Playoff Expansion

Major League Soccer Playoff Expansion 

I don't think any Major League Soccer fan would disagree with me when I say that MLS Playoff's time is the best time of the year. There are so many things to look forward to with Thanksgiving turkeys, Christmas hot coco, and nothing other than MLS playoff matches. With Major League Soccer expanding the playoffs starting in the 2015 season what does this mean? Would it be more teams the merrier, or is the expression "less is actually more" a liable bet?

For the many that are just finding out, Major League Soccer has decided to expand playoffs starting within the 2015 season. The league will most likely make the official announcement by the end of this week or early next week. As of right now the past 4 MLS seasons qualified 10 teams to advance onto the playoffs, which means approximately 53% of the teams within the league advance. Starting in 2015 a whopping 12 teams will advance to the playoffs. Remember there will be 20 teams within the league next year instead of previously 19, but that being said 60% of the MLS teams will advance to the playoffs next year. That is by far the largest percentage of teams advancing to the playoffs when compared to any other professional sport in America. 

Many Major League Soccer fans are upset with such the high number and feel that more teams in the playoffs does not actually equal more playoffs. Fans across America are taking their anger to Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, and virtually every corner of the internet. The viewers and followers of the league want making it to the playoffs to actually be an accomplishment. Once the playoffs have arrived MLS fans want to watch Major League Soccer's best and brightest teams as well, instead of Major League Soccer's best, brightest, and mediocre teams. 

Although the expanding of Major League Soccer Playoffs has caused and uproar of anger, there is a missing chunk that the angered fans or followers are not seeing. The league is not expanding the number to give more teams the chance to make the playoffs. The league does not want 60% of the teams advancing to the playoffs just like all of us. So why is the MLS expanding the playoffs to 12 teams you might ask? Look at the big picture, in 2017 there will be another 2 teams joining the league and by the time 2020 comes around there will be up to 24 teams now within the league. By 2020 the league's percentage of teams making the playoffs will be back down to 50%, which is a perfect percentage. Major League Soccer is growing larger and larger ever day, month, and year, so we have to accommodate to that.  

Whether "less is actually more" Major League Soccer is growing to be more and more everyday. MLS Playoffs are the best time of the year, so sit back and enjoy the show!