MLS Conferences and Roster Rules are Being Announced Today

by Geoff Gibson on Jan 28, 2011 8:58 AM PST

EIn just a few short hours we'll know exactly what our 2011 MLS conferences look like, how they've changed and what they mean for us, Portland (hint: very little!). Additionally, MLS HQ is promising that the roster rules will be released today as well as some Canada-specific news... very interesting.

Anyway, I won't bother trying to guess how convoluted the new roster rules are. That would just drive me to insanity. Instead, I figure I'll just lay out my predictions for the conferences.

Before I do that, however, let me just tell you right now: we will not be going to a single table. I'd love it, most soccer fans would like for such a system to be put in place, but there's no way MLS will adapt to that. Hell, they've already released their play off format which confirms there will continue to be an East and West Conference. A sad truth, but one you should be prepared for now.

Anyway, here are my predictions for the 2011 conferences:

West:

East:

You see, to MLS, it makes the most sense to just switch Sporting KC to the west and FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo to the east. That way both conferences are aligned perfectly.

You'll also notice that this really has no affect on our team. Just that, instead of possibly facing either FC Dallas or Houston Dynamo in the play-offs we'll face Sporting Kansas City, maybe perhaps...

We'll see how this all plays out soon.

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can someone help me on why

Garber is so anti Single Table? Thinking a little to the future with Montreal joining next year, and that switching it to an unbalanced schedule again… maybe its just cause its only 9:30… but why does that make it have to be unbalanced? Everyone could still play everyone home and away no?

by M.Q. on Jan 28, 2011 9:29 AM PST reply actions

sorry kinda OT

but the Conference alignment got me to thinking about it lol.

by M.Q. on Jan 28, 2011 9:29 AM PST up reply actions

It's a good question

I’m not sure – in any sport – why divisions and conferences are absolutely necessary. It makes for a nice visual break to not have to look at 30 teams or whatever, but even if a sport had a single table, they could still draw up the schedule however they want, thus preserving traditional rivalries, no? The principle of a balanced or unbalanced schedule exists no matter how you fill out a spreadsheet, it would seem.

I don’t have my thoughts on this 100% fleshed out yet but it’s an interesting discussion.

by pdb on Jan 28, 2011 9:38 AM PST up reply actions

Baseball makes sense

Rules are different between leagues.

No distinction in football, hockey or basketball though except scheduling. To that end, conferences help determine team travel which supposedly keeps costs lower and maintains rivalries.

"I have something 95 percent of all those All-Stars only wish they had: a World Series ring. If I had to choose between that and being an All-Star, it would be no contest. I’d grab the gold ring and never look back." -Tim Salmon

by BruinHalo on Jan 28, 2011 11:09 AM PST up reply actions

Yeah, in baseball I'd love to see an AL and an NL and nothing else

Or at least back to how it was when I was a kid and there were only ALW, NLW, ALE, and NLE. Rivalries that exist today could easily be built into a schedule lacking conferences, though – even in football, you could preserve the Chicago/Green Bay types of rivalries pretty easily I would think.

by pdb on Jan 28, 2011 11:23 AM PST up reply actions

I would prefer a single table

but I doubt in America we would ever see that

Fan of Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Broncos, and Portland Timbers

by PortlandOrange on Jan 28, 2011 10:53 AM PST up reply actions

I guess thats fine..

if they need more trophies for conference winners and all that. But still I’m lost on why it has to be unbalanced.

by M.Q. on Jan 28, 2011 10:56 AM PST up reply actions

Quote from MLSSoccer.com Article

“The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps will both join the Western Conference, where they’ll compete with the regional rival Seattle Sounders and the rest of the conference.”

Yea, they will also compete with the rest of the Eastern Conference too. Imaginary lines…

by pecorasc on Jan 28, 2011 11:38 AM PST reply actions