Editing Major League Soccer (section)

===Profitability and revenues===
{{See also|Major League Soccer defunct clubs|List of professional sports leagues by revenue}}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="margin-left:1em;float:right;"
|-
|+ colspan="3"|Average [[Forbes&nbsp;list of the most valuable MLS clubs|franchise valuations]]
|-
!Year
!Value
|-
| 2008 || $37 million
|-
| 2013 || $103 million
|-
| 2015 || $157 million
|-
| 2016 || $185 million
|-
| 2017 || $223 million
|-
| 2018 || $240 million
|-
| 2019 || $313 million
|-
| 2021 || $550 million
|-
| 2022 || $582 million
|-
| 2023 || $678 million<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sportico.com/feature/mls-soccer-team-value-ranking-1234689586/ | title=(2023) MLS Team Value Ranking List | date=January 24, 2024 | access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| 2025 || $721 million
|}

Major League Soccer began to demonstrate positive signs of long-term profitability as early as 2004 with the single-entity ownership structure, salary cap, and the media and marketing umbrella Soccer United Marketing (SUM) all contributing towards MLS's financial security.<ref name="nytimes" /> As soccer-specific stadiums are built, ownership expands, and television coverage increases, MLS has seen its revenues increase while controlling costs.<ref name="forbes.com" />

Television coverage and revenue have increased since the league's early years. In 2006, MLS reached an 8-year TV deal with [[ESPN]] spanning the 2007–2014 seasons, and marked the first time that MLS earned rights fees, reported to be worth $7–8&nbsp;million annually.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESPN, MLS Reach Eight-Year TV Deal That Includes Rights Fees |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2006/08/Issue-216/Sports-Media/ESPN-MLS-Reach-Eight-Year-TV-Deal-That-Includes-Rights-Fees.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224183626/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2006/08/Issue-216/Sports-Media/ESPN-MLS-Reach-Eight-Year-TV-Deal-That-Includes-Rights-Fees.aspx |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> In September 2012 the league extended its distribution agreement with London-based Media rights agency MP & Silva until 2014 in a deal worth $10&nbsp;million annually. Total league TV revenues are over $40&nbsp;million annually.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS agrees golden deal with MP & Silva – Sports Broadcast news – Soccer |date=January 27, 2009 |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mls_agrees_golden_deal_with_mp_silva/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930090527/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mls_agrees_golden_deal_with_mp_silva |archive-date=September 30, 2013 |access-date=September 15, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MP & Silva extends MLS deal – Sports Broadcast news – Soccer North America |date=September 13, 2012 |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mp_silva_extends_mls_deal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007161729/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mp_silva_extends_mls_deal/ |archive-date=October 7, 2013 |access-date=September 15, 2013}}</ref> In 2011, MLS earned $150&nbsp;million when it sold a 25% stake in SUM.<ref name="forbes.com" />

{{clear right}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:1em;float:right;font-size:90%;"
|+ Jersey sponsorships
|-
!Team
! width="180"|Sponsor
!Annual value
|-
|[[Atlanta United FC]]
|[[American Family Insurance|AmFam]] (game – main)<br />[[Piedmont Hospital]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 12, 2016 |title=American Family Insurance to be Atlanta United's first jersey sponsor |work=MLSsoccer.com |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/07/12/american-family-insurance-be-atlanta-uniteds-first-jersey-sponsor |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716025812/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/07/12/american-family-insurance-be-atlanta-uniteds-first-jersey-sponsor |archive-date=July 16, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|[[Austin FC]]
|[[Yeti (American company)|Yeti]] (game – main)<br />Netspend (game – sleeve) <br />St. David's Healthcare (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2020 |title=Austin FC enter multi-year deal with YETI to be official jersey sponsor |work=MLSsoccer.com |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/02/10/austin-fc-enter-multi-year-deal-yeti-be-official-jersey-sponsor |access-date=February 10, 2020 |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116083521/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/02/10/austin-fc-enter-multi-year-deal-yeti-be-official-jersey-sponsor |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Charlotte FC]]
