Ideas for MLS League Design [Superthread] IV

Discussion in 'MLS: Expansion' started by Sport Billy, May 27, 2014.

  1. RalleeMonkey

    RalleeMonkey Member+

    Aug 30, 2004
    here
    I like it, but within that structure, I'd preserve the rivalry games.
     
  2. Initial B

    Initial B Member

    Jan 29, 2014
    Club:
    Ottawa Fury
    That's the point. It *is* pro/rel, just not naming it that. Since both Conferences would be considered Div 1, there wouldn't need to be any separate salary cap levels or rules, but well-run teams and ownership that wants to spend would end up in the National Conference while the cheap owners and dumpster fire clubs would end up in the Continental Conference until they got their acts together. It would be better competition all around.

    Prior to this point, MLS would be at 18 clubs per East/West conference, precluding inter-conference play. The public would get used to that and probably wouldn't bat an eye at realignment. Casual fans wouldn't realize that de-facto pro/rel had been implemented while purists could rejoice while snickering behind the backs of the casuals.
     
  3. Sport Billy

    Sport Billy Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 25, 2006
    If they stay in the same division, it is NOT pro/rel.
     
  4. Eleven Bravo

    Eleven Bravo Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Jul 3, 2004
    SC
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Again, I’d say that I’d like to see pro/rel between USL championship and USL League One... I believe those league could withstand pro/rel and would allow struggling teams to catch their breath in the lower division or be rewarded for excellence.

    Also, I believe some of the USL championship teams are going to need to drop down; to help stabilize the USL league One and offer greater completion in the the Championship.

    As a model, I’ll say all the Reserve teams need to get knocked down to USL1 to start and they can earn their way up....

    WEST
    1. Las Vegas Lights
    2. Phoenix Rising FC
    3. San Diego Loyal SC
    4. El Paso Locomotive
    5. New Mexico United
    6. Oklahoma City Energy FC
    7. San Antonio FC
    8. FC Tulsa Roughnecks
    9. Indy Eleven
    10 Louisville City FC
    11. East Bay
    12. Des Moines
    13. Detroit [Expansion]
    14. Cleveland [Expansion]
    15. Milwaukee [Expansion]
    16. Riverside [Expansion]

    EAST
    1. Charleston Battery
    2. Hartford Athletic
    3. Tampa Bay Rowdies
    4. Pittsburgh Riverhounds
    5. Birmingham Legion FC
    6. North Carolina FC (Raleigh FC)
    7. Memphis 901 FC
    8. Miami FC
    9. Buffalo
    10. Rhode Island
    11. New Orleans [Expansion]
    12. Baltimore [Expansion]
    13. Jacksonville [Expansion]
    14. Hampton Roads [Expansion]
    15. New York - Brooklyn, Long Island, Staten Island [Expansion]
    16. Greenville Triumph [Promoted]

    [Dropped to USL1: LA Galaxy II, Orange County SC, Portland Timbers, Reno 1868, Sacramento Republic FC II, Tacoma Defiance, Austin Bold FC, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Real Monarchs, Rio Grande Valley Toros, Loudoun United, New York Red Bulls II, Philadelphia Union II, Saint Louis, Sporting Kansas City II, Queensboro FC, Chicago, Charlotte Independence, Atlanta United II]
     
  5. Sport Billy

    Sport Billy Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 25, 2006
    Some good ideas. However, I'd like to see all of the affiliated teams playing in a league of their own under the MLS banner (Think AAA baseball) rather than competing with USL teams.
     
  6. Eleven Bravo

    Eleven Bravo Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Jul 3, 2004
    SC
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It’s sad but I predict that there won’t be any more expansion, primarily due to Covid, under Garber’s reign. I could see us go another 10 years before we enter the next round of expansion, which isn’t all bad, considering teams can solidify their existence in the mean time. More so, in that time, I imagine the USL Championship will be the ideal avenue for new expansion, and give those teams to solidify also.

    MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
    Western Conference:
    Southwest
    : LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, Houston Dynamo, Austin FC, FC Dallas
    West-Central: Colorado Rapids, Sporting Kansas City, Real Salt Lake, Chicago Fire, Saint Louis
    Northwest: Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, San Jose Earthquakes, Sacramento Republic

    Eastern Conference:
    Northeast: DC United, Philadelphia Union, New York Red Bulls, New York City FC, New England Revolution
    East-Central: Minnesota United, Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, Toronto FC, Montreal Impact
    Southeast: Atlanta United, Nashville SC, Inter Miami, Orlando City SC, Charlotte FC

    Schedule:
    Play every team ONCE, alternating home/away each season (29 games). Plus, play every conference game again, alternating home/away, (+4 games).
    33 games.

    USL CHAMPIONSHIP:
    Western Conference
    :
    North:
    1. East Bay
    2. Reno 1868
    3. Fresno **
    4. Ventura County **
    5. San Fernando Valley **
    6. Boise **

    South:
    1. Phoenix Rising
    2. Las Vegas Lights
    3. San Antonio FC
    4. San Diego Loyal SC
    5. Orange County SC
    6. Inland Empire **

    Central:
    1. El Paso Locomotive
    2. New Mexico United
    3. Oklahoma City Energy FC
    4. FC Tulsa
    5. Des Moines
    6. Union Omaha (promoted)

    Eastern Conference:
    North:
    1. Hartford Athletic
    2. Pittsburgh Riverhounds
    3. Rhode Island
    4. Buffalo
    5. Rochester Rhinos (promoted)
    6. Baltimore **

    South:
    1. Birmingham Legion
    2. Charleston Battery
    3. Memphis 901
    4. Jacksonville (moved from Miami FC) **
    5. North Carolina FC (Raleigh FC)
    6. Tampa Bay Rowdies

    Central:
    1. Indy Eleven
    2. Louisville City FC
    3. Detroit **
    4. Cleveland **
    5. Milwaukee **
    6. New Orleans **

    Schedule:
    -Play inside East/west division for home/away (34 games).
    -No extra games inside of conference for now.

    USL LEAGUE 1:
    Western Conference:

    North:
    1. Tacoma Defiance
    2. Timbers 2
    3. Sacramento Republic 2 **
    4. Earthquakes 2**
    5. Whitecaps 2**
    6. Stockton // Modesto **
    7. Bakersfield // Victorville **
    8. Northwest - West of Cascade Range (Eugene?) **
    9. Northwest - East of Cascade Range (Spokane?) **
    10. California Central Coast (Santa Barbara?)**

    South:
    1. LA Galaxy II
    2. Austin Bold FC
    3. Rio Grande Valley FC
    4. North Texas SC
    5. Los Angeles FC 2**
    6. FC Tucson
    7. Central Texas (Waco?) **
    8. Dallas Metro (Fort Worth?) **
    9. East Texas (Corpus Christi?) **
    10. West Texas (Lubbock?) **

    Central:
    1. Saint Louis FC
    2. Sporting Kansas City II (Swope Park Rangers)
    3. Colorado Springs Switchbacks
    4. Real Monarchs
    5. Chicago Fire 2 **
    6. Colorado // Wyoming (Fort Collins?) **
    7. Kansas (Wichita?) **
    8. Arkansas // Louisiana // Mississippi (Little Rock?)**
    9. Ozarks // Missouri // Southern Illinois (Springfield MO ?) **
    10. Dakotas // Iowa // Nebraska (Sioux Falls?) **

    Eastern Conference:
    North:
    1. Loudon United FC
    2. New York Red Bulls 2
    3. Philadelphia Union 2 (Bethlehem Steel)
    4. Queensboro FC
    5. New England Revolution 2
    6. Richmond Kickers
    7. New York (Long Island?)
    8. Mid-Atlantic (Virginia Beach?)
    9. Upstate NY (Syracuse?)
    10. NH // VT // ME // MA (Worcester?)

    South:
    1. Charlotte Independence
    2. Greenville Triumph
    3. Chattanooga Red Wolves
    4. Atlanta United 2 (Cobb County United)
    5. Fort Lauderdale CF
    6. Orlando City B
    7. South Georgia Tormenta FC
    8. Nashville SC 2 **
    9. Florida (Cape Coral?)
    10. Deep/Upper South (Greensboro?)

