For sure! Easier to compartmentalize focuses between club and national team football. Hard for me to watch any MLS game when a major tournament is ongoing.
I think this would be great!!! It sounds like a great move. I'm wondering though what happens to the Open Cup schedule. Also, maybe the Leagues Cup could be something to happen during the Jan-Feb. time since it can happen in the warm weather locations or maybe Mexico could host it for games as well. I think it could be something where folks go down to see like a weekend of League Cup matches and enjoy the weather in Mexico. Lastly, can we start getting day games again??? I think it can still happen for Apple TV if it's a 4 pm EST game and it's 1 pm PST. I miss going to day games this season.
The people advocating for this have clearly never spent an entire winter in the midwest, northeast, Rocky mountains or Canada. And if you think a January break is the answer, then go to Toronto, Chicago or Saint Paul in mid December or mid February and sit outside for 2-3 hours after the sun goes down. After you've recovered from the frostbite, you'll realize this idea is a non-starter.
@@georgepasley4891 Count the number of games now in December and February, and compare them to the ones from May, June, and July. If they go to a fall-spring schedule, you are flipping them. Who wants to go to 10+ regular season home games in that weather?
@@benoitwaffle5439 Have you actually looked at the current schedule? The season starts in February, which is the same time the new schedule would restart. There are playoff games in the beginning of December, so Northern teams could be playing in the same time frame if they progress that far.
@@georgepasley4891 Yes, I have. Most teams played one game in February. I can also see that there were a total of three games in December last year, and there will either be one or three this year. If you put the playoffs in late April and May, take off June and July, assume August will continue to be dedicated to Leagues Cup, and think about where the vast majority of the games go. Look at the calendar, think about the weather, and try to find 37 windows where the schedule is not a disaster. Do you think those midweek November and December night games are going to be good for the quality of play? Please.
I know for a fact that every MLS player will be VERY RELIEVED that they no longer have to play a game in Houston in the middle of July and August ever again. And as you’ve said, and I agree, that as a fan I would rather bundle myself up in the cold weather than be burning up in the summer heat.
@@AmbushRL. the more reason to go with a new schedule for when the season plays. Then let the attendance be low during the winter and in the middle of the season instead of playing in the cold while competing for the championship. And I’m more than certain that the league will find a way for the teams in Toronto and Montreal to play away for the short months when winter has its biggest impact.
@@erickbyarushengo4726 Why let attendances be low in the Winter when attendances are great in the Summer. Also, in Canada it isn't just winter that is cold, but early spring and late fall.
I’m down here in Dallas and go to all the games and I will say those summer games are brutal. The attendance definitely dips and it’s not uncommon to see people have to get treatment for heat stroke or heat exhaustion. I definitely can’t speak to northern winters, but it’d be wonderful for the southern teams. But mostly I think it’d help with bringing in talent. (I mean, they also need to loosen the purse strings a little bit and let teams pay the rest of the roster but that’s a different topic) I think the league has reached the point where savvy teams could jump in and snap up really good quality guys cheaply when teams in top leagues are retooling their rosters and some players become surplus. Not to mention a bigger pool of guys available to grab on outright free transfers
It makes too much sense, just have the winter break go through January (college football will be over in January and most of the NFL playoffs are done by then) plus we've said before about the transfer windows, around the world the summer one is the big one, MLS clubs would be much less likely to have to pay premium prices in the summer, it'd make more sense to grab the new signings in the summer and start the season with them in August, I understand the Nordic countries playing over the summer (I've been to Iceland in winter, it's brutal, its a really nice place but standing by a chapel in the middle of nowhere looking for the northern lights in -16°c isn't much fun) playing in winter is a no go in those parts of the world
going to the European calendar is the right thing to o for example if any MLS team gets a DP signing or any signing when transfer window is open in Europe you have that player at the beginning of the season instead of having that player for only 8 or 9 games left in the season
I've posted this on another video, but its still another factor: There is a real strong potential for the USMNT to see action every summer if CONCACAF maintains the Gold Cup in odd-numbered years. Between the Gold Cup, Copa America, the World Cup, and the fact MLS has a substantial portion of CONCACAF national team players; it wouldn't make sense to not only conflict with an international tournament, but watching the said games likely without those high level players. At that point, what would a fan of a northern team rather deal with? Now to appease the northern teams, there will be massive opportunities to arrange club friendlies with various European teams in July and early August before the season and maintain the revenue for themselves. Remember when Seattle won the CCL a couple of years ago and then crashed out the rest of the season, that made me forget they won anything. IMHO, the UEFA Champions League and CONCACAF Champions Cup final doubleheader will make for a proper conclusion to the club season.
