The Liga de Ascenso, Mexico’s second tier of domestic football, is weighing up whether to expand to add eight teams to the league and centralise the sale of its media rights.
The move would involve the LdA increasing to 20 teams from 12 from the beginning of the 2020-21 season. Any decision needs to be ratified at a meeting of club owners next week.
The owners will meet at the headquarters of the Mexican Football Association (FMF) with a decision expected after the meeting’s conclusion.
If accepted, the centralisation of Mexican LdA rights would contrast with the model in the top-tier Liga MX. The top-tier clubs sell the media rights to their home matches individually.
Luis Orantes, chairman of Mexican third-division side Cafetaleros de Chiapas said to the Mexican media: “In the next meetings it will be known what the Liga de Ascenso holds. It has a lot to do with the support of the [Liga MX] clubs, because only then can we be certain to continue investing in football. We seek clarity and sustainability in the [Liga de Ascenso].”
The LdA was set to have 14 teams competing in the 2020-21 season. However, in December, two sides announced they would not be participating in the coming season.
Potros UAEM said that it would be unable to take part in the 2020-21 season due to a financial inability to play in the division.
Loros UdeC was dissolved on December 27 following the death of its owner.