The first one is, simply, that MLS is back!
As announced Wednesday morning, the league will return to play with a tournament held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL that kicks off on July 8. All 26 MLS clubs are set to participate in what will be a FIFA World Cup-style competition that includes a group stage, a knockout stage, and championship match set to be played on Aug. 11.
With the league's long-awaited return to play now less than a month away, here are six more key takeaways on the upcoming tournament and its format:
By the Numbers
From July 8 through Aug.