http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news/20020921/mlschanges.html ...A new plan calls for the league to base its schedule on one used in the Mexican league, which has a "spring" and "fall" championship. The two championships would consist of perhaps 20 games apiece, not only increasing the length of the MLS season but increasing the number of games... ...the playoffs will change from the confusing "first to five points" format to a three-game or home-and-home series, a system employed in most major countries. Finally, the MLS may move away from a two-conferernce alignment to a straight league table, as is soccer custom around the world...
There are such major mathematical errors in this piece that make me believe it's a bunch of crap. For example: Perhaps 20 games? OK fine... Now, put 20 games with a single table of 10 teams... BUZZZZZZT! Wrong answer. Put 18 games with a single table and we're fine... I guess with 20 you've got 2 "special" games where the Crew plays against its Marketing Dept. I guess it's just so simple that the ignorance makes me distrust the entire thing.
Spring/Fall seasons may be good, we'll just have to wait and see. Of course, we'd probably have to start earlier and go later, which would pose problems with stadium availability in most markets. As CrewSchmack said, the idea of 20 games with a single table is redundant.. I think the league brass is seriously going to consider the single table. With MLSnet.com having a single table on their standings page, it makes me think that changes are in the air. Playoff games ending in ties would either have to have the current 10 minute tie-breaker followed by PKs or a 30 minute tiebreaker followed by PKs. Here's a comment from the MLS N&A forum: 1) Taking off June & July would mean no July 4 games. The 7/4 matches make up 8% of total MLS attendence each year. Far and away, the biggest matchday of the season.
Personally I don't know why they would try something like this when they are finally getting attendance figures up. Not to mention I don't think a majority of people that attend MLS games would understand the format. I guess maybe they are thinking that 2 championship races would make things more interesting and draw people, due to the high numbers at the end of the season this year....who knows. The idea sounds appealing...more soccer. But, it doesnt sound like it would be successful attendance-wise. It has its pros and cons I guess.