Video Archive Search

On the sports professor Rick Horrow and welcome to beyond the box score. An inside look at the business of sports today special guest notice that Dodd of American soccer. Don Garber. In 1999. After spending sixteen years is ahead of NFL international. Garber was named MLS is second commissioner. He's also CEO of soccer united marketing and a member of the US soccer federation board of directors I got a chance to sit down with Garber at the MLS. Offices in New York City.

So you're in the NFL for sixteen years and it's August 4 of 99. You were asked to be the Michelob before your first day. Was it a hard decision to leave the safety of the NH AN FL become the analysts. You know it was I think it was a harder decision after him in here -- it was when I was talking Robert Kraft hunt. You know every young person that's in the business wants to have an opportunity -- run something particularly something from the ground floor. I joke around a lot and I think that's what we just needed to turn on the lights up. And then all of a sudden all of those kids that play. Hispanic community -- misconduct and race Major League soccer I got here. Ten years ago and realized that it's that difficult challenge are so with the recent addition of number nineteen in Montreal and the additional. Attendance you guys have had you succeed. In crowded sports market and -- at that time. Yeah it is very crowded. In the local markets like New York it's extremely difficult we've got you know almost ten pro sports teams fighting for. Hearts and minds of those thirteen fourteen people here but we have our own niche and -- will say and and this is something that we have. We think about a lot here I'm not sure the public as -- We're not competing with the NFL NBA -- baseball hockey really competing against it was merely competing against the Mexicans top programs. We're trying to get all those people that love the game tends intense intensity knowing. A lot of us. And that allows us to get very focused on the software market. And then maybe the next guy -- years from now. Have to worry about whether or not go after -- channels sports that might be. Children's book.

World Cup 2002. I think it's fair to say you're. Fighting for survival reconfiguring 2006. To any teams. But the US national team doesn't do very well what are the expectations. For this time around and how important is a good performance in the World Cup. For the future of the analysts well that's it's a great question and no one again that we think about. Almost every day as we think about where we fit into the broader world global football global soccer 2002 was real turning point -- it because the the it was the first time that America we woke up to the World Cup when it was not here. People lining up in bars and it happened throughout the country getting up in the middle and I've been watching. Our US team to really really well sort of surprised the world -- like the American hockey team in the Olympics. 2006 expectations are high and we kind of flamed out. Tidy game lost two games but 2007. Was the best your Major League soccer's history our attendance was our highest with the sports business journal. Leader of the year the following year 2008. David Beckham comes in Toronto was added we've built the stadium so. You know I look at them this parallel universe is you know there -- great things that can happen in the World Cup that help us. We can't depend on that if it's who well we win the World Cup you can be sure it can be pretty darn good. For Major League soccer but if we don't do well we've got to be strong enough to stand -- those -- own two feet. And I try to. Power through him and and really have our own stories are so this season is two week break and then return to normal during the knockout stage. How difficult is it to maintain irregular schedule during the world you know this it's very difficult to be an international sport when you're living in the domestic market I think hockey deals with. That's in the struggles with a managing through the.

Players playing Olympics but what could've been better for that's -- in my mind and the excitement of the players playing for the countries so we are a big believer in. Supporting international team in supporting the global global game being integrated into. The global sport that really is our point of difference this is the first time -- with closing the lead down to -- think of those. Saturday night games those dozens of games that -- not been -- have to make up the middle of the week. So the big experiment for us I think certainly if we get the World Cup will be shutting me down for the entire tournament. The rest of the world does that they play -- different calendar we've got -- reasons why we can't do that but ultimately the end of the day. We'll power through this and give us the opportunity to market promote about them true talk about that. But now I'm comfortable the world for us there are nine MLS players I think it's nine on the thirty man roster of national team. There -- eleven a few years ago. What's your take on the representation and enough. What you know if it's another good question you know there this is say that his that idiosyncrasies of the character of soccer is yours your players in -- league aren't necessarily the players that are playing national team. Ronald DU has not been called up for the Brazilian team. Think if you ask that question to somebody. In in the United States I think he's the starting team. Having US players -- I analyst players on the -- cup team is important and I believe we have the right we've -- like to do that but Haywood I'm not the coach I think the coaches responsible for -- the best possible team.

By the way I want him to have the best teams that want to win. So -- back to the NFL the in this he missed the NFL not enough and was and I love my friends there it's it's paid paid him. It's great to be sitting on top of the most valuable league in the world and they can always will be. -- we have a lot of fun here I think was more making some history. We're laying the groundwork for the next group of folks that come in and take soccer to the next level. Very excited about getting the World Cup here in the United States and being very actively involved in that process. That's important who's worked for them having a lot of fun with that something new and different. I think we've got a good future it's not an easy path it's very difficult -- credit for quite frankly. We're not feeling good yet about where we are we feel sort of cautiously optimistic about what the next is head north for us. It's been hard work with a lot of fun.

As the MLS continues to grow teams have to pay a lot more to get into the league. Let's go inside the numbers to see how the expansion -- is increased in recent years. Two new teams join the league next year to Portland Timbers and Vancouver white caps each paid about forty million bucks. Thirty million bucks with a C and Seattle Sanders came to get in 2009. In the Philadelphia union this last year. And ten million bucks for Toronto FC in 2007. And Real Salt Lake in 2005. Growth potential plus an expanding economy means expansion fees should increase more for the MLS teams in the future. For a look at how the economy is affecting the business of soccer it's time for bust boom and hope let's begin with -- Average Premier League attendance was just over 34000. Fans per game this season down 4% from last year. Excluding the three clubs were promoted before the season attendance fell for twelve of seventeen teams now for school. Fifa expects to generate a billion dollar net gain from the World Cup. While South Africa soccer association could pocket a 200 million bucks. All told the monthlong tournament to generate more than three billion dollars in come from commercial deals and finally able to. Mexico's soccer federation officially pledged support the United States for their World Cup bid for 2018. Or 2022. The Federation's president cited modern stadiums and infrastructure in the US as a reason for the support. A decision on both World Cup is expected in December. If there was a World Cup means we're treating fans right. The Seattle sound yours what we did every time that's why there might valedictorian of the week. The Sanders -- refunding season ticket holders for the team's reason for zero loss to the Galaxy. Their worst home defeat in team history. Season ticket holders compensation will come in the form of one game credit. Jordan next year's season ticket packages unfortunately. Not all owners are created equal. That's what the Glazer family is my flunked out of the week. Manchester United fans are being urged to demonstrate opposition to the Glazer family by staging a boycott against season ticket purchases. The club has nearly 55000. Season ticket holders. At a recent polls showed that 59%. Of them would consider giving up their seats in protest now for my final take. The MLS avoided labour Armageddon at the beginning of the season. And several teams have or are on the verge of getting new stadium. And last five years the -- is expanded by six clubs including three teams in candidate and 2 in the Pacific northwest. With the start of the 2010 fifa World Cup just weeks away. The grand where he's been laid for the MLS to solidify itself as America's fifth major pro sports league. But unlike baseball basketball and hockey where international stars flock to the US to compete against top talent. American soccer stars leave the country in match to play overseas. That's why successful US World Cup appearance would go a long way in keeping homegrown talent at home. For all the MLS growth over the last few years that could be the missing link before the sport could really take off. I'm Rick Horrow thanks for joining me and it again next week once again we go beyond the box.