A New Canadian Soccer League

A Proposed Schedule

  Scheduling would be crucial to the success of the new league. It must balance the need to expose the entire country to as many teams as possible and at the same time it must be financially viable in the short and long term.
  There would have to be two parts to the schedule to accommodate league play and a national cup which could include amateur teams like the English FA Cup. I accept the criticism that Canadian fans may not generally be aware of the cup format but educating them is something that can be used to advantage.
  The idea is strange and different to the average Canadian so make that the focus. Market the concept as a radical departure and something that makes this game different. Add in the excitement of amateur teams competing in the first round (and maybe advancing) and you are starting the build a distinct identity. As well the more fans learn about the game the more they will want to see games and follow the news. Major League Baseball depends on statistics to entertain fans. Soccer's angle is the convoluted and competing processes as well as the argument between the league and cup champions (or the excitement of winning "the double").

League Play

  Each team would play a home and away series against all teams in their conference. Each team would also play two games on a road trip to the opposite conference against paired cities (ie: Vancouver and Victoria or Halifax and St. John) to limit the travel required. Each team would also host two different teams doing their road trips out of conference.

Total League games: 7 + 7 + 2 + 2 = 18

Cup Play

  Each team would also enter the national cup and play home and away against randomly drawn opposition with the winner on aggregate advancing. This would be limited to teams within the conference (including amateur teams in the geographical area if they were allowed to join in). The final, which should be played on the Labour Day long weekend, would be between the top teams from each conference appearing as the Western Conference Champions vs the Eastern Conference Champions.
  I suggest Labour Day to allow for a large celebration, because it is not already used and because that would allow the large number of University students I would expect to play in the league to go back to school. In fact the schedule should run from April through to Labour Day to accommodate these players. This season would also reduce competition from other established sports (for example: MLS is having a problem because their season overlaps Major League Baseball too much.)

Minimum Number of Cup games: 2

Maximum Number (for league teams including the final): 9

Total Competitive Games Played

Minimum number of competitive games per team: 18 (league) + 2 (cup) = 20

Maximum number of competitive games per team: 18 (league) + 9 (cup) = 27

  This does not take into account the number of exhibition and friendlies that each team may schedule (including, I would suggest, tours by foreign teams of entire conferences or selected teams.) A minimum of twenty competitive games should make for a good season.
  As well, the cup champions would also have the opportunity to compete in the Football Confederation (CONCACAF) champions tournament in the next year. This tournament includes the champions from Mexico and the United States. This would add games and some international exposure for Canadian players. As well, such participation is something that you cannot get with any other major sport in Canada, another plus for the marketing team.