Major League Soccer is on the verge of a lockout.
If the league and the MLS Players Association can't come to terms on a deal concerning economic concessions for the 2020 season before 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, ESPN's Herculez Gomez reports a lockout will be initiated.
Former New England Revolution star Taylor Twellman joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Felger & Mazz on Monday to discuss the current situation in MLS and why he believes the league is missing a golden opportunity to return to action.
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"72 hours. Friday night, I got word that the players voted 'yes' and they were going to be the first league to kick off July 3. Literally, Sunday night at midnight my phone turns into 'the owners are thinking about locking out.'
"You are completely missing the window of opportunity. And I understand that it's not in the top three or four sports in this country, but it's on the precipice of being there with the younger generations. You are 100 percent missing the opportunity, and they can't get out of their own way.
"And by the way, in a global pandemic? If you're going to argue about future pay or play? You lose the paying customer. No one has time for that."
At a time in which fans are craving sports -- any sports, really -- now certainly would be the time for MLS to capitalize on the opportunity to gain new followers and grow the sport. Instead, as Twellman emphasizes, it looks like they may be heading in the opposite direction.
MLS play has been suspended since March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.