|[[Ally Financial|Ally]] (game – main)<br />[[Centene Corporation|Centene]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Ally announces multi-year agreement with Charlotte MLS soccer |date=December 17, 2019 |publisher=Charlotte MLS 2021 |url=https://charlottemls2021.com/ally-announces-multi-year-agreement-with-charlotte-mls-soccer/ |access-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218021035/https://charlottemls2021.com/ally-announces-multi-year-agreement-with-charlotte-mls-soccer/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|[[Chicago Fire FC]]
|[[Carvana]] (game – main)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite web |last=chicagofirefc |title=Chicago Fire FC Kicks Off Multi-Year Partnership with Carvana as Official Online Auto Retailer and Front of Kit Sponsor {{!}} Chicago Fire FC |url=https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/chicago-fire-fc-kicks-off-multi-year-partnership-with-carvana-as-official-online |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=chicagofirefc |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Colorado Rapids]]
|[[UCHealth]] (game – main)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Colorado Rapids and UCHealth launch health-focused initiative as part of multi-year jersey rights deal |publisher=Colorado Rapids |url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/news/colorado-rapids-and-uchealth-launch-health-focused-initiative-as-part-of-multi-y |access-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114190116/https://www.coloradorapids.com/news/colorado-rapids-and-uchealth-launch-health-focused-initiative-as-part-of-multi-y |url-status=live }}</ref> 
|-
|[[Columbus Crew]]
|[[Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company|Nationwide]] (game – main)<br />[[Tipico]] (game – sleeve)<br />[[Ohio Health]] (prematch)
|$3 million<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 27, 2020 |title=Crew announces jersey sponsorship deal with Nationwide |publisher=The Columbus Dispatch |url=https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20200227/crew-announces-jersey-sponsorship-deal-with-nationwide |access-date=February 27, 2020 |archive-date=February 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227212720/https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20200227/crew-announces-jersey-sponsorship-deal-with-nationwide |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|[[D.C. United]]
|[[Guidehouse]] (game – main)<br />The Fruitist (game - sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 15, 2024 |title=D.C. United Announce Multi-Year Front-of-Kit Partnership with Guidehouse, a DMV-Based Global Consultancy |publisher=D.C United |url=https://www.dcunited.com/news/d-c-united-announce-multi-year-front-of-kit-partnership-with-guidehouse |access-date=February 19, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[FC Cincinnati]]
|[[Mercy Health (Ohio & Kentucky)|Mercy Health]] (game – main)<br />[[Kroger]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite press release |title=FC Cincinnati sign jersey sponsorship deal pending MLS acceptance |date=November 14, 2017 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/11/14/fc-cincinnati-sign-jersey-sponsorship-deal-pending-mls-acceptance |access-date=January 1, 2019 |archive-date=January 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102050357/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/11/14/fc-cincinnati-sign-jersey-sponsorship-deal-pending-mls-acceptance |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[FC Dallas]]
|[[Children's Health (health care system)|Children's Health]] (game - main)<br />[[University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center|UT Southwestern]] (game – main)<br />[[AdvoCare]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref name="jersey">{{Cite news |date=January 11, 2023 |title=FC Dallas Announces Partnership with Children's Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/fc-dallas-announce-new-jersey-sponsors-ahead-of-2023-season |access-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111230924/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/fc-dallas-announce-new-jersey-sponsors-ahead-of-2023-season |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Houston Dynamo FC]]
|[[MD Anderson Cancer Center]] (game – main)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 28, 2018 |title=MD Anderson, Houston Dynamo team up for one goal: end cancer |work=MLS |url=https://www.houstondynamo.com/post/2018/11/28/md-anderson-houston-dynamo-team-one-goal-end-cancer |access-date=November 28, 2018 |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129013110/https://www.houstondynamo.com/post/2018/11/28/md-anderson-houston-dynamo-team-one-goal-end-cancer |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Inter Miami CF]]
|[[Royal Caribbean Group|Royal Caribbean]] (game – main)<br />Fracht Group (game – sleeve)<br />[[AutoNation]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 23, 2024 |title=South Florida Proud: Royal Caribbean Takes Center Stage on Inter Miami CF's Iconic Jerseys |work=Inter Miami CF |url=https://www.intermiamicf.com/news/south-florida-proud-royal-caribbean-takes-center-stage-on-inter-miami-cf-s-iconi |access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[LA Galaxy]]
