MLS is 30 years old - how did it go from an idea after the 1994 World Cup to become the 30-team league it is today?

Norm O'Reilly, co-author of a new book 'The Rise of Major League Soccer - Building a Global Giant' joins Simon to examine the growth of the league through difficult early years to the recent boom in valuations and the arrival of Lionel Messi.

Where does MLS go from here? Can it really become a top three league in the world? 

Canadian Soccer Business, which handles the commercial rights for the Canadian men and women's teams, along with the Canadian Premier League and runs the One Soccer broadcast platform have appointed James Johnson, the CEO of Football Australia, as their new chief executive.

Fresh of the announcement of his appointment, James talked to Simon Evans and The Soccer Business Podcast about his vision for the future of Canada's main soccer properties.

Dave Checketts is a sports business titan. He has served in C-suite roles or been an owner of the Utah Jazz, New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Liberty, Madison Square Garden (MSG), Legends Hospitality and the St. Louis Blues. Checketts founded MLS's Real Salt Lake.

He has extensive experience in private equity sports investment and is a director of Premier League club Burnley. He recently launched a $1.2 billion fund with the Eccles Family called the Cynosure | Checketts Sports Capital Fund.

Jordan Gardner, an expert on US investment in English and European soccer - who has hands on experience in such deals and in clubs bought by Americans, dives into the main issues and trends around the continuing growth of US ownership of clubs.

Soccer specific stadiums are sprouting up all across the country and leading stadium design expert Chris DeVolder is our guest as we explore the past, present and future of the American soccer venue.

USL President Paul McDonough talks about the league's ambitious plans for a new top-tier league and to introduce promotion and relegation for the first time in the US club soccer system.

Paul reveals interest from foreign investments and discusses the challenges and choices facing the league as it seeks to expand.

Breaking news on The Soccer Business Podcast - Cleveland is launching a new professional women's and men's teams and Gina Prodan Kelly CMO of Cleveland Soccer Group outlines all the plans on the show.

In yet more news - the women's team will play in a brand new new division two women's league - WPSL Pro. Gina explains the journey to finally bring Cleveland the pro soccer teams that the city has been craving.

Former Liverpool and EA Sports CEO Peter Moore is the founder/owner of Santa Barbara Sky in California, which will join the USL Championship next season. 

Peter reflects on his journey in the game and explains his plans for creating the new club  and the philosophy behind it. Dive into the lessons he learnt from his time working with the Fenway Sports Group at Anfield, his involvement in the Wrexham story and the hugely successful FIFA game.

In the first episode of our series THE PITCH, Simon Evans and Paul Woodhouse of The Soccer Business are joined by two guests with extensive experience of working in the area of brands and soccer: Shawn Francis, an executive creative director who has worked on soccer projects with the likes of Nike and EA Sports and Brian Quarles, Chief Creative Officer at rEvolution who has led a number of major soccer campaigns. 

Discover what the soccer brand and culture is? What do brands look for in soccer properties?  How clubs can become brands of a city? And so much more.

Alexi Lalas joins Simon Evans to discuss a range of issues surrounding American soccer as we approach one year out from the World Cup. MLS, USL, Pro/Rel, 'Pay to Play' and much, much more is examined in this in-depth interview.