some good points such as lack of promotion/relegation but ultimately misses the root cause

Requirements to forming a division 1 league, as determined by the ‘US Soccer Professional League Standards’:

- minimum 12 teams (14 by year 3)

- each team’s principal owner has individual net worth of $40M

- 75% of teams located within major metro markets (at least 1M people)

- 15,000 seat stadium (and enclosed)

- teams located in each of the Eastern, Central and Pacific time zones

https://www.ussoccer.com/organization-members-directory/pro-...