|[[Herbalife]] (game – main)<br />[[Honey (company)|Honey]] (game – sleeve)
|{{sort|4.4|$4.4&nbsp;million}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 16, 2012 |title=Herbalife Renews Sponsorship With MLS Galaxy for a Record 10 Years, $44M |work=Sports Business Daily |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2012/03/16/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Galaxy.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=March 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317190410/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2012/03/16/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Galaxy.aspx |archive-date=March 17, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|[[Los Angeles FC]]
|[[Bank of Montreal]] (game – main)<br />[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] (game – sleeve)<br />[[Rockstar (drink)|Rockstar]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 26, 2021 |title=LAFC Announces FLEX Power Tools As Official Jersey Sponsor |work=LAFC |url=https://www.lafc.com/post/2021/03/26/lafc-announces-flex-power-tools-official-jersey-sponsor |access-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326160510/https://www.lafc.com/post/2021/03/26/lafc-announces-flex-power-tools-official-jersey-sponsor |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Minnesota United FC]]
|[[Target Corporation|Target]] (game – main)<br />[[Allianz]] (game – sleeve)<br />[[Blue Cross Blue Shield Association|Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 19, 2017 |title=Target becomes official MLS partner-Lands-Minnesota United jersey front |work=MLSsoccer.com |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/01/19/target-becomes-official-mls-partner-lands-minnesota-united-jersey-front |url-status=live |access-date=January 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125155127/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/01/19/target-becomes-official-mls-partner-lands-minnesota-united-jersey-front |archive-date=January 25, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|[[CF Montréal]]
|[[Bank of Montreal]] (game – main)<br />[[Telus Communications|Telus]] (game – sleeve)
|{{sort|4|US$4 million}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 15, 2011 |title=BMO sign multi-million deal with Montreal Impact |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/bmo_sign_multi-million_deal_with_montreal_impact/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714232321/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/bmo_sign_multi-million_deal_with_montreal_impact/ |archive-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[Nashville SC]]
|[[Renasant Bank|Renasant]] (game – main)<br />[[Hyundai Motor Company|Hyundai]] (game – sleeve)<br />Vanderbilt Health (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 18, 2020 |title=Nashville SC Unveils First Major League Soccer Jersey |work=NashvilleSC.com |publisher=Nashville SC Communications |url=https://www.nashvillesc.com/post/2020/01/18/nashville-sc-unveils-first-major-league-soccer-jersey |access-date=January 18, 2020 |archive-date=February 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229165041/https://www.nashvillesc.com/post/2020/01/18/nashville-sc-unveils-first-major-league-soccer-jersey |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[New England Revolution]]
|[[UnitedHealth Group|UnitedHealthcare]] (game – main)<br />[[Santander Bank|Santander]] (game – sleeve)<br />Socios.com (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite press release |title=UnitedHealthcare, New England Revolution Announce Partnership |date=April 22, 2011 |publisher=UnitedHealthcare |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110422005176/en/UnitedHealthcare-England-Revolution-Announce-Partnership |access-date=October 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819001721/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110422005176/en/UnitedHealthcare-England-Revolution-Announce-Partnership |archive-date=August 19, 2011 |via=[[Business Wire]] |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[New York City FC]]
|[[Etihad Airways]] (game – main)<br /> Capital Rx (game – sleeve)<br />[[NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 13, 2014 |title=New York City Football Club Takes Flight with Etihad Airways Partnership |work=New York City FC |url=http://www.nycfc.com/post/2014/11/12/new-york-city-football-club-takes-flight-etihad-airways-partnership |url-status=dead |access-date=November 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113184154/http://www.nycfc.com/post/2014/11/12/new-york-city-football-club-takes-flight-etihad-airways-partnership |archive-date=November 13, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[New York Red Bulls]]
|[[Red Bull]] (game – main)<br />Oanda (game – sleeve)
|Owns club
|-
|[[Orlando City SC]]
