MLS LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING.Byline: NICK GREEN With the opening of the 30-game regular season this weekend, the hard work begins now for Major League Soccer. Just a few years ago, MLS See multilevel security. would pretty much disappear from public view when the final whistle blew at the league's title game. MLS had enough problems creating a media buzz when the season was under way, but between December and March it became all but invisible. The first sign of change came in 2005, when Redlands native Landon Donovan Landon Timothy Donovan (born March 4, 1982 in Ontario, California), is an American professional soccer player on the Los Angeles Galaxy, who is the joint all-time leading scorer for the U.S. National Team (along with Eric Wynalda). -- arguably the most talented U.S. soccer player ever -- returned home to Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, and joined the Galaxy just before the season began. The hype ratcheted up another few notches this year with word that global superstar and uber-celeb David Beckham  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. was leaving Real Madrid,
one of the world's most famous club teams, for the Galaxy.
The dominos began to fall for what was regarded as a soccer backwater. Where MLS once actually had to buy air time to show games, this season for the first time ever, MLS is receiving fees for national broadcast rights. Sponsors have begun seeing value in MLS, signing up for what are in some cases multimillion-dollar deals to put their corporate logos on the front of jerseys. And fan excitement has kept pace, too, whether it's an estimated 3,000 showing up Sunday for the Galaxy's second annual fan fest or new expansion team Toronto FC Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer (football) club located in Toronto. The club participates in Major League Soccer as the first non-US team in MLS. The club's first regular season match was April 7, 2007 at Home Depot Center in Los Angeles versus Chivas USA. being forced to stop selling season tickets when the number sold reached an unprecedented 14,000. Such was the sheer volume of offseason announcements -- a new tournament involving MLS and Mexican league The Mexican League may refer to one of two major baseball leagues in Mexico. The Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (English: Mexican League) is a summer AAA-level baseball minor league. clubs, Galaxy exhibition games with the likes of English champions Chelsea and Scottish powerhouse Glasgow Rangers, and so on -- it was difficult to keep up. "It's really one of our most significant offseasons in league history," deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis said Monday. Now MLS needs to make sure this is the most significant season in league history as well. There are signs MLS suits have belatedly figured out that it's on-field performance not off-the-field hyperbole that will win over skeptical sports fans. "Extensive research conducted by MLS showed that soccer fans want more international stars and better access to MLS games," a league press release said Monday, announcing a series of initiatives collectively called "Game First." No kidding. It has only taken 11 years for the league to clue in Verb 1. clue in - provide someone with a clue; "Can you clue me in?" hint, suggest - drop a hint; intimate by a hint . Still, we will soon find out whether "Game First" -- intended to improve officiating, game presentation on TV and at the stadium, and develop and lure more quality players -- is a marketing slogan or reality. League officials are aware that Beckham is a means to an end. He's the carrot; it will be up to MLS to convince casual sports fans, Eurosnobs who pay attention to overseas leagues and the growing Latino population that the domestic product is worth watching. "(Beckham's signing) changes the league's perception overnight," Redondo Beach Redondo Beach (rĭdŏn`dō), city (1990 pop. 60,167), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1892. Once a commercial port for Los Angeles, it is a residential and resort city with a protected harbor and an excellent marina. sports marketing Sport marketing (or "sports marketing" in the US) (1) the specific application of marketing principles and processes to sport products (e.g., teams, leagues, events, etc.) and (2) the the marketing of non-sports products (e.g., cigarettes, beer, long-distance phone service, etc. analyst David Carter People called David Carter include:
CAPTION(S): photo Photo: News that David Beckham would be playing for the Galaxy was a huge step for MLS as it tries to persuade casual sports fans to watch. Stuart Franklin/Bongarts/Getty Images |
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