    Central:
    1. Minnesota 2 **
    2. Crew 2 **
    3. Forward Madison
    4. Toronto FC 2
    5. Impact 2 **
    6. FC Cincinnati 2 **
    7. Dayton **
    8. Grand Rapids **
    9. Fort Wayne **
    10. West Virginia **

    Schedule:
    -Play inside sub conference only. 3 games against each opponent, home, away, and alternating home/away each season = 27 games.
    ————-

    -Note: I relegated reserve teams to League One status.
    -Note: ** = expansion.
     
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  7. Chicago76

    Chicago76 Member+

    Jun 9, 2002
    I think they’ll keep expanding as long as someone can provide a stadium and a fee. Because that is the way it has worked every other time we think they’ll tap the brakes. I do like your format. But if future expansion is a possibility, I think an uneven 4 division format could win the day:

    West (8): LA 1, LA2, SLC, Sacramento, San Jose, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver.

    North Central (7): Colorado, KC, Minnesota, STL, Chicago, Columbus, Cincinnati.

    South (8): Austin, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Orlando.

    Northeast (7): New England, Philly, NY 1, NY 2, DC, Montreal, Toronto.

    Play everyone in your division home/away. Play everyone else once alternating home and away every other year. Clubs in 7 team divisions have 35 base matches (12 division + 23 other). Clubs in 8 team base divisions have 36 base matches (14 division + 22 other). Give the clubs in the 7 team divisions one additional match.

    Do away with conferences. Top 3 teams in each division in the playoffs. 0 to 4 wildcards from next highest point totals regardless of division. Geographically this is cleaner. Colorado is the oddball, but they’re always an oddball (nearest team is an 8 hr drive). It’s also easier to realign this while keeping continuity of they go to 32 or 36.
     
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  8. Eleven Bravo

    Eleven Bravo Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Jul 3, 2004
    SC
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I love expansion. I would like to see every state and major metro area have a MLS,
    or at least a USLC team (or USL1 at a minimum). That needs to be the goal. Because we will never fully reach our potential until we do so.

    BUT... This freak pandemic is going to put a pause on some things. I’ve never been one of those who said MLS should stop expanding before it even reached 20 teams. Actually, I thought it hurt MLS more to be that small. Once it reached 24 teams, then expansion started becoming more and more of a luxury, and we rightfully rode the wave of enthusiasm to 30 teams... now, we’re dealing with the financial crisis of the pandemic, and I don’t know what potential owner is going to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into a spectator sport that cannot allow spectators into the stadium. I believe we’re going to have to recover first. We’re going to have to let Austin, Nashville, Sacramento, Miami, Charlotte, and Saint Louis have a few years in the spotlight once things open back up too, and make sure they’re stabilized.

    When that happens... and I believe the WC 2026 is going to be a lighting rod for new expansion. We’ll see what happens.
     
    RalleeMonkey repped this.
  9. Eleven Bravo

    Eleven Bravo Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Jul 3, 2004
    SC
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What I believe could happen....

    Phase 1: the Pre-World Cup years (now - 2026)
    -We recover financially from Covid.
    -We prioritize MLS u23 league and youth development.
    -We stabilize the USL:
    ...expand in key markets that are missing pro soccer... i.e. Detroit, New Orleans, Baltimore, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Milwaukee, etc.
    ...Improve quality on the field
    ...Initiate HGP
    ...Help USL teams field their own reserve and academy teams.
    ...Focus on controlled stadium plans in professional stadiums
    ...Improve TV/media
    ...Increase advertisement
    ...Seek committed ownership groups and dangle the possible MLS expansion carrot.

    Phase 2: The World Cup Years (2025 - 2030)
    -If all is well...the economy has recovered, ownership groups want in, MLS is stable, USL is stable.
    -I envision a meeting with Garber and a league of owners from USL. And he proposes the start of MLS2.
    -There would be higher standards than USLC...specifically teams need to prove they could compete in MLS on/off the field. The teams that can’t meet this standard join USL1.
    -If MLS can get at least 10 teams to start, then it happens. If not, the idea goes on the shelf.

