Major League Soccer must really detest the idea of the promotion/relegation system to turn down a lucrative offer to expand their media rights. According to Sports Business Journal, MP & Silva were prepared to offer MLS $4 billion for expanded global media rights (quadruple what they already receive) with one stipulation: the implementation of promotion and relegation.
So of course, MLS continued to (1) deal with domestic broadcast partners directly rather than through brokers or agents, and (2) reject any notion of promotion or relegation. It’s understandable - with $150 million expansion fees for potential clubs to enter into Major League Soccer, the thought of relegation to USL or NASL would not serve as an incentive to invest.