General MLS Discussion

[FootyLovin]

I guess I don't pay that much attention. I think of El Trafico as a big rivalry. Lumping San Diego in makes sense geographically. But is San Jose really a rivalry with any of the other CA teams? Seems like Div 4 with POR, SEA, VAN, SJ, RSL, COL and Div 5 with LAG, LAFC, SD, HOU, DAL, AUS. That works well in my mind. That also gives you the symmetry of northeast, southeast, northwest, southwest, central.

Seems a bit rough that half of them won’t make the playoffs.

I thought the article segment ZYanksRule posted said there would be one table. All teams from a single division could make the playoffs. Only division effect on playoffs is that the division winner would be assured a spot.

 

[mgarbowski]

I guess I don't pay that much attention. I think of El Trafico as a big rivalry. Lumping San Diego in makes sense geographically. But is San Jose really a rivalry with any of the other CA teams? Seems like Div 4 with POR, SEA, VAN, SJ, RSL, COL and Div 5 with LAG, LAFC, SD, HOU, DAL, AUS. That works well in my mind. That also gives you the symmetry of northeast, southeast, northwest, southwest, central.


I thought the article segment ZYanksRule posted said there would be one table. All teams from a single division could make the playoffs. Only division effect on playoffs is that the division winner would be assured a spot.

San Jose and the Galaxy are MLS 1.0 historic rivalry the California Classico.
You're right about the single table. There is however, a second order effect that a stacked division could perhaps suppress the point total of the 2 worst teams relative to teams in other divisions because they have to play against the league's best twice, even if those 2 teams are otherwise pretty good. There was a period when the Patriots killed the playoff chances of the Bills, Jets and Dolphins because those teams were consistently in a 2 loss deficit compared to the rest of the AFC when chasing Wild Card spots. But soccer has twice as many games so I think that type of effect is less likely to be so determinative.

 

[Alex Da Silva]

Would you consider parity at all? I’m just thinking about a division with Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, LAG, LAFC and San Diego. (San Jose goes to Texas with RSL and the ‘pids) That division would chew itself up and spit itself back out. Although it would be great viewing for fans, all six of those teams are usually perennial contenders (making assumptions about SDFC). Seems a bit rough that half of them won’t make the playoffs. Versus Salt Lake, Colorado, Houston, Austin, Dallas, & San Jose doesn’t have a lot of perennial playoff contenders. Not everyone’s cup of tea when thinking about neutrals viewership. Plus some of those teams would potentially make the playoffs over the west coast division who may “deserve” that spot more. I don’t have an answer but it is something I’m thinking about.

That is what the single table is for, if they are among the elite of the league, they will make their way up the table based on out of division games, I think only 1 playoff spot is based on winning the division so if you play everyone else at least one (24 games of the 34 game season) and are a good team you will be high up the table enough to make playoffs even if you get another 5 tougher games from the division home and aways

 

[BC19]

I think one of the least talked about but best changes that I think will come out of single table is this: Depending on how the playoffs are structured you could have a Hudson River Derby, El Trafico or Cascadia MLS Cup Final

 

[Alex Da Silva]

I think one of the least talked about but best changes that I think will come out of single table is this: Depending on how the playoffs are structured you could have a Hudson River Derby, El Trafico or Cascadia MLS Cup Final

That would be so awesome, and you break out of the bubble of the same playoff games since you could I theory be paired with anyone across the league in the playoffs.

 

[Gotham Gator]

I'm not sure what you're saying. I think you're opting for the Cascadia plus Texas division but I'm not sure. If so I agree.

Yes. That's what I am saying. More important to keep local rivalries together than to avoid a division that includes Texas & Cascadia .

 

[Gene]

This is the best I can come up with. There may be room for a tweak or two. Maybe swap out DCU & Nashville for Toronto & Montreal?

NYCFC, NJ, DCU, NERev, Philadelphia, Nashville.

Cincinnati, Columbus, Chicago, Minnesota, Toronto, Montreal.

SKC, St. Louis, Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, Orlando.

San Diego, RSL, Colorado, Houston, Austin, Dallas.

