In America, we have a
thing of being different, as in the case of calling the beautiful game of football
soccer and so far with three professional leagues and Major League Soccer being
its main one and seen as its first division.
The league that started
in 1996, so far has grown from ten squads to 23 and with many suitors waiting
for the yay from its league commissioner.
The North American
Soccer League follows it as a second division and the third division considered
as a formative association in the United Soccer League, and the NPSL as a sort
of fourth tier, completes the pyramid of professional leagues in the United
States.
However, the prospects
of creating a system similar to other European and Latin American leagues for
now are considering this idea as a long time project not feasible to implement
to MLS for now!
However, despite the existence
of these three entities, in the States, the system of promotion and relegation
is nonexistent.
As the question
arises in many USL and NASL squads not having their own venues to call home and
using college or other parks to play their matches, this will constitute a
certain risk for Major league Soccer.
Whenever Don Garber
announces the arrival of a new franchise, these coming from the NASL or USL,
these new squads, have to pay a 100 million fee to the league and with the
compromise of building their own venue to play.
If a relegation system
is implemented this could mean disaster to Americas top soccer association and
its prospective parties interested in bringing a new franchise to their city,
will deterred them in doing such an endeavor.
With the LACFC
building its own stadium to present itself in 2017, these squads do not waste
anytime already marketing their season passes and generating a demand, thanks
to the growing interest of the game in America.
Alongside newcomers Atlanta
and Minnesota United as the first one already has a place to call home for its
sister team the NFL Atlanta Falcons and for the Minnesota squad already
planning to build in Saint Paul a place to call home.
One day before a
match here in Portland’s Providence Park, I spoke to a local TV sportscaster
and he told me his negative and the minuses of this crazy idea of seeing this
relegation- promotion nonsense in his mind.
Very well, he stated
that if the Carolina Railhawks or Charlotte Battery get lucky and get the nod
for first division, how they would compete with 5000 seating capacity stadiums against
20,000 plus stadiums already in place in MLS.
In addition, another expert expresses it as a
crazy idea and completely dismissing it.
On the other hand, in
the case of USL FC Cincinnati already breaking all sorts of attendance records,
currently considered by MLS as a possible incorporation into its ranks, as well
St. Louis, San Antonio and Sacramento these two with their own venues.
Making room to an
expansion if these get the call from MLS top operate Don Garber, they can make
modifications to their venues of making serious expansions to its seating
capacity.
Still for NASL top
man Bill Peterson and NPSL Joe Barone have publicly expressed their desires of putting
this system in place, in the case of MLS commissioner Don Garber his silence
says a lot.
With the game growing
in an accelerated pace and seeing its acceptance in many parts of the US as the
case of the Pacific Northwest in Seattle- breaking all sorts of attendance records
and since its inception has held this title uninterruptedly.
As well the Portland
Timbers constant sellouts as well Vancouver these considered the Cascadia
three, very well NYCFC, Orlando FC and SKC have shown their passion for the
game too with impressive numbers in their parks.
Being this game in
its formative stages and for many newcomer followers of several MLS squads, how
will they understand the prospects of seeing a relegation and promotion for their
squads? As for Chicago these with back to back not so positive campaigns, they
would be top candidates to make it into
the abyss.
Alongside what once
was a powerhouse and a hardened squad in the Houston Dynamo, their fan base
would turn their back to their squad if these would become relegated, after all
Houston and Dallas are known to post not so positive and notable attendances.
As both the Fire and
Dynamo having not so stellar campaigns, as well Colorado and others finishing
in the bottom, they would be in the chop block and not welcome by their fan
base.
For now leave it like
it is and see this possibility as a long-term project, for now Soccer has already
caught the eye of many Americans in love with their traditional sports in football,
basketball and baseball.
In addition, some of
these turning their backs to the game will be in part disastrous.
The ball is on the
table and for a long time this debate will continue and become a heated piece in
the center of US Soccer federation and its professional leagues, will it work,
maybe but why not institute it with the NASL, USL and that unofficial NPSL.
In the case of Major League
Soccer, let’s leave this association out of this and let it grow as it has plan
and institute in its Managers the culture of using the academies in these
leagues to promote and develop future players.
The coin is in the
air!
Do you think MLS will
be up to the challenge along its squads of a promotion and relegation method, is
this debatable subject and to place in a matter of time, what is your intake for
such a risky endeavor?
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Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
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of © MLS, USL and NASL 2016
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