Future Outlook on MLS and USL!

[Shway]

20 teams by 2012 for both MLS and USL, could there be any type of affliation?

Major League Soccer

1. Chicago Fire
2. Chivas USA
3. Colorado Rapids
4. Columbus Crew
5. D.C. United
6. F.C. Dallas
7. Houston Dynamo
8. Kansas City Wizards
9. Los Angeles Galaxy
10. New England Revolution
11. New York Red Bulls
12. A.C. Philadelphia
13. Portland F.C. (Timbers)
14. Real Salt Lake
15. San Jose Earthquakes
16. Seattle Sounders FC
17. Toronto FC
18. Vancouver City FC (Whitecaps)
19. Ottawa United S.C (probable)
20. St. Louis United S.C (probable)


United Soccer League

1. Atlanta Silverbacks
2. Austin Aztex
3. Carolina Railhawks
4. Charleston Battery
5. Cleveland City Stars
6. CP Baltimore (promotion to USL-1)
7. Detriot
8. Des Moines
9. New York City FC
10. Hamilton FC (probable)
11. Miami FC
12. Minnesoeta Thunder
13. Montreal Impact
14.Puerto Rico Islanders
15. Rochester Rhinos
16. Tampa Bay Rowdies
17. St. Louis Lions (probable)
18. San Antonio
19. Oklahoma City
20.Orlando Tuzos
21. Ottawa United FC (probable)
22. Victoria Highlanders (possible promotion for PDL)

[Sab0tage]

Ottawa in both MLS and USL?

[Shway]

i heard its if they dont get into MLS they will try USL, likewise i heard for St. Louis to

[Azerban]

portland will stay the timbers
vancouver will stay the whitecaps
and if the names for ottawa and st louis are that poor it will be a tragedy

[peter_tfc]

It's also possible that USL1 and USL2 will merge giving a much larger second division for the continent.

The lack of West Coast teams is a serious problem for the USL, but combining the two leagues would definitely save on travel costs, increase rivalries and thereby put people in the seats.

The timing of the World Cup could help with this. Usually there's a ton of expansion during and immediately after a World Cup year.

And on that note, perhaps it's finally time to get the Western CSL going and accomodate our existing Canadian teams in every way to get them to join up and stay in the CSL. Lynx, Fury and Chill belong in the CSL in my opinion. The CSL just has to raise their standards for stadiums and salaries.

[ExiledRed]

Isn't there a conflict of interest?
MLS=Adidas while USL=Umbro?

[maninb]

Ottawa won't get a MLS team....until WAY after Montreal.....also IMO they can't/won't support a soccer team long term...it's not a very good sport's town...

[Sab0tage]

i heard its if they dont get into MLS they will try USL, likewise i heard for St. Louis to

Yeah, but they won't be in both, therefore your total numbers of teams in both leagues is wrong.

[Keyman]

Both leagues would have to have major balls to unite, or form any sort of two/three tier organization. I don't buy the argument that it "simply can't work" because relegation/promotion has never been attempted in North America to my knowledge. However, if USL teams don't have MLS-standard facilities, then the potential costs outweigh the potential benefits.

[devioustrevor]

Apparently there is a group that wants to put a USL-1 team at a refurbished Swangard after Vancouver jumps to MLS.

[Cashcleaner]

The only affiliation I could ever see hapening between MLS and USL, would be something akin to that between the NHL and AHL, or Major and Minor League Baseball. Maybe not a farm system in the sense that we are familar, but some osrt of partnership between first and second-tier clubs.

[Shway]

Yeah, but they won't be in both, therefore your total numbers of teams in both leagues is wrong.

thats why there is 22 in the USL and 18 plus 2 possible in the MLS,
so any braniac would be able to go hmmm what if St. Louis and Ottawa dont get in? thenn hmmmm there are 22 on the USL list and Ottaw and St. Louis are both there, then maybe if they dont get in the MLS. then maybe just maybe the likes of MIAMI or MONTREAL or ATLANTA could go in replacement to OTTAWA and ST.LOUIS,
so therefore the total numbers of teams in both leagues are CORRECT

[Shway]

Both leagues would have to have major balls to unite, or form any sort of two/three tier organization. I don't buy the argument that it "simply can't work" because relegation/promotion has never been attempted in North America to my knowledge. However, if USL teams don't have MLS-standard facilities, then the potential costs outweigh the potential benefits.

so true, it hasn't been tried
and the aspect of facilities, the MLS original clubs would obviously be the top clubs, so even if lets say San Jose gets relegated, and a team like Cleveland comes up, do you think they would stay? honestly? NO!

IMO it would bring more attraction to Cleveland, to gain more fans, and for them to try and come up again and build a good facility,and develop a system that could eventually meet the criteria of MLS.

[egoodwin]

Ottawa United?

