USL Pro expansion news, rumor and wishful thinking.

Discussion in 'USL Expansion' started by ButlerBob, Jan 2, 2012.

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  1. bullsear

    bullsear Member

    Feb 17, 2009
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    I'm not entirely sure on West Virginia, but Texas has actually seen a bit of an upswing since 2007, when they underwent a massive overhaul of the state's work comp policy. The old system basically allowed employers to carry "informal" or "voluntary" insurance in order to keep costs down (especially in dangerous industries).

    So in answer to your question, yeah sorta, but it's complicated. The bigger issue might be that those dangerous industries are also very lucrative industries which have very powerful local and federal lobbies.

    And just as a fun insurance fact, New York was rated one of the two worst states in the nation this year in terms of workers' compensation, along with Kentucky. Both states received a Tier VI or "F (and getting worse)" rating.
     
    VioletCrown repped this.
  2. Chowda

    Chowda Member

    Sep 13, 2004
    Rhode Island
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Can you link to some sources on the metrics you are using?

    Your previous post indicated Texas and WV had high costs with low benefits to those injured. Now you are indicating the employers are allowed to skimp out making them "bad" by your metric, but that would be a pro-business condition favorable for a sports team.
     
  3. bullsear

    bullsear Member

    Feb 17, 2009
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    I get my data primarily from word of mouth in the field, the Work Loss Data Institute, and the departments of insurance for the states I've cited.

    Your objections are logical and understandable. These states do or have recently favored a somewhat pro-business condition in the field (some purposefully, and some because of policy that is either byzantine or simply bad). But we're talking about what's best for the long-term growth of soccer (and thus, soccer clubs and players). And what I also said was that these metrics take into account the quality of care received, the ease of access to it, and the length of time it takes workers to get back to work. By these metrics, bad workers' compensation is bad for soccer clubs. If they pay, they pay more for poorer service with worse outcomes.

    Putting the health and safety of workers above the bottom line is what's best for all business, soccer included.

    [Source] Work Loss Data Institute
    (Don't let the website from 1996 fool you, these guys are pros, and every state takes their report card very seriously.)
     
    Chowda repped this.
  4. VioletCrown

    VioletCrown Member+

    FC Dallas
    United States
    Aug 30, 2000
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Austin Aztex
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    FWIW, from here, page 2:

     
  5. Mikey mouse

    Mikey mouse Member

    Jul 27, 1999
    Charleston, SC
    Club:
    Charleston
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They haven't made official announcements but Boston has talked about moving to USL-pro and VSI Tampa Bay said they wanted a USL Pro team as well.

    I wonder if some of the west coast teams that were close a couple years ago are any of those teams
     
  6. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They already announced the Tampa one last November, and considering Boston's drawing 190 people a game in the PDL, they should probably reconsider.

    Longtime rumored, seldom realized.
     
  7. Bluesfan

    Bluesfan Member+

    DC United
    Aug 12, 2000
    Tampa
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    Since Tampa is pulling crowds in the 100s as well, should they reconsider? Or are they going to use the Rowdies patented 'big marketing push' to get into say the 500s?
     
  8. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Doesn't Tampa's PDL team play in Brandon? It's not like they're going to take that club and move it into USL Pro and keep it in Brandon next year, is it? They're supposed to (rumored to, anyway) play at USF and market it as a new, professional team on the Tampa side, aren't they?

    All I know is, in Boston's case, if they're not changing anything except the league they play in, and they haven't shown they can sell tickets now, I don't like their chances.
     
  9. VioletCrown

    VioletCrown Member+

    FC Dallas
    United States
    Aug 30, 2000
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Austin Aztex
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sadly, with the USL's track record, I fully expect both Tampa and Boston to be among the exciting announcements.
     
  10. Skippysasquirrel

    May 11, 2012
    San Diego, CA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I have a feeling those cities' records put them at a disadvantage, all things being equal. That being said, all things are never equal, and you may very well be right.
     
  11. mbsc

    mbsc Member

    Aug 6, 2009
    Club:
    Wilmington H.
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Phoenix has just been announced .

    http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/641849.html

    "The franchise will be owned and operated by BDR Sports, LLC, a consortium of Phoenix-based investors led by local developer Tim Thomas. Rui Filipe Bento, a longtime Phoenix soccer entrepreneur with vast experience in professional club management, will serve as its General Manager."
     
