Promotion and relegation in Major League Soccer (MLS) has been a topic of discussion for many years, with opinions varying among fans, pundits, and league officials. Don Garber, the commissioner of MLS, has previously expressed his thoughts on this topic. This week, Garber brought up the issue once again, renewing the debate around the subject.
During an interview with The Athletic, Garber provided a glimmer of hope for those who are in favor of promotion and relegation in MLS, stating, “This is the ‘never say never’ thing. I’ve been pretty consistent on that. We shouldn’t walk away from having the courage to evolve over time.”
The possibility of introducing promotion and relegation to MLS has been met with both enthusiasm and skepticism. Some believe that it would add excitement and competitiveness to the league, while others argue that it could lead to financial instability for teams. Despite the ongoing debate, Garber’s comments indicate that the league is still open to considering the idea of promotion and relegation in the future.
When asked about how other leagues implement promotion and relegation, MLS commissioner Garber cited differences in economic support and stadium ownership as key obstacles. He acknowledged that while promotion and relegation may be feasible in the future, it is not currently viable in the US soccer landscape.
#This is not the first time Garber has made such remarks. In a 2009 interview, he claimed that infrastructure was lacking to support such a system and suggested that it would be at least a decade before promotion and relegation could be considered. Garber has revisited the topic over the years, but there has been little progress towards implementing any structural changes. While some fans hope for the eventual introduction of promotion and relegation, it is unlikely to happen while Garber remains commissioner of MLS.