January 18 – March 1: MLS Preseason

• Jan 29 – Feb 8:
The Desert Friendlies (Tucson) — COL, HOU, NE, POR, SJ, SEA, SKC, FC Tucson

• Feb 9 – Feb 23:
Disney Pro Soccer Classic (Orlando) — CLB, DC, MTL, PHI, SKC, TOR, Orlando City, Tampa Bay

• Feb 13 – Feb 23:
Desert Diamond Cup (Tucson) — NE, NY, RSL, SEA

• Feb 16 – Feb 23:
Carolina Challenge Cup — CHI, HOU, VAN, Charleston

• Feb 17 – Feb 23:
Portland Timbers Tournament — DAL, POR, SJ, AIK

So as far as MLS expansion...

How many teams will the MLS want to expand to?

I say they either do the EPL thing with 20 teams then begin to expand for an "official" 2nd tier for relegation/promotion purposes, or they do the American sports thing and go for around 30 with no official 2nd tier.

What potential cities should get expansion teams?

I've heard more rumors about a second NY team than anything. There is such a clear absence of MLS teams out east that Houston is in the Eastern Conference. So NY wouldn't be bad for a 20th expansion. That would stop at 20. If the MLS wanted to venture further to 30, I would personally like to see them consider (in no particular order):
North Carolina - huge soccer market w/ great youth talent (Raleigh or Charlotte)
St Louis
Minneapolis
Arizona
try Florida again (already failed twice) - try a different city, maybe Orlando or Jacksonville?
San Antonio - I think would be a surprisingly strong market
another Ohio team (Cincinnati or Cleveland this time)
another San Francisco bay area team (San Francisco or Oakland this time)
San Diego
maybe either Atlanta or Detroit, whichever would field more fans

Personally, I think have tiers of 20 teams each is a better option, but maybe the MLS would want to assimilate with the other US sports and go larger.

Any thoughts?

I believe that MLS should expand upto 24 teams, with their 2 conferences have 12 teams each, with 2 6-team divisions.

Eastern Conference:
* Columbus
* Chicago
* D.C.
* New England
* New York
* Toronto
* Philadelphia
* Montreal
* East expansion 1 (hopefully Puerto Rico Islanders)
* East expansion 2
* East expansion 3
* East expansion 4

Western Conference:
* Colorado
* Dallas
* Kansas City
* L.A. Galaxy
* San Jose
* Real Salt Lake
* Chivas USA
* Houston
* Seattle
* Portland
* Vancouver
* West expansion 1

Although I hadn't yet subdivide into divisions yet, but that's all I can think of at the moment. Lemme know what you guys think.

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Florida State Seminole fan for life (mostly on football, basketball and baseball)!

Eastern Conference:
* D.C.United
* New England
* New York
* Toronto
* Philadelphia
* Montreal
* NYCFC
* Orlando City Lions

Central Conference:
* Columbus
* Chicago Fire
* Chicago Sting
* Dallas
* Houston
* Kansas City
* St. Louis United
* San Antonio Scorpions

Western Conference:
* Colorado
* L.A. Galaxy
* San Jose
* Real Salt Lake
* Chivas USA
* Seattle
* Portland
* Vancouver

Is it necessary to have 3 conferences? Look what happened between 2000 and 2001. I believe that a 2-conference 4-division format would be best . I believe that the fans wanna see some new playoff formats like "Division Semi-Finals" (or "Conference Quarterfinals") as the first round, followed by the Division Finals (or Conference Semi-Finals), then the Conference Finals, and finally the MLS Cup Finals.

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Florida State Seminole fan for life (mostly on football, basketball and baseball)!

yes for travel cost and scheduling

Just like on my previous post, but this time, with the planned divisions.

