MLS at 30, by time zone: Eastern (13): DC, NE, NYRB, NYC, Philly, Miami, Orlando, Charlotte, Atlanta, Montreal, Toronto, Columbus, Cincinnati. Central (8): Chicago, Nashville, Minnesota, St. Louis, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Austin. Mountain (2): Colorado, Salt Lake Pacific (7): LAG, LAFC, SJ, Sacramento, Seattle, Portland, Vancouver.
For me the most sense would be 3 conferences with 10 clubs each. If the schedule would be expand to 38 matches (similar to EPL) this alignment would allow for all teams to play against one another. Clubs would play each club home and away within their own conference and play each club in the other two conferences once. Eastern Conference Chicago Fire FC FC Cincinnati Columbus Crew SC DC United Montreal Impact New England Revolution New York City FC New York Red Bulls Philadelphia Union Toronto FC Western Conference Colorado Rapids Los Angeles Galaxy Los Angeles FC Minnesota United FC Portland Timbers Real Salt Lake Sacramento Republic FC San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC Southern Conference Atlanta United FC Austin FC Charlotte FC FC Dallas Houston Dynamo Inter Miami Nashville SC Orlando City SC St. Louis City SC Sporting Kansas City
If they go to 32 teams(with Las Vegas & Louisville), then four divisions with 8 teams each. Atlantic Division DC United Charlotte FC Inter Miami Orlando City SC New England Revolution New York City FC New York Red Bulls Philadelphia Union Pacific Division Las Vegas Los Angeles Galaxy Los Angeles FC Portland Timbers Sacramento Republic FC San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC Midwesy Division Austin FC Colorado Rapids FC Dallas Houston Dynamo Minnesota United FC Real Salt Lake St. Louis City SC Sporting Kansas City Central Division Atlanta United FC Chicago Fire FC FC Cincinnati Columbus Crew SC Louisville Montreal Impact Nashville SC Toronto FC
I can imagine within the next 8 to 10 years the league finishing expansion with adding clubs 31 & 32. Then aligning into four conferences of 8 clubs. Northern Conference Chicago Fire Minnesota United FC Toronto FC Detroit Motor City FC St. Louis City SC Sporting Kansas City Colorado Rapids Real Salt Lake Eastern Conference New York City FC New York Red Bulls Philadelphia Union DC United Montreal Impact New England Revolution FC Cincinnati Columbus Crew SC Southern Conference Atlanta United FC Charlotte FC Inter Miami CF Orlando City SC Nashville SC Austin FC FC Dallas Houston Dynamo Western Conference Los Angeles Galaxy Los Angeles FC Las Vegas Lights San Jose Earthquakes Sacramento Republic FC Seattle Sounders FC Portland Timbers Vancouver Whitecaps FC The post season consists with the top four in each conference making the playoffs. The first two rounds are within the conference. Then the Conference Champions play in the semi finals for MLS Cup.
BRING BACK THE CENTRAL CONFERENCE WEST: LAFC, Portland, Seattle, LA Galaxy, San Jose, Real Salt Lake, Vancouver, Colorado, Minnesota, Vegas. CENTRAL: Dallas, Kansas City, Houston, Columbus, Chicago, Nashville, Austin, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Toronto EAST: Atlanta, NYCFC, Philadelphia, NY Red Bulls, New England, Montreal, DC United, Orlando, Charlotte, Miami.
I think it turns into three conferences of ten but I voted for two with 15. I just think more winning teams make the playoffs if it's just two conferences.
Because if there are more divisions you could have a losing record and still make the playoffs or be in a division where everyone has a winning record but don't make the playoffs. For instance lets say the top three teams in the Central lose all their games against the East and West teams, yet whoever wins that conference will still go to the playoffs.
I get tired of all the "math" needed for the playoffs. Regular season- Home and Away in conference, then a one off winner East/West game. Maybe call it supporters day or something. MLS Cup should be all 32 teams (when we get there) as a League Cup it sort of is- maybe an east-west challenge type of thing... West 1 vs East 16, West2 vs East 15 etc. USOC- I like the MLS dropped in a round earlier this year. History is to be honored. This should give plenty of chances from teams to play teams from all over.
How about moving towards 2 x 18 team regional divisions, playing 34 intra-conference games, with inter-conference playoffs? Charter flights used for all playoff games.
------------ Yeh, if the MLS Cup became like a east-west challenge type situation, then charters would almost be a must. However, I only see that if you played more than one game a week- Sat-Wed-Sat etc. I think if you stuck to once a week, current flight processes should be ok.
The baseball NL/AL model is an option if MLS wants to go big. Past 32 teams. 30 or less and I think they stick with the NFL-ish model. At 32 I think they go 4 divisions. It gets easier at 36. 32: Pacific: LAG, LAFC, SJ, Sea, Port, Van, SD +1 (Vegas, Sac, Phx, SF/Oak). South/West: SKC, Col, FCD, Hou, Austin, RSL, STL, Minny. Central: CLB, Chi, Cincy, TFC, Montreal, Atlanta, Nashville + Detroit. East: DC, NYRB, NE, NYCFC, Philly, Charlotte, Miami, Orlando. ----------------- 36: Pacific: LAG, SJ; LAFC, Sea, Port, Van, SD + Vegas, Sacramento. Mountain West: SKC, FCD, Col; RSL, Hou, Austin, STL, + Phoenix, San Antonio (or OKC, Tulsa, El Paso, etc). Central: CLB; Chicago; Cincy, TFC, Montreal, Minny, Detroit, Nashville + Indy. East: DC, NYRB, NE; NYCFC, Philly, Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte. --------------------- 40: Pacific: LAG, SJ; LAFC, Sea, Port, Van, SD, Vegas, Sac + SF/Oak or PHX. Mountain West: SKC, Col, FCD; STL, RSL, Hou, Austin, San Antonio + 2 (PHX, OKC, Tulsa, El Paso, New Mexico, Rio Grande). Central: CLB; Chi; Cincy, TFC, Montreal, Minny, Nashville, Detroit, Indy, + 1 (CLE, Pitt, Mil, Lou). East: DC, NYRB, NE; NYCFC, Philly, Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Miami + Tampa/Raleigh/Baltimore.