State of the League Address - MLS

[jasonm]

MLS announces competition changes for 2009

Competition format, schedule parameters, roster size among changes

Major League Soccer Communications

MLS commissioner Don Garber discussed competition changes in his State of the League address. (Getty Images)

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LOS ANGELES -- Major League Soccer announced Friday that its competition format, schedule parameters, roster size, playoff format and tournament qualification procedures for 2009.

The MLS Board of Governors approved these changes, recommended after a thorough review process by the MLS Competition and Technical Committees and discussions with representatives from all clubs.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber discussed these changes in his annual state-of-the-league press conference. Audio from that event can be found on the Video/Audio page of MLSnet.com.

"We have thoroughly reviewed our competitive format to ensure that it provides the right framework to continue the progress MLS has made in recent years," Garber said. "There are many factors to be considered and balanced, none of which can be considered in isolation. We believe we are striking the proper balance among presenting a compelling championship quest for our fans, putting our clubs in position to succeed in league and tournament play, and maintaining the sound business sense that has allowed us to prosper in our first 13 years."

Competition elements for the 2009 MLS season are:

Rosters:

Following an extensive review of the operation of the Reserve Division over the past four years, MLS has decided that it will be more efficient to cease operation of the Reserve Division and to divert funds from its operations to more directed programs such as a bolstered senior roster, increased commitment to the Generation adidas program and focused initiatives to provide leading prospects with game experience, whether in MLS or elsewhere. These options are currently being reviewed by an MLS working group.

Each team will be permitted to carry 18, 19 or 20 senior roster players (at its option) within the overall salary budget (the limit in 2008 was 18 senior roster players). In addition, teams will be permitted to carry up to four developmental players (including Generation adidas players) outside of the team salary budget. Any team with more than four Generation adidas players carried forward from 2008 will be grandfathered with respect to the size of their developmental roster.

Schedule:

The 2009 season will start on March 21, one week earlier than the 2008 season. Each team will play 30 regular season games. During the 2009 regular season, MLS will either clear its schedule on two weekends, or play with a reduced schedule over four weekends, to reduce World Cup Qualification conflicts. This, the elongated window of the schedule, and a few additional weeknight games, is aimed at reducing the number of conflicts with FIFA fixture dates that teams have faced in recent years.

Of the 15 teams that will compete in 2009, seven will be in the Eastern Conference and eight will be in the Western Conference, where Seattle Sounders FC is the additional team.

Each team will play every other MLS team home and away, for a base of 28 games. Two additional games against intra-conference rivals will complete each team's 30-game schedule.

Playoffs:

A total of eight teams will qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2009. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top two teams in each conference will earn automatic berths. The next four teams in the standings, regardless of conference, will earn wild card berths. This is the same format used in 2007, the last time MLS had an uneven number of teams in each conference.

International Competitions and U.S. Open Cup:

MLS teams may participate in either the CONCACAF Champions League or SuperLiga - but not both.

All MLS teams will participate in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Qualification for the 2009/2010 CONCACAF Champions League will be as follows:

(1) MLS Cup Winner

(2) Supporters' Shield Winner (Columbus Crew)

(3) MLS Cup Runner-Up

(4) U.S. Open Cup Winner* (D.C. United)

In the event that the same team occupies two qualification spots above, then as needed the following team(s) qualify for the tournament:

(5) Next Team in Regular Season Points.

(6) Next Team in Regular Season Points.

(Ties are broken according to the same system used for MLS playoff qualification.)

Given these criteria, the teams qualifying for the 2009/2010 CONCACAF Champions League will be Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls, D.C. United and Houston Dynamo. Because Columbus will occupy both the Supporters' Shield berth and either the MLS Cup Winner or MLS Cup Runner-Up berth, Houston qualifies as the fourth team with the next most points in MLS during the 2008 regular season.

Qualification for SuperLiga 2009 will be as follows:

The top four teams, based on regular season record, who are not competing in CONCACAF Champions League in 2009, will qualify for SuperLiga 2009. Given these criteria, Chicago Fire, New England Revolution, Kansas City Wizards, and Chivas USA have qualified for SuperLiga 2009 based on their records in 2008.

[michaeltfc91]

I love the fact that the top teams make the Champions League and the secondary (next best 4) make SuperLiga. Its too bad though that we just missed out on SuperLuga

It's really good that they are going to try their best to avoid international dates.

They should remove conferences because it technically means nothing now, its 2 extra games total for division opponents.

Just a question: By saying All MLS teams will play in the US Open Cup that means the US based teams not Toronto FC right? We got the amazing Voyageurs Cup to play in next year.

[VPjr]

the quote that intrigues me most is:

MLS has decided that it will be more efficient to cease operation of the Reserve Division and to divert funds from its operations to more directed programs such as a bolstered senior roster, increased commitment to the Generation adidas program and focused initiatives to provide leading prospects with game experience, whether in MLS or elsewhere</u>

I am very curious to see how this plays out. Where will leading prospects get the chance to acquire game experience? Does this open the door to MLS teams being allowed to organize "farm clubs" whereby DEV roster players can shuttle freely back and forth between the senior team and this "other" team?

[piltdownman]

^ On big soccer it mentions that MLS has stated that they are against farm clubs and youth club systems because they 'favour cities with high soccer participation'

I really dislike where they MLS is going here with player development.

[RJB]

With Beckham going to Serie A, and Donovan to the Bundesliga, the MLS is setting itself up as a farm league anyway. They only want to make money, and care little about developing the game(except where it helps them make money). The best players will always want to play in Europe, however at the rate things are going with the afforementioned loans, and guys like Adu and Altidore moving on, MLS is really turning itself off.

[michaeltfc91]

Since there is a possibility for a Canadian club to qualify for both Superliga and Champions league, shouldn't it be that a Canadian club can only be allowed to enter through Canadian Competition? If TFC finish high in MLS and win the Voyageurs Cup which is a reasonable possibility they qualify for both.

In my opinion, The VOyageurs CUp winner should qualify for Champions league

and either CSL winner or Voyageurs Cup runner up for Super LIga.

[piltdownman]

Only US clubs can get the MLS Champions league spots. They belong to the USSF, not MLS. If TFC wins the final or comes first in the East they won't get into Champions League that way. They should be able to get into Super LIga still though as that is run by SUM, and is not an official CONCACAF or USSF tournament.

[CanadianSoccerFan]

The Superliga is a stupid gimmick dreamed up by a marketing department. I hope TFC never takes part in that bogus tournament. It's a waste of time.