    Right now, a hypothetical, inaugural MLS2 league could look like...

    West: San Diego Loyal, Las Vegas Lights, Phoenix Rising, New Mexico United, San Antonio FC, Oklahoma City Energy

    East: Detroit, New Orleans, Indy Eleven, Louisville City, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Birmingham Legion


    Obviously, you can add/subtract who’s on your list... but you get the idea. Like anything, it would likely start small and grow. But the main thing - even though this MLS2 would cherry pick a lot of USL teams, the idea is to pick expansion markets that could feasibly make the leap into MLS.

    Phase 3: Assessment of Further Expansion and/or Promotion/Relegation (2030 - 2040)
    -Depending on the success of Phase 2, there would be a meeting of sorts to discuss further expansion or if the league was ready for promotion/relegation.
    -There would be a lot of moving parts that we cannot see now, but there would need to be evidence that MLS teams could survive a drop, and promoted teams could handle the promotion.
    -There would still have to be training wheels in this process, and it would not be a pure European style promotion/relegation system.
     
    RalleeMonkey repped this.
  10. Eleven Bravo

    Eleven Bravo Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Jul 3, 2004
    SC
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    MLS
    MLS West:
    1. Austin FC
    2. Colorado Rapids
    3. FC Dallas
    4. Houston Dynamo
    5. Sporting Kansas City
    6. LA Galaxy
    7. Los Angeles FC
    8. Minnesota United
    9. Portland Timbers
    10. Real Salt Lake
    11. Sacramento Republic
    12. Saint Louis City FC
    13. San Jose Earthquakes
    14. Seattle Sounders
    15. Vancouver Whitecaps

    MLS East:
    1. Atlanta United
    2. Charlotte FC
    3. Chicago Fire
    4. FC Cincinnati
    5. Columbus Crew
    6. DC United
    7. Inter Miami
    8. CF Montreal
    9. Nashville SC
    10. New England Revolution
    11. New York City FC
    12. New York Red Bulls
    13. Orlando City SC
    14. Philadelphia Union
    15. Toronto FC

    USL - Championship
    USLC West:
    1. Boise (expansion)
    2. Colorado Springs Switchbacks
    3. El Paso Locomotive
    4. Las Vegas Lights
    5. Monterey Bay FC
    6. New Mexico United
    7. Oakland Roots
    8. Orange County SC
    9. Phoenix Rising
    10. San Diego Loyal
    USLC East:
    1. Baltimore (expansion)
    2. USL Buffalo
    3. Cleveland (expansion)
    4. Detroit (expansion)
    5. Hartford Athletic
    6. Indy Eleven
    7. Louisville City FC
    8. Milwaukee (expansion)
    9. Pittsburgh Riverhounds
    10. Queensboro FC
    USLC South:
    1. Birmingham Legion FC
    2. Charleston Battery
    3. Jacksonville (expansion)
    4. Memphis 901
    5. New Orleans (expansion)
    6. Oklahoma City Energy FC
    7. Rio Grande Valley FC
    8. San Antonio FC
    9. Tampa Bay Rowdies
    10. FC Tulsa
    USL - League One:
    USL1 West:
    1. Billings, MT (expansion)
    2. Central Valley Fuego
    3. Eugene, OR (expansion)
    4. Inland Empire-Riverside, CA (expansion)
    5. North Bay-Santa Rosa, CA (expansion)
    6. Northern Colorado FC
    7. Reno, NV (expansion)
    8. San Fernando Valley-Glendale (expansion)
    9. Spokane, WA (expansion)
    10. FC Tucson
    11. Wichita, KS (expansion)
    12. Ventura County-Oxnard, CA (expansion)
    Alternates: Midland-Odessa, TX, Abilene, TX; Lubbock, TX; Amarillo, TX; Fargo, ND; Sioux Falls, SD; Cheyenne, WY; Missoula, MT; Pasco, WA; Yakima, WA; Olympia, WA; Salem, OR; Flagstaff, AZ; Las Cruces, NM; Topeka, KS, Carson City, NV; Yuma, AZ; Mesa, AZ; Bakersfield, CA; Santa Barbara, CA, Stockton, CA; Modesto, CA; Victorville, CA; Santa Clarita, CA, Santa Maria, CA; San Gabriel Valley, CA

