Here's a possible map set:
b2b, 3vs3, maze, forest trail, etc. (marathon maps)
Peoples will not play because you force them, you propose them something new and you give them a reason to play it.
If im force to play water map or any maps i dont like then i will not play anything at all.
The only reason i would be willing to play different maps is for the challenge, because i got no fun to play other maps then gow, but i can found a challenge into new maps if there a kind of reward..
But the other side, i would not play an entire season of something specific other then gow... And im pretty sure there lot of peoples who think like me.
I would talk for alot of peoples and believe me its what alot of peoples thinks.
Thats okay to promote other maps, but thats not okay to touch gow... You cant do that... You let the ladder they way it was, and if you want to promote new maps, then you found another way to do it other then removing gow... Thats not possible, forgot.
Peoples play Gow like an old man play chess, gow is the main battle ground, there no way you can deal with that, you remove gow, you remove war2, ez like that.
So thats why i came back with my proposition.
Keep the ladder as before, but now you reset stats on every season.
If you want to promote new map, all good, but keep them as an add on to the main ladder.
If you want to push peoples to play it, then make a new champion for the most bonus map winning, if you cant do that, nobody will play ur maps untill you force them and they get borred and you finally kill the game for good.
Just listen me for once and maybe you save ur 15 players server.