MLS Can Expand Without Promotion/Relegation

With Major League Soccer thriving at the moment, it`s expansion is impeded by the lack of a promotion and relegation system some experts say.

Here at Vital Toronto FC we have covered the topic of promotion and relegation in MLS in quite some depth and whilst the majority are for it, due to high franchise fees it seems as if promotion and relegation will not happen any day soon although some close to MLS believe the league wants some sort of system in the future.

Right now the league has 16 clubs split between the Eastern and Western Conference. Two new clubs, the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps will join the league next season whilst the Montreal Impact will join in 2012 taking the league to 19 teams.

No top flight division in the world has gone over 20 teams. MLS has already stated they would like to have a promotion and relegation system in place however this could mean the death of many teams due to lack of interest being perceived as "minor league". To get around the issue of promotion and relegation and with more teams joining, the league would likely need to look at a East, Central and West Conference similar to other North American sports.

Below we look at a possible future MLS Structure with rumoured expansion teams.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
.1 DC United
.2 New England Revolution
.3 New York Red Bulls
.4 Toronto FC
.5 Montreal Impact
.6 Philadelphia Union
.7 Miami Fusion (Rumoured Expansion)
.8 Detroit (Rumoured Expansion)

CENTRAL CONFERENCE
.1 Chicago Fire
.2 Kansas City Wizards
.3 Houston Dynamo
.4 Colorado Rapids
.5 Real Salt Lake
.6 FC Dallas
.7 Columbus Crew
.8 St. Louis (Rumoured Expansion)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
.1 Chivas USA
.2 Seattle Sounders
.3 San Jose Earthquakes
.4 Los Angeles Galaxy
.5 Vancouver Whitecaps
.6 Portland Timbers
.7 San Diego (Rumoured Expansion)

With this structure we will also have to look at a new playoff set up but in order to keep everyone happy and investors who put so much of their money into getting franchises in the first place happy, to continue expansion a 3 conference system will be necessary. A possible new playoff set-up will be the feature of an article later on in the week.

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