Garber does not rule out relegation to MLS, but says it will be years or decades away – Chicago Tribune

WASHINGTON — MLS Commissioner Don Garber is not ruling out adopting the relegation and promotion system, although he says such a decision will take years or decades.

MLS launched in 1996 with ten teams and currently has 30 in a closed system. The newest team, San Diego, paid a $500 million expansion fee to begin play in 2025.

Garber said relegation and promotion don’t work for MLS because of the huge amounts of money owners have spent on stadiums, training complexes and youth academies.

“It doesn’t make a lot of sense to say never because I don’t know what the future is going to look like. I certainly never thought we would adapt to the international schedule,” he said Thursday evening during a news conference at DC United’s Audi Stadium, as part of the World Cup draw.

“Maybe as the development of the lower divisions continues to grow, as they have done so well over the years, there will be a suitable ecosystem, I’m not sure. Frankly, I don’t think that ecosystem could exist today, but who knows?” he added. “I’ve learned to never say never. That doesn’t mean we’re going to experience relegation and promotion any time soon.”

The United Soccer League announced plans this year to create a top-tier league in 2027-2028 and a relegation/promotion system. What is now the USL League Championship has been sanctioned as a second-tier division since 2017 and includes 24 teams. The third-tier League One began play in 2019. USL League Two is a semi-professional level that includes 144 teams across 19 regional divisions and four conferences.

Planned succession

Garber, who turned 68 in October, has been commissioner since August 1999 and signed a contract in 2024 that runs until 2027.

“MLS has been operating almost like a startup for 30 years, so we never thought about succession planning at all,” he said. “The most successful companies have to do this. So, as a start, there has to be a proper succession process in place, not only for the next commissioner, but also for the next leader of our commercial activities or the next leader of our sports activities.”

Garber said he hasn’t thought about staying beyond 2027.

“Right now I’m focused on the next few years and I’ll think about it and have a conversation with the MLS owners at the appropriate time,” he said.

MLS owners voted last month to move, starting in 2027-2028, to a summer-spring schedule, similar to that of most European leagues. MLS has had an annual season that runs from February to December in recent years.

“I certainly wasn’t considering renewing my last contract in view of the schedule change because we didn’t know at the time that we would,” he said. “But we’ll find out.”

Vancouver Stadium

Before Vancouver faces Inter Miami for the MLS title on Saturday, Garber criticized the lack of progress in stadium planning.

The Whitecaps would like to move from BC Place, where they are tenants, to a new stadium.

“The MLS team, its owners, its fans, its players have done everything to deserve the support that they do not receive today from the city and the province, and it is an untenable situation,” he said. “What we have there needs to change. And right now, we’re not necessarily on track to do that. … We had a very positive meeting with the mayor. We’re currently looking to get a better lease for BC Place. There’s been no movement on that and it’s been a month.

“Our mission is to meet the needs of people who really want to have an MLS team that they can love and embrace. And it’s not just about the fans. They’ve done it,” he added. “Cities and provinces need to do it, and we’re still waiting to see if they’ll be able to do it. And if they don’t, we’ll have to make tough decisions.”

Vancouver’s owners announced in December that the club was for sale. Greg Kerfoot has owned the team since 2002, 11 years before it began play in MLS. Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and former NBA star Steve Nash joined Kerfoot in 2008.

Mallett suggested in August that the group’s strategy may have changed to add a new partner.

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AP Sports Writer Anne M. Peterson contributed to this report.

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