Major League Soccer (MLS) has implemented a new rule that allows teams to use designated players in some games. This rule allows teams to use one designated player per match, but teams are allowed to trade designated players. Teams may also use a designated player if the player is injured. The rule has no expiration date.
Major League Soccer’s Designated Player Rule
The soccer designated player rule is a new rule in Major League Soccer that allows clubs to sign elite players without breaking the salary cap. Prior to this rule, clubs had to sign all of their players within the salary cap, but under the designated player rule, clubs were allowed to sign three players without breaking the salary cap, as long as they fit within the club’s financial parameters.
Since the rule was introduced, the league has used international players. Atlanta United used a Venezuelan striker named Josef Martinez during the 2017 playoffs. In addition, the team used the Paraguayan attacking midfielder Miguel Almiron. And this season, Atlanta broke a record for a transfer fee by spending $15 million on Esequiel Barco.
The designated player rule has many benefits. For one, it allows MLS to compete with other European leagues in terms of young player salaries. This means that more young players can develop in the U.S. before jumping to other leagues with higher wages. It also helps the MLS to attract high-caliber players to the league.
The designated player rule was first implemented in 2007. It allows teams to pay a player salary over the maximum Salary Budget Charge per player on the roster. The maximum amount per player on the roster is $612,500, so a DP’s salary cannot exceed that amount. The designated player rule also allows teams to sign young designated players, which are younger than 23 years old. This mechanism also helps clubs meet budget constraints and allows teams to sign a young player without having to worry about paying luxury tax.
The proposed rules change will make it easier for teams to keep under-23 DPs. This would ensure that younger players are able to make more money than players who are over-23. This would also help prevent teams from creating DP triumvirates, such as Toronto FC.
The Beckham Rule has also helped teams attract high-profile players. Players such as Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney were able to earn more money as designated players in the MLS. Other notable DPs have included Tim Howard, Wayne Rooney, and Tim Cahill.
High-profile players who have been designated players
In the last decade, there have been 16 players who have become designated players. Of those, four were already on the roster of their current club – Jaul Ruidiaz and Shalrie Joseph – but twelve have only joined the league this season. One team, the Vancouver Whitecaps, has the potential to claim two new DPs this season.
The designated players will be expected to perform well in MLS, but they have a lot of work ahead of them. For example, Carlos Vela and Josef Martinez missed much of last season due to injury, but they are expected to bounce back in 2021. Carlos Vela, who was named a Golden Boot winner in 2016, will be expected to play more games in 2021 after missing most of the season. Josef Martinez and Alan Franco will be expected to contribute in MLS.
Other notable DPs include Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans. These players were able to sign contracts with high-profile teams like Toronto FC and Red Bull New York and earn massive salaries. They also made local legends in their respective cities. Robbie Keane and Julian De Guzman have also been designated players.
Although they are not terribly productive right now, there are plenty of high-profile players who could be sold for a lot of money in the future. Medina and Rossi have both been linked with $10 million transfer fees, and it is possible that these players could be the main offensive players of their teams.
Maxi Rodriguez is another player who has been a high-profile designated player in the MLS. The South American player has emerged as a mentor to young South American players and has developed a great relationship with Taty Castellanos. His leadership qualities and commitment to excellence on and off the field have made him an invaluable asset for the NYCFC team.
Cost of signing a DP
The cost of signing a designated player is now $350,000 a year for the NHL. This is the same as the salary cap, but teams can reduce it by allocating some of the allocation money to the player. This allows teams to sign a young player who is not yet 23 years old to the roster and avoid paying the luxury tax.
The rule was implemented to encourage more players to join the league. However, the rule has tended to favor big market teams and franchises with deep pockets. The number of DPs soared from seventy-one percent in 2012 to 81 percent in 2017. In 2017, the majority of DPs were foreign players.
While the age requirement is no longer as strict as it used to be, it is still quite high. The cost to sign a young designated player is $150,000. It can only be lowered with allocation funds, and the club doesn’t have to purchase a third DP roster slot. The age of the player, which is based on their birth year, is also considered. However, it is important to note that a player’s salary can be significantly less than the designated player threshold. This includes the compensation from their MLS contract but does not include any bonuses or individual team compensation.
The Beckham Rule has changed the rules regarding designated players. Each club will be allocated two designated player slots. However, a club can add a third designated player by paying the League an additional $150,000. As of 2010, the league has no expiration date for this rule.
A player who is under the age of 23 must be under the salary cap before they can be signed to a contract. The MLS has the right to change the terms of these contracts in the future. The salary cap is one of the major factors determining the cost of signing a designated player.
The Beckham rule was implemented in 2007, and it allowed the LA Galaxy to sign David Beckham for a guaranteed salary of $6.5 million. This new rule allows teams to sign superstars.
Impact on game-specific attendance
The impact of designated players on game-specific attendance is not clear. While the presence of David Beckham had a huge impact on attendance, other designated players had no dramatic effect. Given this, the MLS should reevaluate the designated player rule. It has the potential to increase attendance, especially for intra-league games.
One study investigated the impact of the designated player rule on game-specific attendance in major league soccer (MLS) stadiums. The study found that regular-season on-field performance was positively correlated with attendance, but the returns were smaller for newer teams. The study also found that soccer-specific stadiums and stadium age were associated with a positive relationship with attendance. However, income was not a significant determinant of attendance, despite being a strong predictor of game-specific attendance. Similarly, other factors such as the presence of other major-league franchises and the presence of designated players did not significantly affect game-specific attendance.
Other studies have found that the designated player rule reduces overall attendance by about 2%. This result has been confirmed by several studies including an analysis in the Quarterly Journal of Economics and the Journal of Sport Management. In the U.S., the impact of the designated player rule on game-specific attendance has been studied by a group of academics.