  12. inter01

    inter01 New Member

    Dec 14, 2007
  13. Mikey mouse

    Mikey mouse Member

    Jul 27, 1999
    Charleston, SC
    Club:
    Charleston
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  14. Skippysasquirrel

    May 11, 2012
    San Diego, CA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm happy for Phoenix, bummed for San Diego... But there's always NASL :)
     
  15. VioletCrown

    VioletCrown Member+

    FC Dallas
    United States
    Aug 30, 2000
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Austin Aztex
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    OK. So, that's two out west... assuming that LA Blues are up for losing another million next season. So, here we go. Either the USL is making the big push for a USLPRO West for 2013... or the east teams are even more screwed.

    (And, as an Austinite, I find myself wondering exactly how much Phil's situation improved by moving to Orlando. I know, some, but if this keeps up, that improvement is being whittled away.)
     
  16. athletics68

    athletics68 Member+

    Dec 12, 2006
    San Diego & San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Heck after today's news I hope the Flash put out feelers to the USL as well. It'll be a lot easier for them to make a successful go of it in a league with a Phoenix and hopefully LA franchise than it would for them to join NASL which currently has no western teams.
     
    Skippysasquirrel repped this.
  17. leftout1

    leftout1 Member

    Mar 15, 2010
    Club:
    AC Milan
    For most potential teams, the barrier to entry in the USL is so much lower than the USSF mandated D2 standards. Majority owner with a $20M net worth - $750K bond, etc... I hope the vetting process has improved in the USL. This is going to sound a bit snarky, but the old ownership review process was if the check for the franchise fee cleared - WELCOME you are good to go!!!
     
  18. leftout1

    leftout1 Member

    Mar 15, 2010
    Club:
    AC Milan
    You might also want to include Tucson as potential USL Pro as they seem ambitious down in the Old Pueblo. If LA sticks around, Phoenix, Tucson, SD, you could possibly have something that makes sense. Personally, I still tend to side with Kenn's previous comments and that we'll all look back at this with a sense of "Groundhog Day".....
     
  19. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This is so bizarre.
     
  20. Skippysasquirrel

    May 11, 2012
    San Diego, CA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You mean you're thinking, long term, that USL-Pro is going to move for two conferences, like MLS?
     
  21. athletics68

    athletics68 Member+

    Dec 12, 2006
    San Diego & San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What is the logic behind putting a team in Tampa with NASL already having a team there? Do they feel they can carve a sustainable niche out in part of the region?
     
  22. athletics68

    athletics68 Member+

    Dec 12, 2006
    San Diego & San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Didn't say that. Just that you need more teams in the west for either league to make a go of it in the region given the area's remoteness from the rest of both league's teams. 1 team was a stupid move (the Blues), 2 is better (assuming the Blues play next year with Phoenix) but still not sustainable long term, 3 or more might just work.
     
  23. Skippysasquirrel

    May 11, 2012
    San Diego, CA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    K thanks for clarifying. I think you're right. Four would be ideal, although I understand that's probably too rapid of expansion (in one region, much less for the whole league).
     
  24. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Did we not have this conversation last year?

    Someone came to them and wanted a team there. That's usually how it works. Except for MLS working the process backwards, usually leagues put teams in places where owners express an interest.

    I'm sure residual feelings from the split didn't hinder their thought processes much, either.

    If Tucson moved up (which I believe is/has been their goal anyway) and you could convince LA that things are improving, you have a foothold. Maybe San Diego reconsiders, who knows?

    I do know playing here is not going to be easy.
     
  25. athletics68

    athletics68 Member+

    Dec 12, 2006
    San Diego & San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Don't think so. But even if we did it still wouldn't have made tons of sense last year either. I mean I guess I understand the USL isn't going to turn away a millionaire who wants to have a team even if he's eventually going to run into problems because the city he's moving into is already taken. It's not the league's job to prevent the owner from losing money. But it still seems an odd thing for the owner himself to want to do, purposely putting himself into a position where he's going to end up in the red. Particularly in Tampa with the Rowdies not only being in a higher league, but also having claim to the history soccer fans there seem to identify with. I mean I guess it's possible like I said that he might try and find a niche the Rowdies aren't serving. But it sure seems like a risk not worth taking for the owner (for the league it's not a risk for USL beyond them having to eventually fold yet another failed team).

    Phoenix is at least a "new" market and at least makes sense assuming the Blues are staying around (and assuming they have other western teams in the pipeline or are going to try and get other western teams).
     

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