MLS kicks off again this Saturday.
The format has never been so laughable. The number of teams that qualify for the playoffs has now been expanded to 9 from each conference. Teams will therefore play 34 games in the regular season to eliminate just 38% of the teams.
The first round of the playoffs has also introduced a 'best of 3' format like we see in other US sports.
We also have a new team this year (number 29). St Louis SC. Did they win the USL to achieve this position? Of course not. The MLS Cartel was bribed with a delicious $200m expansion fee.
Apple now have the exclusive rights to all the games which feels like a real backwards step to growing the game. I can't imagine many of the sports bars here are going to be paying out for Apple TV. It is also clear that Apple have demanded more games which has led to this ridiculous format.
Phil Neville (Inter Miami coach) recently got in trouble with his employers in a recent interview for suggesting that MLS was a micky mouse league for only announcing the league format 4 days before the season begins. Hard to disagree.
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