MLS - Major League Soccer

A key feature of capitalizing on this growth for MLS, according to Howard, means increasing the current salary cap. “For the 2023 season, the budget for MLS clubs was $5.21 million, with the average player earning no more than $651,250 a year. Cristiano Ronaldo nearly makes that in a DAY in Saudi Arabia. $220 million a year… it’s crazy money,” continued Howard.

“And, over in England, Premier League champions Manchester City spent more than $500 million on player wages last season.”

The current NBC Sports analyst went even further to call for larger American markets to be able to flex their financial muscles. “If I’m an owner of an MLS team, and I’m into it for half a billion dollars, I should be able to spend money creating a superpower,” Howard stated. “Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle – there are major cities with everything you need.”