LAFC, LAG, San Jose, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver.

 

[LionNYC]

bundesliga has similar month long break. they do a sort of mid season "preseason" in places like spain or they come to florida and play 2/3 games during that time.

Perhaps they can expand cochella tournament and move it to January to cover the time off.

Leagues Cup in January, in Mexico / Texas / Florida or warm weather places, make it an event like a real tournament. Of course, Leagues Cup doesn't have the following of a Copa America / World Cup to draw teams to see Liga MX vs. MLS teams play in mostly neutral site locations, but an idea.

Love the idea of playing every team every year. You get to see an away day for your non-division teams every other year.

 

[Seth]

That is what the single table is for, if they are among the elite of the league, they will make their way up the table based on out of division games, I think only 1 playoff spot is based on winning the division so if you play everyone else at least one (24 games of the 34 game season) and are a good team you will be high up the table enough to make playoffs even if you get another 5 tougher games from the division home and aways

So it's basically baseball. The division winners would be in, and then everyone else who gets in is basically a wildcard based on the number of points they have. Makes sense.

 

[ZYanksRule]

The switch is done. Will start in 2027.

League will do a short spring season February-May, 2027 to bridge the gap.

MLS owners vote to flip schedule to European calendar, change format starting in 2027

MLS will soon align with leagues that play from the fall to the spring after a transformational decision made by its owners

www.nytimes.com

Looks like when this happens, we would finally be hosting season openers instead of playing the first two games of the year on the road.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1989077966077468711

The question is do we open our stadium July, 2027, or do we open it for this short spring season they're planning.

 

[Fantazma]

The switch is done. Will start in 2027.

League will do a short spring season February-May, 2027 to bridge the gap.

MLS owners vote to flip schedule to European calendar, change format starting in 2027

MLS will soon align with leagues that play from the fall to the spring after a transformational decision made by its owners

www.nytimes.com

Looks like when this happens, we would finally be hosting season openers instead of playing the first two games of the year on the road.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1989077966077468711

The question is do we open our stadium July, 2027, or do we open it for this short spring season they're planning.

i feel like they use this as an excuse in case there are delays in construction.

 

[joe]

The switch is done. Will start in 2027.

League will do a short spring season February-May, 2027 to bridge the gap.

MLS owners vote to flip schedule to European calendar, change format starting in 2027

MLS will soon align with leagues that play from the fall to the spring after a transformational decision made by its owners

www.nytimes.com

Looks like when this happens, we would finally be hosting season openers instead of playing the first two games of the year on the road.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1989077966077468711

The question is do we open our stadium July, 2027, or do we open it for this short spring season they're planning.

I would think they'd want the fanfare of a "real" season opener

 

[moogoo]

I think they open the new stadium as soon as possible without rushing. one less game they have to pay for at citi or yankee stadium is more money in their pockets.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I would think they'd want the fanfare of a "real" season opener

Yeah, I seem to remember now that they said they would open it in July for the real season, that they were excited to have a little more time to tie up loose ends.

 

[Seth]

Just got the email.

Between the 2026 season and the 2027-28 season, MLS will hold a special transition season (February–May 2027) featuring a 14-game regular season, playoffs, and MLS Cup during this period. As construction progresses at Etihad Park, the Club will share venue information for our transition season home matches at a later date.

And the press release: MLS to align calendar with top leagues around the world | MLSSoccer.com

 

[CCMore]

I’m wondering wtf they are going to do with season Ticket Holders for the mini 2027 season

 

[moogoo]

I’m wondering wtf they are going to do with season Ticket Holders for the mini 2027 season

charge you half of a higher price and pretend they're doing you a favor

 

[413Blue]

charge you half of a higher price and pretend they're doing you a favor

But what will happen if you downgrade your seats during the off-season? Lol

 

[ZYanksRule]

I would imagine it will be a real struggle for the league to drum up interest over that spring half-season schedule they are planning for the transition.

 

[LionNYC]

I’m wondering wtf they are going to do with season Ticket Holders for the mini 2027 season

When you sign your contract for the new stadium, it's in there about it.