    USL1 North:
    1. Bethlehem Steel (expansion)
    2. USL Des Moines (demoted)
    3. Fort Wayne FC
    4. Forward Madison FC
    5. Grand Rapids, MI (expansion)
    6. New Hampshire (expansion)
    7. Union Omaha
    8. Portland, ME (expansion)
    9. Rochester Rhinos (expansion)
    10. Richmond Kickers
    11. USL Rhode Island (demoted)
    12. Virginia Beach (expansion)
    Alternates: Dover, DL; Charleston, WV; Green Bay, WI; Toledo, OH; Akron, OH; Lexington, KY; Evansville, IN; South Bend, IN; Gary, IN; Aurora, IL; Worcester, MA; Vermont; Syracuse, NY; Albany, NY; Harrisburg, PA; Scranton, PA; Bridgeport, CT; Staten Island, NY; Long Island, NY; Hudson Valley, NY; New Haven, CT; Lansing, MI; Dayton, OH; Annapolis, MD; Charlottesville, VA; Roanoke, VA; Trenton, NJ; Springfield, MA; Springfield, IL; Columbia, MO; Springfield, MO; Duluth, MN

    USL1 South:
    1. Asheville, NC (expansion)
    2. Bradenton-Sarasota, FL (expansion)
    3. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL (expansion)
    4. Chattanooga Red Wolves
    5. Corpus Christi, TX (expansion)
    6. Fort Worth, TX (expansion)
    7. Greensboro, NC (expansion)
    8. Greenville Triumph
    9. North Carolina (Raleigh) FC
    10. Jackson, MS (expansion)
    11. Little Rock, AR (expansion)
    12. South Georgia Tormenta
    Alternates: Knoxville, TN; Gainesville, FL; Daytona, FL; West Palm Beach-Port St. Lucie, FL; Tallahassee, FL; Pensacola, FL; Macon-Warner Robins, GA; Athens, GA; Gwinnett County, GA; Savannah, GA; Augusta, GA, Columbia, SC; Wilmington, NC, Bryan, TX; The Woodlands, TX; Laredo, TX; Waco, TX; Montgomery, AL; Huntsville, AL, Mobile, AL; Gulfport, MS; Baton Rouge, LA; Tyler, TX; Shreveport, LA; Fayetteville, NC; Fayetteville, AR; Beaumont, TX; Brownsville, TX


    USL teams sent to MLS Reserve League > Tacoma Defiance, LA Galaxy II, Sacramento Republic, Real Monarch, Sporting Kansas City II, Atlanta United II, Philadelphia Union II, New York Red Bulls II, North Texas SC, Orlando City B, Austin Bold FC, Fort Lauderdale CF, Charlotte Independence, Miami FC, Loudon United, New England Revolution II
     
  11. SteveUSSF_ref8

    SteveUSSF_ref8 Member+

    United States
    Oct 25, 2010
    Sun City, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    "Though Garber has mentioned the possibility of 32 teams in the past, he said Wednesday that MLS has no plans to expand beyond 30 teams, hoping to increase the value of the league’s media rights thanks to new audiences that come with each expansion team."

    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/27/maj...t-needs-to-secure-huge-media-deals-first.html

    It seems it going to be a while before we see any growth beyond 30. Perhaps we won't see clubs 31 and 32 till the next commissioner.
     
  12. Sport Billy

    Sport Billy Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 25, 2006
    So soon then? Hopefully.
     
    RalleeMonkey repped this.
  13. Ciro Di Marzio

    Ciro Di Marzio Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Canada
    Jun 28, 2019
    Scampia
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    I think it's more to do with keeping 30 teams until after the World Cup in 2026, I think there will be a boom of interest after the World Cup and expansion will follow again.
     
  14. Sport Billy

    Sport Billy Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 25, 2006
    Phoenix is a top ten metropolitan area - the moment they get their plan together, they are in regardless of time regardless of number of teams.
     