|[[Orlando Health]] (game – main)<br />Exploria (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orlando City locks in Orlando Health as healthcare partner and jersey sponsor for MLS |url=http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/sports/article.html/content/news/articles/bhsn/2013/11/18/orlando_city_locks_i.html |date=November 18, 2013 |publisher=[[News 13|News 13 Orlando]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305091505/http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/sports/article.html/content/news/articles/bhsn/2013/11/18/orlando_city_locks_i.html |archive-date=March 5, 2014 |access-date=February 27, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[Philadelphia Union]]
|[[Bimbo Bakeries USA]] (game – main)<br />[[Independence Blue Cross]] (game – sleeve)
|{{sort|3|$3&nbsp;million}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Union soccer team wins sponsorship from Bimbo bakery |url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20110111_Union_soccer_team_wins_sponsorship_from_Bimbo_bakery.html |date=January 11, 2011 |website=Philadelphia Daily News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115021621/http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20110111_Union_soccer_team_wins_sponsorship_from_Bimbo_bakery.html |archive-date=January 15, 2011 |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|[[Portland Timbers]]
|[[Tillamook County Creamery Association|Tillamook]] (game – main)<br />[[TikTok]] (game – sleeve)<br />[[Dutch Bros. Coffee|Dutch Brothers Coffee]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.timbers.com/news/portland-timbers-unveil-tillamook-as-jersey-partner | title=Portland Timbers unveil Tillamook as jersey partner }}</ref>
|-
|[[Real Salt Lake]]
|[[Intermountain Health|Select Health]] (game – main)<br />[[Intermountain Health]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 14, 2024 |title=Real Salt Lake & Utah Royals FC Unveil Major Long-Term "Community-Focused" Partnership With Intermountain Health |work=Real Salt Lake |url=https://www.rsl.com/utahroyals/news/real-salt-lake-utah-royals-fc-unveil-major-long-term-community-focused-partnersh|access-date=February 19, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[San Diego FC]]
|[[DirecTV]] (game – main)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{cite news |last=Finley |first=Ryan |date=July 18, 2024 |title=San Diego FC announces jersey sponsor ahead of first Major League Soccer season |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/07/18/san-diego-fc-announces-jersey-sponsor-ahead-of-first-major-league-soccer-season/ |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |accessdate=July 18, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[San Jose Earthquakes]]
|[[El Camino Hospital|El Camino Health]] (game – main)<br />Habbas Law (game – sleeve)<br />[[Udemy]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite web |title=NEWS: San Jose Earthquakes Score Big with Intermedia Cloud Communications Partnership |url=https://www.sjearthquakes.com/post/2020/01/22/news-san-jose-earthquakes-score-big-intermedia-cloud-communications-partnership |website=Earthquakes Communications |access-date=January 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713033836/https://www.sjearthquakes.com/post/2020/01/22/news-san-jose-earthquakes-score-big-intermedia-cloud-communications-partnership |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Seattle Sounders FC]]
|[[Providence Health & Services|Providence]] (game – main)<br />[[Emerald Queen Casino]] (game – sleeve)<br />[[Catholic Health Initiatives|CHI Franciscan]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=January 20, 2023 |title=Sounders announce partnership with Providence Swedish. Here's a look at the new jerseys. |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-announce-partnership-with-providence-swedish-heres-a-look-at-the-new-jerseys/ |access-date=January 22, 2023 |archive-date=January 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120222151/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-announce-partnership-with-providence-swedish-heres-a-look-at-the-new-jerseys/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Sporting Kansas City]]
|[[Compass Minerals]] (game – main)<br />[[Children's Mercy Hospital|Children's Mercy]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carp |first=Sam |date=February 11, 2022 |title=Sporting Kansas City name Compass Minerals as shirt sponsor in expanded deal |work=[[Sportspro]] |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/sporting-kansas-city-shirt-sponsor-compass-minerals-2028/ |access-date=February 11, 2022 |archive-date=February 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211235255/https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/sporting-kansas-city-shirt-sponsor-compass-minerals-2028/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[St. Louis City SC]]
|[[Nestlé Purina PetCare|Purina]] (game – main)<br />[[BJC HealthCare]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite press release |title=A partnership born and bred in St. Louis. |date=March 31, 2021 |publisher=St.Louis City SC |url=https://www.stlcitysc.com/purina/ |access-date=March 31, 2021 |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426151919/https://www.stlcitysc.com/purina/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|[[Toronto FC]]
