MLS at 20: Birth to Present Day

This week Minnesota was announced as the 24^th franchise to join the MLS and North American soccer's current stock continues to go from strength to strength. 

So we’ve decided to take a look back at the league's rise and fall since its inception 20 seasons ago.

In the beginning

When the MLS was formed, as a result of the USA being awarded the 1994 FIFA World Cup, ten teams were included after a 12-year domestic hiatus.

US international Alexis Lalas was one of the first star names

The North American Soccer League collapsed in 1984 and authorities had to ensure they learnt from its mistakes if the game was to be a success.

More than 31,000 fans packed into the Spartan Stadium to see the first game as San Jose Clash defeated D.C. United, who incidentally went on to win the inaugural MLS Cup.

There was a buzz surrounding the league and they managed to secure several high profile names, including Alexi Lalas, that played in the ’94 World Cup.

First expansion

Only two years later Miami Fusion and Chicago Fire were added to the league, with Fire winning the MLS Cup to break D.C.’s monopoly in 1998.

Despite reaching the target of 12 teams in the league, cracks were beginning to show again and those in the know were worried.

Initially high attendance levels dropped dramatically and to make matters worse the league had severe financial problems - clubs were operating with unsustainable losses.

Talks of further expansion were designed to reassure fans but in August 1999 the original MLS Commissioner Doug Logan was sacked and replaced by current incumbent Don Garber.

International success

After Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion’s departures were announced in January 2002 the league had taken a step back, despite Columbus Crew’s construction of a soccer-specific stadium.

But after finishing bottom of their group in France ’98, the US men’s team surprised many by reaching the quarter finals of the 2002 World Cup.

This upturn in fortunes benefitted the league as a record 61,316 watched the 2002 MLS Cup and foreign teams started eyeing up the new generation of American stars.

Becks led the second raft of superstars to the US

Tim Howard’s $4 million move to Manchester United was one of the most lucrative deals in MLS history and he led a raft of stars to Europe’s top divisions.

David Beckham fever

The 2007 season started with the introduction of Toronto, MLS’ first move into Canada, and in a huge coup for the league, Beckham left Real Madrid for LA Galaxy.

This was made possible by the Designated Player Rule, where certain player’s wages can exceed the salary cap, and allowed the league to compete on the global market.

Between 2007 and 2012 the league grew even further with several new franchises set up and more soccer-specific stadiums built to appease the demand.

In 2011 the league reached a milestone moment by surpassing the NHL and NBA for average attendances, in doing so, showing that soccer was here to stay.

Living in the present

In 2013 Manchester City’s venture into the league was announced and New York City were born shortly before Orlando City became the 21^st addition.

Chivas USA left after the 2014 campaign but this latest era has seen current US internationals return home as they finally have a domestic scene of the required quality.

USA captain Clint Dempsey returned and Michael Bradley left Italian giants AS Roma to sign for Toronto FC ahead of the national team's successful tournament in Brazil.

This shift, along with the fact that 15 of the 19 MLS coaches in 2014 had played in the league, demonstrates a degree of self sustenance that soccer has never had before.

The future
It’s difficult to predict with certainty what’s around the corner but with four expansion sides in the pipeline, keep an eye out for our analysis of what’s next for Major League Soccer.

Images courtesy of Keith Lam and Timothy Hollywood Kahn, with thanks.