USL Pro news, rumors, and wishful thinking

USL 2 expansion?

Anyone hear about this?

http://www.uslnews.com/2009/05/usl-second-divsion-to-expand-add.html

New site that popped up the other day.

Re: USL 2 expansion?

The owner/manager from Seattle Wolves FC was on World Soccer Daily the other day talking about moving up to USLD2 and possible even USLD1 but didnt put a time line. There are several clubs out there that would make the jump, Fresno, El paso(not really west coast but they have talked about moving up for sometime) would both be good canadates

I think a west coast USLd2 would be great.

Mikey

Re: USL 2 expansion?

Now that is quite interesting. So basically every level of USL, except the first division, is going to be divided into at least two regional divisions. Well IMHO if USL whants to attract more clubs to the top flight it's going to have to at least think about regionalizing the USL first division as well ,something like E/W of the Mississippi.

I could easily see several cities west of the Mississippi jump to USL-1 if this was done.

Re: USL 2 expansion?

This was brought up sometime last yer when the Sounders were getting ready for the MLS and Vancouver were looking to make the move as well. It has been discussed and alot of people think it could work including me. I would love to see a USLD2 West conference.

Re: USL 2 expansion?

USL-2 West would need at least 6 clubs to be feasible. As long as they don't play the east coast USL-2 until the post-season, that will keep travel costs down to something reasonable.

Re: USL 2 expansion?

Yes, keep it regional

A nationwide USL2 would kill the league

Re: USL 2 expansion?

Maybe Calgary, Edmonton, and/or Saskatchewan would be interested? There's plenty of western cities without a team higher than PDL: Phoenix, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Reno, and so on...

Heck, here's a few other cities that aren't even on the MLS radar:

Nashville
Memphis
New Orleans
Tulsa
OKC
Des Moines
El Paso
San Diego
Hartford
Orlando
Birmingham
Milwaukee
Winnipeg
Tucson
Detroit


That doesn't even take into account Hollywood United, Ventura County, and the other semipro teams in the SoCal area. Now, some of those could be potential USL-1 markets. However, if there were 2, 3, or even 4 USL-2 level divisions to play in, it wouldn't cost a heck of a lot to operate and you wouldn't need filthy rich investors to get them going and run them. Hopefully, a lot of PDL teams are thinking along the lines of those two Washington teams are. From there, you would need to figure out which clubs would be capable of supporting national play before you would even think about a real soccer ladder and pro/reg.

The soccer knowledge in the US has grown exponentially since they last tried a similar approach with the USISL-3 pro leagues, and I think that setup could work now.

Re: USL 2 expansion?

I guess I'd maybe vouch for more than two divisions for a national D-2. Seems like there ought to be a D-2 Central as well. I could see Des Moines fitting in as such, though I'm not sure who else.

I keep hearing "PDL-Pro" mentioned, but I'm not even clear on what that is.

Re: USL 2 expansion?

Thats a good point. If they want a NW division of Oregon, Washington and BC teams thats one thing, (or a Texas or a California division) but the PDL divisions are already stretched out west.

A California division is a good idea, get it set up and then grow it from there slowly.

Re: USL 2 expansion?

columbia south carolina

Re: USL 2 expansion?

Good luck with getting that passed the Gamecock mafia.

Re: USL 2 expansion?

Yep. That town is obsessed with their 'Cocks.

If you were looking at South Carolina, I would go with with Greenville/Spartanburg. Their Combined Statistical Area is the 35th largest in the US with a 2008 population of 1,241,618, they have a soccer history with the USL-2 Greenville Lions and South Carolina Shamrocks, and Sirrine Stadium is probably available. After that, maybe Columbia.

After that, there is a large drop off. Places like Florence or Myrtle Beach could (maybe) maintain a PDL team at best.

Re: USL 2 expansion?

I've seen the return of the Westchester Flames mentioned here on BS and a possible return of the Northern Virginia Royals mentioned elsewhere, but nothing concrete.

As for Wilmington, there's still a chance something might come together for 2010. A decision was expected by mid-November, or at least before the Annual meeting.

Re: Updated USL Expansion news

hmmm.... guesses at USL1 markets seem to be easier then guessing who the USL2 West markets will be.... wonder the amount of team that they are going to be bringing in for both...

Re: Updated USL Expansion news

on the USL2 westside, I would think Kitsap and Victoria for sure, Posible Fresno. All have made it known they want to move up.

Possible PDL to move up.

Washington Crossfire
Spokane
Tacoma
Ventura County
Hollywood Hitman

thats seven there but he did mention expansion teams as well. I would think they would look for at least six team total.

As to USL1, Detroit, Hamilton and San Diego seem to be strong possiblities.

Holt mention they were in serious discussion with half-dozen groups. supposed to be a coaching announcement from FCNY today.

I would bet money some additional teams in USL2 East. I've been told that if they had another month or two, Wilmington would have been back so I imagine they will be back. As there is another team that supposable want in this year but it was the week they announced the schedule.

whatever happeneds, between the regulare season, the expansions in USL and NASL, the future of Division 2, it sure is going to be an interesting season.

Re: Updated USL Expansion news

What, no USL love for the third coast? I had read a few blurbs here and there about PDL-Pro teams possibly moving up, and I was wondering if my home town New Orleans Jesters would be a possible candidate. There used to be a USISL/USL A-League club in town, the Riverboat Gamblers / Storm. Attendance was average, but the team wasn't advertised much.

If there were an ownership team willing to bring a team to the div2 level, NASL might ultimately be a better fit for New Orleans... with teams in St Louis, Carolina, Tampa, and Atlanta, most of the rivalries with other NFL markets would carry over naturally.

Actually, since the AFL folded and the Voodoo ceased to exist, perhaps future Saints owner Rita Benson LeBlanc would be interested in picking up a new "minor league" venture. New Orleans Saints AC has a nice sound to it, although Voodoo FC would probably work with the locals too.

Re: Updated USL Expansion news

Mikey's right. It's not that hard to guess the USL2 West. And Garber has said that they don't have any specific issues with the USL (and we can only take his word, right?) so there's that outside idea of Vancouver keeping a pro reserve side and moving up their PDL team.

Detroit and San Diego are certainly possible for USL1, but the Hamilton owner has ties to the Carolina Railhawks, so if if come in next year, I think they're a little more likely to do so with the NASL.

Man, I sure hope these guys are arranging things to be able to make the switch if the USSF decides to sanction only one league next year.

Re: Updated USL Expansion news

Not that I believe this for a minute, but this snippet in this info article about the world's richest man raised my eyebrows:

Re: Updated USL Expansion news

I can confirm that we (Hollywood United) are already planning on moving to USL2 in 2011.

As far as I know, the other teams that are seriously looking at moving up are Kitsap, Victoria, Washington Crossfire, BYU, Fresno and Ventura. There has also been some talk that Des Moines and Laredo are thinking about joining the party, but then we'd start getting into geographical issues, so I don't know how far that will go, or whether it's gone anywhere past a "we're sort of interested" stage.

I have also heard talk that there are two ownership groups in Vegas and San Diego looking at getting involved, but I don't know any of the details, or how far along they are with their plans.

So, USL2 West definitely happening, and we are definitely one of the ones who are planning on making the jump

Re: Updated USL Expansion news

thanks for the info. so I imagine it will be a East vs. West final?

Re: Updated USL Expansion news

I believe it's the San Diego Flash group

as for Las Vegas

Strip Football Club might be a little misleading...but that might boost attendance