For the past 2 or 3 seasons now something has become quite clear around the league. Something that didn't simply happen overnight. Something that can be difficult to explain but can be clearly identified by fans, coaches, and players. Something that may have just changed the future of MLS forever...
The West is better than the East.
While this may be no big surprise to most supporters, some Eastern Conference fans are reluctant to admit it. Not me though, the West is actually a lot better than the East - there I said it. In a whole lot of different aspects. Like stadiums, fans, local support, money, ownership, coaches, players, and overall the level of soccer being played somewhat outweighs the Eastern Conference. In fact, 5 out of 6 of the last MLS Cup champions have been from the Western Conference. But that's not to say that
all teams in the East are necessarily bad. Over the past couple of seasons the New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew have clearly taken over as the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. With the Crew bringing in the MLS Cup in 2008 and earning the Supporters Shield back to back in '08 and '09. While the New York Red Bulls have invested a lot of money into their team and now have 2/3 Designated players gracing their side. With big name players like Henry and Marquez.
So why has the West emerged as the better conference? Well, to know why we must understand the past....
Major Powerhouses Fall In the East
In the first 5 years of the MLS' existence 5 teams that are now in the Eastern Conference won the MLS Cup. DC United won it 3 times, while Chicago and KC each won it once. So it became somewhat clear that DC United was the powerhouse team. Not just in the East but in all the league. In the first 4 years of the league DC United won the Supporters Shield twice, and the MLS Cup 3 times. But have seen very bad seasons in recent years.
While DC United reigned terror down on the rest of the league, Chicago slowly became a stable in the league. A team that you could count on being in the playoffs every year and one that you would expect to fight for the title every year as well. Mostly due to the leadership of Chris Armas, Zach Thorton, and C.J. Brown. But then head coach Bob Bradley left and the club looked to be in a state of despair. Despite the future USMNT coach leaving Chicago made the playoffs every year except for last season.
Then it was Kansas City's turn to enjoy some Eastern Conference dominance. They won both the Supporters Shield and the MLS Cup in 2000. And went 12 games without losing, a team record that has not been broken to this day. However KC's dominance was to be short lived, seeing "off-seasons" in 2001 and 2002. Since then they haven't won any silverware since 2004 when they beat out the Chicago Fire to win the US Open Cup.
The Rise Of the West
In 2001 San Jose became the first Western Conference team to win the MLS Cup. Having Landon Donovan on your team never hurts either, the future USMNT star scored 32 times in 87 games for San Jose, but left in 2004 to join the Galaxy. San Jose continued to fight for titles all the way until 2005. Maybe Donovan foresaw the future, because in 2005 the San Jose Earthquakes (players and staff) were moved to Houston and became the Houston Dynamo. Thus starting the reign of Houston Dynamo. Houston won back to back MLS Cup titles in 2006 and 2007. The first team to do so since DC United won the MLS Cup back in 1996 and 1997. Maybe somewhat shifting the balance between the Eastern and Western Conference.
Again, during one team's dominance another team emerges. In the Western Conference's case it was the LA Galaxy. LA won their first title in 2002 but didn't seem that powerful until 2005 when they really got kickin. Landon Donovan has become a key figure in LA. Playing for the Galaxy, Landon has gained captaincy and proved to be possibly the best American player of all time. Since 2005 La Galaxy have been one of the biggest threats in the league. Signing Juan Pablo Angel, David Beckham and Abel Xavier in recent years.
Recent Years
The Western Conference has certainly become the more dominant conference in the league. The past two years have seen MLS Cup winners Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids grow into two great teams, while FC Dallas have also been thrown into the limelight as a serious MLS contender . All clubs have become very competitive teams and compete for the title every year.
While the East has seen the resurgence of the Philadelphia Union and Sporting Kc who have both started to gain a real presence in the MLS.
I don't know where the MLS will be in the next couple of years, but it seems as if the Western Conference has a tight grip on the MLS Cup.
As for the East? Well, the future looks grim.
