They really need to push those dates as late as possible in the spring. They should make the final one game rather than two legs, and then have the five matchdays as follows:
January 8 (Fri) - First matchday of Liga MX Clausura
March 4 (Fri) - First matchday of MLS Regular Season
March 9 (Wed) - Potential CCL Date If Needed
March 16 (Wed) - Potential CCL Date If Needed
March 21-29 - First 2016 FIFA International Dates
April 6 (Wed) - CCL Quarterfinal Leg 1
April 13 (Wed) - CCL Quarterfinal Leg 2
April 20 (Wed) - CCL Semifinal Leg 1
April 27 (Wed) - CCL Semifinal Leg 2
May 4 (Wed) - CCL Final
May 8 (Sun) - Final matchday of Liga MX Clausura
It's a little cramped, but there are 7 non-international weeks between the start of the MLS Regular Season and the end of the Liga MX Clausura. They should really fit it in there so MLS is not at a competitive disadvantage by effectively playing these games during our preseason. They are currently scheduled for the two weeks prior to the start of the MLS Regular Season, with the finals on April 20 and April 27.
If MLS and Liga MX need weeks off for domestic cup competitions, there are two weeks in March that could be used to play the CCL Quarterfinals instead, freeing up two weeks in April.
This schedule would make for an exciting April. Any MLS team involved could get 2-3 of their 4-5 MLS games rescheduled that month to later in the year, to loosen up their schedule. Does anyone know if Liga MX gives their teams league byes in order to ease their schedule during the competition?
January 8 (Fri) - First matchday of Liga MX Clausura
March 4 (Fri) - First matchday of MLS Regular Season
March 9 (Wed) - Potential CCL Date If Needed
March 16 (Wed) - Potential CCL Date If Needed
March 21-29 - First 2016 FIFA International Dates
April 6 (Wed) - CCL Quarterfinal Leg 1
April 13 (Wed) - CCL Quarterfinal Leg 2
April 20 (Wed) - CCL Semifinal Leg 1
April 27 (Wed) - CCL Semifinal Leg 2
May 4 (Wed) - CCL Final
May 8 (Sun) - Final matchday of Liga MX Clausura
It's a little cramped, but there are 7 non-international weeks between the start of the MLS Regular Season and the end of the Liga MX Clausura. They should really fit it in there so MLS is not at a competitive disadvantage by effectively playing these games during our preseason. They are currently scheduled for the two weeks prior to the start of the MLS Regular Season, with the finals on April 20 and April 27.
If MLS and Liga MX need weeks off for domestic cup competitions, there are two weeks in March that could be used to play the CCL Quarterfinals instead, freeing up two weeks in April.
This schedule would make for an exciting April. Any MLS team involved could get 2-3 of their 4-5 MLS games rescheduled that month to later in the year, to loosen up their schedule. Does anyone know if Liga MX gives their teams league byes in order to ease their schedule during the competition?