2000 A-League Playoff & Championship Format
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| Western Conference |
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Eastern Conference |
| [1] Minnesota |
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[1] Charleston |
| [2] Seattle |
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[2] Long Island |
| [3] Milwaukee |
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[3] Richmond |
| [4] San Diego |
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[4] Rochester |
| [5] Vancouver |
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[5] Hershey |
| [6] El Paso |
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[6] Hampton Roads |
| [7] Bay Area |
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[7] Toronto |
| [8] Indiana |
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[8] Raleigh |
2000 Playoffs - General Information
- The League will adopt the two-legged aggregate scores series, which is standard around the world, for two rounds of this year's competition. In previous years, a best-of-three format was used.
- The top three teams from each of the two divisions qualify, with the Division winners seeded No. 1 and No. 2, followed by the remaining 4 divisional teams, plus the next two teams with the highest point totals from that Conference. Seeds No. 3 thru No. 8 will be based on regular season points (plus tiebreakers, if applicable), of the other six teams.
ROUND 1 - One Game
- 8 teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs. Teams are seeded according to system defined above (division winners are Nos. 1 and 2, followed by seeds 3 through 8 from other conference teams based on points).
- One-game, single elimination with higher seeded team, based on A-League points, at home.
- Game Seed Matchups: (A) 1 vs. 8 (B) 2 vs. 7 (C) 3 vs. 6 (D) 4 vs. 5
- The first round match is to be played between Friday, Sept. 8 and Sunday, Sept. 10 with the higher seeded team playing host to the lower seed. If the game is tied at the conclusion of regulation, two 15-minute "golden goal" overtime periods will be played. If the game is still tied at the end of the 30 minutes of overtime, FIFA penalty kicks will be utilized to determine the winner.
Two-Legged Aggregate Scoring Rules
The conference semi-finals and finals will feature a two-legged aggregate score series with the games ending after 90 minutes without overtime. Should the two teams finish tied in total goals at the conclusion of the second game of the series, the following tiebreakers will be introduced to determine a winner.
Two-legged Aggregate Score Tiebreakers:
- 1 - Two 15-minute "golden goal" overtime periods will be played
- 2 - Total points from both matches (USL regular season point system)
- 3 - Most home goals
- 4 - FIFA penalty kicks
ROUND 2 - Conference Semi-Final Series - Two-legged Series
The two-legged aggregate score series will be introduced in the second round with the first match being played between Wednesday, Sept. 13 and Friday, Sept. 15. The second match must be played either Saturday, Sept. 16 or Sunday, Sept. 17. The higher seed has the option of playing host to the first or second game of the series.
- Two-legged series with 1v8 winner vs. 4v5 winner and 2v7 winner vs. 3v6
winner...higher seed has choice of hosting the first or the second game.
ROUND 3 - Conference Championship Series - Two-legged Series
- Two remaining conference finalists (two winners from Round 2) are seeded based on regular season points.
- Two-legged series. Higher seeded team has the choice of hosting the first or the second game.
The two-legged aggregate score series will be utilized in the conference finals with the first match being played between Wednesday, Sept. 20 and Friday, Sept. 22. The second match must be played either Saturday, Sept. 23 or Sunday, Sept. 24. The higher seed has the option of playing host to the first or second game of the series.
ROUND 4 - A-League Championship Game
Weekend of September 29
A one-game winner take all match will determine the 2000 A-League national champion the weekend of Friday, Sept. 29-Sunday, Oct. 1. If the game is tied at the conclusion of regulation, two 15-minute "golden goal" overtime periods will be played. If the game is still tied at the end of the 30 minutes of overtime, FIFA penalty kicks will be utilized to determine the winner.
The site of the A-League National Championship match will be at the site of one of the participants and will be determined based upon factors such as stadium and field conditions, television arrangements, attendance, media coverage, etc.
- A single Championship Game. If any match is tied after regulation, two 15-minute "golden goal" overtime periods will be played. If the match remains tied after overtime, FIFA penalty kicks will determine the winner.
- A-League Championship Game is the property of the A-League. Financial arrangements will be communicated to both teams in advance of the Championship Game.
- The Commissioner has sole authority to select the host site based upon various factors such as stadium and field considerations, television arrangements, fan attendance, media coverage, hotel, transportation, etc.
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