Major League Soccer

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

Countries : United States
Canada
Confederation : CONCACAF
Founded : 1993
Number of teams : 15
Level on pyramid :Level 1
Domestic cup :(s) MLS Cup
U.S. Open Cup
Canadian Championship
International cup(s) CONCACAF
Champions League,
Pan-Pacific Championship,
SuperLiga
Current MLS Cup Columbus Crew
Current Supporters' Shield Columbus Crew
Most MLS Cups D.C. United (4)
Most Supporters' Shields D.C. United (4)
TV partners : ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
ABC
Fox Soccer Channel,
Fox Sports en Español
TeleFutura, CBC,
Rogers Sportsnet, GolTV Canada
Website MLSnet.com

Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top-flight professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer). The league comprises 15 teams, 14 in the U.S. and one in Canada. MLS represents the top tier of the American and Canadian soccer pyramids.

Major League Soccer was founded in 1993 as part of the United States' bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The first season took place in 1996 beginning with 10 teams. Seasons run from late March or early April to November, with teams playing 30 regular season games each. Eight teams compete in the postseason MLS Cup Playoffs culminating in the championship game, MLS Cup.

Stadiums



Columbus Crew Stadium, home of the Columbus Crew and MLS' first soccer-specific stadiumSince 1999, the league has overseen the construction and completion of seven venues specifically designed for soccer. Lamar Hunt broke new ground in this endeavor by financing the construction of MLS's first soccer-specific stadium, Columbus Crew Stadium. The Los Angeles Galaxy followed four years later with the opening of The Home Depot Center in 2003. Chivas USA has shared this venue with the Galaxy since their expansion season in 2004. It also played host to two consecutive MLS Cups, until FC Dallas opened Pizza Hut Park in 2005 and hosted the next two championships. The Chicago Fire began playing their home games in Toyota Park in 2006. 2007 saw the opening of Dick's Sporting Goods Park for the Colorado Rapids and BMO Field for Toronto FC. Near the end of the 2008 season, Rio Tinto Stadium became the home of Real Salt Lake.

Other stadiums are currently under construction. Red Bull Arena, the new home of the New York Red Bulls, began construction in December 2007 with the goal of opening sometime in 2009, but construction delays have pushed back the opening until 2010. The Kansas City Wizards expect to move into their new stadium sometime in 2011. Philadelphia Union plans to call the new Chester Stadium home when they enter the league in 2010. In 2011, the Portland Timbers will make their MLS debut in a newly-renovated PGE Park.


Qwest Field, home of Seattle Sounders FCThree remaining clubs play in stadiums not originally built for MLS. The New England Revolution, D.C. United, and Seattle Sounders FC play home games at NFL venues Gillette Stadium, RFK Stadium, and Qwest Field respectively. Whereas New England and D.C. are actively seeking to build their own soccer stadiums, Seattle (whose part-owner also owns the NFL team whose stadium it uses) tarps off Qwest's upper bowl to provide an intimate gameday atmosphere. The Houston Dynamo and the San Jose Earthquakes are in the planning stages for their own soccer venues replacing Robertson Stadium and Buck Shaw Stadium. In 2011 the Vancouver expansion team will begin play in a refurbished BC Place, and will remain there until at least 2016, by which time the team hopes to complete construction on a planned waterfront soccer stadium.

The move to soccer-specific stadiums has been seen as essential to building attendance and fan support for MLS. So far, every club that has built its own stadium has not only seen its game attendance rise,[citation needed] but also has helped MLS achieve profitability.[citation needed] Thanks to their new stadium, the Los Angeles Galaxy became the first club to turn a profit in 2003, followed by FC Dallas in 2006.