WASHINGTON (AP) – Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber is not ruling out the possibility of relegation and promotion, although he has made it clear that decisions on relegation and promotion could be years or even decades away.
MLS was launched in 1996 with 10 teams, and currently has 30 teams operating in a closed system. San Diego, a recent team, $500 million expansion cost It will begin playing in 2025.
Gerber said relegation and promotion don’t work for MLS because owners spend huge amounts of money on stadiums, training facilities and youth academies.
“It doesn’t really mean to say never because we don’t know what the future holds. I never thought it would fit into the international calendar,” he said at a press conference Thursday night at D.C. United’s Audi Stadium on the sidelines of the World Cup draw.
“Perhaps as the growth continues, as subdivision development has done very well over the years, there will be a suitable ecosystem. We don’t know. Frankly, I don’t believe that ecosystem could exist today, but you never know,” he added. “I’ve learned to never say never. It doesn’t mean promotion or relegation is going to happen right away.”
The United Soccer League has announced the following plans for this year: Top league will start in 2027-28 and Promotion/demotion system. The current USL League Championship has been sanctioned as a second-division league since 2017, with 24 teams. The three-tier Ligue 1 began play in 2019. USL League 2 is a semi-professional level and includes 144 teams in 19 regional divisions and four conferences.
succession plan
Garver, who turned 68 in October, has served as commissioner since August 1999 and agreed to a contract in 2024 through the 2027 season.
“MLS has operated as a startup for almost 30 years, so we never thought about succession planning,” he said. “High-performing companies need to do that. So the beginning of this process is to have a good succession process in place, not just for the next commissioner, but for the next leader in the commercial business and the next leader in the sports business.”
Gerber said he doesn’t see it existing past 2027.
“Right now I’m focused on the next few years. I’ll think about it and discuss it with the MLS owners at the appropriate time,” he said.
MLS owners voted last month to switch to a summer-to-spring schedule starting in 2027-2028. Similar to the calendar of most European leagues. In recent years, the season has continued from February to December each year.
“Certainly I wasn’t thinking about renewing my last contract in view of the calendar change, because at the time I didn’t think I was going to do that,” he said. “But we get it.”
vancouver stadium
first On Saturday, Vancouver plays Inter Miami for the MLS title.Gerber was critical of the lack of progress on the stadium project. The Whitecaps hope to move from BC Place, where they are a tenant, to the new stadium.
“MLS teams, owners, fans and players have done everything they can to get the support they don’t get from cities and states today, and it’s an intolerable situation,” he said. “What we have there has to change, and right now we’re not necessarily moving in that direction. … We had a very positive meeting with the mayor. We’re currently looking at getting a better lease at BC Place. There’s been no movement on that, and it’s been a month.”
“We’re in the business of giving people who really want an MLS team that they can truly love and embrace, and it’s not just the fans. They did that,” he added. “We need cities and regions to do it, but we’re still waiting to see if they can make it happen. And if they can’t make it happen, we’re going to have to make some difficult decisions.”
Vancouver’s owners announced in December that they would put the club up for sale.. Greg Kerfoot has owned the team since 2002, 11 years before he started playing in MLS. Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and former NBA star Steve Nash joined Kerfoot in 2008.
Mr Mallett suggested in August that the group’s strategy may have shifted to adding new partners.
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AP Sports Writer Ann M. Peterson contributed to this report.
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