The eternal debate rages on. Is promotion/relegation necessary to the growth of the game in North America? Will soccer become a truly major sport in the US and Canada without it?
Many soccer fans on this side of the pond seem to think that we need to copy everything that's done elsewhere in order to have the sport grow here. In particular, the debate over promotion and relegation continues to simmer.
I think it’s a false debate. It’s clear neither the MLS or the NASL are there yet. In fact, a deeper look reveals a few obstacles to making pro/rel a reality in North American soccer.