MLS Single Table (with relegation) ... yeah, right ...

MLS Single Table (With Relegation) Will Never Happen

The USL 1st Division (officially US Soccer’s 2nd Division Pro, which is not nearly as bad as England’s Division 1, now that their 1st Division is actually their 3rd Division, since the 1st Division become the Premier League and the 2nd Division, known as the 1st Division for 12-13 years after the formation of the Premier League, became known as the League Championship) has a single table. It still has a playoff and does not have relegation slash promotion, but doesn’t bother with divisions.
USL clubs like Rochester, Seattle, and Vancouver would likely be all in favor of promotion and relegation, mostly since they are on the outside looking in. However, it is simply inconceivable that MLS club owner-operators would go for the same thing. MLS’ “single entity” structure makes it impossible, but even so, with MLS clubs having a SSS (soccer specific stadium) focus, I simply cannot imagine them going for relegation given the $$$ difference in stadium construction and the effect it would have on franchise values. New owner-operators seem less likely to invest in something with relegation than the original guys that bought into “single entity” in the first place.

Currently, only 4 teams fail to make the playoffs, and that does have a huge impact on play. But, as the league expands the number of teams that don't qualify will grow as well (in theory) and that should take care of itself a bit.

Online fans and some journalists will continue their ongoing battle for single table with promotion and relegation, forgetting, or not caring if they do know it, that the suits are simply not listening. Relegation is not an agenda item and despite annual calls for it, it simply is not something discussed at the ownership level. It won’t happen, not because they keep voting it down, but because they don’t seriously consider it. At all.