I agree completely. It did make everyone forget that Seattle won CCL after they crashed out for the remainder of the season. If the final of CCC were more in line when the MLS season finishes I believe it would help out the MLS teams way more.
this is why every club needs an indoor stadium with a retractable roof...open it up on beautiful days and close it down on extremely cold and hot days...that way we can play all year with issues in progress or pending...and each stadium needs a seating capacity of at least 50K cause the league continues to grow with fans....
I think this is a great move. It'll be good for the league and will further integrate American soccer with the global game - which ultimately will help the league continue to develop.
Why not? Let's switch and see how it goes... There will be a winter break like Europe, they said the same thing about playing in Summer and look how far MLS has come...
I much rather a summer break. my parents went with me to a game at my cities grounds during a summer game and my mom ended up having a health emergency because temperatures were so high. I think there were at least 4 health emergencies that game alone. I’m in the midwest for context. Couldn’t imagine summer games in places that get hotter than where I’m at
There’s SO many more issues in the league than the schedule. Scrap the stupid DP rules. Scrap the stupid salary cap so you have a chance of bringing in more higher level players earlier in their careers. Make Apple TV more affordable and accessible to more people. Scrap the constant money grab of trying to play Liga MX (looking at you Leagues Cup). The US being so large will always cause some sort of problem for the league. Wether that is conferences and travel or extreme difference in weather. Lot of complaining about playing in southern states in the summer but I’m sure everyone would rather do that than play anywhere in Canada or the northeast in the winter. Playing in the brutal cold is so so much worse and clubs aren’t going to rebuild indoor stadiums.
@@AmbushRL. We definitely need the schedule change. It will benefit the game. It will help make MLS legitimate on the world stage. Relegation will never happen, because of the economics. There is no way investors will put up the money for am NLS team, if it is just going to get relegated and lose that investment.
They don’t really have to take a winter break if they can stage the games between December and February to all take place in warm weather cities and the ones who have cold cities in those times can all play on the road.. or you can stage the leagues cup in warm weather climate cities between January and February during the winter break
@@MLSMoves does the winter break also help the players train and get ready before the season resumes when they have the winter break? Does it also help the players recover from injuries? Does it also line up with the transfer window in any way or with fifa international matches? I do understand weather issues
I can't imagine a sane father to bring his family to all game of january, febuary in Minnesota, Chicago and MTL ? They think hot weather is hard. Try minus -25 celcius...
Next Video: Why MLS Will NEVER be More Popular than MLB in the U.S. There is nothing more exciting than a Home Run/Grand Slam, in all of sports. Baseball in October is pure Magic.
Homeruns are exciting yes. Sitting through nine innings of ground balls is not. The younger generations aren't watching baseball. They're watching soccer
Let me tell you this as someone who grew up with baseball, they are real slow to modernize. MLB has certainly made progress with the Universal DH, full blown interleague play, and the numerous ways to make the game faster. MLB still has a lot of work to do to attract the Gen Z and younger audience. The real hard evidence is what the kids are following these days. As someone with kids and nephews in three states, soccer jerseys are real prevalent in the student body. If the gridiron football and basketball team aren't any good, the attention is turned to the soccer team, there are even after school clubs for watching the Champions League. Give this 7-10 years before your statement is refuted.
Are you excited about the possible calendar change?
Yes!
For sure! Easier to compartmentalize focuses between club and national team football. Hard for me to watch any MLS game when a major tournament is ongoing.
I think this would be great!!! It sounds like a great move. I'm wondering though what happens to the Open Cup schedule. Also, maybe the Leagues Cup could be something to happen during the Jan-Feb. time since it can happen in the warm weather locations or maybe Mexico could host it for games as well. I think it could be something where folks go down to see like a weekend of League Cup matches and enjoy the weather in Mexico. Lastly, can we start getting day games again??? I think it can still happen for Apple TV if it's a 4 pm EST game and it's 1 pm PST. I miss going to day games this season.
No
Not at all.
The people advocating for this have clearly never spent an entire winter in the midwest, northeast, Rocky mountains or Canada. And if you think a January break is the answer, then go to Toronto, Chicago or Saint Paul in mid December or mid February and sit outside for 2-3 hours after the sun goes down. After you've recovered from the frostbite, you'll realize this idea is a non-starter.
What’s the argument for doing pretty much the same in blistering heat?
MLS already has games in February and December. Have you always voiced the opinion at the start and end of every season?
@@georgepasley4891 Count the number of games now in December and February, and compare them to the ones from May, June, and July. If they go to a fall-spring schedule, you are flipping them. Who wants to go to 10+ regular season home games in that weather?
@@benoitwaffle5439 Have you actually looked at the current schedule? The season starts in February, which is the same time the new schedule would restart. There are playoff games in the beginning of December, so Northern teams could be playing in the same time frame if they progress that far.
