the league's poor financial condition and declining attendances forced mls to cut expenses to reduce operating losses. prior to the 2001 season, mls owners agreed to freeze team budgets and refrain from signing new expensive players. also during the winter break between the 2000 and 2001 seasons, reports began circulating that mls was considering trimming the league from 12 teams back to 10 teams. mls ultimately announced in january 2002 that it had decided to contract the two florida franchises, the tampa bay mutiny and miami fusion. this left the league with 10 teams, the same number as when mls began. also, the league reorganized back to the eastern and western conference format after two seasons with the third central division.