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MLS boss thinks soccer will pass NFL?

Sunday, October 24, 2004

MLS commissioner Don Garber had a bold statement on the future of his league: "Our goal is not to be one of the major leagues," he said. "Our goal is to be the No. 1 major league in this country. "You look at all of the shifts that are taking place demographically, ethnically and globally, you look at where this sport is from an international perspective, from an ethnic perspective, from a youth perspective, we have no doubt, our owners have no doubt, we can be the dominant sport in the United States in due time."

The dominant sport in a country where baseball, with all its problems, always takes centers tage, where the NFL averages more than 65,000 in attendance a game and where the NBA still is quite popular? Garber referred to a growing Hispanic population and former youth players becoming fans and political leaders.

He noted that San Antonio's mayor — a Burn fan when he lived in Dallas — had made it a priority to bring an MLS team to his city.

Even with the progress the league has made — many observers feel MLS will pass the NHL as the fourth major American sport — it does have a steep mountain to climb.