General MLS Discussion

I'm pretty okay with these changes, to be honest.

I really was hoping eventually we'd get to play every team again every season.

Maybe they'll go a "swap some teams across divisions in different seasons" route where one season X team is in X division and next they're in a different one.


I'm more curious how the playoffs determination would work. I know they said top 1 will go through automatically, which reminds me of NBA/NHL/mlb... But what about the rest? That would be 5 through, and then you need another 11. Do you do wild card? Do you do a swiss style table (aka current supporter's shield...)?

No matter what happens, this is the perfect situation for MLS to fix their branding. Make supporter's shield mean more or remove it... Realigj certain culture and ideas.
 
ZYanksRule said:
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.
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Which is why NYCFC will open the stadium as soon as it is ready. Much easier to get people both to pay and show up to watch a novelty tournament if it's in the new digs.
 
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LionNYC said:
When you sign your contract for the new stadium, it's in there about it.
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How though, specifically? Does it say if we hold a half-season special tournament you have to buy all of it? Or it it more that Year 1 might be delayed several months and you can't complain about it? Because making everyone buy the tourney could add a substantial amount to year 1 costs which already are up there. Also, there's legality and there's what you actually can get away with.
 
Shwafta said:
I'm more curious how the playoffs determination would work. I know they said top 1 will go through automatically, which reminds me of NBA/NHL/mlb... But what about the rest? That would be 5 through, and then you need another 11. Do you do wild card? Do you do a swiss style table (aka current supporter's shield...)?
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From the press release
The league will also review potential adjustments to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs format as part of an ongoing evaluation process, but has not yet finalized any changes.
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*fixing creases on tin foil hat on my head* Was leagues cup a big rouse to see if fans would tolerate a summer break to prepare us unconsciously for the new off season?!
*takes off tin foil hat, steps on to soap box* The argument of having the off season line up with the rest of the world is B.S. to me. In recent years the league has signed to name a few: Messi, Suarez, Alba, DePaul, Vela, Zlatan, Chicharito, Muller, Son, Yedlin, Wood, & Puich. Without naming a single other name, Messi coming here basically cancels the argument that we have to switch the timing of the league. If those players are who the league is trying to entice, they are already here. If those players aren’t who you want to entice, then who are you targeting? Yamal, haaland, and other stars in their prime? Then you need to do alot more than change the league’s schedule.
 
Shwafta said:
I'm more curious how the playoffs determination would work. I know they said top 1 will go through automatically, which reminds me of NBA/NHL/mlb... But what about the rest? That would be 5 through, and then you need another 11. Do you do wild card?
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I doubt they reduce the number of teams. At most they drop the wildcard and go with just 16 but that's not my guess. I also guess that they divide the playoff field into separate brackets (odd and even?) and number rank that way to avoid having to call someone the 18th seed. This also lets them keep the nomenclature, because without conferences, and without separate playoff brackets, what has been the conference semifinals becomes the less impressive unified quarterfinals. Name the brackets Hunt and Anschutz. Hell, name one of them Garber. He's as responsible for what MLS has become as anybody.
 
CCMore said:
*fixing creases on tin foil hat on my head* Was leagues cup a big rouse to see if fans would tolerate a summer break to prepare us unconsciously for the new off season?!
*takes off tin foil hat, steps on to soap box* The argument of having the off season line up with the rest of the world is B.S. to me. In recent years the league has signed to name a few: Messi, Suarez, Alba, DePaul, Vela, Zlatan, Chicharito, Muller, Son, Yedlin, Wood, & Puich. Without naming a single other name, Messi coming here basically cancels the argument that we have to switch the timing of the league. If those players are who the league is trying to entice, they are already here. If those players aren’t who you want to entice, then who are you targeting? Yamal, haaland, and other stars in their prime? Then you need to do alot more than change the league’s schedule.
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The problem is less so the names you listed but rather players likr tasty, Martinez etc. Who would have a much easier time moving if MLS cup was end of May.

Season ends same time as Europe, now they're much more likely to be looking for X player than in December/January.
And MLS same, looking for rotation or starting players, the european summer silly season makes more sense.
 
mgarbowski said:
How though, specifically? Does it say if we hold a half-season special tournament you have to buy all of it? Or it it more that Year 1 might be delayed several months and you can't complain about it? Because making everyone buy the tourney could add a substantial amount to year 1 costs which already are up there. Also, there's legality and there's what you actually can get away with.
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Any games part of a bridge season are what they call a "Bonus Game." The "Bonus" is if the game is played at the new stadium you are "obligated" to purchase tickets to the games. This is one in a list of different types of games you are supposedly obligated to buy.
 
For anyone complaining about the weather, you get back here, you pious candyass sidewinders. Ain't nobody no way gonna leave this town. Hell, I was born here, I was raised here, and dad gummit I'm gonna die here. And no sidewindin' bushwackin', hornswagglin' cracker croaker is gonna rouin me bishen cutter.
 
mgarbowski said:
How though, specifically? Does it say if we hold a half-season special tournament you have to buy all of it? Or it it more that Year 1 might be delayed several months and you can't complain about it? Because making everyone buy the tourney could add a substantial amount to year 1 costs which already are up there. Also, there's legality and there's what you actually can get away with.
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This is the language in the contract.

