MLB outperforms MLS in revenue, attendance, player salaries, and global viewership, indicating a more established and financially robust league. However, MLS is showing growth in sponsorship revenue and global reach, suggesting potential for future expansion and increased competitiveness.
| Attribute | Major League Soccer | MLB |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Teams | 30 (27 in the United States, 3 in Canada) | 30 (29 teams in the United States and 1 in Canada) |
| Geographic Coverage | Domestic (United States and Canada) | 29 teams in the United States and 1 in Canada |
| Season Length | Late February/early March to mid-October (34 games per team) | 162 games per team. Lasts approximately six months, from late March/early April to late September/early October. |
| Playoff Structure | 18 teams qualify; Wild Card, Round One (best-of-3), Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, MLS Cup | 12 teams make the MLB playoffs, six from each league (American and National). Each league has three division winners and three Wild Card teams. The playoff format includes the Wild Card Series, Division Series, League Championship Series, and World Series. |
| Media Coverage | TV: Fox Sports (US), TSN and RDS (Canada); Streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | Baseball games are broadcast on television, radio, and the internet throughout North America and in several other countries. Key media partners include ESPN, FOX, TBS and MLB Network. Streaming is available through services like MLB.TV, ESPN+, and Apple TV+. |
| Average Attendance | 23,240 (2024 regular season) | Highest total season attendance of any sports league in the world in 2024, drawing 71.4 million spectators. The 2024 World Series had an average attendance of 50,621 per game, the highest since 2003. |
| Revenue Generated | Team revenues averaged $32 million in 2017; MLS gross central revenue was $364 million in 2017 | MLB's gross revenues reached a record $12.1 billion in 2024. In 2023, MLB teams earned an average of $378 million in revenue. |
| Player Salaries | Average annual salary (2025): $354,390; Maximum salary: $743,750; Senior roster minimum: $104,000 | The average MLB salary in 2023 was $4.9 million, an 11.1% increase from the previous season. Highest paid players in 2025 include Shohei Ohtani ($70 million) and Juan Soto ($51 million). |
| Franchise Value | Average franchise value (2022): $582 million; Average value (2025): $690 million | The average MLB franchise is valued around $2.6 billion in 2025. The New York Yankees are the most valuable team, with an estimated value of $8.2 billion. |
| Sponsorship Deals | League-level sponsorship revenue (2024): $665 million; Century 21 is the first official real estate services partner. | Team sponsorship revenue has grown to nearly $1.9 billion in 2024. Key sponsorship categories include construction & industrial, automotive, and insurance. |
| Ticket Prices | Not available | Vary based on team, matchup, seat location, and demand. Regular-season tickets can start as low as $15-$30 for general admission or upper-level seats. |
| Global Viewership | Increasing global reach through media deals | The 2024 World Series had a global viewership exceeding 30 million across North America and Asia. It was available in over 203 countries and territories. Viewership in Japan has also grown significantly. |