VANCOUVER, BC – It’s shaping up to be a busy offseason.
Major League Soccer released a first look at the 2014/15 offseason calendar earlier this week, confirming the dates of several key events leading up to the league’s 20th season.
Here are some important dates to look out for over the next few months.
NOVEMBER 19: MLS DISPERSAL DRAFT
As part of the league’s new strategy for the Los Angeles market, it was announced on October 27 that Chivas USA will cease operations effective immediately. As a result, Chivas USA’s current under-contract players will be made available to other teams in a Dispersal Draft. To determine the draft order, a random weighted draw was held on November 14. Striker Erick Torres will not be subject to the Dispersal Draft. Click here for more information.
NOVEMBER 20: MLS AWARDS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
The league will announce its 2014 regular season award finalists on November 20. Whitecaps FC should have a few different players in the running, including Pedro Morales for Newcomer of the Year and David Ousted for Goalkeeper of the Year (both awards to be announced December 3).
DECEMBER 1: OPTION EXERCISE DATE
Teams have until December 1 to make decisions on players who have options on their contracts. The club can choose to either exercise or decline their 2015 contract option.
DECEMBER 8: TRADE WINDOW OPENS
Prior to the MLS Expansion Draft, a half-day trade window will open for all MLS teams from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. PT on December 8. The trade window will open again upon conclusion of the Expansion Draft.
See below for the various trade windows during the month of December.
- December 8: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. PT
- December 10: Upon conclusion of MLS Expansion Draft to December 11 at 2 p.m. PT
- December 12: Upon conclusion of MLS Re-Entry Draft Stage 1 to December 17 at 8 a.m. PT
- December 18: Upon conclusion of MLS Re-Entry Draft Stage 2
DECEMBER 10: MLS EXPANSION DRAFT
With New York City FC and Orlando City SC set to join MLS in 2015, the league will conduct an Expansion Draft on December 10. The Expansion Draft allows both New York City FC and Orlando City SC to select a total of 10 players from existing clubs in the league. Existing clubs can protect up to 11 players – Generation adidas and Homegrown players on the development roster are automatically protected. Designated Players are not. Teams must submit their protected player lists by December 8.
DECEMBER 10: MLS WAIVER DRAFT
The league will hold a Waiver Draft via conference call on December 10 with clubs having the option to pick up out-of-contract players or players whose options were not exercised and are otherwise NOT eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Draft. Only two players were selected in last year’s Waiver Draft.
DECEMBER 12: MLS RE-ENTRY DRAFT (STAGE 1)
The first stage of the MLS Re-Entry Process will take place on December 12 via conference call. Click here for more information on the Re-Entry Process, including draft order and eligible players.
DECEMBER 18: MLS RE-ENTRY DRAFT (STAGE 2)
Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Process will take place on December 18 via conference call. Clubs selecting players in Stage 2 will negotiate a new salary with the player. Last year, Whitecaps FC selected Mehdi Ballouchy in Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft. Click here for more information on the Re-Entry Process, including draft order and eligible players.
JANUARY 2-5: MLS CARIBBEAN COMBINE
The MLS Caribbean Combine, which debuted in 2014, is an annual showcase of young Caribbean talent between the ages of 18-21. It provides these players opportunities to be observed by MLS scouts with the hopes of being invited to the main MLS Combine.
JANUARY 8-13: MLS COMBINE
The MLS Combine is a four-day annual showcase, held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where draft-eligible players perform physical and mental tests in front of the technical staff of MLS clubs.
JANUARY 15: MLS SUPERDRAFTROUNDS 1 & 2
The 2015 MLS SuperDraft will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the second straight year. The SuperDraft provides teams the opportunity to select players coming in from either the NCAA college system, youth national team, or as a youth international signing. The ‘Caps will have their natural first round selection, as well as D.C. United's second round pick.
JANUARY 20: MLS SUPERDRAFTROUNDS 3 & 4
Rounds 3 and 4 of the MLS SuperDraft will take place on January 20 via conference call. Whitecaps FC will have three picks in Round 3 and two more in Round 4.
END OF JANUARY: START OF PRESEASON
The 2015 preseason start date will be six weeks prior to the first game of the 2015 MLS regular season (traditionally the first or second week of March).
FEBRUARY 3-10: DESERT FRIENDLIES
It was announced last week that Whitecaps FC would participate in the 2015 Desert Friendlies in Tucson, Arizona, along with Western Conference sides Houston Dynamo, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes and Sporting Kansas City. Vancouver’s first game is set for February 3 against Portland.
If you wish to visit MLS Preseason in Tuscon, contact Uniglobe One Travel - Neal Chark at nealc@uniglobeone.com or call 604 677 1495 at any time for immediate, professional and expedited service.
Note: Other offseason events to look out for are the release of the 2015 MLS schedule (before January) and the opening of the preliminary transfer window (in February). Dates to be confirmed.
Participate in the best sporting experience in Vancouver! 2015 Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are on sale now. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, Student Half-Season Tickets, and a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket. For more information on 2015 Season Tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