|[[Bank of Montreal]] (game – main and sleeve) <br /> [[GE Appliances]] (game – sleeve)
|{{sort|4|C$4&nbsp;million+}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 28, 2013 |title=Toronto FC keeps bank's name on jerseys |work=Sports Business Journal |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2010/06/20100628/This-Weeks-News/Toronto-FC-Keeps-Banks-Name-On-Jerseys.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=July 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508214245/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2010/06/20100628/This-Weeks-News/Toronto-FC-Keeps-Banks-Name-On-Jerseys.aspx |archive-date=May 8, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]]
|[[Telus Communications|Telus]] (game – main)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |last=Adams |first=JJ |date=February 16, 2023 |title=Whitecaps get a new look and new sponsor as new season looms |work=The Province |url=http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Whitecaps+beat+Lions/4460075/story.html |access-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-date=April 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424024250/http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Whitecaps+beat+Lions/4460075/story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

In early 2005, MLS signed a 10-year, $150&nbsp;million sponsorship deal with [[Adidas]] for its jerseys and other equipment.<ref name="nytimes" /> In 2007, MLS teams started selling ad space on the front of jerseys to go along with the league-wide sponsorship partners who had already been advertising on the back of club jerseys, following the practice of international sport, specifically soccer. MLS established a floor of $500,000 per shirt sponsorship, with the league receiving a flat fee of $200,000 per deal.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weinbach |first=John |date=September 28, 2006 |title=Major League Soccer to sell ad space on jerseys |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06271/725842-28.stm |url-status=live |access-date=May 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428093129/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06271/725842-28.stm |archive-date=April 28, 2008}}</ref> As of July 2014, sixteen teams had signed sponsorship deals to have company logos placed on the front of their jerseys (and another team is directly owned by its shirt sponsor), and the league average from jersey sponsors was about $2.4&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crew catching up financially to rest of MLS |url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/09/13/scoring-goals.html |last=Wartenberg |first=Steve |website=The Columbus Dispatch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031064036/http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/09/13/scoring-goals.html |archive-date=October 31, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> Sleeve sponsorship was introduced to MLS in the 2020 season, with the teams able to sell a {{convert|2|by|2|in|mm|adj=on}} section on the right arm where the league logo patch is normally positioned.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 24, 2018 |title=MLS to add jersey sleeve advertisements in 2020 |work=NBC Sports |publisher=NBCUniversal |agency=Associated Press |url=https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/10/24/mls-to-add-jersey-sleeve-advertisements-in-2020/ |access-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025150213/https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/10/24/mls-to-add-jersey-sleeve-advertisements-in-2020/ |url-status=live }}</ref>	

The Los Angeles Galaxy made a profit in 2003 in their first season at The Home Depot Center,<ref name=profit/> and FC Dallas turned a profit after moving into Pizza Hut Park in 2005.<ref name=thriving/> For each season between 2006 and 2009, two to three MLS clubs (generally clubs with a soccer-specific stadium) were reported as profitable by the league.<ref name="thriving">{{Cite news |last=Longman |first=Jere |date=July 8, 2007 |title=Beckham Arrives to Find a Sport Thriving in Its Own Way |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/sports/soccer/08beckham.html?ex=1186372800&en=8ac84814e27d5891&ei=5070 |url-status=live |access-date=May 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611010332/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/sports/soccer/08beckham.html?ex=1186372800&en=8ac84814e27d5891&ei=5070 |archive-date=June 11, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Schwartz |first1=Peter J. |last2=Badenhausen |first2=Kurt |date=September 9, 2008 |title=Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Teams |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/2008/09/09/mls-soccer-beckham-biz-sports-cz_kb_0909mlsvalues.