Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer was founded in 1996, shortly after the U.S. hosted the 1994 world cup. Popualrity for soccer had risen since hosting the cup and the small league started out and has been growing slowly ever since. Many popular teams have made the strategic move to move out of their huge 70 thousand seated stadiums and into their own smaller stadium, seating around 10-20 thousand. This way the crowd plays a bigger factor in the game and its better televised.

The MLS has struggled to attract big talent because they cannot offer the money and and competition that the European leagues offer. However many players have started their careers in the MLS and been able to impress team overseas. Unforunately for the MLS, these players tend to leave for greener pastures. Yet, within the last few years the MLS has been fortunate enough to attract star players such as David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Rafa Marquez. They might be past their prime overseas but they are still dominant in the U.S., but more importantly they put people in the seats.