The United Soccer Leagues (USL) has announced its intention to be the first professional sports league in the United States to implement a system of promotion and relegation.
Operating independently of Major League Soccer (MLS), the USL currently manages the USL Championship, a nationally recognised second-tier league, alongside the third-tier League One.
In an exciting development last month, the league revealed plans to establish a new top-tier division that, pending approval from the US Soccer Federation, would function separately from MLS.
During a meeting on Tuesday, USL clubs voted in favour of integrating promotion and relegation into their plans for the new division.
USL president Paul McDonough shared with AFP on Wednesday that the organisation believes this move will resonate well with fans.
“When we conducted our research a few years back, we explored various elements that could set us apart and enhance our relevance. Launching a Division One and implementing promotion and relegation were high on that list,” he stated.
“We felt it was crucial to be distinctive in the market, and introducing a Division One alongside promotion and relegation would certainly achieve that.”
In contrast, MLS operates similarly to leagues like the NFL and NBA, featuring Eastern and Western conferences, playoffs to determine champions, and no relegation for clubs that finish at the bottom. Matches between USL and MLS teams typically occur only during the annual US Open Cup knockout competition.
The structure of leagues at various levels in the USA is also unique, with different organisations managing them and the US Soccer Federation sanctioning leagues based on specified criteria.
McDonough mentioned that discussions regarding these changes had not occurred with MLS, emphasising that this initiative is solely a USL endeavour.
However, the implementation hinges on the establishment of the new top-tier division, which currently requires a minimum of 12 clubs, all of which must have stadiums that can accommodate at least 15,000 spectators.
This could necessitate venue expansions for many USL clubs, although McDonough is optimistic that entirely new clubs will emerge for the top division.
He suggested that the full potential of promotion and relegation would not be realised and would lack authenticity if introduced into the existing framework, stressing the importance of successfully creating the new division for the plan’s success.
“For it to truly work, we need to have three tiers,” he added.
The USL aims to launch this new division by 2028, along with the corresponding promotion and relegation system.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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