MLS to affiliate with USL PRO clubs

Discussion in 'United Soccer Leagues' started by mbsc, Jul 11, 2012.

  1. MLSinCleveland

    MLSinCleveland Member+

    Oct 12, 2006
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Club:
    Cleveland C. S.
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My guess as to how the current/future USL-Pro teams will fall if MLS affiliations are required:

    Antigua Barracuda - almost forcibly kicked out, close to absolutely no MLS team. could close travel to PR make NASL an affordable option?

    Charleston Battery - not near an MLS team, could this be the nudge that pushes them back to D2?

    Charlotte Eagles - MLS farm system concept doesn't mesh well with their Christian mission. Don't have the $ to go NASL (who also may not necessarily want a religious nonprofit team). Could easily drop to PDL.

    Dayton Dutch Lions - seems like a no-brainer for Columbus Crew Reserves at first. But could that be too much of a conflict with their role a as a feeder/$ source for Twente FC? They could easily drop down as both could be accomplished in the PDL without outside interference from a second "parent club".

    Harrisburg City Islanders - Philadelphia Union Reserves. In related news, the sky: it's blue.

    Los Angeles Blues - only question is if they become Los Angeles Galaxy Reserves or the GrinGoats' B team.

    Orlando City - one of the most succesful USL-Pro franchises, bothon and off the field, but not neart an MLS club, timing may be perfect for a move to the NASL

    Pittsburgh Riverhounds - could be Crew Reserves if Dayton bolts for PDL. Maybe the new stadium could propel them to high-enough revenue levels to jump to NASL, but they'll only have the benefit of one season of the new stadium beforee having to move to another league if they can't get an affiliation with an MLS club, so an NASL jump would be a true leap of faith. However, a drop to PDL would be a big blow after getting an SSS. A true wild card.

    Richmond Kickers - likely DC United Reserves, might drop to PDL

    Rochester Rhinos - could be Toronto FC Reserves or New York Red Bulls Reserves, but what was said above about the Charleston Battery may also apply quite easily here.

    Wilmington Hammerheads - Not near an MLS team, attendance seems to suggest that the NASL may be a possibility, but recent franchise history may suggest the same re: the PDL option. Maybe there's a MLS team willing to have a distant affiliate? A bigger enigma in regards to their reaction to this than the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

    Phoenix FC/City/Wolves/City Wolves/Country Wolves/Wake Me When You Pick A Name - Maybe they affiliate with the LA MLS team who doesn't pair up with the Blues?

    VSI Tampa Bay/Tampa Flames - too far from an MLS team to be an affiliate, already in an NASL market. Could this be falling apart before it even starts?

    Sacramento - likely San Jose Earthquakes Reserves
     
    QuietType repped this.
  2. MLSinCleveland

    MLSinCleveland Member+

    Oct 12, 2006
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Club:
    Cleveland C. S.
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What? :eek::speechless: Anyone care to explain what he is talking about? I highly doubt any other country has two federations.

    If he's suggesting MLS as an "outlaw" (non-FIFA) league, I seem to remember that working reeeeeally well for the outdoor [1967] NPSL :rolleyes: (so well they had to merge with the FIFA-sanctioned USA to stay afloat).
     
  3. WhiteStar Warriors

    Mar 25, 2007
    St.Pete/Krakow
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Do you think MLS takes that tournament seriously? Their excuse is they always play reserves.
     
  4. QuietType

    QuietType Member+

    Jun 6, 2009
    Sacramento, CA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sacramento almost certainly would be SJ's partner. What else would they do?
     
  5. QuietType

    QuietType Member+

    Jun 6, 2009
    Sacramento, CA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not to get too political, but: good.
     
  6. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You're assuming they're going to be "required." If I owned a USL Pro team, I don't know that I'd necessarily opt for becoming a fiefdom unless somebody's going to do a hell of a lot more for me than pay five players' salaries.

    That's one team. Two if you count Fort Lauderdale. Antigua has many, many problems, and calling the NASL "affordable" for them is ridiculous. I would be mildly surprised if their FA - which bankrolled the club in hopes of it helping the national team's qualifying run - didn't pull their support entirely.

    So a "nudge" so they can lose more money? They went to D3 for a reason, and it's worked out fine for them.

