lake and Los Angelas FC playing at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. LA won 2-0. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Major League Soccer suffered a tremendous revenue loss following the conclusion of the 2020 season due to the financial impact of the global pandemic.
The league remains optimistic for a more profitable 2021, but continues to wait on the MLS Players Association as it relates to a new collecting bargaining agreement designed to benefit both parties in a short and long term basis.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber released a statement this morning directed to fans which he gave further detail relating to the ongoing negotiations.
“As we look ahead to a second tough season this year, we met with the MLS Players Association and their player representatives in early January to talk about how we can deal with the ongoing challenges with the pandemic and the impact on MLS for a second year,” Garber stated.
A letter to our fans: pic.twitter.com/B5ta469pn1
— Don Garber (@thesoccerdon) January 21, 2021
“The MLS ownership group presented a fair proposal to a very difficult situation that provides the players with 100% of their salaries this year, in return for a two-year extension of the MLS Collective Bargaining Agreement,” he added.
By paying the players 100 percent of their salaries, the league would be returning to their previous promise. During the pandemic, players were paid 95 percent of their salaries while the league lost an estimated $1 billion.
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A large portion of the revenue lost came due to clubs not being able to sell tickets. Empty stadiums equated to no concessions being sold, no food or drink purchase and other losses.
Furthermore, Garber stated that the league their proposal “to the MLSPA two weeks ago and look forward to receiving a response. We are ready to meet with the MLSPA and players in the coming days and reach an agreement that works for the short- and long-term benefit to all.”
Currently, MLS is scheduled to begin its 26th season in the middle of March, two weeks later than expected. Most years, MLS begins their season anywhere between the end of February and the start of March.
No schedule has been released as teams patiently await to start their preseason resumes.
