MLS to open ‘second phase’ of major season overhaul study

Major League Soccer said Thursday it will conduct a second phase of study into proposals to bring its season into line with the European calendar.

MLS currently plays from February to December but has been examining a plan to switch to start the campaign  at the end of the summer and conclude in spring.

“Major League Soccer’s Board of Governors today authorized a second phase of exploration into a potential move to the international soccer calendar, along with a continued evaluation of the league’s regular season and playoff formats,” the league said in a statement.

“Any potential changes would not take effect until the 2027 season at the earliest. This next phase will include additional consultation with key stakeholders and the development of a comprehensive transition plan,” the statement added.

The move would break with nearly 50 years of tradition in North America where the game has become established as a summer sport.

MLS has been looking at moving the season to an early August kick-off before taking a lengthy mid-season break and then resuming play in early February with playoffs in May.

The move would allow MLS to align itself more effectively with the major transfer window in Europe while potentially giving the league’s playoffs greater visibility in US media.

At the moment, the business end of the MLS season finds itself fighting for attention against North America’s most watched sport — the NFL — as well as baseball’s World Series and the start of the NBA campaign.

However the switch has caused concern among teams in colder markets in the north of the United States and Canada who fear an impact on attendances at games in freezing temperatures.

The league has also been considering other changes such as a possible switch to NFL-style divisions rather than simply Eastern and Western conferences.