Major League Soccer Now and Then!

Major League Soccer celebrates it`s 17th year anniversary this week.

Much has changed since the leagues inception including a massive expansion drive as well as several name changes and one of the original teams have now folded. Below are the original ten MLS teams.

- Columbus Crew
- DC United
- New England Revolution
- NY/NJ Metrostars (Now New York Red Bulls)
- Tampa Bay Mutiny (Folded 2001)
- Colorado Rapids
- Dallas Burn (Now FC Dallas)
- Kansas City Wiz (Later Wizards and currently Sporting Kansas City)
- Los Angeles Galaxy
- San Jose Clash (Now San Jose Earthquakes)

Since the league`s inception one major thing has hindered the league, No promotion or relegation. Many fans are keen to see this implemented but with huge franchise fees its hard to imagine seeing say the New York Red Bulls playing in the USSF Division One for example. The only way promotion or relegation would work in MLS is to have a two tier MLS so all teams remain under the MLS umbrella.

When the league started teams had very "American names", such as New York/New Jersey Metrostars, Kansas City Wiz and Dallas Burn. In more recent times teams have changed their name and identity to more European names such as Sporting Kansas City, FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake. That said however, MLS`s two new teams are the Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers whilst the Montreal Impact are set to begin play in 2012.

All in all it`s a very different league now. During the leagues inception, Most teams played out of massive NFL Stadiums to sparse crowds, now as a condition of joining MLS you must now have a football specific stadium which normally have good attendances as well as a better atmosphere.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.