    They could, certainly. There wouldn't be much difference in their budget, I would imagine. They've been professional for 20 years, though.

    How much have they fed Twente, actually? Their true mission is to support their Academy, which is the only thing their parent really cares about. They've shown they can't run a professional team in any way, shape or form.

    Probably the only team that would truly benefit from this arrangement, given their limitations.

    Or fold. Because if they're losing $800k a year and nobody's going to see them now, they're not going to start suddenly going to Fullerton to see MK Juans.

    You are - again - presuming these are these teams' only options. Even if every team is going to have an "MLS affiliate," big deal. We had that back in 1996-2000. It didn't mean a loss of identity. Most of the time, it didn't even mean anything other than playing friendlies occasionally.

    This is the third time in this post you have proposed someone moving up to the NASL as if that's splurging on the Venti instead of the Grande. It's more expensive than that. Maybe maybe maybe possibly possibly possibly this might happen could this happen I wonder blah blah blah.

    They have no money. They haven't had any money for years. They should derive more revenue from their stadium. But they'll still be limited in how much money they can generate from it.

    Or...you know...not.

    Because they have no ambition whatsoever, right? Oy.

    Fourth time. Will. You. Stop? Do you know anything about Wilmington's market?

    Maybe I'm amazed at the way you're with me all the time? Maybe if we all clap our hands together and think positive thoughts, we can fly!

    And what did Roger really say to Naomi? Are Kris and Bruce really getting a divorce? What will happen on the next episode?

    Before they've even kicked a ball.

    Did you even read the proposed arrangements? If there's an MLS team nearby, the MLS team would pay the salaries of five players. They wouldn't become the MLS reserve team. The MLS reserve team becomes a standalone USL Pro team if there's no USL Pro team near them.

    Just bizarre. This was...out there.
     
  7. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And still advance 70 percent of the time.

    How was the NASL vs. NASL final this year? I missed it.
     
  8. MLSinCleveland

    MLSinCleveland Member+

    Oct 12, 2006
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Club:
    Cleveland C. S.
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The reports thus far have stated that every team would have an MLS affiliate (that seemed to me to mean "required"). If this is the case, I could see a few teams with no good options (too far to be an affiliate, too little $ to go NASL, don't want to lose ticket revenue from lower prices/shorter schedule in PDL).

    Also, I was using "team x reserves" to mean the USL-Pro affiliate of said MLS team.
     
  9. Soccer Joe

    Soccer Joe Member

    Sep 23, 2012
    I have done some checking around and from what I have found out there will be some inter play between USLPRO teams and MLS reserve teams, 2-3 games. There was no mention of MLS reserves playing on USL teams or USL teams be affiliated to a particular MLS team. I got the impression that they would see how this went and look to do more in the future.
     
  10. BUSA Bulldog

    BUSA Bulldog Member

    Jan 19, 2007
    NH
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This sounds much more plausible. It won't disrupt the competition of USLPro and gives the reserves more matches. Probably see a stronger connection in the future.
     
  11. thomas19064

    thomas19064 Member+

    Apr 29, 2008
    Delco
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    2. If there’s no USLPRO team, the MLS reserve side will become a new, permanent team in USLPRO.


    A "new, permanent team" doesn't sound like something that would have teams just having one off games against USL-Pro teams...... maybe next year we might see "friendlies" like that... but in the long term it sounds like they want reserve squads playing within the actual league.
     
  12. thomas19064

    thomas19064 Member+

    Apr 29, 2008
    Delco
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    MLS affiliation doesn't necessarily means becoming a full on reserve team.... the Union and Harrisburg have been "affiliated" for a few years now, and they are definitely 2 distinct entities...

    the "affiliate" aspect is the most interesting part of the news for me, just from a standpoint of independent some teams will be and what benefits the MLS teams will get from the affiliation...

    if Kansas City for example already has an independent reserve squad playing in USL-Pro there isn't much reason to loan a player out to the affiliated team in Orlando for example.... maybe we will see different "levels" of affiliations....
     
