During the week leading up to Sporting Kansas City's season opener on Saturday at D.C. United, SportingKC.com will visit five prominent storylines heading into the club's 2017 campaign. The Countdown to MLS will run Monday through Friday, serving as a comprehensive preview of the year ahead.
In 2002, Major League Soccer was at a crossroads. The League had just contracted Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion with many other clubs struggling to stay relevant in their own market. Things looked bleak for a League that had aspirations to compete with the rest of the world.
Fast forward 15 years later, and MLS headquarters is singing a different tune.