It would make more sense for them to do away with conferences and have each team play each other 3 times. That way the standings would be perfectly balanced and you wouldn’t have the “this conference is tougher than the other” argument. Most soccer leagues in the world use a similar format.
I think the tournament should be something Division based to make your “local” group really count.
And if they are going to have an in season tournament it should be exhibition against foreign teams as a sort of world cup.
So something like with the preseason exhibition games
Yeah exactly and help them build world interest, have the east versus west all star at the end