Skip to content

MLS finalizes new CBA, clearing way for summer tournament in Orlando

Ira L. Black - Corbis / Corbis Sport / Getty

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.

Major League Soccer has avoided a potential lockout.

The MLS Players Association announced Wednesday the ratification of a new collecting bargaining agreement, ensuring labor peace until at least the end of the 2025 season.

The league can now proceed with plans to resume the current campaign after suspending play March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. MLS is reportedly set to host a tournament in Orlando this summer.

A breakthrough in negotiations Tuesday apparently assuaged players' concerns over pay cuts. MLS had reportedly pushed for an 8.75% reduction in salary across the board. The players ended up accepting a 7.5% pay cut - amounting to more than $100 million in concessions, according to ESPN's Jeff Carlisle.

The two sides also squabbled over a force majeure clause that would have enabled either side to withdraw from the CBA in the event of a catastrophic event. MLS softened its stance Tuesday, lending support to the MLSPA's proposal that uses a "more industry-standard approach patterned after the NBA," according to Carlisle.

Players from Atlanta United, Inter Miami, the Vancouver Whitecaps, and Minnesota United skipped voluntary workouts Monday as the league and players' association negotiated the new CBA. MLS gave teams permission last week to begin holding limited group training sessions under strict health guidelines.

With the labor situation resolved, MLS can focus on the tournament in Orlando. All 26 teams are expected to take part in the six-week event, which could begin as early as July.

Players would fly to Orlando on or around June 24 and train for two weeks before beginning play, according to The Athletic's Paul Tenorio and Sam Stejskal. The tournament would reportedly include group-stage matches and knockout rounds. Teams that fail to reach the knockout rounds will return home.

Even if the tournament goes ahead, commissioner Don Garber said he expects MLS to lose $1 billion in revenue due to the pandemic, noting that the league is heavily reliant on matchday revenues.

"When we lose the ability to sell tickets and we lose the ability to have any hospitality and other game day stadium revenues ... today that is on hold. And we really don't know what it's going to look like, going forward," he said.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox