MLS Seeking Broader Appeal
Calling Southern California a “hotbed of soccer,” Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said Wednesday the league wants the Galaxy to become more ingrained in Los Angeles’ Latino communities and become a beacon, of sorts, for Latino soccer fans to find the MLS.
“It’s something that we believe is necessary for the deep adaptation, if you will, of the Hispanic community into American society,” said Garber, who was in town for the naming-rights ceremony at the National Training Center in Carson, which will house the Galaxy’s 27,000-seat home beginning next season.
“[The Galaxy] is their team as it is our team and we will strive very hard to ... have this team be a team that the Latino community can embrace.”
The 10-team MLS, which is run as a single entity, has placed a prominent Mexican national player in Los Angeles since the league’s formation in 1996 hoping to appeal to the area’s demographics.
While Jorge Campos, Carlos Hermosillo and Luis Hernandez enjoyed moderate success on the field, they failed to provide a box-office bonanza. This is the first season the Galaxy is without a Mexican player with name recognition.
“We don’t believe it’s [only] about signing Mexican players,” Garber said. “We believe it’s about having a good soccer team that’s deeply embraced within the community.”
Garber pointed to the cultural phenomena that accompanied the arrival of former Dodger pitcher Fernando Valenzuela and Seattle Mariner outfielder Ichiro Suzuki as blueprints for success in taking advantage of ethnic popularity.
“Unless you’re able to get a Fernando or an Ichiro ... that person doesn’t exist for us,” Garber said. “We need to gain respect and love from the community.
“We need a young Mexican-American growing up in the [American soccer] system--Landon [Donovan] is that for the Anglo community--rather than renting a Mexican player.”
Garber also said he’s growing weary of being asked if MLS will ever truly thrive, let alone survive.
“The sport has made it in this country,” Garber said. “There were 55,000 at a July 4 game for the Galaxy. Now, were they there to watch fireworks as well? Absolutely, but that’s no different than when they get bobblehead dolls or they get pennants at a baseball game.
“Nobody can tell me this sport [soccer] hasn’t made it in this country. It has made it. Now, it’s not yet profitable and it needs to be profitable. Baseball’s not profitable, we all know that. There are other leagues that are not profitable so I’m not sure success is measured in profitability.”
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The Galaxy’s Sept. 14 final home game against the San Jose Earthquakes will be part of a doubleheader, with the San Diego Spirit and Philadelphia Charge of the Women’s United Soccer Assn. playing an exhibition in the opener.... The Galaxy will open defense of its U.S. Open Cup championship Wednesday at the Minnesota Thunder of the A-league in a third-round game. The Thunder thumped the San Diego Gauchos, 6-1, in the second round.
