DC United PDL team?

[ButlerBob]

So looking at the growth of the Youth program to include a U20 team this year, I would think that it won't be too long before they add a PDL team. With the number of quality D1 programs in the area I would think they would have a good team. In addition it continues to tie the youth teams up to the the MLS team. Has anyone heard if this may happen?

[gsterp]

Would there be any territory rights problem with either Northern Virginia or Crystal Palace? Beyond that I can't see a good reason this wouldn't happen eventually.

[Liverpool_SC]

So looking at the growth of the Youth program to include a U20 team this year, I would think that it won't be too long before they add a PDL team. With the number of quality D1 programs in the area I would think they would have a good team. In addition it continues ties the youth teams together to the the MLS team. Has anyone heard if this may happen?
It would be a prudent measure. Especially if Hendricks does go through as a partner in the purchase of the team. He could set up a PDL team to help anchor the Soccerplex. It would be a great source of practice players for DC United, as well.

[Nick_78]

It would be a prudent measure. Especially if Hendricks does go through as a partner in the purchase of the team. He could set up a PDL team to help anchor the Soccerplex. It would be a great source of practice players for DC United, as well.

If something like this were to happen, don't you think it would be a better idea to base the PDL team in a different market? Why create competition between DCU and a PDL team for attendance unless, of course by that point DC is selling out every game?

[SteveWWJ]

This is a good question... I know Chicago and I think Colorado (Boulder Rapid Reserves) have affiliated PDL squads, so it would seem logical that we would have one as well... I know that we've sent players to and from the NoVA Royals in the past, but I'm not sure why the team doesn't either buy out that franchise and rename it (anyone know if that could be done?), or just start up a fresh team from scratch.

Anyone come up with some good names for a DC United PDL team?

[Lowecifer]

I'm looking forward to the 35+ team that surely will follow!

Owww, my knee.

[Sachin]

This is a good question... I know Chicago and I think Colorado (Boulder Rapid Reserves) have affiliated PDL squads, so it would seem logical that we would have one as well... I know that we've sent players to and from the NoVA Royals in the past, but I'm not sure why the team doesn't either buy out that franchise and rename it (anyone know if that could be done?), or just start up a fresh team from scratch.

Anyone come up with some good names for a DC United PDL team?
DC United

[Liverpool_SC]

If something like this were to happen, don't you think it would be a better idea to base the PDL team in a different market? Why create competition between DCU and a PDL team for attendance unless, of course by that point DC is selling out every game?

Umm. What competition would you be creating? PDL is never going to draw super-big crowds. And many of the games are not played directly opposite MLS - take a look at the schedule and you have games Friday night, Sunday, etc. If you were talking a USL Div 1 franchise or something, I could understand concern over a conflict.

A PDL team would be oriented around attracting 1000 - 1500 fans (if it were very healthy) from the area right around the team venue, plus perhaps some hard-core fans of the players (supposing they are from local schools or the local area) and 'mother team'.

[Liverpool_SC]

DC United

That might go straight to the players' heads and cause them to be too proud.

Maybe we should call the team DC Citeh instead.

[Nick_78]

Umm. What competition would you be creating? PDL is never going to draw super-big crowds. And many of the games are not played directly opposite MLS - take a look at the schedule and you have games Friday night, Sunday, etc. If you were talking a USL Div 1 franchise or something, I could understand concern over a conflict.

A PDL team would be oriented around attracting 1000 - 1500 fans (if it were very healthy) from the area right around the team venue, plus perhaps some hard-core fans of the players (supposing they are from local schools or the local area) and 'mother team'.

I don't know. It just seems to me that as the owner of a pro soccer team you would want to do what you can to make sure your team is the only pro soccer team in the metro area. Unless of course you're selling out every game already, then it may not matter.

[revelation]

DC United

If you add either Reserves, PDL, U-23 (IIRC PDL is U-23 or is it U-21?), or II to the end, it would make sense...

:)

[Liverpool_SC]

I don't know. It just seems to me that as the owner of a pro soccer team you would want to do what you can to make sure your team is the only pro soccer team in the metro area. Unless of course you're selling out every game already, then it may not matter.
The PDL team would not distract attention from the MLS team. It would be a developmental team. Your argument is tantamount to suggesting that DC should play their reserve team matches in another market so that they don't detract from DC.

PDL is a league composed mainly of college players who are not paid for their services. It is not professional soccer, per se.

Besides. Have you ever looked around? How much did it hurt Rochester to have a team in Syracuse? How much does it hurt LA Gals to have Chivas playing in the same stadium? How much does it hurt Liverpool to have Everton playing like half a mile away, much less Tranmere or something?

It might hurt the PDL team a bit, as the level of play is much inferior. But it most decidedly will not hurt the MLS team. And this is hardly a revolutionary idea. Nearly every MLS team has a PDL team in the near vicinity.

Is this just an idea/concern you have emerging from your feminine intuition (gut instinct), or do you have a substantive reason for fearing that a PDL team could distract fans from DC United?

[SteveWWJ]

If something like this were to happen, don't you think it would be a better idea to base the PDL team in a different market? Why create competition between DCU and a PDL team for attendance unless, of course by that point DC is selling out every game?
I don't think this is really a problem...

I mean there are two teams playing in Virginia Beach, the Mariners and Submariners, not to mention the Richmond Kickers and Kickers Future and I don't think it splits those markets very much. Both of which are far smaller clubs than DC United.

Also, the PDL season is about half as long (16 games for the Submariners), and only lasts about three months, since two games are often played per weekend.

[kirchhausen]

That might go straight to the players' heads and cause them to be too proud.

Maybe we should call the team DC Citeh instead.

That could work. I was thinking of DC Wednesday myself. :)

[ButlerBob]

I don't know. It just seems to me that as the owner of a pro soccer team you would want to do what you can to make sure your team is the only pro soccer team in the metro area. Unless of course you're selling out every game already, then it may not matter.

But the PDL isn't another pro team, it's an amateaur U23 league. And for attendance most teams are averaging a couple of hundred fans a game. So that's hardly competition. Think of it as a step between the U20s and the reserves.

[BigKris]

If you add either Reserves, PDL, U-23 (IIRC PDL is U-23 or is it U-21?), or II to the end, it would make sense...

:)

Jong DC United

[Liverpool_SC]

But the PDL isn't another pro team, it's an amateaur U23 league. And for attendance most teams are averaging a couple of hundred fans a game. So that's hardly competition. Think of it as a step between the U20s and the reserves.
Heck, think of it is a glorified MLS scouting combine.

With a slight jigging of the rules by MLS, it could help us get our hands (even with our own coaches) on guys like Gros and McTavish a year earlier and avoid making mistakes like Van Sicklen. That is basically what Chicago did with guys like Chris Rolfe on their PDL team. But (currently) you still run the risk of other teams drafting them after you do all your work cultivating the player ;(.

[Nick_78]

But the PDL isn't another pro team, it's an amateaur U23 league. And for attendance most teams are averaging a couple of hundred fans a game. So that's hardly competition. Think of it as a step between the U20s and the reserves.

Well, don't I look like the ********ing asshole. I was confusing PDL with USL. :o

[SteveWWJ]

Jong DC United
DC Talons

[Liverpool_SC]

That could work. I was thinking of DC Wednesday myself. :)

Yeah. That would work out well if Harksie were coaching.


Jong Il DC United


Maybe we could get sponsorship rights from PRK.