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National

Shifts in technology and media are changing the way we play, watch and understand sports. Business models are adapting and social change is forcing those in charge of teams and leagues to reconsider decades-old practices.

Sports

Charted: The rapid rise of Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer is poised to have 30 teams in less than three decades, faster than any other major sports league.

A pictogram detailing how many years it took a league to get to 30 teams. MLS only took 29 years, half as much as the 2nd shortest, the NBA. MLB took the longest, with 122 years.

Data: NBA, NHL, MLB, NFL, MLS; Chart: Rahul Mukherjee/Axios

Top Stories

Major League Soccer is poised to have 30 teams in less than three decades, faster than any other major sports league in North America.Driving the news: The MLS <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="awarded San Diego" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/17/america-soccer-growing-mls-expansion-usl-super-league" data-vars-content-id="e3b7b43f-b4ba-4c6b-9dc7-0fdbc381d820" data-vars-headline="Charted: The rapid rise of Major League Soccer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/17/america-soccer-growing-mls-expansion-usl-super-league" target="_self">awarded San Diego</a> an expansion franchise that&#x27;s set to begin play in 2025.

Sunday's sports stories

Charted: The rapid rise of Major League Soccer