    Mikey mouse repped this.
  13. AmeriSnob

    AmeriSnob Member+

    Jan 23, 2010
    Queens
    Club:
    New York Cosmos
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I guess USL gets their Western division dream fulfilled in the form of Seattle/Portland/Vancouver/Colorado/RSL reserves. o_O

    Not forming an opinion on this until the full details are announced (IF they're announced).
     
    fsufiji repped this.
  14. thomas19064

    thomas19064 Member+

    Apr 29, 2008
    Delco
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Just antother thought here.... but Jason Davis said earlier today on twitter that when talking about a "nearby" team meant the way his source gave him the information it sounded like they meant "same city"... so obviously that only would leave the LA Blues...

    perhaps Chivas/Galaxy simply buy out the Blues and convert it to their reserve team? We could then we see the 18 other teams enter their existing reserve squads into a much more regional USL Pro.... this would surely cut down on travel costs for the existing teams, and keep travel costs down for the new MLS Reserve sides and keep the players nearby...
     
  15. MLSinCleveland

    MLSinCleveland Member+

    Oct 12, 2006
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Club:
    Cleveland C. S.
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My concern is teams like Orlando/Tampa/etc, who are not close to an MLS team (closeness was emphasized in re: to the affiliations). Will they allow distant affiliations (as exist in other sports' farm system)? Will they allow independents in those cases? Will those teams be forced out (doubtful)?
     
  16. Mikey mouse

    Mikey mouse Member

    Jul 27, 1999
    Charleston, SC
    Club:
    Charleston
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    how would they be forced out?

    I imagine they will allow a distance affiliation, if it is required, i just cant see the USL BOG (team owners) agreeing to something that would force them out of business.

    We can all speculate on what is going to happen but until something more concrete comes out we are all just guessing on how this is going to play out.
     
  17. MLSinCleveland

    MLSinCleveland Member+

    Oct 12, 2006
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Club:
    Cleveland C. S.
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Teams likely looking at distant affiliations (assuming the reports of all teams being affiliated are true):

    Charleston
    Charlotte (if they don't drop to PDL)
    Orlando
    Pittsburgh (If Dayton stays in USL-Pro)
    Tampa
    Wilmington

    Logical affiliations:

    Dayton or Pittsburgh - Columbus
    Harrisburg - Philadelphia (already in place)
    LA Blues or Phoenix - LA Galaxy (Blues are not doing well, but they may hold out, hoping that a Galaxy affiliation could provide them a drawing card
    Phoenix (if Blues affiliate with Galaxy) - Chivas USA
    Richmond - DC United
    Rochester - Toronto FC (or maybe NY Red Bulls or NY2)
    Sacramento - San Jose

    I just don't see Antigua Barracuda fitting in to this system at all.
     
  18. ceezmad

    ceezmad Member+

    Mar 4, 2010
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Red Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    2nd amendment rights to bring pro/rel!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
  19. AmeriSnob

    AmeriSnob Member+

    Jan 23, 2010
    Queens
    Club:
    New York Cosmos
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It seems like the either/or scenario is from the USL teams' perspective: either a USL team is affiliated with a local MLS team (the 5 players thing) or it remains independent. Either the MLS team is affiliated with a local USL team or its reserve team is run indpendently.
     
  20. MLSinCleveland

    MLSinCleveland Member+

    Oct 12, 2006
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Club:
    Cleveland C. S.
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Read point 3 here. sounds like all USL teams will have MLS parent clubs.
     
  21. thomas19064

    thomas19064 Member+

    Apr 29, 2008
    Delco
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    affiliate is not equal to parent.... we have no idea to what extent the affiliation will be for each team.
     
  22. Mikey mouse

    Mikey mouse Member

    Jul 27, 1999
    Charleston, SC
    Club:
    Charleston
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I might be missing your point but I don't see how that "forces" a team out. Its not like MLS is buying the USL clubs and an affiliation could just be the MLS team providing the USL team a bag of practice balls.
     
  23. thomas19064

    thomas19064 Member+

    Apr 29, 2008
    Delco
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    exactly... while I'm sure some affiliations may be closer than others... (loaning players out to the team reguarly, sharing best practices, etc.) others may be very lose.... like an agreement to come down to Orlando or Charleston to play in their pre-season tournament...
     
  24. thomas19064

    thomas19064 Member+

    Apr 29, 2008
    Delco
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  25. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    "USL Pro is miles ahead of its competitors" based on the Rhinos?

    I really wanted to stop reading there, and wish I had. Oy.
     

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