Expansion of Canadian Championship?

[Yawassanay]

Here is a breakdown of the ACC which would include all the highest levels of professional, semni pro and amateur mens football currently played in Canada. The 48 teams would come from the MLS(3), NASL(2), CSL(16), PCSL(8), PDL (9), CIS(2) and Challenge cup(8).

Teams would be ranked and the tourney would be played in six rounds to determine a champion and runner up.

Rankings:
1-3: MLS clubs 4-5: NASL clubs 6-7: Current CSL champion and runner up 8: PCSL champion
9: Current PCSL runner up 10-11: Current CIS champion and runner up 12: Highest ranked PDL club
13-14: Current Challenge cup winner and runner up 15-28: Remaining CSL clubs 29-34: Remaining PCSL clubs
35-42: Remaining PDL clubs 43-48: remaining Challenge cup teams

Playdowns(All rounds are two game total goals, away rules in effect in case of ties.)

Round one: Teams ranked 17-48 playoff. 16 winners advance to round two.
Round two: 16 winners from round one playoff, 8 winners advance to round three.
Round three: 8 winners playofff against teams ranked 9-16, 8 winners advance to round four.
Round four: 8 winners playoff against teams ranked 1-8, 8 winners advance to QF.
QF: 8 winners playoff, 4 winners advance to SF
SF: 4 winners playoff, 2 winners advance to ACC Finals.
Finals: 2 winners playoff, Winner advances to CCL group play.
Runner up advances to CCL preliminary round(hopefully reinstated and CCL increased to 32 clubs)

In the event MLS, NASL, CSL, PCSL, and PDL increases the number of Canadian clubs, the lowest ranking club would be dropped from the ACC keeping it a 48 team tourney.

[Bill Akleh]

I think having more teams in the Canadian Championship is actually the best way of growing the game and bringing more income to CSL clubs that probably struggle to earn money as it is. Giving these clubs a chance to play a team like Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto would be huge for them financially if they could split the gate revenue.

Heck, one of the CSL teams could probably beat TFC anyway

[Robert]

I think having more teams in the Canadian Championship is actually the best way of growing the game and bringing more income to CSL clubs that probably struggle to earn money as it is. Giving these clubs a chance to play a team like Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto would be huge for them financially if they could split the gate revenue.

Heck, one of the CSL teams could probably beat TFC anyway

That's the best 1st time post I've read on this forum yet. Welcome aboard Bill.

[Maico]

In the event that we do decide to make the CC larger (as per Yawassanay's post), we will have to move to a schedule that plays some or all of the torunament in the previous calendar year. There is too much potential for fixture congestion and far too many games to be played in less than ideal weather (March/April) to fit the whole tourney in before the CCL starts. That means that we would face a crossroads as to how it would be played out going forward.

Option 1 - All games are played in the previous year
To ensure we have a champion in place for the CCL tournament, the 2012 representative from Canada will de determined in the 2011 Canadian Championship. The tournament can run from April to September/October and the winner plays in the CCL the following summer.

How This Plays Out:
In 2013, tournament is played throughout the year, teams are seeded based on 2012 results (league/tournaments/previous CC/whatever). The Champion will go on to represent Canada in the 2014 CCL

The benefits is that the tournament runs in line with our regular season calendar and provides entertainment late in the season for all teams. The downside is that you could have issues with teams choosing between playoffs/leage cups and the CC. Squad depth will be a necessity for any team playing in league playoffs, CC and CCL at the same time. Also, there will be quite the lag on a team that qualifies and represents canada in the CCL (ie. 2012 USL champ qualifies, wins 2013 CC, plays in 2014 CCL). Teams that qualify for either tournament will be able to 'beef up' roster for next years run. In order to get it started as early as possible, we would need two tournaments run at the same time, one in the current format (for 2013 CCL reps,) and the 2013 tournament (for 2014 reps). You would only need to do this once and going forward would run on new schedule.

Option 2 - Preliminary rounds played in previous year, final rounds played in current year
To the top flight teams, there would be no change for them, they still play the 4-8 team tournament in March to May.
The preliminary rounds would be played the previous calendar year and would be seeded into finals accordingly

How This Plays Out
In 2013, 4 team tournament finals are played to determine 2013 champion (April-May) and representative for 2013 CCL. The preliminary rounds for the 2014 start up shortly after.

This method moves the most important games to early in the season (finals in April-May), away from other critical games (CCL, playoffs). There would be discontinuity from one season to another for lower league teams, and does not provide a dramatic run-up throughout the season and (I feel) treats prelimiary rounds as less important with the focus not coming on until the next year. This method is easiest to work into our existing system, and could have started as early as this year.

My preference is for Option 1, but the logistics of it make it a pain in the ass. I could see us using Option 2 initially and then one season do a shift over to Option 1 with minimal repercussions.

TL;DR - lots to think about if we want this tournament to grow larger. And I should get back to work.

[Yawassanay]

I think the ACC should start in the spring and the first three rounds be concluded by mid April...Late April is when the NASL and MLS clubs enter in the 4th round and the final would be concluded by the first week of June...earlier or after the season too many clubs have finished or not yet begun their seasons by that time....in the end it will be MLS clubs fighting for the title but the overall point of an all inclusive ACC is to gain more exposure and experience for non-pro clubs here in smaller centres...there will be many surprises with new talent being discovered, increased interest in all leagues and possibly more or new revenues and sponsorships..the costs may be great for smaller clubs to travel but ACC and CSA should cost share to ensure there are no cancellations or walk overs

[Robert]

Whether or not the field for the ACC is expanded or not, a champion must be determined roughly around this same time of the calender year, as currently 21 of the 24 clubs for the 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League have already qualified. There are only 3 Caribbean places left to be decided.

[ted]

And I think anyone who refers to the VCup as "ACC" should be suspended from this board and/or flogged with a wet noodle.

[Robert]

And I think anyone who refers to the VCup as "ACC" should be suspended from this board and/or flogged with a wet noodle.

And you still have 2 days left to enter the WCQ Pool Predictions competition.

[ClaytonA]

As a start with 8 weeks from when the competition starts now (mid April) to mid June when the Caribbean gets around to assigning their competitors we could probably fit in the current calendar year:
finals - 2 weeks
semis - 2 weeks
quarters - 2 weeks
round 16 - 2 weeks

[ClaytonA]

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...rnament-may-ex

“What’s going to happen is the format will still be the home-and-away like we have now,” Montagliani said. “We’ll have a playoff between the NASL teams in terms of playing off for that spot. It hasn’t all been formalized but that’s sort of what we’re looking at for next year.”

“I think what you’re going to see with the increase of professional clubs in Canada over the next few years, even with our semi-pro leagues that are in their infancy in some of our regions,” he said, “we’re going to see some changes. Probably not in the next one or two, but definitely in the next five years, you’re going to see some increase in terms of the number of teams involved in the competition.”