What’s the difference between USL and MLS? A look at the players, owners and stability
The sports world is filled with acronyms. We’d list off a bunch of them here but that runs the risk of readers’ eyes glazing over. As it pertains to Sacramento Republic’s ambitious plan to build an expensive stadium in downtown, there are just two acronyms worth diving into: MLS and USL.
Major League Soccer is the top league in America. The United Soccer League has hopes of unseating MLS, but is currently the second-tier division in America.
The games are played by the same rules no matter which league you are watching: Kick the ball in the net and don’t allow your opponent to do the same.
Everything else is different. While there are nuances to explore, the biggest and most obvious difference is at the top of the leagues, because it explains everything else.
Ownership
MLS: Unlike any major professional league in America, and perhaps the world, owners do not technically own a specific franchise. MLS owns each and every one of its 28 teams. When a billionaire wants to buy the rights to a franchise, what that owner is technically doing is buying a slice of Major League Soccer. They are then given the right to operate one of the teams. Owners share proceeds or take losses as a collective group. MLS only operates its top division; there are no minor leagues.
USL: In a structure familiar to every American sports fan, a wealthy investor or investment group owns a specific franchise. The USL has 27 teams owned by 27 different ownership groups. When an owner starts a franchise, they agree to play by league rules, but they are essentially on their own to operate a team. Owners enjoy profits or suffer losses on their own, with no collective to help or hurt the results of a season. The USL also operates two lower-tier divisions.
Players and salaries
MLS: In comparison to other pro leagues, MLS teams are downright methodical in their approach. The league has a lengthy list of rules explaining what players can be paid and when bonuses can be given. Put simply: Teams have up to 20 players on their rosters and a salary cap of $4.9 million for the current season. An individual player is allowed to be paid up to $612,500 this season.
USL: There are no rules, though there are norms, for how much money players make. Teams do not publish or discuss salary information, but the consensus is players’ salaries range from $30,000 to $70,000. Teams like Phoenix have been rumored to spend up to around $2 million for an entire roster. The motive for spending more is one of two things: getting fans to show up at the park for wins and hopefully gain the attention of MLS; or simply the pleasure of beating other USL teams.
Crowds
MLS: Bouyed by its top teams that average more than double the rest of the league’s attendance, MLS averaged 21,310 fans per game in 2019. That figure is driven high by an Atlanta team that averaged more than 50,000 tickets sold and a Seattle team that averaged more than 40,000 tickets sold per game. Fifteen teams averaged less than 20,000 tickets sold. Last-place Chicago averaged 12,324, just behind the top USL team, New Mexico, which averaged 12,693.
USL: In 2019, the last year before the pandemic affected attendance, there were nine USL teams with reported attendance below 2,000 fans per game. Sacramento was third with 10,436 tickets reported sold. That was well above the league average of 4,476, but it’s worth noting the USL also had 10 teams averaging more than 6,500 fans per game before the pandemic wiped out entire franchises.
TV deals
MLS: While teams are steadily being added, eyeballs have not followed. The league touted its 2021 championship game as a success because it matched the 2009 numbers. The league’s games are shown on FS1, Fox or local affiliates. Its media rights deal is up for renegotiation after this season.
USL: The league has a broad deal with ESPN, but viewership does not match MLS’ numbers. While the league touted 500% growth in viewership in 2020, the league didn’t make note of the fact that there was a pandemic happening and fans were not allowed to attend games at all in most places.
Expansion and stability
MLS: The league went through a wild, disorganized first decade of existence. But since 2005, when the league went from 10 to 12 teams. Just one franchise, San Jose, relocated to Houston. After a two-year hiatus, San Jose was reactivated as an MLS town in 2008 with a new ownership group. No teams have failed in that period.
USL: Volatility is still the game for the young league, which started play in 2011 with 15 teams. The league made a wild run up to 36 teams starting the 2019 season before backing down to the 27 that started the 2022 season. A whopping 33 teams have either bought their way into MLS, been moved lower in the USL’s three tiers of leagues, or folded entirely.