Photo by ISIPhotos.com
BY ADAM SERRANO
Don Garber outlined his visions for MLS in his annual state of the league addressed on Tuesday afternoon.
In a conference call with the media, commissioner Garber touched on a number of potential changes MLS today including expansion into New York City and the Southeast, the new Reserve League and much more.
The initial highlight of the State of MLS was the commissioner's slip that David Ferriera will be announced as the MLS MVP. During the call, Garber stated that the MLS Cup will contain a player who will be involved an upcoming announcement. The MLS MVP will be announced on Friday. The FC Dallas midfielder was announced as a finalist several weeks ago along with Edson Buddle and Chris Wondolowski.
Garber stated that, pending approval from the MLS Board of Governors, MLS rosters will expand to 30 in 2011, up from 24 this season. The roster spots will be available for players under the age of 24 and will not count against a team's salary cap.
2011 will also mark the return of MLS' reserve division. According to the commissioner, teams will be able to place players from their academies, those on trial and players, who hold the latter six roster spots in the reserve league in hopes of developing their own prospects.
The commissioner also said teams will play 34 matches in 2011, but it was not yet known whether it will be a balanced schedule or an imbalanced one to enhance rivalries. Garber also announced that changes to the playoff format are expected.
Garber also addressed the playoffs, saying there may be changes to the number of teams that make the playoffs. Garber said that there is a possibility that the 2011 MLS Cup Final that will take place in the stadium of the higher-seeded finalist, while also dismissing any possibility of MLS ever eliminating the playoffs and crowning the team with the best record as league champion.
"We will never do away with playoffs," Garber said. "There is absolutely no reason to do that. I know that it exists in other soccer leagues, though not all. All have been around for hundreds of years, all that don't have the competition that we have. We will always have playoffs."
In terms of expansion, Garber announced that New York is on the top of the expansion list, with 2013 a potential season for the new team's arrival. The commissioner announced that there have been a number of conversations about a franchise in New York including conversations with the representatives of a prospective New York Cosmos franchise. Garber said there will be a focus on growing rivalries with more teams in a closer vicinity to one another. The Red Bulls have stated that they are open to the possibility of a second team in the New York market.
Regarding expansion into the South, Garber saidt it was highly unlikely that when MLS is finished with expansion that there will be no teams in the South. The league has not had a team south of D.C. United since the folding of the Miami Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 2001. Garber outlined Atlanta and Miami as just a pair of cities that the league is interested in expanding in.
"We are very focused on local rivalries being a key driver in growing our clubs' relevance, and by growing local relevance, we believe that can translate into national relevance," said Garber. "Rivalries really do matter. While we have been very focused on broadening our footprint. We do believe we need to have more rivalries and that a second team in New York will help us do that.
"That being said, I can't imagine this will be a league, when all is said and done, that does not have teams in the South."
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What are your thoughts on Commissioner Garber's comments? Like the idea of a second New York team? Relieved to hear that changes to the playoff format are being consdered?
Share your thoughts below.
I answered this on SI — 2 of 4 SS winners had DPs, while the other 2 teams had a player who became a DP in the offseason.
I’m with you on this point. Once the league settles on divisions, rivalries will develop, but they might develop faster if hte teams play their division rivals more often.
On the other hand, I’d be leery of a schedule that doesn’t involve each team playing each team…ideally twice.
I think he’s said the same things all along. There will be a break in expansion…AND the league does want to move into the South. One or two teams there, possibly another midwestern/central team, possibly San Diego and possibly a southwest team.
Single table. single table. Single table. Single table. New york and DC (Portland/Seattle) do non’t need to be in the same conference in order to hate each other.
There is absolutely no justification or rational explanation for keeping conferences in MLS.
Way too big.
The goal should be to spread the league to gain a national profile — to get fans invested in the league, in all four corners of the country and in between. Kinda like the NFL or baseball. 36-40 teams is insane. I suppose one could envision a future in 50 years or so, where 32 teams might be feasible — giving you your two separate 16 team tables. I’m not sure that’s ideal either. If it is divided along east-west lines, it would actually work against the national appeal. A north-south thing could be interesting, because it would allow for different seasons based on weather, but then they couldn’t compete. It would be hard to have two national leagues, though — and, it would be artificial. The NL/AL thing grew up organically.
Personally, I think that 20 is a healthy number given the paucity of talent available, but the national reach isn’t there. I think the league is destined to expand beyond 20 teams, but I think the league should move slowly there, and should be capped at 24. The markets aren’t there for more teams.
There are a couple things I don’t get. Can someone explain these to me?
1. The road goals rule. How does it make since? Why is it better to tie 2-2 on the road or 0-0 at home than the other way around?
2. Why do playoffs not belong in soccer? What makes soccer different than all the other sports that use post season tournaments? Should all sports adopt this policy or is it just soccer?
How about we move to a single table, abolish the term “playoffs,” and have the 1-8 teams qualify for the post-season MLS Cup Tournament?