Eastern Conference:

Northeast Division:

* Columbus
* Chicago
* Montreal
* New England
* New York
* Toronto

Southeast Division:

* Philadelphia
* Washington D.C.
* East expansion 1 (hopefully Puerto Rico Islanders)
* East expansion 2 (maybe a Miami Fusion revival)
* East expansion 3 (maybe a Tampa Bay Mutiny revival)
* East expansion 4

Western Conference:

Midwest Division:

* Colorado
* Dallas
* Kansas City
* Real Salt Lake
* Houston
* West expansion 1

Pacific Division:

* L.A. Galaxy
* San Jose
* Chivas USA
* Seattle
* Portland
* Vancouver

Any thoughts?



@bige - Ok, but what about the playoff structure with just 3 conferences?

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Florida State Seminole fan for life (mostly on football, basketball and baseball)!

Top four teams in each division makes playoffs
They are ranked 1 -12 based on points with the divisional champs ranked 1-3.

3 divisional champs get first round bye
top 2nd place team get first round bye

Round One (H/H)
Series 1 - #12 ranked team @ #5 ranked team
Series 2 - #11 ranked team @ #6 ranked team
Series 3 - #10 ranked team @ #7 ranked team
Series 4 - #9 ranked team @ #8 ranked team

Round Two (H/H)
Series 5 #1 Div Champ vs. winner of Series 4
Series 6 #2 Div Champ vs. winner of Series 3
Series 7 #3 Div Champ vs. winner of Series 2
Series 8 #4 ranked team vs. winner of Series 1

Round Three (H/H)
Series 5 winner vs. Series 8 winner
Series 6 winner vs. Series 7 winner

MLS Cup
home of higher seed

I can see and understand your playoff structure under the 3-conference format. But what about the same but with the 2-conference format with 2 divisions each?

_________________
Florida State Seminole fan for life (mostly on football, basketball and baseball)!

Eastern Conference:

North Division:

* NYCFC
* Philadelphia
* Montreal
* New England
* New York
* Toronto

South Division:

* Atlanta
* Washington D.C.
* Dallas
* Houston
* Orlando City
* San Antonio

Western Conference:

Central Division:

* Colorado
* Kansas City
* Real Salt Lake
* Columbus
* Chicago
*Indianapolis

Pacific Division:

* L.A. Galaxy
* San Jose
* Chivas USA
* Seattle
* Portland
* Vancouver


Top three teams in each division makes playoffs (12 teams)
4 divisional champs (first round byes)
others ranked 5-12 according to points

Round One (H/H)
Series 1 - #5 ranked team @#12 ranked team/#12 ranked team @ #5 ranked team
Series 2 - #6 ranked team @#11 ranked team/#11 ranked team @ #6 ranked team
Series 3 - #7 ranked team @#10 ranked team/#10 ranked team @ #7 ranked team
Series 4 - #8 ranked team @#9 ranked team/#9 ranked team @ #8 ranked team

Round Two (Home/Home)
Series 5 #1 Div Champ @winner of Series 4/#1 Div Champ vs. winner of Series 4
Series 6 #2 Div Champ @winner of Series 3/#2 Div Champ vs. winner of Series 3
Series 7 #3 Div Champ @winner of Series 2/#3 Div Champ vs. winner of Series 2
Series 8 #4 Div Champ @winner of Series 1/#4 Div Champ vs. winner of Series 1

Round Three (Home/Home)
Series 5 winner @Series 8 winner/Series 5 winner vs. Series 8 winner
Series 6 winner @Series 7 winner/Series 6 winner vs. Series 7 winner

MLS Cup
home of higher seed

That's more like it.

_________________
Florida State Seminole fan for life (mostly on football, basketball and baseball)!

The only division with reasonable traveling for all teams involved is the North Division, in my opinion. But then again, the MLS doesn't play too many games. Hopefully they'll have more than 24 teams to close the gaps a bit.

Maybe so. But if the league plans to have over 24 to at least 32 teams, then the league must add more games and re-modify its schedule format structure. Like for instance, play all teams twice (home and away); and another home/away series with those within division and non-division from the same conference.

_________________
Florida State Seminole fan for life (mostly on football, basketball and baseball)!