@@georgepasley4891 Yes, I have. Most teams played one game in February. I can also see that there were a total of three games in December last year, and there will either be one or three this year. If you put the playoffs in late April and May, take off June and July, assume August will continue to be dedicated to Leagues Cup, and think about where the vast majority of the games go. Look at the calendar, think about the weather, and try to find 37 windows where the schedule is not a disaster. Do you think those midweek November and December night games are going to be good for the quality of play? Please.
I know for a fact that every MLS player will be VERY RELIEVED that they no longer have to play a game in Houston in the middle of July and August ever again.
And as you’ve said, and I agree, that as a fan I would rather bundle myself up in the cold weather than be burning up in the summer heat.
I'm sure players of Canadian clubs will be thrilled to play in the middle of winter.
@@AmbushRL. I’m sure they will be. Because they already begin season play in the winter. And Vancouver doesn’t get as cold.
@@erickbyarushengo4726 The point is that attendances are abysmal during winter.
@@AmbushRL. the more reason to go with a new schedule for when the season plays. Then let the attendance be low during the winter and in the middle of the season instead of playing in the cold while competing for the championship. And I’m more than certain that the league will find a way for the teams in Toronto and Montreal to play away for the short months when winter has its biggest impact.
@@erickbyarushengo4726 Why let attendances be low in the Winter when attendances are great in the Summer. Also, in Canada it isn't just winter that is cold, but early spring and late fall.
We keep the way thing is, is fine.
Has to change
I’m down here in Dallas and go to all the games and I will say those summer games are brutal. The attendance definitely dips and it’s not uncommon to see people have to get treatment for heat stroke or heat exhaustion. I definitely can’t speak to northern winters, but it’d be wonderful for the southern teams.
But mostly I think it’d help with bringing in talent. (I mean, they also need to loosen the purse strings a little bit and let teams pay the rest of the roster but that’s a different topic) I think the league has reached the point where savvy teams could jump in and snap up really good quality guys cheaply when teams in top leagues are retooling their rosters and some players become surplus. Not to mention a bigger pool of guys available to grab on outright free transfers
It makes too much sense, just have the winter break go through January (college football will be over in January and most of the NFL playoffs are done by then) plus we've said before about the transfer windows, around the world the summer one is the big one, MLS clubs would be much less likely to have to pay premium prices in the summer, it'd make more sense to grab the new signings in the summer and start the season with them in August, I understand the Nordic countries playing over the summer (I've been to Iceland in winter, it's brutal, its a really nice place but standing by a chapel in the middle of nowhere looking for the northern lights in -16°c isn't much fun) playing in winter is a no go in those parts of the world
100%. I think it’s going to make the league better as well
@MLSMoves yep I think the J-league are also doing that in 2026 too
@@mrmr5580they are looking to do the same during the same time frames.
going to the European calendar is the right thing to o for example if any MLS team gets a DP signing or any signing when transfer window is open in Europe you have that player at the beginning of the season instead of having that player for only 8 or 9 games left in the season
Couldn’t agree more!
I've posted this on another video, but its still another factor:
There is a real strong potential for the USMNT to see action every summer if CONCACAF maintains the Gold Cup in odd-numbered years. Between the Gold Cup, Copa America, the World Cup, and the fact MLS has a substantial portion of CONCACAF national team players; it wouldn't make sense to not only conflict with an international tournament, but watching the said games likely without those high level players. At that point, what would a fan of a northern team rather deal with?
Now to appease the northern teams, there will be massive opportunities to arrange club friendlies with various European teams in July and early August before the season and maintain the revenue for themselves.
Remember when Seattle won the CCL a couple of years ago and then crashed out the rest of the season, that made me forget they won anything. IMHO, the UEFA Champions League and CONCACAF Champions Cup final doubleheader will make for a proper conclusion to the club season.
I agree completely. It did make everyone forget that Seattle won CCL after they crashed out for the remainder of the season. If the final of CCC were more in line when the MLS season finishes I believe it would help out the MLS teams way more.
I live in Cali so I can’t speak for weather, but 100% the league needs to go this way. Way more pros than cons.
Just makes sense to do especially with 2026 coming up. We can’t be afraid of change. Great video and guest!
Why change though?
Change is good
this is why every club needs an indoor stadium with a retractable roof...open it up on beautiful days and close it down on extremely cold and hot days...that way we can play all year with issues in progress or pending...and each stadium needs a seating capacity of at least 50K cause the league continues to grow with fans....
I think this is a great move. It'll be good for the league and will further integrate American soccer with the global game - which ultimately will help the league continue to develop.
Why not? Let's switch and see how it goes... There will be a winter break like Europe, they said the same thing about playing in Summer and look how far MLS has come...
I couldn't agree more. what do we have to lose?
