Yes. When you operate in the red under the best of circumstances having a player’s strike is a great way to stop the benevolent flow of loan money. You don’t know much about business if you don’t know that. If you don’t have the money to operate your business then you don’t have a business. It doesn’t matter how many cities built you a stadium or how many fans would attend your games if your league still existed. This article should put no one’s mind at ease.

“Are the people funding Major League Soccer going to stop funding Major League Soccer after a work stoppage? Are they just going to fold up their tents and stop operating teams?”

Well, Robert Kraft (owner of the Revs and Patriots) just might if he’s faced with an NFL work stoppage. Stan Kroenke has shown far more interest in Arsenal than in the Rapids. AEG bailed on both the WPS’ Los Angeles Sol and the ill-fated Beckham Academy in Carson. I don’t see how FC Dallas’ owner can afford to operate with the club having almost no credibility in the Metroplex. It’s not as far out as it might seem.

“Will players who either go on strike or get locked out end their professional careers and stop playing in Major League Soccer at the conclusion of a work stoppage?”

How many owners will wants some of those players back. How many of those players can afford to continue their careers in the USL or NASL or whatever?

“Will the communities and companies that have funded the league’s nine soccer-specific stadiums (with others either planned or hoped for) just bulldoze them and turn them into shopping malls?”

If they’re not profitable to run, yes. I can see that happening with Pizza Hut Park and Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

“Will the teams at the Division II level just say “Eh, there’s no point in playing if they’re not playing, so we’ll fold, too?”

With all due respect, Kenn, that’s a stupid question that has nothing to do with MLS.

“Will fans stay away in droves from Major League Soccer matches when they resume after a work stoppage?”

Why not, considering that many of those fans already prefer televised soccer from overseas over MLS?

The League takes a break during most of the two week WC Group Stages yet still resumes before the last day of that stage — but who wants to watch the minor teams, such as Brazil, Spain, Portugal and Ivory Coast scheduled to play on that day, like Brazil, Portugal, Spain and Ivory Coast? Then MLS is back in full schedule throughout the final stages and on the day of the WC final itself. Maybe they think football fans will be so excited by the WC games that they’ll rush out to see their local team in action, but I can’t imagine many people trying to schedule more TV time than they can get to follow what’s happening in South Africa.

My other thought is that the possible strike is getting more coverage than any normal pre-season. If there’s a strike and the league does the right thing by the players, that will be great for its image. If, on the other hand, it continues to treat the players as they are now treated, many devoted fans — including myself — will be left with a bad taste in our mouths.

Philadelphia? A vitally important market – 4th largest in the U.S. and the quintessential American sports city – what a way to introduce them to the league. 10,000+ season ticket holders without witnessing a game, a controversial state-funded stadium project, and all that gets delayed because EMPLOYED pro athletes walk out on proposed wage increases.

From a PR perspective, nobody is going to care about the players’ issues. Very few understand the complexities of the league that lead to their issues, and although salaries in MLS are dwarfed by other pro leagues, I doubt the public would be aghast if salaries became widely reported. In the grand scheme of things, most MLS “veterans” (25-35 y.o.) make between $60k-$200k a year. In this economic climate, I don’t see any of their complaints holding too much water with the public.

Most importantly, if there is no agreement then the players contracts can become void, right? How would an MLS look post-strike if every decent player is gone? You ready to see nothing but second stringers who couldn’t go overseas?

“The most important thing about this club is that it stays in existence, and we have had success on the pitch to match the investment.” Say the Coates. Not everyone would use ‘success’ on the pitch as a proper match to an investment of that size.