The "Don" now said 22 teams by 2020..

22 teams by 2020 is not a bad idea; slow, well thought-out expansion is the right way to grow. But he's nuts to even consider a fall-spring schedule (that was in the article as well--just sayin', not trying to start anything ).

 

i'd imagine that with 22 teams the schedule would be only 31 games. 11 teams in two conferences. 10 H/10 A vs in conference 11 vs other conference (alternate home/away on 2 year cycle). 10+10+11=31.

 

It's a fairly arbitrary question, given it relies very very heavily on a wealthy ownership group, which could spring out of anywhere really.

Clearly, MLS and Don Garber want a presence in the South East, so bank on one space going to Atlanta or Miami. I'd wager both teams end up here. I don't think there's much competition out there at the moment. Phoenix? San Antonio? Ottawa? San Diego? Meh.

You've also got the whole weird angle of Beckham having access to a MLS franchise at a fraction of the current asking price, so it may depend on whether he chooses to end up as part of the New York Cosmos or not. If not, he'll have a massive say in where the 21st team is.

 

Why can't they have 38 matches a season like leagues that have 20 teams? Start the season a week or two earlier, extend it a week later, throw in mid-week match or two . . . Boom! It's done.

 

If adding 8 teams in ostensibly 7 years, 12 in 18 years if there's 22 teams by 2020, is slow expansion, what's fast expansion?

 

http://www.soundersfc.com/News/Articles/2010/03-March/Rapids-canceled.aspx

 

Isn't there a hangup?

Isn't there some FIFA rule that a league can't have more than 20 teams?

Also he said he "wouldn't be surprised", to me that's as indicative as bull puckey.

What's more to me it's a little weird having an odd number of teams in Each division.

Still for the standpoint of being complete (from a market perspective) if you get one in the Southeast and ioono another midwest team or something seems fine.

Still it likely will boil down to which market cares the most, has a wealthy owner interested and can hopefully gain community support, hence why outside of maaaaaaaaaybe Atlanta I don't see a southern team even if it made sense in the big picture. I think what's more likely to happen is maybe someone relocating (Chiva's if someone bought it maybe).

Also, screw international calender. You'll kill league attendance and existing not to mention potential fan interest if you work during football and basketball season. Not to mention the weather in the north. After all the Russian clubs are moaning because the super league wants to go to a traditional schedule (I can understand why'd they moan with Russian winters).

 

Re: Isn't there a hangup?

Its directed at smaller countries, A Fifa member has already said that he can see MLS going up to 30-32 teams and not go over the game limit. The Conference system basically protects the teams from having a over schedule season.

 

20 teams, single table, no playoffs, best record wins.

 

fyp.

 

30 teams. 2 Conferences. 6 Divisions of 5 Teams. Division winners plus 8 Wild Cards make the playoffs. MLS Cup played somewhere warm (or a dome) in early November.

 

Blatter has talked about pushing leagues to have as few as 16 teams, but the context of his remarks makes it clear that they are really trying to reduce the number of league games -- which would, of course, let them have more international games on which FIFA and the Confederations can make more money.

Here's his comments from 2007:

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=blatterleaguecaps


He returned to this topic earlier this year, using FIFA's own website:

Link:

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/66062.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

 

until Miami can support a team they should be from 23-30

21- ATL - Falcons involved
22- SAN - Spurs involved.

 

These answers could go in a Jeopardy category for MLS Fanboy Pipe Dream sites.

 

I think the SSE stepping up to MLS is questionable to me. They seem to be talking USL-Pro right now just to prevent from any future competition sports wise. Plus SSE has a no competition clause that makes it hard for anyone to bring in a sports team that doesn't have the SSE involved.

 

Good. Then we won't have to read a million posts on the nirvana of pro/rel and playing matches in Toronto in January.

 

Why do you persistently lie as well as post up garbage reimagined team badges?

 

The Don will not be the commish in 20 years so it really won't be up to him.

 

Do you have a link of proof that the SPL plans to switch to a playoff system? I'm not saying I don't believe I'm just curious.

You sir get rep for this.

They throw out a random number like that (in fact I wouldnt be surprised if this 22 is one of them) to keep franchises in demand so to speak. Don't believe a word of it, as long as there is money to be made there will be expansion.

 

That would be my own personal nirvana.


But the fact that we now have 22 as a number tells me that expansion may be slowing down for quite some time. I wouldn't be surprised if we sit at 19 teams for 2 years.