Austin FC got a haul of $1,075,000 worth of GAM on Thursday, and used part of it to answer a critical question that’s been lingering around Alex Ring for months.
The bulk of the GAM (General Allocation Money), $1 million worth, comes from Austin FC opting for one of two Roster Construction Models that brings $2 million worth of GAM a season — and therefore $1 million for this half-season. GAM, without getting too in the weeds on it, is an MLS-specific currency that clubs can use to aid in roster construction. While MLS is a salary cap league with official restrictions on how much a team can pay its roster of players, GAM is a mechanism that allows clubs to “buy down” salaries to reach certain cap-friendly thresholds.
An additional $75,000 of GAM (usable in 2025) came via one of the more traditional ways to secure it — a trade, in this case helping Atlanta United secure a 2024 international spot. Each year, every MLS team starts with eight international spots, but can trade with other teams willing to give them up. It can signal that the team trading for an international spot is about to make a move, but according to J. Sam Jones, my former Striker colleague who now excellently covers Atlanta United for Five Stripe Final, it’s just a case of the club keeping its options open.
