THE FINAL THIRD

Major League Soccer and Adidas have agreed to a new eight-year sponsorship deal that officials believe solidify and validate the increased growth of the league and calls for significant investment in youth development.

The new deal replaces a 10-year, $150 million contract between the two organizations that started with the 2005 season. The new agreement will begin with the 2011 season and continue through 2018—when the league will be in its 22nd season.

The previous deal came before MLS added successful expansion franchises, increased player salaries and committed to deepening the talent pool with the option for teams to add multiple designated players. All those factors, plus record interest in the United States surrounding the World Cup earlier this summer prompted Adidas to approach MLS with a new deal.

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New York Red Bulls 4 – 1 Toronto FC – Major League Soccer

Spotted at First Team Football

spotted at Major League Soccer

Who is Brian Bedol and why could he be a very important component to the future of Major League Soccer?

Brian Bedol has made his reputation launching and flipping Classic Sports to ESPN and CSTV to CBS and now he’s been hired as MLS’s new media and content consultant. Officially he has been hired to develop a media strategy for Major League soccer across broadcast, digital and mobile platforms.

Bedol launched Classic Sports Network in 1995 and sold it to ESPN for $175 million in 1997. He launched CSTV in 2003 before selling to CBS for $325 million in 2005. Since then, he’s been working on a startup company at MIT Media Lab as well as working with Plum TV and other early-stage investments. He has no formal consulting practice, and MLS is the only league he is advising.

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Spotted at Soccer Filter

The San Jose Earthquakes of Major League soccer have signed Brazilian midfielder Geovanni as their first designated player. Geovanni spent that last few seasons with Hull City but has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world including Barcelona, Benfica, and Manchester City. At 30 years of age he surely has plenty in the tank to provide the Earthquakes with creative play in the midfield for anther 2 – 3 years. I have to say that if he can stay healthy this is an excellent signing for the MLS club and the league. He has provided some pretty memorable moments over the years especially in the Premier League, see some Geovanni highlights after the break . . .

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New York Red Bulls 1-0 Toronto FC Highlights – MLS Soccer

Don Garber has signed a new 4-year deal to remain commissioner of Major League Soccer. The deal includes incentives and bonuses that could end up being worth about $3 million per year. Garber signed on with MLS in 1999 after working at the NFL for over 15 years and has been the driving force behind the creation of Soccer United Marketing (SUM), development of soccer specific stadiums, the designated player rule, the 2010 CBA, and expansion, which has attracted nine new owners in six years.

The primary objective of the commissioner in the coming years is to enhance the overall visibility of the league through new media and attempt to increase the lowly MLS TV ratings.

His previous four-year contract was reportedly valued at $2 million (£1.2 million) per year.

DC United 4-0 Portsmouth Highlights

Columbus Crew 3-0 Houston Dynamo Highlights