2(c)(ii) MLS Calendar Changes. Licensee acknowledges that, as a result of future changes to the MLS calendar, one (1) or more MLS games may be scheduled as part of an interim or bridge season that will occur prior to the date on which such MLS calendarchanges will take effect. Accordingly, if any such MLS game is scheduled to be played at the Stadium for which Club is designated the“home” team, then such game will be deemed a Bonus Game and not an Included Event, and Licensee will be obligated to purchase Tickets for the Club Seats for each such Bonus Game in accordance with Section 4(c). The period of time during which such Bonus Games are played will not be deemed to be a Contract Year (or deemed to occur during a Contract Year) and the applicable Contract Year will instead commence on the date on which the first Club MLS Home Game for the immediately following MLS season is played.

4(c) Bonus Games. Licensee will be required to purchase Tickets for the Club Seats (which will include the Parking Passes indicatedin the Summary) for each Club game referred to in Section 2(c) above as a Bonus Game (each, a “Bonus Game”) at the price determinedby Licensor, which will be equal to or less than the price that Tickets to the Club Seats are or would be available for purchase by the general public for the applicable Bonus Game (the “Bonus Game Fee”). As soon as reasonably practicable prior to the applicable Bonus Game, Licensor will inform Licensee of the availability of Tickets for the Club Seats for such Bonus Game, the amount of the BonusGame Fee, and the process by which Licensee will be required to pay the Bonus Game Fee to Licensor. Upon Licensee’s payment ofthe Bonus Game Fee, Licensee will receive the applicable number of Tickets for the Club Seats for such Bonus Game, and such Bonus Game will constitute an “Event” for purposes of this License.
 
moogoo said:
schedule change info from a club exec. seems the major reason is aligning the transfer windows and having uninterrupted playoffs.
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I read that 91% of the game weeks are unchanged with the flip. I haven't checked but that seems about right. The 9% is not de minimis but it approaches it. The competition overlap is IMO also not a big issue. As it is, MLS plays 10 months and overlaps with everything: baseball, football, hockey, basketball and worldwide soccer. What they are trading is putting playoffs against hockey and NBA playoffs instead of CFB and the NFL. Last year MLS cup was played the same day as the SEC, Big 10, ACC and Big 12 championship games. Same will happen this year. Even the NFL takes that day off.* MLS Conference finals are on Thanksgiving weekend, aka the last weekend of CFB, which features the biggest rivalry games, plus the NFL plays Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Going up against early and mid round NBA and hockey playoffs is a far better environment for MLS playoffs.

Fixing the playoff schedule, making it easier to avoid FIFA windows and better transfer window alignment makes this worthwhile. It's time.

* Technically due to a federal law. But still.
 
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mgarbowski said:
I read that 91% of the game weeks are unchanged with the flip. I haven't checked but that seems about right. The 9% is not de minimis but it approaches it. The competition overlap is IMO also not a big issue. As it is, MLS plays 10 months and overlaps with everything: baseball, football, hockey, basketball and worldwide soccer. What they are trading is putting playoffs against hockey and NBA playoffs instead of CFB and the NFL. Last year MLS cup was played the same day as the SEC, Big 10, ACC and Big 12 championship games. Same will happen this year. Even the NFL takes that day off.* MLS Conference finals are on Thanksgiving weekend, aka the last weekend of CFB, which features the biggest rivalry games, plus the NFL plays Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Going up against early and mid round NBA and hockey playoffs is a far better environment for MLS playoffs.

Fixing the playoff schedule, making it easier to avoid FIFA windows and better transfer window alignment makes this worthwhile. It's time.

* Technically due to a federal law. But still.
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I would assume that 91% includes the current playoffs, which are now mandatory regular season games under the new system. This season, we played 29 regular season games between February-May and late July-October. May will be the playoffs in the new system, so if we don't count May it's 22 games.

The last two seasons we have had a very, very busy May. Maybe that will switch to August or September under the new system so that we can try to maximize warm weather games.

There will be more games in October and November, and a couple games in December. We are trading June and half of July for November and half of December. But with all the international tournaments in June, we usually didn't play a lot of games then anyway.

They have said they will play the northern teams on the road in December and February, and our new stadium opening in 2027 will certainly make scheduling easier so hopefully we'll have a favorable schedule.
 
I was reliably informed that ambitious MLS head coaches who leave to take jobs in Europe need to do so in the middle of the MLS season.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

Wilfried Nancy on brink of Celtic manager job

The Columbus Crew boss is inching closer to replacing Brendan Rodgers in the Parkhead dugout
www.dailyrecord.co.uk www.dailyrecord.co.uk

OTOH if Nancy did this 2 years from now this would be midseason and I'm just being petty, lol.
 
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