Mark Abbott

Major League Soccer, armed with its massive Apple sponsorship, the imminent arrival of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, the hosting of the COPA America tournament in 2024, and the signing of the game’s GOAT, Lionel Messi, could make MLS one of the world’s biggest leagues and one, within the next five years, capable of keeping credible company with European leagues such as La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and Bundesliga. InThe Rise of Major League Soccer: Building a Global Giant, experienced sports business experts Rick Burton and Norm O’Reilly dig into the slow but sure growth of Major League Soccer in North America and the advent of major European teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea, FC Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and others attracting huge fan bases in the United States. Additionally, they detail how the MLS is building a global sports entity which is already commanding international attention from rival leagues by prioritizing digital marketing, international media platforms, creative global partnerships, investment in superstar players, and rapid expansion.

At one point in time, East St. Louis was the boomtown of the St. Louis metropolitan area, promising to be both a hub of industrial markets and a desirable residential area. In 1960, it was honored with the All-America City designation, yet today, it has been dubbed the most distressed small city in the country. Comprising a selection of insightful essays, The Making of an All-America City covers East St. Louis's turbulent history over the past century and a half, from the Mississippi River to racial tensions, industrial decline, and the city's enduring cultural impact. This book is the first in the East St. Louis Sesquicentennial Series, which aims to examine the city's influence, document and preserve its history, and provide meaningful reference for historians to come.