Job Opportunities within MLS

VP of Communications - Red Bull New York (Secaucus, NJ)

POSITION PURPOSE:
The Vice President of Communications will be responsible for building the visibility and reputation of the organization in close collaboration with the Managing Director, other vice presidents, and staff.

Essential Functions:

• Plan and implement public relations strategies, policies and procedures for business/corporate and soccer related issues.
• Review copyright for all corporate communication materials.
• Develop ideas and opportunities for feature articles, interviews, presentations, and other public relations activities for publication.
• Develop and manage Public Relations and Community Services department budget.
• Provide leadership for all English and Spanish Public Relations and Community Service department Team Members. Includes: hiring, coaching, counseling, performance management, growth and development.
• Manage the TV and radio broadcast partnerships and negotiate all and any renewal terms.
• Development of community activities that maximize the Club’s reach and exposure.
• Responsible for player involvement in community-based activities.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of charitable foundation programs (in house or partners).
• Responsible for relationship with key youth soccer associations.
• Responsible for integrating Club activities into NY/NJ-area school programs.
• Responsible for all crisis management communication plans, and response planning.
• Manage all digital platforms including club websites as a partnership with the VP of Marketing.
• Act as first point of contact with RB Communications and RB Media House.
• Track and analyze media coverage to measure ongoing media relation success.
• Manage speaking engagements and speechwriting.

Inside Sales Representative - Colorado Rapids (Commerce City, CO)

OVERVIEW:
The Inside Sales Representative position focuses on selling season ticket packages for the Colorado Rapids. This entry-level position will train the individual in all aspects of ticket sales and service, while gaining valuable experience in the sports industry.
MINIMUM POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Actively sells Colorado Rapids full, half, and mini-season ticket packages, including an average minimum of 100 outbound phone calls per day.
• Calls past customers and cold-calls new leads to generate sales.
• Meets or exceeds monthly sales goals as set by the Manager, Inside Sales.
• Works closely with the service department to manage accounts and provide a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Maintains records in ticketing system according to departmental guidelines.
• Assists with game day responsibilities of the sales department, including meeting clients and staffing sales tables.
• Represents the Colorado Rapids in a positive and professional manner.

MLS

Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer). The league comprises 18 teams, 16 in the U.S. and two in Canada, and is scheduled to include 19 teams for the 2012 season, and 20 teams shortly thereafter. MLS represents the top tier of the American and Canadian soccer pyramids.

History:
Major League Soccer was founded in 1993 as part of the United States' bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The first season took place in 1996 beginning with 10 teams. Seasons run from late March or early April until November, with each team playing 30 games in the regular season. Eight teams compete in the postseason MLS Cup Playoffs culminating in the championship game, MLS Cup. In 1996, Major League Soccer's original ten teams, the Columbus Crew, D.C. United, the New England Revolution, the NY/NJ MetroStars, the Tampa Bay Mutiny, the Colorado Rapids, the Dallas Burn, the Kansas City Wiz, the Los Angeles Galaxy and the San Jose Clash.

Ownership:
MLS operates under a single-entity structure in which teams are centrally controlled, though not owned, by the league. In order to keep costs under control, revenues are shared throughout the league, player contracts are negotiated by the league, and ultimately players are contracted not with individual teams but with the league itself. The league fought a bitter legal battle with its players over its economic system, but this was eventually resolved with the players gaining some improved benefits in return for accepting the single entity structure. A court had also ruled that even absent their collective bargaining agreement, players could opt to play in other leagues if they were unsatisfied.

Profitability:
Major League Soccer lost more than $350 million between its founding and the year 2004, according to a report by BusinessWeek released that year. However, there have been positive signs of long-term profitability since 2004. As soccer-specific stadiums are built, ownership expands and television coverage increases, MLS has seen its revenues increase while minimizing costs. For example, the LA Galaxy was the first team to profit from the stadium revenue with the Home Depot Center and the next team to profit from the stadium revenue was FC Dallas who profit in 2005.

Business Strategies:
Recently "expansion" and "rebranding" have become buzzwords for the league and its fans. The league has renewed its emphasis on improving the quality of play by its teams via initiatives such as the Designated Player Rule and the creation of a league-wide youth development system. As well as continuing to bulid soccer specific stadiums.

EPL

The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier League is a corporation in which the 20 member clubs act as shareholders. Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 38 matches each, totalling 380 matches in the season. Most games are played on Saturdays and Sundays, with a few games played during weekday evenings. It is currently sponsored by Barclays Bank and therefore officially known as the Barclays Premier League.

History:
At the close of the 1991 season, a proposal for the establishment of a new league was tabled that would bring more money into the game overall. The Founder Members Agreement, signed on 17 July 1991 by the game's top-flight clubs, established the basic principles for setting up the FA Premier League. The newly formed top division would have commercial independence from the Football Association and the Football League, giving the FA Premier League license to negotiate its own broadcast and sponsorship agreements. The argument given at the time was that the extra income would allow English clubs to compete with teams across Europe.

Corporate Structure:
The Premier League is operated as a corporation and is owned by the 20 member clubs. Each club is a shareholder, with one vote each on issues such as rule changes and contracts. The clubs elect a chairman, chief executive, and board of directors to oversee the daily operations of the league.

Competition:
There are 20 clubs in the Premier League. During the course of a season (from August to May) each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 38 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The three lowest placed teams are relegated into the Football League Championship and the top two teams from the Championship, together with the winner of play-offs involving the third to sixth placed Championship clubs, are promoted in their place.

Financial Facts:
The Premier League has the highest revenue of any football league in the world, with total club revenues of €2.326 billion in 2008–09 (3,080,089.20 US Dollars) and is the second most profitable after the German Bundesliga. In 2010 the Premier League was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Premier League was recognized for its outstanding contribution to international trade and the value it brings to English football and the United Kingdom's broadcasting industry. The Premier League's gross revenue is regularly the fourth highest of any sports league worldwide, behind the annual revenues of the three most popular North American major sports leagues such as the National Football League, Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association, but ahead of the National Hockey League.