https://theathletic....327/2018/11/19/
Summary for those of you without subscription:
-Condensed Regular season next year: Still Starts in March, will end first week of October. At least two more weekday games per team.
-7 Teams from each conference to make playoffs. So only conference winner get bye. This is apparently in anticipation of the leagues goal of 28 teams.
-Playoff Format will be single game rounds. No two leg matches.
-MLS Cup to be held before international break.
-Season could potentially begin in February in future years to mitigate condensed schedule/avoid giving non-playoff teams too much time off.
-Author hints (in follow up on Reddit) that cap on charter flights might be lifted in future years.
It's all just one more bizarre fudging from the MLS FO.
Why not extend the season and significantly reduce the number of teams tossed into the playoffs (to 4-6 at the most)? And single-game playoffs are more of a crap-shoot than we're already saddled with.
Such a revised set-up will make the Supporters Shield even a more prestigious prize than it's seen to be now. (So there's a silver lining to their madness.)