On April 6, 1996, MLS was born. A crowd of 31,683 saw San Jose Clash beat DC United 1-0 thanks to Eric Wynalda's 88th-minute goal, and much has changed two decades on.
One man in the sell-out Spartan Stadium crowd that day was Chris Wondolowski, current San Jose Earthquakes captain, all-time top scorer and USA international. The occasion made a clear impression on the 13-year-old, who is now fifth in the all-time MLS scorers list with 112 goals, 32 behind leader Landon Donovan.
He played in the 20th anniversary match on Saturday evening, a 1-1 draw against DC United at the Earthquakes' new Avaya Stadium courtesy of another 88th-minute San Jose goal, in front of their 18th straight sell-out crowd.
The Earthquakes epitomise the rise of MLS in recent years. Their 29 per cent rise in attendances from 2014 to 2015, helped by their own exclusive stadium, aided the league's overall 12.5 per cent rise, the largest in its history.
The total MLS gate has more than doubled to 7.3m since David Beckham first arrived at LA Galaxy in 2007, and on the pitch, the product has matched the growth.
The teams are more international than ever, the players arrive from overseas younger, youth academies are developing and the competitiveness remains. Wondolowski, now 33, has seen it all since making his debut in 2005.
"The league just keeps growing exponentially, it's amazing to see the growth and development of each team and each player," Wondolowski told Sky Sports. "The teams are so deep, the product out there just continues to grow.
"The league reaches so far globally now, with Sky Sports as well, it's all over the world. It's a huge thing, and the players we're bringing in too match that."
Passionate and organised supporters' groups have added colour to what was previously a seen as merely a 'spectator' sport in the US, and the league sits ninth in average attendance figures across world league football, ahead of Eredivisie, the Championship and both the Argentine and Brazilian top flights.
Back in 1996, it was the noise and camaraderie that struck a chord with Wondolowski.
"It was fun to watch it, it was just loud," he recalls. "I remember being excited for professional soccer in the area, and there was still the buzz of the 1994 World Cup.
"Playing soccer is what we strived for. I remember going to Grizzlies (indoor soccer) games before that, and I thought it was a cool thing to have professional soccer.
"It was crazy, hectic. We got there early for tailgate, and there was just people everywhere. I think it's crazy to see where it has gone. It has continued to take these strides. It's amazing.
"It's great to have a stadium to call our own, for the fans, the team and the community. It gives us a sense of identity, and I love playing there. The fans drive us through the 90 minutes, it's great to see."
Two years after the World Cup in 1994, US soccer fans had an appetite for a major professional league, cue the birth of MLS.
Jump forward to now, and promising national team performances both in the women's and men's game means the hunger for soccer is arguably at an all-time high, and this summer's US-hosted Copa America tournament gives the game another chance to reinforce its ever-growing status in American sport.
Jurgen Klinsmann's national side have been in and out of form since exiting the World Cup at the last-16 stage in 2014, but Wondolowski is excited for the summer festival of football, and says the concern surrounding the US side is solely from outside the camp.
"The Copa America is a great tool to have to show the fans some great soccer, not only from the US team but to have the South American players, their teams and some of the best players in the world, to see them up close. We don't always get that opportunity here.
"Hopefully people can take advantage of it because it's a special thing that doesn't happen often.
"Any time you are with the national team you have to play at a high level, even the training is very demanding. I always try to play to the best of my ability because you want to be out there. You take every practice and every shot seriously.
"It's always a transition period (in national team football), and in any cycle there are always ups and downs, it's how you deal with it."
Klinsmann's transition period since Brazil has been rocky; wins against Germany, Mexico and the Netherlands have been levelled out by defeats against Jamaica, Panama and Guatemala.
They are close to qualifying for Russia 2018, but the next challenge will be to get through a less than desirable Copa America group against Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay.
"There's always going to be panic moments, but I don't think the team is panicking, and I know for sure the coach isn't, and to a player everyone believes in the system and believes in each other.
"It's kind of funny to see everybody around it very nervous and very critical. But it's part of it, and it's how you rebound from it that makes the team."
For Wondolowski personally, Donovan's record is not yet in his sights. Three goals in four appearances this season edges him closer, and shows the 33-year-old's touch in front of goal remains.
"Right now I can't reach it, I can't reach it in a game, I probably can't reach it in a year, so right now it's not even a thought.
"I enjoy coming out here every day, I really do, I look forward to coming to training and I enjoy the game. It's what drives me.
"It also helps to have great team-mates around me who have helped me along the way, again, that's the joy of it, and it keeps me going."