The MLS regular season kicks off this weekend, highlighted by Charlotte FC’s debut in Washington, D.C., and a visit by the new champs, New York City FC, to the LA Galaxy. But as expected for a league whose first few months have little impact on the championship narrative, the biggest near-term stories are happening off the field.
Commissioner Don Garber on Tuesday afternoon confirmed that finalizing Las Vegas as home to the league’s 30th club and announcing a new media rights deal are expected in the coming months.
During his preseason media conference call, Garber also touched on U.S. Soccer’s upcoming presidential election, player vaccination rates and pandemic protocols, as well as the reported interest in MLS expressed by Neymar, Lionel Messi and others.
