Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber recently signed a four-year contract extension through the 2027 season.
A league representative confirmed to Sportico on Wednesday that owners voted in July to extend Garber.
Garber, 67, has held the position since 1999 and his previous contract expired after the 2023 campaign.
Expansion fees during Garber’s tenure have ballooned from about $5 million to a whopping $500 million, while the average value of an MLS club has soared to $678 million, per Sportico. Four teams are worth more than $1 billion.
The number of franchises has grown from 12 to 30 and attendance has climbed from 2.7 million to 11 million since the 1999 season.
Garber also played an important role in helping the United States, Canada and Mexico land the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He also negotiated the league’s 10-year, $2.5 billion media deal with Apple.
MLS said in a statement: “The announcement of Commissioner Garber’s contract extension comes at time of tremendous momentum for soccer in North America.”
Garber’s 25-year tenure is the second-longest among active commissioners in the major U.S. sports leagues. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has held his role since 1993.
