Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber appears ready for a work stoppage, should talks with the players’ union not lead to a new deal by the Jan. 31 deadline. Speaking on a conference call with reporters Nov. 16 as part of his annual State of the League address, Garber said the league was not willing to yield on any of the principles that it felt had driven its growth the past 14 years.

“Let me be very very clear: We the league will not agree to a CBA that’s going to negatively impact our ability to grow the sport in the United States and Canada…we’re not going to compromise on any of the key issues in order to avoid a stoppage,” said Garber.

“I have no desire to get to that point and we’re going to work hard to avoid that but we’re going to do everything we need to do to make sure we can continue to maintain what has been a very strategic commitment to grow the sport in this country.”

Citing confidential talks the league is holding with the union, Garber did not identify the issues specifically, but they almost certainly relate to “cost certainty” of a league-controlled salary structure.

The commish is nevertheless optimistic a deal will get done. “I expect this will be a difficult agreement to finalize but I’m very confident will be able to reach a productive agreement with our players,” he said. “I know that both we and the union are committed to do that.”

Other highlights of the conference call:

• The success of the Seattle Sounders. “The launch of the Sounders will go down as one of the key moments in the history of the sport in this country,” Garber predicted. “Seattle gives us something we never had before, which is a real indication as to what the sport can be in this country…most importantly that team was just plain relevant.” Seeing the team’s success as “not a coincidence” Garber said the Sounders would serve as a case study for other clubs in the future.
• The emergence of the supporter. “We’re beginning to see a real evolution of the soccer fan in this country” to the point where “all these people who have grown up with the game now can get into stands and can replicate that aspect of the game that gets them very excited when they’re watching the EPL or La Liga on television. We now have that in Major League Soccer.” Garber saw this as a byproduct of league being around for 14 years, expansion, committed TV broadcasters, popular designated players and the development of its own facilities, among others.
• The Philadelphia Union are approaching 8,500 season tickets sold. The Chester stadium is on track for summer opening.
• The Western Conference final between LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo scored a 0.56 rating, one of the highest ever for MLS. Ratings increased on Fox Soccer Channel and ESPN. There was a slight decrease on Telefutura due to the loss of Mexican first division lead-ins.
• Attendance decreased by 2%, which Garber attributed to the weak economy. “Doesn’t concern me at all,” he said.
• “We believe in parity.” MLS does not plan to do away with playoffs or doing anything to significantly hamper the ability of a lower-seeded team to upset one of the top seeds. It may go to a UEFA-type away-goal rule or allow the better team to host the first game, however.
• “Today we believe we’re going to be a 20-team league.” The league has had productive conversations with Montreal to be the 19th team but “no active discussions of note for the 20th team and certainly don’t have a timetable for the 20th team.”
• “I scratch my head about” the split between the United Soccer Leagues and a breakaway group called the Team Owners Association, Garber said. He worked hard to bring both groups together and believes they both have issues that can be resolved.
• There is “support” inside league ofices to move MLS Cup away from a designated site and into a market where a team that earns the right to host it does so. Logistical issues remain but it sounds like this is a question of if, not when. “We think it’s a good idea but we’re still working through the details to see if we can pull it off and if we can when we can pull it off,” said Garber.
• “Not next year, no” single table.
• MLS will roll out a new digital initiative for the start of the 2010 season, in partnership with Microsoft, among others. “The media landscape continues to change,” said Garber. “We know the platforms and outlets are changing…we will be very committed, very innovative and very supportive of the new digital environment.”

Does that last one mean ASN can get our Twitterers credentialed? Just asking.