Good news for soccer in the US:

Major League Soccer eliminates controversial tiebreaker and announces other competition-related initiatives for 2000 season.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER BANS THE SHOOTOUT

BOSTON (Wednesday, November 17, 1999) - Vowing to bring the world's game back to the fans, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced via conference call today that the league's Board of Governors, upon recommendation by the MLS Competition Committee, has eliminated the shootout beginning with the league's fifth season, slated to begin in mid-March, 2000. The bold move to eliminate the controversial tiebreaker was one of many new competition-related initiatives unveiled today.

"As part of the most popular sport in the world, Major League Soccer has decided to bring our rules of competition in line with those of most internationally-respected leagues," said Commissioner Garber. "Millions and millions of fans in America follow soccer the way it is played across the globe. Our core audience has spoken, and we have listened."

The MLS Competition Committee, composed of the following members - Clark Hunt (chair), Alan Rothenberg, Kevin Payne, Roy Kline, David Dubow, Silvia Kessel and Ivan Gazidis (league office representative) -also recommended to the league's Board of Governors the following changes:

10 MINUTES OF SUDDEN-DEATH "GOLDEN GOAL" ACTION - In the event that a regular-season MLS contest is not resolved after 90 minutes, teams will participate in two 5-minute sudden-death "Golden Goal" overtime periods;

STANDINGS POINT SYSTEM - MLS teams will now receive three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a draw, and zero (0) points for a loss;

CLOCK DIRECTION/MANAGEMENT - The official game clock will be kept on the referee's watch, moving forward from zero è 45:00 and 45:00 è 90:00;

INJURY TIME - At the referee's discretion, injury time will be awarded at the end of each half and during each overtime period, if applicable.

For the 2000 season, Major League Soccer also will see its 12 teams realign into three conferences. The revamped Conference alignments are as follows:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
D.C. United
Miami Fusion
New England Revolution
METROSTARS


CENTRAL CONFERENCE
Chicago Fire
Columbus Crew
Dallas Burn
Tampa Bay Mutiny


WESTERN CONFERENCE
Colorado Rapids
Kansas City Wizards
Los Angeles Galaxy
San Jose Earthquakes


Under the revised structure, each of the three Conference champions advance to the MLS Cup Playoffs and are seeded 1, 2 or 3 by virtue of greater regular season point total. In order to fill out the eight overall playoff berths, the remaining five "wild card" teams are determined by the total number of regular season points, regardless of Conference. Standings ties will be broken by the current league tie-breaking procedures (pg. 343 of the 1999 MLS Media Guide).

The MLS Cup Playoffs will then follow a bracketed system, with the top-seeded team facing the eighth-seeded team in the Quarterfinal round, and the other three series following the trend (i.e. No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5). Teams seeded first, eighth, fourth and fifth are placed in the top half of the bracket, with the second-, seventh-, third- and sixth-seeded squads placed in the lower half. The higher-seeded team in each series will own home-field advantage. In the Semifinal round, the bracket stays true to form, with the winner of the 1-8 series playing the winner of the 4-5 matchup, and the victor of the 2-7 series facing the team which emerges from the 3-6 matchup.

Also adding importance to a team's regular season performance are the two potential CONCACAF Champions Cup berths that are at stake to MLS teams. One slot will be awarded to the MLS Cup champion from the previous season, while the potential exists for the team with the highest regular season point total to earn a berth. In the event that the same team captures both the Supporter's Shield (awarded to the best regular season squad) and the Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy (hoisted by the MLS Cup champions), the team with the second-best regular season point total could earn the privilege of representing Major League Soccer in the continental club championships.

Moving in the right direction, they have decided to play Football and not Soccer!

Yes they are and it is about time. 2 more things to note:

MLS also is changing its television schedule. ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 will televise a game each Saturday rather than different nights of the week.


ESPN2 also will produce a 60-minute MLS highlights program at 11 p.m. ET on Monday nights, similar to its shows for baseball, hockey, basketball and auto racing. At last, an all MLS highlights show. That will also help and add to the exposure i feel.

Things are looking up for MLS

As a San Jose Earthquakes season-ticket holder since MLS's inception four years ago (although they were the San Jose Clash at the time), I am absolutely thrilled at this news!!! http://www.soccergaming.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I heard that they may have another anouncement on Friday... something to do with scheduling (shortening the season slightly?), new stadiums(?), etc.


-G

ESPN also said that the may shorten the season from 32 to 28 games, and that it was still to be decided how each playoff series was to be played (best-of-three, home at home [total goals], etc.). Also, the season was going to be shortened to the period of mid-March to October 1st.

I'm really glad that the MLS powers that be listened to the fans and made the right changes.

I'm not sure, however, that making three divisions instead of one large one is the right decision. I really don't see the point of doing this, but I guess they are trying to stick with the other US sports leagues on this point. At least, by having five wildcards, the top eight teams will get to the playoffs. Plus, they are finally rewarding the regular season champ. Definitly a step in the right direction.

[This message has been edited by adwillingham (edited 11-17-1999).]

The three divisions is what I think they have now in Mexico, which might have been reason why they went the same way (I could be wrong here).

I like all the changes they are bringing in for next season though...

What I don't get is why MLSNet hasn't posted jack about the changes yet.

I like all the changes, but one that stumps me is overtime is it for regular season games? If so I wish they would do like the NHL and take out a few players, and play like 7 on 7 to make overtime more exciting and not have the teams play an extra 10 minutes of boring futebol.

By the way anyone going to the MLS Cup on Sundy? I am, and I've heard 40,000 ticket are already sold WOW, I guess soccer is more popular in NewEngland, or is it because the lovely Christina Aguilera is going to be preforming at the game.