What is the correct date to expand, relocate, realign, etc.?

[kenyan_cheena]

Okay, when I get to the point in a league where I want to introduce new teams or relocate current ones or move them to a different division, what is the best time to do this? Should I wait until January 1?

I'm asking because in a league I was running in version 11, I waited until a couple of weeks after the season was over to expand by four teams, but when I looked at the standings for the completed season in the almanac, the four expansion teams appeared there with 0-0 records.

So what is the right time to make these types of changes so that it does not have a detrimental effect on the records for the previous season?

Thanks.

[joefromchicago]

I always wait until the first day of the pre-season.

[kenyan_cheena]

Thanks. I'll try that.

[cmaug]

I do it in the first week after the championship series - let's the new teams participate in free agency and the Rule 5 draft.

[Cinnamon J. Scudworth]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

So what is the right time to make these types of changes so that it does not have a detrimental effect on the records for the previous season?

Thanks.

In the preseason is the correct answer if this is your main concern.

Another issue with expanding too early, in my experience, is that it can lead to expansion teams being too good too early. Expansion teams in OOTP often have a ridiculous amount of cash and budget room, so they will tend to snap up a lot of high-dollar free agents if you expand early in the free agency period.

[The Game]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Okay, when I get to the point in a league where I want to introduce new teams or relocate current ones or move them to a different division, what is the best time to do this? Should I wait until January 1?

I'm asking because in a league I was running in version 11, I waited until a couple of weeks after the season was over to expand by four teams, but when I looked at the standings for the completed season in the almanac, the four expansion teams appeared there with 0-0 records.

So what is the right time to make these types of changes so that it does not have a detrimental effect on the records for the previous season?

Thanks.

I always expand in December. I do it on the 1st day of FA for my league.
Now while in my example Anderson shows a 0-0 record going back to 2003 which is when my league started. After the 2015 season is over I have always seen this revert back to the teams 1st season, which for Anderson will be 2015. You can see the other expansion years of 2004, 2009 & 2012 for my other teams. The 4 new teams will show 2015 after my current season. Don't know why it shows 2003 for now.