Mls Cup Playoff To Expand To 12 Teams In 2015

MLS doesn't operate a standard home-and-away system. The league is split into two "conferences" (east and west) in the same way that other US sports are, and you play teams in your own conference either two or three times, and those in the others, only once. In US sports, there isn't the same importance on playing every team home and away like we are used to in Europe.
 
They shouldn't call it playoffs. It should be an end of season tournament. Champion is the supporters shield winner. Then instead of the dumb home and away, do a round Robin with the top half of teams. Ending in a final for a cup. The playoff method is trying to shoehorn soccer into american sports
 
MLS doesn't operate a standard home-and-away system. The league is split into two "conferences" (east and west) in the same way that other US sports are, and you play teams in your own conference either two or three times, and those in the others, only once. In US sports, there isn't the same importance on playing every team home and away like we are used to in Europe.

Does mean this that the Galaxy or Orlando City could not play at Yankee Stadium ?
 
Orlando will definitely visit Yankee Stadium, because we're both going to be in the Eastern conference.

Los Angeles remains to be seen as the schedule will not be released for a few weeks yet. If the Galaxy don't come to YS in 2015, they will definitely be here in 2016.

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if MLS finagles the schedule somehow to make sure top drawer teams from the West (meaning Seattle and LA) come to Yankee Stadium so as to assure at least two more big crowds in the Bronx.
 
Why they don't choose the 38 games ( 19 home games and 19 away ) in order to have all the teams to play in all the cities and stadiums ?
 
12 teams seems way too much, that's more than half. Even 10 right now seemed too much. Just have 4 per conference totaling 8 and have the home and away from there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kjbert
Therefore there will not be excuses to not qualificate us to playoff.......:)
New Yorkers (especially Yankee fans) have high standards for our sports teams. I expect this teams to make the playoffs years in-years out and to win MLS cup within the first 5 years. This is the empire state it's in the name. Any year not in the playoffs is a failed year.
 
Lets face it, this way there is even a greater chance that a new franchise like NYCFC can make the playoffs now, regardless if the team is ready or not. Playoffs are always good.
 
The new TV deal most likely had something to do with this. I love the playoffs as opposed to single table champion, but 12 teams is just outrageous. 10 teams is also crazy. Make it four, six or eight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kjbert
Piling on to agree. 6 of 10 is too many.

I'd like to plug my preferred playoff solution again too. They should qualify the top 4 teams into a group stage, where all four teams face each other once. The top two after the 3-matchday group stage play a two-leg match for a birth to the MLS Cup. That would be 8 playoff games per conference, plus the MLS Cup game. Exact same number of games as having 6 teams qualify and having knockout games, so you're not leaving revenue on the table.

As the league expands, you can add knockout games to qualify for the four team group (e.g. 4v5, then 4v5 and 3v6). Eventually, probably when you hit 32, you can move to 4 divisions of 8 teams and move to 4 playoff groups of 4.

Straight knockouts seem less fair than group stages, and getting three games guaranteed when you make the playoffs is a huge reward.
 
They shouldn't call it playoffs. It should be an end of season tournament. Champion is the supporters shield winner. Then instead of the dumb home and away, do a round Robin with the top half of teams. Ending in a final for a cup. The playoff method is trying to shoehorn soccer into american sports

I've always hated the American playoff system. It's essentially a crapshoot, especially in baseball. The best team doesn't always win. Wish American sports did something like Euro football where the team with the best record at the end of the season is named champion and then you run a small playoff like tournament after the season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tom in Fairfield CT
You have to have a playoff because of the unbalanced schedule (+TV and the money it brings), and you need that unbalanced schedule because of the geographic complexities a US/Canada league brings. You also have to note that MLS teams that have to suffer through the World Cup and other summer international periods without their best players are at a disadvantage which is neutralized by the playoffs.
 
You have to have a playoff because of the unbalanced schedule (+TV and the money it brings), and you need that unbalanced schedule because of the geographic complexities a US/Canada league brings. You also have to note that MLS teams that have to suffer through the World Cup and other summer international periods without their best players are at a disadvantage which is neutralized by the playoffs.
But that's not how Europe does it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gene
Different strokes for different folks. That's how we crown a champion in the US. Nothing wrong with winning the table and being a champion at season's end. Man City was able to add high drama with their 2 titles in the last 3 years. However playoffs gives the sports fan more games to watch, chances for upsets, heroics, and then culminating in the championship game. For the Super Bowl, there's nothing quite like it.