This week in Five for Friday, Soccer Banter spoke with Ben Berger, the founder of Footiebusiness, a website that focuses on the business side of soccer, specifically in America. Berger practices law in Hartford, CT with a concentration in commercial litigation, construction law and intellectual property. Follow Ben Berger on Twitter @footiebusiness
Soccer Banter: What is your background in the game of soccer and where does your interest in the business side of the game originally stem from?
Ben Berger: I think my background is pretty typical. I played the game growing up without any real opportunity to watch the sport in person or on television. I injured my knee in my conference opener senior year in college and figured that was it for soccer until I would coach my kids one day. However, that was at the time (late 1990s) when soccer was starting to appear on television and MLS was just finding its footing. I got hooked on watching the sport and when I moved to Boston for law school, I had access to the Revs live and in person and the addiction grew. I left Boston in 2002 but continued to follow the league on the field, but I started to gain an appreciation for the business aspects of MLS at the same time. MLS was really the first sports league to come of age in the internet era and it meant that most of its business dealings were out in the open. The opportunity to see the various business elements grow really grabbed me.
SB: David Beckham's contract is about to expire with the LA Galaxy, looking back now, do you feel it was a good move by the Galaxy to invest that much money in one player? Who benefited the most, Beckham, the Galaxy or MLS?
BB: Great question, and the answer is probably all of the above. The team has become a fixture in the US sports landscape in a way that no other soccer team can match. Even non-soccer fans can identify the team and can recognize Beckham and Donovan. The league has certainly seen its profile rise in the years since the deal was signed and the caliber of player coming to MLS has definitely grown. Expansion fees increased dramatically, bigger TV deals, jersey sponsorships and more. For Beckham, he got a chance to conquer the New World on and off the field and has done well with the opportunity. There were some missteps, but overall it has worked for all involved.
Soccer Banter: What is your background in the game of soccer and where does your interest in the business side of the game originally stem from?
Ben Berger: I think my background is pretty typical. I played the game growing up without any real opportunity to watch the sport in person or on television. I injured my knee in my conference opener senior year in college and figured that was it for soccer until I would coach my kids one day. However, that was at the time (late 1990s) when soccer was starting to appear on television and MLS was just finding its footing. I got hooked on watching the sport and when I moved to Boston for law school, I had access to the Revs live and in person and the addiction grew. I left Boston in 2002 but continued to follow the league on the field, but I started to gain an appreciation for the business aspects of MLS at the same time. MLS was really the first sports league to come of age in the internet era and it meant that most of its business dealings were out in the open. The opportunity to see the various business elements grow really grabbed me.
SB: David Beckham's contract is about to expire with the LA Galaxy, looking back now, do you feel it was a good move by the Galaxy to invest that much money in one player? Who benefited the most, Beckham, the Galaxy or MLS?
BB: Great question, and the answer is probably all of the above. The team has become a fixture in the US sports landscape in a way that no other soccer team can match. Even non-soccer fans can identify the team and can recognize Beckham and Donovan. The league has certainly seen its profile rise in the years since the deal was signed and the caliber of player coming to MLS has definitely grown. Expansion fees increased dramatically, bigger TV deals, jersey sponsorships and more. For Beckham, he got a chance to conquer the New World on and off the field and has done well with the opportunity. There were some missteps, but overall it has worked for all involved.
SB: MLS has made great strides in the past 10 years and now seems set to be the top league in CONCACAF. What does the league need to do in the next 5-10 years to become one of the best leagues in the world or is that even possible?
BB: That is probably a short horizon. I think the league's focus on developing talent through academies, while allowing teams to bring in younger designated players represent smart moves to improve overall quality. The league has correctly focused on moving slowly upward.
SB: Locally, the New England Revolution are one of the last teams to play in a football stadium, how do you feel that currently hurts their performance on the field and in the stands? Financially would it be beneficial for Robert Kraft to build a soccer specific stadium or could that only happen if someone else buys the club?
BB: Tough to say if it hurts the product on the field, but certainly the stadium detracts from the viewing experience. I've been to soccer matches in a dozen stadiums around the world, and the Gillette atmosphere ranks at the bottom. Frankly, it is tough to see the benefit to the Krafts of building a SSS. The stadium was an expensive project and the Revs bring revenue 15-20x per year to a stadium that only has 10-12 Patriots games per season. The Boston Metro area is also a pricey place to build.
SB: Which two teams do you believe will play in MLS Cup and who will be the winner?
BB: I'll give you a business answer. The best business match-up remains LA/NY
SB: Bonus question: Will WPS be back in 2012?
BB: Yes
BB: That is probably a short horizon. I think the league's focus on developing talent through academies, while allowing teams to bring in younger designated players represent smart moves to improve overall quality. The league has correctly focused on moving slowly upward.
SB: Locally, the New England Revolution are one of the last teams to play in a football stadium, how do you feel that currently hurts their performance on the field and in the stands? Financially would it be beneficial for Robert Kraft to build a soccer specific stadium or could that only happen if someone else buys the club?
BB: Tough to say if it hurts the product on the field, but certainly the stadium detracts from the viewing experience. I've been to soccer matches in a dozen stadiums around the world, and the Gillette atmosphere ranks at the bottom. Frankly, it is tough to see the benefit to the Krafts of building a SSS. The stadium was an expensive project and the Revs bring revenue 15-20x per year to a stadium that only has 10-12 Patriots games per season. The Boston Metro area is also a pricey place to build.
SB: Which two teams do you believe will play in MLS Cup and who will be the winner?
BB: I'll give you a business answer. The best business match-up remains LA/NY
SB: Bonus question: Will WPS be back in 2012?
BB: Yes
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