ROFL

the most partisan city in the country, united

I really don't think so

[Sab0tage]

thats why there is 22 in the USL and 18 plus 2 possible in the MLS,
so any braniac would be able to go hmmm what if St. Louis and Ottawa dont get in? thenn hmmmm there are 22 on the USL list and Ottaw and St. Louis are both there, then maybe if they dont get in the MLS. then maybe just maybe the likes of MIAMI or MONTREAL or ATLANTA could go in replacement to OTTAWA and ST.LOUIS,
so therefore the total numbers of teams in both leagues are CORRECT

Neither Ottawa or St. Louis are a shoe-in for MLS or USL.

Atlanta is not getting into MLS, and Miami won't be for a while, if ever. Montreal won't until Saputo changes his ways.

[Jack]

It's a nice dream.

[Super Cereal]

Ottawa won't get a MLS team...

If city council approves Melnyk's proposal, they've got one.

[Shway]

Neither Ottawa or St. Louis are a shoe-in for MLS or USL.

Atlanta is not getting into MLS, and Miami won't be for a while, if ever. Montreal won't until Saputo changes his ways.

my friend were in 2009
all im saying is who knows what will happen in 2012? right

[Sab0tage]

my friend were in 2009
all im saying is who knows what will happen in 2012? right

Not much will change by then to warrant a city like Atlanta getting a team. And you think MLS will make the 2012 expansion team decisions in 2012? No, they'll make them probably next year. Therefore, not as much will change as you seem to believe for places like that. St. Louis or Ottawa may get their issues ironed out, but Atlanta or Miami will not.

[flatpicker]

It's a nice dream.

it sure is!


I think Hitcho and I are gonna start running amok again with our grandiose ideas of a two tier MLS!




The stadium issue is the only real hurdle here.
Financially it could work though.
If the two tier MLS (MLS and USL merged) operated under the same single entity system currently in place then it could work.
Or at least a shared revenue system that would assist the smaller clubs.
Also, to help avoid big city clubs from ending up in the second division, it would be a good idea to have a playoff game between the bottom MLS-1 teams and the top MLS-2 teams. That way, Even if you finish last in MLS-1 you still have a chance to stay up if you beat the top MLS-2 team.

Also, this idea of merging with USL is better than our past discussion about splitting the current MLS into a two tier league.
Because, if 20 spots are available in MLS-1, then that would help make sure that most of the big clubs don't get booted down to MLS-2.


but yes... dreams...

[Shway]

^^that can so work!!!!

the teams the dont make it into the playoffs
go into a playoff with the tops teams from USL .....hmmmmm thats sounds like a great idea to me,

goes back to garber stating with fans seeing there team out early, but with this they would still ahve games to go to and cheer on to ensure there spot!!

but yesss we can dream

[T_Mizz]

This is what's going to have to happen after we get to 20 right? If i'm not mistaken Fifa only wants 20 teams in the top tier in every country

[flatpicker]

^^that can so work!!!!

the teams the dont make it into the playoffs
go into a playoff with the tops teams from USL .....hmmmmm thats sounds like a great idea to me,

well, actually in the concept I mentioned, I think the "playoff/MLS Cup" would involve teams from both MLS-1 and MLS-2.
Kinda like the FA Cup.

This would help create more interest for fans of teams in the lower division.
Those teams would have a chance to beat the top teams for the MLS Cup.
The prize for MLS-1 teams would be winning the league.
Same with MLS-2, I suppose.

[NF-FC]

This is what's going to have to happen after we get to 20 right? If i'm not mistaken Fifa only wants 20 teams in the top tier in every country

Fifa wants a lot of things, doesn't mean anyone cares

[ginkster88]

^^^

See FIFA International dates.

I don't see there ever being any affiliation between the leagues, especially not as long as MLS remains single-entity.

[ccopela]

Ottawa United?

ROFL

the most partisan city in the country, united

I really don't think so

I've got a good idea for a name for an Ottawa team.

Ottawa Valley FC (or SC)
a Nottingham Forest esque name

Would fit well too especially if the stadium is in Kanata. (I know Kanata is officially part of Ottawa but its not in reality, its still Kanata)

[ExiledRed]

This is what's going to have to happen after we get to 20 right? If i'm not mistaken Fifa only wants 20 teams in the top tier in every country

So we can have 40 because MLS exists in two countries?

[Shway]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ExiledRed
So we can have 40 because MLS exists in two countries?


20!!! in the TOP TIER

[jrey]

In every one of your posts, you seem to think we are some kind of major soccer continent and the league can manage all this.

There's a reason there's a cap under $3 million, you know.

Teams can't support it.

Ultimately, this league (and any other sports league) is about putting fans in the seats or making money.

Forget the other cities in this league, do you know how many Toronto fans would stop coming to games if we were relegated? A lot.

We are NOT a soccer continent. Everyone here would like us to be, but we're 100 years behind.

If I see this kind of thing in my lifetime, I'll be surprised. Very surprised.

[rocker]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ExiledRed
So we can have 40 because MLS exists in two countries?


20!!! in the TOP TIER

yes, so Canada has 18 slots left in its top tier.
USA has 4 left in its top tier