That’s a great strategy for Najar, Mwanga, and Zakuani.
Regardless of whether the system is good or American, it is full of $$$$$$.
A healthy USL makes for a healthier MLS.
Garber “focused on rivalries?” If that were the case, the ONLY TWO TEAMS IN THE SOUTH would have been in the same division. He’s an a’hole twit that couldn’t even find a way to put the Fusion and the Mutiny to play in the same division, and couldn’t find an owner for a league-owned team in a city where the Steinbrenners AND the Glazers were extremely interested in buying the Tampa Bay franschise.
Yeah, I’m still pissed. Vamos Mutiny
I just want the Revs on real grass. Plastic grass makes me sad panda.
Not sure anyone will read this this far down the comment listing, but here is MY vision for top-flight soccer in the United States and Canada (don’t stop reading just because you see the phrase ‘single table’, hear me out):
– 20 teams, single table, balanced schedule, February to October. MLS regular season should have a specific structure, not games ‘whenever’. One game a week per team (1 Thursday night game, 4 Saturday early afternoon games, 4 Saturday late afternoon games, 1 Sunday night game). Use MLS All-Star Break to allow adjustment for midweek fixtures that would be necessary in a 38-game schedule, finish those by the end of September.
— Cap expansion at 20 teams and focus on building a viable 2nd division; years later when it is profitable we can begin to think about promotion and relegation to give teams at the bottom of the table more to fight for.
– Top team (1st place) at the end of the regular season is the Champion, they and the runners-up (2nd place) get automatic CL group stage berths (US or Canadian)
– The 8 other teams (places 3rd through 10th) in the top half of the table playoff for the third CL berth in the preliminary round (US or Canadian)
– National cup winners gets the final CL preliminary berths (US-only and Canadian-only)
– End SuperLiga, put the money behind the US Open Cup. Rebrand the “US Open Cup” so that it is placed on a pedestal, and respected, cherished, something the fans want to win, with teams in CONCACAF play entering the latest, and the Final being the sport’s premier annual event in the US (called the “Soccer Bowl” as an homage to the NASL era).
– The season format should look like this chronologically:
Beginning of MLS regular season (February)
CONCACAF Champions League Knockout Stage (February-April)
“US Open Cup” Qualifying/Canadian Championship (April-June)
Beginning of “US Open Cup” proper (June)
MLS Rivalry Week the week of the MLB All-Star Game (July)
MLS All-Star Game and a few summer friendlies for teams not in continental competition (July-August)
CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary and Group Stages (August-October)
End of MLS regular season (Early October)
Semifinals of “US Open Cup” proper (Mid October)
MLS Champions League Qualification Playoffs (Late October-November)
“US Open Cup” Final, the “Soccer Bowl” (Thanksgiving night)
This will accomplish a few things. It will allow us to crown a true champion, it will allow even MORE teams to have something to play for (and therefore more things for fans to be interested in), it will raise the profile of both our national cup and continental competition, it will decrease the impact of fixture congestion somewhat, and it will allow for a significant amount of time between qualification for an event (US Open Cup, CL playoffs) and the actual event itself for teams to market the game and sell tickets.
Forgot to mention, more games = mo’ $$
We Americans love our playoffs.
Home and Away for each round, quarters, semis, and the Finals.
This guarantees huge local support for each game, as opposed to a neutral MLS Cup site. Who’s going to Toronto?
This is America’s unique contribution to “soccer.”
Get on it, Garber.
Any negatives?
As for Garber mentioning about changing the number of teams in the playoff, we will most likely see a decrease after this year’s fiasco. My guess is that there will be either 4 or 6 teams to make the playoffs. I foresee the top two teams in the MLS get byes in the first round while the lower four seeds battle it out and meet in the top seeds conference finals.
That being said, they need to fix the seeding/qualification format. Regional representation is important but is not outweighed by points achieved during the season. Therefore, I am in favor of a team in the west grabbing the number one seed in the “eastern conference” if they have more points and vice versa with the west. This means every game matters and will only help build rivalries and competition.
How about Ronaldinho to LA??? They have the$$$
Haha, I’m not even from Atlanta, and as a Mets fan I should probably have some dislike for the city, but I’m pretty sympathetic to the idea of a soccer team there, and from what I’ve heard, I think Arthur Blank is willing to pay to make it happen. I hope it happens.
ZING! Nice one Joamiq 😉
Tim M and the other haters can keep on hating. I know one day soon Atlanta will get its team…and I’ll be waiting anxiously in line for season tickets.
I’m in my right mind, and I want it in Atlanta. MLS / all the ignorant yankees who post on this website (not all of you, but some) are missing out on a hugeeeee soccer fanbase in the South.
The metro Atlanta area has nationally acclaimed youth soccer (see Ricardo Clark, Jack McInerney) as well as the very trendy Midtown area of Atlanta. Guaranteed Atlanta would draw more fans than FC Dallas…..
