Lately there’s been rumblings that the English Premier League could possibly change from the relegation system that has been in place for decades. This rumor had almost 100 percent negative feedback and rightly so; the system gives teams reason to be competitive throughout the nation no matter how much money they have to spend. Relegation is a sports league format in where there are multiple leagues of stature, with teams moving to and fro based on season records. The English Premier League and most of the soccer world uses this format instead of the United States “farm league” or “minor league” systems due to the singular popularity of soccer in those countries. The United States has too many sports to ever have a secure relegation system, even in MLS soccer relegation still wouldn’t be suitable based on the skill gap between leagues. Even so it would be interesting to see American sports thrown into this system, could it be more fair to teams with lesser incomes and therefore make more even competition? You can be the commissioner for your respective league, would you adopt the relegation system in your sport?
*****Each team is divided into “Top League” and “Second League” based on the city’s TV market and team’s general history and marketability in their sport.
*****Inaugural is what the teams divided in theory would look like and the results of the latest regular season standings. The present league is what would change from the relegation and promotions for each league.
NFL- The National Football League would be the least successful in the relegation system because of the league’s overall dominance in sports market income. Although it would be more entertaining to see the best teams play each other consistently throughout a season.
NBA- The National Basketball Association would benefit more from relegation than the NFL, and small market teams like the Timberwolves, Clippers, and Bucks would have easier competition and chances for success.
MLB- Major League Baseball is the only league that could eventually change to this system and be successful. By incorporating the minor league system already established throughout the country, MLB could turn the sport into a giant marketing machine. Instead of dropping players to the minors they would use the sell and loan system like soccer. This would make small cities value their teams more and grow support with a possible goal of reaching the top league. How about seeing the Detroit Tigers play the West Michigan Whitecaps in a regular season matchup for something fresh new and exciting that baseball so greatly needs.
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