HL!!!.......Saw that Seattle Sounders has

[USAF]

won the Western Conference, so there will be another first time MLS Cup Champion. For the first time, a team from Canada will be in the finals - either Toronto or Montreal (representing the Eastern Conference).......This will be 11 different winners in 21 seasons.

NOTE - There's a Jamaican, Oniel Fisher, that is consistently on Seattle's game-day roster, and I saw that he came on as a substitute last night.

[USAF]

Oniel Fisher & Jordan Morris after winning the Western Conference Championship -

[HL]

Missed that game.

Seattle has won the MLS championship before ( I think). Great atmosphere at their stadium.

Have seen the first game between the Canadian teams.

As I stated before, the MLS model has lots of advantage over the European system.

[USAF]

No!!! Seattle has never won the MLS Championship. This is their 1st appearance in the final.......Winners - D.C., L.A., San Jose, Houston, Kansas City, Portland, Chicago, Salt Lake, Colorado & Columbus

I didn't see the game either, just highlights.

See what is happening to NASL, and their flagship team New York Cosmos???.......I bet Cosmos wish they had joined MLS when they had the chance.

[HL]

No!!! Seattle has never won the MLS Championship. This is their 1st appearance in the final.......Winners - D.C., L.A., San Jose, Houston, Kansas City, Portland, Chicago, Salt Lake, Colorado & Columbus

I didn't see the game either, just highlights.

See what is happening to NASL, and their flagship team New York Cosmos???.......I bet Cosmos wish they had joined MLS when they had the chance.

The city of Seattle must be out of control. They have always have excellent fan support. Very happy for them.

You think a relegation type system could be integrated in MLS?

[USAF]

I read that there was a big crowd, at the airport, to welcome home the team.......If Montreal advances to the final, Seattle will host the MLS Championship game. If that happens, I'm sure we'll see a sold-out stadium (69,000).

No!!!.......Can you imagine telling a owner(s) that he must pay over $100M for franchise, over $200M for stadium & training facilities, plus salaries, insurance, utilities, maintenance, etc., BUT he could be relegated to a lower division, where he won't share in the MLS TV money or other league endorsement deals, and play in front of smaller crowds. Plus Americans rarely give big support to the lower leagues. Most people want to associate with & follow the teams in the TOP leagues, with the star players and get all the publicity.

[Gamma]

The relegation model doesn't work in the other big franchise sports in the USA

[Gamma]

The relegation model doesn't work in the other big franchise sports in the USA

[HL]

The relegation model doesn't work in the other big franchise sports in the USA

I guess the closest would be MLB.

Each major club has a minor league feeder club.

A few years ago I used to attend games at The Gwinnett Braves....the feeder club for the Atlanta Braves.

From time to time there was relegation and promotion of players from and to the major and minor teams.

But yes, the relegation system would not work in the big feanchises.

[USAF]

Exactly, and Don Garber came from the NFL.

[USAF]

Don't forget that the NBA has the D League, and the NHL has the AHL.......The MLS has a partnership with USL, and MLS teams either have their own reserve teams compete in the league (LA Galaxy II won this year's competition), or have affiliation deals with existing USL teams. The USL now has 31 teams & that number will rise, when more MLS teams form their own reserve team - The USL is where you most likely will see a promotion/relegation system.