http://www.indianexpress.com/news/aiff-looks-at-mls-format-to-make-ileague-cost-efficient/1083628/ ... yes, someone is looking to the MLS and their format.
Saving money on travel will hamper quality of play? The best way to build the I-League is to get WSW and cdskou off of its core committee.
Yes, but not fully. The media is referencing the MLS, the AIFF have no intention of really copying the MLS except for this which to me is sad. Other than conferences, India will still be gearing towards an English path. We will up the number of teams to 16 next year, 2 teams will be promoted while 2 other teams will be given direct-entry into the league (these 2 will not be allowed to be relegated). We are also expelling 2 PSU (non single-entity clubs) from the league in Air India and ONGC.
Popularity would go down more, thus less money, thus lower quality. Considering this is Indian football, the saved money from travel will probably just go into the pockets of the club officials.
Why would popularity go down if teams are playing regional rivals more often? On your second point, you're probably right. It's the Indian way.
Yes, the famous regional rivalry of Mohun Bagan-East Bengal which sees 90,000 fans every time they play each other which recently as November saw the match only last 45 minutes due to stones being thrown at the players and the police throwing back and a player being forced into a comma. That would be great to see 4 times a season. How about the rivalry of United Sikkim-Shillong Lajong in the North-Eastern Derby where in Sikkim only 8,000 showed up (mostly for free) and only 15,000 showed up in Shillong (for cheap, cheap prices). How about the Pune-Mumbai rivalry in the Maha Derby where 3,000 people show up... mostly for free. And then last, but not least, the Goan derbies between the 4 Goan teams where 6,000 is going to come and if your lucky 15,000. Did I not mention that once again it is for free. http://articles.timesofindia.indiat...4646_1_bagan-players-mohun-bagan-okolie-odafa http://www.istream.com/sports/watch/232318/Full-Match--United-Sikkim-vs-Shillong-Lajong
The point is that the rivalries wont allow the popularity to go up. That is mainly due to the lack of marketing already done.
It folded. Since then many of those players have either signed for new clubs or have retired. It was inevitable really. But we are giving it another go. This time on a national scale in 2014 with an IPL type league. This I believe will fail as well.