Can The MLS Thrive With Their Current Model?

By Nick Burgess @NickBurgess92 on October 31, 2014

With news that Real Madrid star Raul has signed for the New York Cosmos in America this week, it raises an interesting question: Can American soccer leagues, more specifically the MLS, survive by just bringing in old stars from other leagues?

Raul marks the third star to move to America just this year, with the first two being former Chelsea stalwart Frank Lampard and Spanish star David Villa, both to the newly formed New York City FC. It seems the MLS has the pulling power to draw these last two stars to the United States, which is impressive given it has been seen as a lesser league in the last few years.

That may still be the case. The American leagues have drawn a few homegrown stars back from European leagues, like Clint Dempsey from Tottenham Hostpurs and Michael Bradley from AS Roma, but these are Americans who feel a connection to the league, and to their US Men’s National Team teammates who all play in the MLS  striker Jozy Altidore. This may be the angle that the MLS needs to take to survive and possibly take that next step to becoming a more competitive league. They can piggyback off of the name brand of a lot of these players, just like they did during their crucial development phase with David Beckham.

Obviously, Lampard and Villa are not globally household names like Beckham was, but it goes a long way to see their resumes and their appeal internationally. To see players of note and stature coming into the American league will help boost the appeal and maybe even international respect to where they can get good, young players to establish their names over here.

It also certainly helps on the investment front with people climbing over each other to create their own MLS teams. It started with Beckham, again, when he created his team in Miami, which sparked the creation of teams in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta. Suddenly the MLS has an influx of teams, cash and audiences that can really help draw players into the domestic league.

The only thing that may have to improve is the level of International play, something akin to the Champions League. That is severely lacking in the United States, and this even hampers big name transfers in Europe, even at some of the biggest clubs.

The MLS will need to improve to gain the caliber of starts they hope to gain in the next several years, but they certainly seem like they are taking all of the steps necessary to ensure it becomes a successful league.

Nick Burgess is a soccer columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickBurgess92, “Like” him on Facebook and connect with him on Google.