Personally, I think all of this adds up to way too many teams in too quick of a period of time. It really seems like MLS is repeating the mistakes that the NASL made when they expanded way too quickly and the franchises didn't last. It was one of many factors that ended up killing the league. MLS is already becoming a watered down league as more and more American players leave to go play in the European leagues.
This leads to the question of where the talent going to come from for these teams? The level of play, which is already questionable, is going to take a downward turn as players that currently play in the USL First Division will end up filling the rosters of these expanded teams and replacing players that are reallocated. The quality of play, which was finally starting to improve after many years of very mediocre soccer will decrease again and instead of attracting more new fans, MLS will turn off a lot of its existing fan base.
Even if MLS has a plan to fill the rosters of the 6 teams that it is potentially looking to add over the next 4 seasons by spending more money on bringing back some of the American players that have gone to other leagues, they still are going to need to acquire additional talent because it just isn't there. Are they planning on raiding the rosters from other teams in the CONCACAF region and perhaps the lower lever of European and South American teams? Where is this money going to come from?
I really think that MLS should hold off after the Philadelphia franchise is added for at least 2 years before they even consider adding anymore teams. They have to consolidate all of their teams and make sure that they are all on sound financial ground. Perhaps it would make more sense to relocate a team that is in a smaller market and isn't really succeeding. The bottom line for me is that whatever MLS does with expansion they can't sacrifice the quality of play on the field and they must focus on continuing to improve it because that is the foundation of the league and if that isn't solid then nothing else will ultimately work.
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If the US Open Cup showed anything, its that there's not such a huge talent gap between MLS and USL sides.
Thanks for the comment Oscar, but I disagree. I think there is a significant difference in talent between the 2 leagues and I don't think you can use the Cup competition as an indicator.
For example, look at last season's English F.A. Cup where so many Premier League teams were knocked out. 3 out of the 4 semi-finalists weren't even in the Premier League. I don't think anyone can question that there is a huge difference in the quality of players and games between the Premier League and the lower leagues in England.
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