MLS and players reach deal to avoid lockout
MLS is back on track to become the first North American pro sports league to resume play after being halted by the COVID -19 pandemic.
A potential lockout was averted Tuesday when MLS and the MLS Players’ Association reached a tentative agreement on financial concessions. The proposed agreement will be voted on by the players and a final resolution is expected Wednesday. The agreement paves the way for all teams to gather in Orlando later this month to participate in a tournament at the Disney Wide World of Sports complex.
The disagreement escalated after the players’ association released the following statement Sunday night:
“This evening, MLS Players voted to approve a package of economic concessions for the 2020 season, modifications to the recently agreed-upon CBA, including its extension by a year, and their agreement to participate in a summer tournament in Orlando. Included were salary reductions across the entire player pool, reduced team and individual bonuses, and additional concessions to existing and future terms of the CBA. While a difficult vote in incredibly challenging times, it was taken collectively to ensure that Players can return to competition as soon as they are safely able to do so. The package has been formally submitted to the league for a decision by the owners.”
The concessions fell short of what the owners wanted and the proposal was rejected. That led to players in many cities — including Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver — to boycott voluntary individual workouts Monday and Tuesday. The players feared a lockout after MLS turned down the players’ proposal to take a 7.5 per cent pay cut rather than accept a proposed 8.75 per cent reduction. MLS also opposed the players’ demand for a greater share of revenue from broadcast rights.
According to ESPN, the most sensitive subject was a force majeure clause, which would allow either side to withdraw from the CBA if there was a catastrophic event. The MLSPA took exception to MLS’S proposal that would give the league “the right to invoke the clause if five teams suffer an attendance drop of 25 per cent or more from the previous year.”
ESPN’S Jeff Carlisle said MLS has softened its stance on linking the force majeure clause to attendance and now supports an MLSPA proposal that “used a more industry-standard approach patterned after the NBA.” The MLSPA is also expected to reach a compromise with MLS on pay cuts and revenue sharing.
Teams are expected to arrive in Florida around June 24 and will stay at the central base for six weeks. They will play group-stage matches before the top two teams from each of the four groups progress to the knockout rounds. The MLSPA has reportedly accepted MLS’S return-to-play plans.
The Impact will be at a disadvantage because they started training later than many other teams. MLS allowed individual training to start on May 6, but the Impact had to wait until May 25 before getting the government go-ahead.