Would this be something that American Fans and Owners could get into? I'm a purist fan at heart but realize the great difficulty of bringing promo/relegation to our system. But, is it?? This is something that MLS could begin to take a serious look at..and it's not too difficult. It would simply take a concerted effort on the part of MLS and all the potential franchises interested in joining MLS in the future. First: Consider all the possible franchise teams that would want to be a part of MLS-1. Create an MLS-2 league that would begin play at some time in the future, making sure that each team would meet a minimum dollar investment. The ultimate goal would be to reach MLS and thus whatever the salary cap for MLS would be in the future plus any other monetary requirements needed to meet MLS standards would need to be in place before a MLS-2 team would be allowed to enter. Perhaps there's 10 cities/teams that would be viable. They may also be currently part of USL and thus could be the ultimate feeder for MLS-2. I discuss USL in part 4. Second: Teams would then play a full schedule of games and also be included in US. Open Cup competition, etc. Allow the season's final standings to determine the top 2 teams..and have a playoff to determine the champion of MLS-2 that would then be the next team to enter MLS-1. Third: Allow MLS to grow to a pre-determined number that makes the most economic sense. Perhaps that number is 20 or 24, whatever it is, set it and then after that number is reached, the first season of relegation in MLS-1 could begin. The bottom 4 or 6 teams would then have a playoff to determine which team goes back to MLS-2. All the while, MLS-2 would be having their season to promote a team up to MLS-1. Fourth: Basically USL could then be designated as the third division to promote teams to MLS-2 and in the same vain the MLS-2 bottom team could relegate back to USL. The real trick here is to make sure that any team promoted into MLS-2 would then be fiscally able to meet min. requirements for MLS-2 and ultimately for MLS-1. Fifth: Perhaps before any of this would even take place, take a sampling of USL sides that would/could be able to get into MLS-2 and have the next season of USL determine the top 10 or more teams that would ultimately enter into MLS-2. Also, have any interested investors, domestic or foreign, create a team that would play in USL and would need to compete and WIN before gaining entry into the top flight. What this concept would do, would be to cut any direct involvement by any expansion teams into MLS from some point in the present into the future. Any new team would need to start somewhere in USL and work their way up. Any team(call them grandfathered in) currently involved in MLS would be guaranteed an MLS spot for at least the next 8 years or so..or until the full number of final MLS teams is reached. If MLS then wants to expand at some point in the future then one year of relegation would be halted and then re-instated when the expansion is reached. This would also be the case should a team or teams be contracted or not be able to meet financial obligations. Conclusion: This can only work with the full co-operation of all teams and/or organizations. The goal is to be able to make it to the Top Flight. The parity that exists in MLS with its single entity may or may not be a deterrent. However, the function of controlling costs so as not to have a New York Cosmos type team and a bunch of lackeys should still hold true. And I believe the single entity system would still work well with this new plan for MLS. Imagine the grassroots interest and hype created by the expanding of the entire system. And quite possibly, the lower tiers of USL or possibly an even more distant and local league system of semi-pro players could then begin to develop. What would be in it for USL? A non stagnant pool of teams that now have an ultimate goal of gaining promotion to higher level of play and more money. Of course, not all teams playing in USL would have the financial strength to attain viability to compete in MLS, but perhaps with this new concept, the possibility of winning promotion would allow them to receive new investment. There many many hurdles to overcome of course. Stadium requirements as well as geographical dilution in similar markets. We all want this game to be played in every corner of the US at a fever level..but it will take many more years and $$ for that to ever occur. And what about the current owners of MLS? Why would they want this, especially after all the money that they've invested? Even after 8 years or so...a bad season by say the Red Bulls would mean that a New York team could possibly go down to MLS-2! All I can say is that having a championship with the excitement that this will produce could only be positive for the game here in the US and bring it to more and more fans, each knowing that there's a possibility that their team could one day reach the top flight. What if the entire league,ie. all divisions,could be a single entity? Nothing like this exists in Pro Sports here in America..could it succeed? I don't know..but all comments for and against would be appreciated and it will be interesting to see!
Where the hell have you been since 2005 that would make you think anything other than this horse has been beaten to death? (truth is it was beaten to death before 2005, but I'll cut you some slack there) Your post albeit long, add nothing new and is the equivalent of saying 'I have an idea how to illuminate your house when it is dark out, its called a lightbulb and it will run on electricity burning a tungsten fillament.'
Bill Gates could afford to give us all a million dollars, and still have plenty left over. Of course, that's not going to happen either.
pro/rel was not some great business/marketing idea that someone came up with to make money. it was a way to manage the ridiculous amounts of teams that are in other countries. i personally think it is a silly idea, even in europe. attendance drops when you are relegated, teams lose money, thus, this would only hinder MLS from growing. it would do nothing, NOTHING to benefit the growth of soccer in the US.
...going so well, then... so the solution is to have that ridiculous amount of teams in the top division? Or maybe you are suggesting folding all those clubs so they don't have to risk losing crowds or money any more. but that is true. It boils down to 1 simple question. Imagine an MLS with 32 teams. Which would get better crowds? a) one top division with 32 teams b) two divisions split into MLS1 and MLS2 To make it simpler, it's not "b".