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  15. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I thought the plan they presented was pretty good. They had the necessary finances, thanks to Goldman Sachs, a stadium plan, and a location on native American land close to the junction between two interstates. Since then they've added Alex Zheng as a wealthy investor.

    What they didn't have was a downtown location, public transit links or a firm stadium cooling plan.
     
  16. SteveUSSF_ref8

    SteveUSSF_ref8 Member+

    United States
    Oct 25, 2010
    Sun City, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Perhaps expansion to the 30th club.
     
  17. Sport Billy

    Sport Billy Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 25, 2006
    So not a good plan in MLS's eyes.
    Get the plan, they are in.
     
  18. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think they're committed to building a MLS stadium on the Maricopa reservation.
     
  19. Sport Billy

    Sport Billy Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 25, 2006
    They may be ... but MLS is not. MLS wants downtown.
    Without it, MLS doesn't see it as a good plan.
     
  20. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think all that's left is for them to persuade MLS that the native reservation is a good location.
     
  21. Renzi

    Renzi Member

    Arsenal
    United States
    Aug 4, 2019
    I agree, I think Phoenix and Detroit are no brainers for the league, just based on MSA and TV market size.
     
    Ciro Di Marzio repped this.
  22. SteveUSSF_ref8

    SteveUSSF_ref8 Member+

    United States
    Oct 25, 2010
    Sun City, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #622 SteveUSSF_ref8, Mar 10, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2021
    Now that Sacramento seems to be roadkill. Don't be surprised if Detroit emerges as the 30th club. Many people thinks that Las Vegas and Phoenix are the frontrunners, but I don't think you can say that at this time. MLS seems to be cautious to put clubs in the desert heat. After being burned by Ron Buckle. They have even bigger money waiting in Detroit with Gores, Gilbert and the Fords, being patience and willing to possibility to pay 350-400M for the expansion fee. You have to think they will get another look. Maybe they are willing to built an 25,000 seat outdoor soccer specific stadium on the site of Joe Louis Area.
     
  23. Renzi

    Renzi Member

    Arsenal
    United States
    Aug 4, 2019
    MLS has 29 teams now. Add one in Canada (Calgary/Winnipeg/Ottawa), two in the US (Phoenix/Detroit/Vegas/Sac) and the top 8 Liga MX teams. 40 total.

    Split into two 20 team divisions, play every team twice. Top 6 in the top division go to playoffs, top 2 first round bye. Bottom 6, 2 automatically relegated, next 4 do tournament with worst team being relegated. In Second division, top 2 auto promoted, playoffs among the next 8 for the final promotion place.

    MLS rules apply to all 40 teams, salary caps the same across all 40 teams in both divisions, salary floor higher for top division. Owners of all 40 teams get a share in SUM, which manages rights across US, Canada, Mexico including for national teams. Would be a juggernaut and yes some MLS clubs would see themselves bounced to D2, but they are still pulling revenue sharing from D1 and SUM.

    Domestic cups split by nations, Canada, USA and Mexico among the full pyramid.
     
  24. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't think Mexican players would accept the MLS salary structure, especially those at the bottom. Also picking the top 8 Mexican teams means that some of the mega-clubs would miss out. Today that would include Tigres and Chivas.
     
  25. Renzi

    Renzi Member

    Arsenal
    United States
    Aug 4, 2019
    Sorry, I should have clarified. The top 8 would not be taken based on the table (current or future). It would simply be the 8 largest and most marketable teams, or the 8 teams who could be convinced to join MLS. Not a hard number, whatever gets the combined league to 40 teams, so could be 6 could be 10, with the rest filled out by expansion in the US and/or Canada. I'd think Chivas, America, Pumas, Cruz, Monterrey and Tigres at minimum.

    On salary levels, you still have DP slots and I think you could get 14 MLS teams ready to move to a cap/floor structure that would roughly align with the Liga MX teams joining. The floor could be much lower for D2 teams (same cap), so the cheap owners don't have to compete with the major Liga MX clubs and the LAFC/Atlanta's. Ultimatley its the owners you need to get on board, not the players.
     

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