Those are cup competitions, not playoffs. League champions shouldn’t be decided by playoffs (and regardless of the name, the Champions League is a cup).
A two leg final IS dumb. It should be a best of 3, and goals don’t carry over. Each game is it’s own entity with a required winner. Now THAT’S American.
And lasts 8 hours.
I know!
I mean you can do real well in a season, earn a spot in Champs Group Stage, and then get knocked out in a play-off game??? UEFA what are you thinking.
And 2 years of WC qualifying and group stage only to get knocked out in a playoff match in a world cup.
Dude no one will enjoy this… (sarcasm)
Such an owner exists. His name is Arthur Blank.
Roster expansion + return of reserve division = awesome.
“All have been around for hundreds of years”… I don’t think there is ANY soccer league that has been around for hundreds of years.
I really don’t want another team in NY. I don’t know how I would feel about them.
I would agree with everything you said, besides you last point of implementing it in, for instance the NBA
The Crappier Teams (D-League…CBA) just really don’t have the finance’s or stadiums to contend with, we’ll, even old Seattle Sonics.
the playoff matches would be the same.
there would just be no promotion and relegation.
but, what you have MLS name the two different Brackets
MLS Cup Group A and Group B.
That would imply inferiority to the average fan.
I think Garber tries to draw from all american playoff systems. Think about it. We have the best opportunity in front of us.
As a fledgling American Sport, we have time, to figure this out, and we are slowly making very good progress.
THIS IS AMERICAN SOCCER
Honestly, the playoffs system does a great job of attracting new fans, in addition to the awesome, loyal fanbases for each franchise. The single table also remains relevant because of Supporter’s Shield (CCL Bid), which is definitely consolation for our Galaxy getting annihilated by FCD.
I think the Pro/Rel system is really cool… for established franchises and sports leagues. It is grossly premature to propose such an idea for the MLS, which is still in its infancy. On the contrary, I think it would be awesome if they did this for the NBA or NHL, where crappy franchises get demoted to secondary leagues and small-town franchises get to play with the big boys (and get dominated).
haha
Get an Owner who’s willing to build a 20,000 seater and then we’ll talk.
Vegas did wonders for the NBA All Star Game
If they could have a team on par with like the Cosmos, then i’d say he’ll yes bring it a team to Vegas.
The Yankee’s do have a lot of South America, but their probably in contention for the title of “The World’s Second Most Popular Sport” with Cricket (Sadly) and Rugby.
The league is was young then and still growing. The idea’s in the beginning were very Radical, but if they FO, behind the league were complete idiots hey, we still be playing one on one’s with the Keeper back in the original NASL days. That seemed to be pretty popular.
Revs fans deserve better. All valid points btw.
They can’t even Support the Silverbacks. Why would anyone in their right mind want that Over the NY Cosmos?
I think he means a league, were in Memphis, they be’s like “Whats MLS? Oh you mean where that David Beckham fellow makes his living?”
yea, well we can all hope he marries an american wife, can’t we?
USL is 3rd division as it is already.
If im not mistaken, I think the only credible team USL has right now is like the Charleston Battery. Atlanta Silverbacks, Wellington Hammerheads?
One things for sure Austin’s been bought and moved to Orlando, and make no mistake, the new ownership will have plans to move the the NASL, the legit (almost) 2nd Division.
Why is it hard to understand that we can have a single table AND playoffs?
Agreed. Donovan agknoledged earlier in the year before they announced Buddle was canidate that he would vote Ferreira MVP. He has a lot of respect for the guy. He’s pure class.
But! He’s still on loan from Athletico Paranese. Dallas is gonna have to spend a lot of change to buy his contract. Plus he’ll probably get a pay raise. DP pay raise that is.
Idk about that one. Aarón Galindo, who is like a fringe CB on the national team, like maybe a Chad Marshall to us, stated about two months back that he wanted to play in the US this upcoming season, with a figure in his head of like 2,000,000.
Upcoming youngsters wouldn’t want to jump ship from their Mexican teams. There’s too much a heritage and pride behind it to come to an MLS team. That and if nobody’s noticed, their wages are considerably higher for the average player in Mexico.
When we’re ranked in the top 5 leagues in the world maybe.
Those complaints should be targeted to certain owners rather than Garber.
Phoenix would be good place to put a team logistically for MLS
As a Dallas supporter through and through, admittingly, I’m just afraid of what a disaster it would of been to have staged the finals there. That said, Garber won’t make that sort of decision nxt season if we, KC are staging the finals
With more team’s there will be more, teams in the playoffs, and hopefully the legs will come sooner then having to wait a week!
And with every disappointing, year in the tourney for MLS teams there’s nothing but controversy.
The struggling Columbus, outshined by the Red Bulls I might add.
+1
Surely, we can all agree that the playoffs take away the importance of the supporters shield? PPL talked about RSL all year long, not Columbus.