Why does Liga MX use the Apertura and Clausura format?

Why crown two champions in one season?

Why not just play one long season?

The real reason is excitement because excitement means larger audiences and larger audiences mean more money. 

While one long season would better determine a true champion, money will almost always win out over objectively determining a champion.

Liga MX is one of the most exciting football (soccer for you North Americans) leagues to watch in the world in terms of talent and style of play.

Only the Bundesliga and Premier League have larger average attendance figures among soccer leagues and in North America only the NFL and MLB draw more fans.

With shorter seasons, more is on the line in every match. It’s part of the reason an NFL regular-season game draws more TV viewers than the average MLB postseason game.

Plus, there are two playoffs every year, which is always fun. Imagine if there were two Super Bowls every year.

Fans would eat it up; advertisers would go nuts.

With Liga MX, they do both. 

And if two Super Bowls aren’t enough, there’s a higher chance of seeing the big derbies more often. In Europe, the biggest rivalries are played twice per season with maybe another meeting or two in cup competitions.

In Mexico, it’s conceivable rivals could play each other six times before even considering cup tournaments. 

There are some disadvantages to the split-season format, not the least of which is not crowning one true winner each season.

Championships are kind of the point of playing sports.

Since every match is so meaningful in a shorter season, it’s harder for managers to find playing time for younger or fringe players, decreasing player development across the board.

Plus, it’s confusing and people don’t like to be confused. 

Liga MX has the champions of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments face off in the Campeon de Campeones matchup in July to determine one champion, but it doesn’t have the same level of intensity as the regular-season tournaments.

Starting in 2018 the Campeones Cup pits the Campeon de Campeones winner from Liga MX against the MLS Cup champion in September. That cross-ver appeal benefits both Liga MX and the MLS. 

Fun Fact: Liga MX isn’t just the most popular league in Mexico; it’s the most-watched soccer league in the United States as well.

That’s a lot of eyes (and dollars) for the clubs and league. By using Apertura and Clausura to maximize intensity and entertainment Liga MX has built a continental powerhouse that’s unlikely to change.

Now you know why Liga MX has a split season.

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