Chivas USA calls it quits
MLS will realign, add new L.A. team in ’17
LOS ANGELES – Chivas USA ceased operations on Monday after 10 troubled and unsuccessful years in Major League Soccer, with the league planning a new franchise for Los Angeles in 2017 with new ownership and a new soccer-specific stadium.
The league’s Board of Governors unanimously decided to shut down Chivas USA after reviewing a new plan for the L.A market. As a result, the league will have 20 teams in the 2015 season, including new franchises in Orlando and New York City.
Commissioner Don Garber said MLS will conduct a dispersal draft of the Chivas roster before Dec. 1.
The league will re-align next year, sending Houston and Sporting Kansas City to the Western Conference to create two 10-team conferences. Each team will play 34 regular-season games, playing a home-and-away series against each team in the opposing conference. Clubs will play each of their nine conference opponents at least twice, plus six more intra-conference games.
Chivas USA, formed in 2004, was seventh in the nine-team Western Conference and averaged less than 7,000 for home games. MLS assumed operation of the team in February.