MLS: Crucial difference that means Bundesliga success might not translate

The Bundesliga’s success upon its resumption has given leagues around the world hope for when they return to play. However, there is a crucial difference to MLS that means the Bundesliga’s success might not translate.

Every sports league has its eye on the Bundesliga. It is the first major sports league to return to action following postponement due to COVID-19. And now two weeks in, the German league has been an unquestioned success.

Of course, not everything has been perfect. The games are not always as entertaining without fans, players have been sometimes a little confused with the protocols, especially during celebrations, and many of the commentaries have come remotely from watching a screen, which has been noticeable at times.

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However, this was never going to be football back to normal. This was never going to be as enjoyable as what we had become accustomed to. In reality, getting an 80% product back on televisions is what leagues are hoping for, and for the most part, the Bundesliga have achieved precisely that.

For other top-five European leagues except Ligue 1 which has already called their season quits, especially the Premier League which is hugely dependent on massive broadcast deals which it needs to fulfil if clubs are not going to be pushed to the brink, have been buoyed by the Bundesliga’s success.

Other sports will have seen German football thriving and hoped that they can yet replicate the same process. Major League Soccer is no different as they press forward with plans for a tournament-style competition based at the ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando.

The current plan for MLS is that games will be played behind closed doors and be structured in a World Cup-style tournament with players and coaches self-quarantining for around eight weeks in hotels throughout the resort in Florida. This will not recoup the lost matchday revenue, but MLS will at least be able to honour portions of its broadcast deals.

But — and it is a rather pertinent but — there is one crucial difference between the Bundesliga and MLS that pertains to the enjoyment of watching them: the quality of play.

The Bundesliga is one of the highest-standard leagues in world football. When watching a game, you are watching some of the best players and teams in the world. There are brilliant coaches, superb tactical elements to the matches, brilliant pieces of skill, wonderful goals, and, crucially, enticing, enthralling games that you want to watch irrespective of the atmosphere.

MLS must be honest and ask itself if it can replicate the same level of quality and entertainment once all the pyrotechnics, the fans, the atmosphere, the distractions are taken away. How entertaining would an MLS game be if it was played on a random field? Would you stop to watch?

The Bundesliga is a high enough standard to be entertaining. That is why it works behind closed doors. There are questions to be asked whether MLS can replicate that.