With Major League Soccer being being suspended from play since March 12th due to public-safety concerns amid the Coronavirus pandemic, there were many speculations on how and when Major League Soccer will return to activity. MLS Commissioner Don Garber has been considering various options with other MLS executives, and the most recent framework for the MLS to return is a proposed tournament for all the MLS teams in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, where teams will gradually return to training within enclosed facilities, and a tournament-style competition begging a few weeks thereafter.
However one of roadblocks on the already-complicated road to return of Major League Soccer to activity was the agreement with the MLS Players Association (MLSPA) on compensation in light of the pandemic and loss of revenues. Where MLS players making considerably less than other top professional soccer leagues around the world even before the days of COVID-19, reducing pay even more was not only problematic from the players and union perspective, it also brought upon criticism from famous soccer figures around the world.
However with the best interest of soccer at heart, the league and union reached a collective bargaining agreement that is acceptable on both sides, so the return of the MLS to action moved one step closer. The total amount of player concessions are over $100 million, which includes a 7.5% paycut to players which takes effect from May (and not a retroactive cut as previously proposed by the league). Players will have the option to take the cut immediately, or after the Orlando tournament, and individual player bonuses will be capped at $5 million for this current MLS season.
The agreement also includes a revenue-share structure that is tied to the broadcasting rights, where originally 25% of broadcast fees went to teams’ salary budgets. In 2023 it will be cut in half to 12.5%, and will go back up to 25% in 2024. There are also salary increases that have been set to 2021 and will now be pushed to 2022, and for every year thereafter until the end of the deal which is extended to January 31, 2026. Thus the agreement will cover Major League Soccer’s 2025 season.
“We recognize that we are all moving forward – as players, as fans, as societies, as a world – into a future that looks much different than the one we envisioned a few months ago,” the MLSPA said in a statement. “We are committed as a group to doing all that we can…to help carry our countries, our communities, our league, and our sport forward,” the MLSPA added.
The agreement now opens the door for the Orlando tournament to kick off, and the teams are expected to arrive at Orlando within three weeks.