Expansion Rumors Megathread

Curious to see if Minnesota gets put in the Western or Eastern conference, since if there's no other team it'll be 12 in one and 11 in the other. If they expand to sacremento in 2018, then it'll be East, but if Miami in 2018 ever happens, Minny will need to be West.
 
Curious to see if Minnesota gets put in the Western or Eastern conference, since if there's no other team it'll be 12 in one and 11 in the other. If they expand to sacremento in 2018, then it'll be East, but if Miami in 2018 ever happens, Minny will need to be West.

ATL - East
LAFC - West

MNU - East if:
1. SAC (West) enters in 2018

MNU - West if:
1. MIA (East) enters in 2018 or
2. SAC (West) enters in 2018 and either SKC or Houston move back East

That said, at 24 they could start considering splitting into three conferences:

EAST
Toronto
Montreal
New England
New York Red Bulls
New York City
Philadelphia
DC United
Columbus

CENTRAL
Minnesota
Chicago
Kansas City
Atlanta
Orlando
Miami
Dallas
Houston

WEST
Vancouver
Seattle
Portland
San Jose
LA Galaxy
Los Angeles
Real Salt Lake
Colorado
 
Only thing I disagree with is going east central west. Just make it 12 teams in the east and west, and maybe 2 home and away series.
 
I have absolutely no idea where Minnesota is but I know I want any club called MUFC to fail badly !
 
That said, at 24 they could start considering splitting into three conferences

3 conferences would make for a problematic MLS Cup Final for a traditional American playoff system with 2 teams in a "final" game.

maybe 24 teams would keep 2 conferences (east and west), but each conference have 2 divisions like east, west, north, south? that might foster more intense local rivalries?
 
Would Minnesota keep their existing NASL roster (and just add players through the drafts) or would they start fresh? How did Orlando do it?

and if they keep their current players would they sign a new MLS contract with at least the minimum MLS base salary?
 
Would Minnesota keep their existing NASL roster (and just add players through the drafts) or would they start fresh? How did Orlando do it?

and if they keep their current players would they sign a new MLS contract with at least the minimum MLS base salary?
It will probably be a mix. Minnesota has some good players on their roster that could step up into MLS and still be quality players in this league, such as Miguel Ibarra who is being capped by the national team. On the other hand they have a lot of players who simply aren't good enough to cut it who will be replaced via signings and the expansion draft.
 
3 conferences would make for a problematic MLS Cup Final for a traditional American playoff system with 2 teams in a "final" game.

maybe 24 teams would keep 2 conferences (east and west), but each conference have 2 divisions like east, west, north, south? that might foster more intense local rivalries?

Yeah, that's what needs to happen. You're not going to be able to maintain a game against every other team + multiple matches in your own conference with 2 huge conferences. With 4 divisions at 24, you do something like:

Pacific:
Vancouver
Seattle
Portland
SJ
LA
LAFC

Central:
RSL
SKC
Col
Hou
FCD
MUFC

Atlantic:
NYCFC
NYRB
NER
Tor
Mont
Phi

East
Columbus
OC
Atlanta
DC
Chicago
Miami.

Those end up preserving most of the rivalries MLS has built up (only one lost would be the DCU/RBNY one).

Now, if Sacrmento joins instead of Miami then you'd have a trickier one, since MLS will want the 4 Californias together but it still mostly works out.

Northwest:
Vancouver
Seattle
Portland
RSL
Colorado
SKC

Southwest:
LAFC
LAG
SJ
Sacramento
Houston
Dallas

Midwest:
MUFC
Chicago
Columbus
Toronto
Montreal
Philly

Atlantic:
DCU
NYCFC
RBNY
Orlando
NER
Atlanta
 
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According to google maps there is a quite a large empty block at the corner of NW 8th street and N Miami avenue in the Overtown district. Its next to a metro stop as well. Would be a nice spot for a stadium.

Here is the location I believe is being discussed. It would be a pretty tight fit. Not sure how they could put a 20k plus stadium there.

Marlins-Park-from-Goodyear-Blimp-@FSMarlins-620x829.jpg


marlins_soccer_stadium.jpg


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