MLS’s new commissioner will be Cherry Hill native Larry Berg, a LAFC part-owner
Berg has recently been co-chair of MLS’s powerful sporting and competition committee, so he knows what the league has to do to step up on the global stage. He's also known as a Philly sports fan.
NEW YORK – Larry Berg, a member of Los Angeles FC’s ownership group with roots in Cherry Hill, has been elected as the new commissioner of Major League Soccer.
He will officially take the reins on Jan. 1, with current commissioner Don Garber keeping the job until then. Garber will then take the role of chairman.
“Thanks to the vision and commitment of so many people, Major League Soccer has achieved tremendous success, but I believe our greatest opportunities are still ahead,” Berg said in a statement. “We have an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the quality of our competition, develop more world-class players, deepen our connection with supporters, and continue elevating Major League Soccer’s place in the global game. Together with our owners, clubs, players, partners, supporters, and league staff, I could not be more excited for what comes next.”
A formal news conference will take place Tuesday at the league’s Manhattan headquarters. Monday’s vote took place there, with representatives of all 30 teams’ ownership groups.
“Having worked closely with Larry over the past decade, I’ve seen firsthand the qualities that make him an exceptional leader, and I have complete confidence he is the right person to serve as Major League Soccer’s next commissioner,” Garber said. “His integrity, judgment, collaborative leadership, and unwavering commitment to building LAFC and the league have made him an invaluable partner. I look forward to working alongside Larry during this transition and supporting him as he leads MLS into its next chapter.”
Berg, 60, has been part of LAFC’s ownership group since the team launched in 2018. He will be just the league’s third commissioner since it launched in 1996. Doug Logan had the job from 1995-99, and Garber has had it ever since.
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Berg topped David Nathanson, a former Fox Sports executive with ownership stakes in teams including the Seattle Sounders, NWSL’s Angel City FC, and NHL’s Seattle Kraken.
Those were the only two candidates, and just one other was known to have been in the race: veteran San Francisco 49ers and Leeds United executive Paraag Marathe. He took himself out in mid-July.
Berg has recently been co-chair of MLS’s powerful sporting and competition committee. That group is in charge of setting the league’s roster rules, including a long-anticipated overhaul to push the pace harder in the global game. That overhaul seems close to arriving, and no doubt Berg will be a leading figure in presenting it to the public.
He also has quite a few ties to the Philadelphia area. He’s a Cherry Hill native who played soccer at Cherry Hill East High, and attended Penn’s Wharton business school. He’s a Philadelphia sports fan, from the Eagles to soccer’s Atoms back in the day, and his wife is from the city.
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Berg’s career away from soccer has been in the investment world. He knows 76ers lead owner Josh Harris well, having worked at Apollo Global Capital and Harris’ newer 26 North investment firm.
Of course, Berg’s fandom hasn’t extended to the local MLS team here, but that’s no surprise. He has helped build LAFC’s juggernaut, with a history of stars and a 2022 MLS Cup title at the Union’s expense.
Now everyone will see if his business acumen with a club can translate to the overall league.
Nathanson spent many years in the media world. His biggest feat was helping Fox land World Cup broadcast rights starting in 2015, after ESPN had held them for decades. He was also involved in deals for Concacaf tournaments and other soccer properties. After leaving Fox in 2017, Nathanson became an investor in a wide variety of areas, including sports teams.
Coincidentally, he also has ties to Philadelphia as a Penn alum, and is a regular visitor to the city. His top selling point as a candidate is having TV rights experience, with MLS already starting to look for its next round of big deals. The all-in-one Apple package will end in 2029, and Fox’s small package of linear broadcasts expires after this year.
Nathanson declined to comment when approached, but he no doubt will be heard from in other ways in the sport.
Union principal owner Jay Sugarman told The Inquirer he was pleased with Berg’s victory.
“We had two very impressive candidates, and both of them had clear plans on how to build on Don Garber’s legacy, which gives us a lot of excitement for the future,” Sugarman said. “I think Larry understands this league inside and out, and I’m excited to move forward with him.”
