2015 was a landmark season for MLS. The league celebrated its 20th birthday, with two expansion clubs and a new $90 million TV contract to show for it. The surge of exposure and brand awareness serves as a reminder of what came before – such as early uncertainty surrounding the league’s sustainability* that continued into the 2000s with the shuttering of two franchises.
*So much so that league officials were concerned a scoreless inaugural game would lead to its demise. San Jose Clash’s Eric Wynalda ended up scoring a late goal, though, nutmegging D.C. United defender Jeff Agoos who later said, “I sort of saved the league from going under in the first year.