MLS should be like Boxing, where the teams play until The Don decides that a team is the #1 Contender, and then they get to play the Timbers for the belt.
I'll just leave this here: http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/title-match-style-championship-multiple-r.1997129/
The MLS should undoubtedly keep the summer schedule. Less cancellations, nicer days for soccer (which boost player performance and attendance), and no snowy conditions. All of which are a major plus in my book
I would consider a split season and take July off with its heat , rain and humidity. That ruins a game more than a game in cooler weather. The problem is MLS is trying to do too much= regular season, MLS cup playoffs, Open Cup, allstar game, friendlies etc.. Cut some of that out and play MAR>APR>MAY>JUNE. Off July. Then AUG>SEPT>OCT>NOV. November good time to end as after Baseball World Series and before NCAA bowls or NFL playoffs start. I don't see us playing anytime ever in Jan or Feb as simply too much poor weather. As it is, March has to be done proper- play in your warm weather cities (or domes) first several weeks of season. And almost repeat the process for the last several weeks of November.
Does heat and humidity ruin the game, though? I've played at 110 degrees and 90% humidity, and I've played at 30 degrees. Much easier to play in the hot and humid weather. I've seen more and worse injuries in cold weather, because it's tempting to play too fast, and muscles are tighter in the cold.
If MLS decides to change the schedule and go the route of the international calendar it surely will be a huge advantage for the northern teams. When the Minnesota Vikings played games outside from November to January they winning percentage of 802. If we ever see the change I am so for this idea! Bring on the cup!
The thing is, most people who suggest something like this dismiss the real problems it presents by saying "just favor the warmer cities during bad weather". No one really considers the competitive impact of hosting four or more home games or playing on the road all in a row. The at some point that has to re-balance and the timing gets really tricky. If you're hosting a bunch of home games down the stretch that's a tremendous advantage. From an attendance POV, having a lot of games in a row makes them tough to sell. Your point adds another altogether different level of thought to this. If you're Dallas and draw your away trip to MN or Toronto in January, then good luck to you lads. There just isn't a way to do this in a "fair" way.
Whats the 'International Schedule' everyone keeps talkin about, beyond the FIFA one? Answer: dont answer that as it wont make you look smart.
Why is August to May considered the "FIFA schedule"? 1/3 of the countries in the last World Cup have domestic leagues that play through our summer.
Some of the biggest leagues in the World here: League of Ireland (Eire): March – October Tippeligaen (Norway): March – November Allsvenskan (Sweden): March-Early April – late October-early November Egyptian Premier League: September – June Kenyan Premier League: March – November Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Brazil) May – December Major League Soccer (United States/Canada) March – December Chinese Super League March – October J1 League (Japan) March – December K League Classic (Korea Republic) March – November Lao Premier League (Laos) February - September S.League (Singapore) February – November Thai Premier League (Thailand) February - November Vietnam V-League (Vietnam) January - August Faroese Football League March - October Finland April - October Iceland May - October Lithuania March - November Latvia March - November Belarus March - October Kazakhstan March - October
What makes a league one of the "biggest"? I think none of the leagues in Ireland, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Kenya, Faroe Islands, and some others you listed would not be in the Top 50 in the world based on quality of the players.
Correct, most people haven't thought this through and I am telling you the cold weather Minnesota Vikings had a 802. winning percentage between November to the Super Bowl. Many warm weather teams back then have recently said as soon as they got off the plane they already knew it was going to be a loss.
The majority of the people on Earth live in countries whose leagues play calendar year schedules. This includes the most populous nations in North America, South America, Africa, and Asia, and the nation that has won more World Cups than any other.
Hmm. Nigeria's Premier League schedule ran from February through October this year. That sure looks like a calendar year schedule. The link calls it the 2015-16 schedule but they didn't play any games in 2015. http://npfl.ng/images/fixtures/2015-2016_NPFL_FIXTURES.pdf They did run a Fall-Spring schedule for a few years from 2007 to 2011 but they switched back to a calendar year schedule in 2012.
----------- Would be an interesting poll= As current MLS player, do you prefer warm/hot/humid vs. cool/cold? Then poll the fans with the same question.