@@MLSMoves better for players, better for tournaments, better for attendance, better for free agency. Too many Plus
I much rather a summer break. my parents went with me to a game at my cities grounds during a summer game and my mom ended up having a health emergency because temperatures were so high. I think there were at least 4 health emergencies that game alone. I’m in the midwest for context. Couldn’t imagine summer games in places that get hotter than where I’m at
Love the convo as im also pro calendar change, just want a guest or debate with someone who is against that is knowledgeable
How do you get all these big guests Will?
I appreciate it!
There’s SO many more issues in the league than the schedule. Scrap the stupid DP rules. Scrap the stupid salary cap so you have a chance of bringing in more higher level players earlier in their careers. Make Apple TV more affordable and accessible to more people. Scrap the constant money grab of trying to play Liga MX (looking at you Leagues Cup).
The US being so large will always cause some sort of problem for the league. Wether that is conferences and travel or extreme difference in weather. Lot of complaining about playing in southern states in the summer but I’m sure everyone would rather do that than play anywhere in Canada or the northeast in the winter. Playing in the brutal cold is so so much worse and clubs aren’t going to rebuild indoor stadiums.
If the goal is a mass exodus of season ticket holders from the midwest, northeast, and Canada. They will certainly accomplish that!
This could backfire
Soccer is a worldwide sport... Yes, we're Proud to be Americans. Let's join the international party and get on the same level of this Beautiful Sport.
This probably make mls look more legit
It does for sure
Now we just need relegation
That video is tomorrow
@@MLSMoves Will NEVER happen!!!
We aren't Europe. I hope that relegation and the schedule change doesn't happen.
@@AmbushRL. We definitely need the schedule change. It will benefit the game. It will help make MLS legitimate on the world stage.
Relegation will never happen, because of the economics. There is no way investors will put up the money for am NLS team, if it is just going to get relegated and lose that investment.
@Golfnut_2099 Make MLS legitimate. It would make us look like a wanna be European league.
So what are guesses for which East team is thinking about moving?
I was thinking this myself. He didn’t tell me after
@@georgepasley4891 New England?
@@MLSMovesmaybe Ny Red Bulls lol
@@brandandavis4172 My guess was also Red Bulls. I can't see Kraft moving the Revs.
@@georgepasley4891 its Montreal
you need to fix the lightning on your face man
about time ...... next make around the pitches looks more world its NOT always about ml$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
We don't need to be like the rest of the world. We are MLS.
They would destroy their viewership by having to compete with NFL and NBA. Monumentally stupid.
Especially with the league being on Apple TV which most people do not want to pay for
They don’t really have to take a winter break if they can stage the games between December and February to all take place in warm weather cities and the ones who have cold cities in those times can all play on the road.. or you can stage the leagues cup in warm weather climate cities between January and February during the winter break
They will take a winter break no matter what
@@MLSMoves does the winter break also help the players train and get ready before the season resumes when they have the winter break? Does it also help the players recover from injuries? Does it also line up with the transfer window in any way or with fifa international matches? I do understand weather issues
The Russian premier league goes from Middle of July to middle of December and starts back up in March and ends in Late May
The weather is wayyyyy more brutal there
@MLSMoves russia is massive. Depending where you go the climate is actually very warm. In this way, it's not too different from our situation.
What northern team do you think is moving guys ?
Not sure tbh
@ my guess either Montreal or New England. If they do try to make this happen I expect owner to leave the team get franchise elsewhere
So, what exactly the calendar would be?
This bozo wants teams to play home games in the midwest in the middle of winter. Actual insanity
I can't imagine a sane father to bring his family to all game of january, febuary in Minnesota, Chicago and MTL ?
They think hot weather is hard.
Try minus -25 celcius...
Make MLS Great!
Next Video: Why MLS Will NEVER be More Popular than MLB in the U.S. There is nothing more exciting than a Home Run/Grand Slam, in all of sports. Baseball in October is pure Magic.
I think it will for sure sooner than later
Homeruns are exciting yes. Sitting through nine innings of ground balls is not. The younger generations aren't watching baseball. They're watching soccer
@@rdkrussel 70,000,000 in total MLB attendance.
@@rdkrussel As if 90 minutes of 1-0 soccer games are thrilling.
Let me tell you this as someone who grew up with baseball, they are real slow to modernize. MLB has certainly made progress with the Universal DH, full blown interleague play, and the numerous ways to make the game faster. MLB still has a lot of work to do to attract the Gen Z and younger audience.
The real hard evidence is what the kids are following these days. As someone with kids and nephews in three states, soccer jerseys are real prevalent in the student body. If the gridiron football and basketball team aren't any good, the attention is turned to the soccer team, there are even after school clubs for watching the Champions League.
Give this 7-10 years before your statement is refuted.