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925152556/http://www.forbes.com/2008/09/09/mls-soccer-beckham-biz-sports-cz_kb_0909mlsvalues.html |archive-date=September 25, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sounders FC's success resonates globally |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sounders/2013242565_soundersfc24.html |website=The Seattle Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202060935/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sounders/2013242565_soundersfc24.html |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> In November 2013, ''[[Forbes]]'' published a report that revealed that ten of the league's nineteen teams earned an operating profit in 2012, while two broke even and seven had a loss. Forbes estimated that the league's collective annual revenues were $494&nbsp;million, and that the league's collective annual profit was $34 million. Forbes valued the league's franchises to be worth $103&nbsp;million on average, almost three times as much as the $37&nbsp;million average valuation in 2008. The Seattle Sounders FC franchise was named the most valuable at $175&nbsp;million, a 483% gain over the $30 million league entrance fee it paid in 2009.<ref name="forbes.com" />

The trend in increased team values has continued with MLS teams seeing a strong 52% increase in franchise values from 2012 to 2014. In August 2015 ''Forbes'' updated its MLS franchise values with the most profitable team measuring $245 million and the least $105 million. The average value jumped from $103 to $157 million.<ref name="forbes-2015-08" /> In 2018, ''Forbes'' estimated Atlanta United FC is the most valuable MLS team, worth $330 million, while the Colorado Rapids are the lowest value, at $155 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Chris |title=Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Teams 2018: Atlanta United Debuts On Top |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2018/11/14/mls-most-valuable-teams-2018/?src=rss |access-date=November 14, 2018 |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130031806/https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2018/11/14/mls-most-valuable-teams-2018/?src=rss |url-status=live }}</ref> These valuations do not include the value of stadiums or training facilities owned by the respective clubs. A ''[[Sportico]]'' ranking of club valuations in 2024 placed 20 MLS teams in the top 50 globally, with [[Los Angeles FC]] the most valuable at $1.15&nbsp;billion (15th overall).<ref>{{cite news |last=Badenhausen |first=Kurt |date=May 8, 2024 |title=Most Valuable Soccer Clubs 2024: Man United Leads, Top 50 Worth $80B |url=https://www.sportico.com/feature/worlds-most-valuable-soccer-teams-football-club-1234721285/ |work=[[Sportico]] |accessdate=May 8, 2024}}</ref>

Prior to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], MLS teams typically used commercial flights to transport players and staff between matches, with only four [[charter flight]]s allowed under league rules.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Karstens-Smith |first=Gemma |date=April 26, 2019 |title=Montreal Impact, Vancouver Whitecaps voice concerns about Major League Soccer travel woes |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-montreal-impact-vancouver-whitecaps-voice-concerns-about-major-league/ |access-date=April 26, 2019 |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426141803/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-montreal-impact-vancouver-whitecaps-voice-concerns-about-major-league/ |url-status=live }}</ref> These commercial flights were often non-direct, requiring transfers and layovers, and contributed to long travel days.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ruthven |first=Graham |date=July 1, 2019 |title=Window or aisle, Zlatan? Why MLS teams still fly commercial |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/01/mls-flights-commercial-travel-soccer |work=The Guardian |accessdate=December 19, 2023}}</ref> The number of charters allowed for league matches was increased to eight legs prior to the 2020 season and lifted entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 6, 2020 |title=MLS players take off: charter flights, sharing media rights |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mls/2020/02/06/mls-players-agree-to-new-contract/41149717/ |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=December 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Patrick |date=August 9, 2022 |title=Whitecaps' COVID-19 'benefit?' Charters, for starters, give club a road lift |url=https://theprovince.com/sports/soccer/mls/vancouver-whitecaps/covid-19-benefit-charters-for-starters-give-club-a-road-lift |work=[[The Province]] |location=Vancouver |accessdate=December 19, 2023}}</ref> [[Sun Country Airlines]] has provided charter service to MLS teams since 2020 and became the league's official carrier in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sitaramiah |first=Gita |date=October 27, 2021 |title=Sun Country Airlines to be official carrier of Major League Soccer |url=https://www.startribune.com/sun-country-airlines-to-be-official-carrier-of-major-league-soccer/600110383/ |work=Star-Tribune |accessdate=December 19, 2023}}</ref>