• Loading stock data...
Friday, November 22, 2024

Could Promotion-Relegation Work in American Soccer?

  • It will be a key topic on the agenda at the USL’s mid-year meetings this week, a league source confirmed to FOS.
  • The system could attract elite talent to MLS, according to some experts.
One Knoxville SC's Sam Fletcher tries to protect the ball from West Virginia United's Harei Maeda during the regional final soccer match of the USL League Two playoffs in 2022.
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Promotion-relegation systems have long been a bugaboo in American professional soccer.

The practice has been the norm in Europe for over a century, allowing for fluidity within a given country’s soccer hierarchy; it’s a remnant from the days of amateur sports in the mid-1800s, when meritocracy superseded any concerns of financial fairness.

But like most North American sports leagues, the domestic top-tier Major League Soccer was founded on professionalism — which creates expectations for stakeholders — and has not been able to consider the soccer-favorite practice as it continues to grow.

“Promotion-relegation rewards teams and owners based on performance and not necessarily building stadiums and building a league,” MLS executive vice president of communications Dan Courtemanche tells Front Office Sports. “And because we are a young league, we’ve had to create teams on the field, we’ve had to build stadiums, we’ve had to build facilities, we’ve had to build infrastructure.”

Promotion, Relegation Could Come To U.S., But It’s Complicated

A system of team promotion and relegation — critical to how many…
July 12, 2023

But now, the American promotion-relegation debate returns, as the United Soccer League is set to discuss the matter at its mid-year meetings this week in Colorado Springs; owners will not vote on whether to pursue it further — as previously reported — but it will be a key topic on the agenda, a league source confirmed to FOS.

The USL first broached the subject at its mid-year meetings two years ago and began seriously looking at the idea of implementing promotion and relegation in the last 18 months. A source with knowledge of the meetings told FOS that the league has contracted external consultants to explore the logistics of promotion-relegation and inform team owners about it.

The source adds that this week’s meetings will be centered on solidifying the business behind the concept, covering such topics as partnership opportunities and media rights.

One of the USL’s primary goals with potentially implementing promotion and relegation for its top two leagues — the USL Championship and USL League One, second and third in the U.S. soccer hierarchy, respectively — would be to differentiate it from the league at the top of the American soccer pyramid, MLS.

But in the long run, promotion and relegation could serve to attract talent to North America regardless of which league they end up in.

“It’s been the third-rail conversation for decades, and it’s no panacea… but it’s the one thing MLS has avoided that I think could truly take things to the next level,” says CBS Sports analyst and former MLS player Kyle Martino. “It’s the greatest sporting meritocracy on the planet and the American sports market has this strange thing that rewards the worst teams by giving them the best players the next season.”

“The money is crazy now,” USMNT and Fulham defender Tim Ream recently said on the Front Office Sports Today podcast. “If it does get implemented… it could end up where the media and TV rights start to spike… There’s still a lot of guys who would go over and play in MLS and the States, if that kind of situation were to come about.

“I’m all for promotion and relegation.”

Leeds-United

Premier League Relegation Complicates 49ers’ Takeover of Leeds

Leeds United losing Premier League status complicates its future.
June 1, 2023

Of course, the system wouldn’t be without its difficulties. Because European countries are generally much smaller than the United States (and Canada, for that matter), traveling between each of the clubs as they make their entrance into a new league is less financially and logistically complicated than it would be in North America.

And, as mentioned, promotion-relegation would be a tough sell to new clubs as the MLS continues to expand under its current model.

“If you’re John Ingram and Nashville SC, and you just built a privately funded 30,000-seat stadium in Nashville,” says Courtemanche, “then all of a sudden you buy into this league, and three years later you might be relegated after you just made an investment in all this.”

Still, the league has come a long way in its thinking on the topic. Courtemanche says a decade ago MLS never would have considered it. Today, it’s saying there are no plans — but also never say never.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) smiles while answering a question Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, after an Indiana Fever practice at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Caitlin Clark a ‘Vital’ Part of Cincinnati NWSL Bid As League Expands

The WNBA superstar has joined an NWSL expansion bid in Cincinnati.
Nov 16, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman (2) celebrates after defeating NJ/NY Gotham FC in a 2024 NWSL Playoffs semifinal match at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit:

The Washington Spirit’s Business Makeover Carried Them to the Finals

The team’s return to the NWSL championship looks a lot different from 2021.
Nov 18, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Williams Racing driver Logan Sargeant of the United States (2) during the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit.

F1 Grand Prix Upended Vegas Last Year. Stakes Are High for Its..

Stakes are high as F1 gears up for a successful second act.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

What’s Next for Hapless Jets?

0:00

Featured Today

Classic Football Shirts New York Pop-Up

Vintage Soccer Jerseys Have Found a Sweet Spot in the Lucrative U.S...

The money-making shirts are at the prime intersection of memorabilia and fashion.
Nov 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts after fouling Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (not pictured) during the second half at Madison Square Garden.
opinion
November 16, 2024

NBA Ratings Rorschach Test: Buy the Dip

Was it the election? Too many threes? Lack of storylines?
November 15, 2024

Executive Decision: When Richard Nixon Named a College Football Champion

In 1969, the 37th president unilaterally named the winner of the season.
November 15, 2024

How Women’s Sports Could Change in the Next Trump Era

Under the president-elect, Title IX could change drastically.
Nov 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; McLaren F1 Team driver Oscar Piastri of Australia (81) during free practice at Las Vegas Strip Circuit.

F1 Welcomes Second Chapter of Polarizing Las Vegas Grand Prix

Both championship battles have yet to be clinched entering the Las Vegas race, which was not the case last year.
Rose Zhang congratulates her teammate Sahith Theegala after making his putt on the 9th green at the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
November 20, 2024

TGL Considering Mixed Event, Women’s League Amid LPGA Talks

The new league from Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy launches in January.
Sep 25, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts during the first half against the Connecticut Sun during game two of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena.
November 21, 2024

Caitlin Clark Has Told Unrivaled She Won’t Play in Inaugural Season

Clark has definitively told Unrivaled that she won’t be playing this year.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
Oct 16, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred before game three of the NLCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Citi Field.
November 20, 2024

Manfred Urges Patience on Rays Ballpark, Eyes MLB Media Shift

The commissioner also sees a new era emerging in the sport’s local media landscape.
November 19, 2024

LPGA’s Richest Season Ever Set to Crown a Record-Breaker

The current record is $4,364,994 by Lorena Ochoa in 2007.
Jalen Brunson (left) and Rick Brunson
November 19, 2024

Knicks Say NBA Is Out to Get Them After Latest League Probe

The team accused the league of retaliation Monday.
May 5, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates with guard Darius Garland (10) after Garland hit a three point basket during the second half against the Orlando Magic in game seven of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
November 18, 2024

Undefeated Cavs Chase History in NBA Cup Showdown vs. Celtics

Cleveland is 15–0 to start the season.