How to Fix the MLS

In post-MLS Cup discussions on Twitter, complaints about the league, its decisions of locations for the MLS Cup match, and its playoff system have risen again.

Play-offs: Are they necessary?

In American society, YES. Americans love underdog stories. When an 8 seed beats a 2 seed, people eat it up (see, MLS Cup 2009 RSL vs LA Galaxy). Now I can argue that doing conference semis home and away and the conference final a one game affair is a little absurd and having seeds 5-8 a veritable wild card spot available to the 4 highest teams no matter the conference is completely unbalanced. In fact, since that system has been utilized, Eastern Conference was won the Western once and Western Conference was won Eastern twice.

Don Garber also announced during half time of MLS Cup 2010 that the playoffs will be extended to 10 teams. Theoretically, 5 seeds will play 4 in a pseudo-wild card and playoffs will continue as normal. I think that the pseudo-wild card is ok as long as it's played in a one game series and that the semi's would be played that way as well, higher seeds hosting. People want drama, and you'll get drama.

Finals Hosting

This is a simple fix. Randomize a list of all the teams that will be in by 2012, and alternate East/West. You host the All-Star Game one year, then the next you host the MLS Cup, then you go to the end of the queue.

and the most important question: How do you attract more people/viewers?

Well, isnt this the biggest Pandora's Box in US Soccer? Obviously, an improvement in officiating would make people less frustrated through matches and speak better about the league. The good folks at The Free Beer Movement have an ingenious way of attracting people of legal drinking age to matches with a free beer or three. Houston Dynamo offer promotional giveaways at nearly every game and offer promotional ticket packages, such as their winter package (2 tickets and 2 special edition scarves).

As for viewers, if you have more hype around the city and stadium and the game isn't on an absurd channel, like an alternate digital channel *ahem-Houston-ahem*, not only will you attract basic television viewers, but cable viewers will see it on their built in TV guide. Now from this, viewers won't be guaranteed, but those curious about the game will tune in though in the late season it will be in direct competition of American football.