CLASS OF 2018: Don Garber Tribute Video and Induction Speech

Don Garber was named Commissioner of Major League Soccer in 1999 after 16 years at the National Football League where he served in a variety of senior leadership positions. During his tenure, MLS has expanded from 10 to 26 clubs, added 22 new owners and secured long-term broadcast agreements with ESPN, FOX and Univision along with major broadcasters in Canada, Europe, Asia and South America.  Garber has also led efforts to develop 19 soccer stadiums in the United States and Canada, and five more soccer venues will open in the next few years.  In addition, Garber serves as CEO of Soccer United Marketing, the commercial arm of MLS and multiple soccer properties, including U.S. Soccer. In 2011, the Los Angeles Times named Garber one of the nation’s top sports commissioners. He has been named among the top-50 most influential people in sports business by the Sports Business Journal every year since 2005. The Queens, N.Y. native was originally elected into the Hall of Fame in 2016 but wished to be enshrined this year to honor the Hunt family as part of the celebrations surrounding the opening of the new NSHOF in Frisco.