By IVES GALARCEP
It is a topic consistently pushed by a vocal minority, but perhaps one that more and more American soccer fans are interested in discussing. Promotion and relegation is a fixture of club soccer around the world, but is not something practiced by Major League Soccer, which isn’t going to change any time soon.
So why even discuss it? Pretty simply to get a sense of just how many SBI readers would actually prefer to have MLS operate in a pro-rel model.
The argument for promotion-relegation has its merits. The threat of relegation is strong enough to push teams to excel and can rid a league of under-performing clubs, while also creating plenty of drama as teams push for the title and to avoid being relegated. The model works very well around the world.
The arguments against it range from the obvious questions about the threat it would pose to clubs’ financial futures given the current state of American lower divisions, to the inherent preference among American sports fans for a playoff format over a pro-rel format. MLS president Mark Abbott has already gone on record saying pro-rel will never happen in MLS, something echoed by commissioner Don Garber and U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati.
Now it is your turn to let us know what you think. Would you prefer MLS be run with promotion/relegation, or are you happy with the league the way it is?
Cast your vote after the jump:
- Definitely. MLS should adopt it as soon as possible.
- Probably. I wouldn’t mind seeing pro-rel in MLS, but don’t think it is a must.
- I would be happy with either format, whether pro-rel or the current one.
- Not really. I’m not sold on pro-rel being an improvement over the current system.
- Definitely not. A terrible idea that MLS should never consider.
What did you vote for? Think the idea of promotion/relegation is worth discussing, or feel it is a waste of time? Ever see it being adopted by MLS?
Share your thoughts below.