Consolidate the various USL leagues into the A-League [Mobile]

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soccer4ever

30 Jul 2002, 09:34 PM

It would be a lot easier to follow, and the A-League would be alot more fun to watch.

What do you all think?

Mimir19

31 Jul 2002, 02:14 AM

My big question is this: How would it be easier to follow.. You would have way too many teams in one massive league.. Or are you just talking D3 and A-League?

fanmaster

31 Jul 2002, 03:07 AM

Plus how about the money? The letter of credit and the franchise fee are part of the things that keep lower teams from moving up anyway.

Mimir19

31 Jul 2002, 08:08 AM

I think in the future USL has the potential of building itself into something huge..It will be a slow process that takes at least 10 years. But by then you will see an enormous amount of teams that play pretty much a regional based schedule. The big killer for budgets is the travel.. Most A-League teams could be really profitable if it weren't for the travel expenses. This is another thing that keeps D3 teams from making the move up. Same goes for PDL. But as these lower two leagues grow, so will A-League.

panicfc

31 Jul 2002, 08:28 AM

Originally posted by Mimir19
I think in the future USL has the potential of building itself into something huge..It will be a slow process that takes at least 10 years. But by then you will see an enormous amount of teams that play pretty much a regional based schedule. The big killer for budgets is the travel.. Most A-League teams could be really profitable if it weren't for the travel expenses. This is another thing that keeps D3 teams from making the move up. Same goes for PDL. But as these lower two leagues grow, so will A-League.

My concern is both the A-League and D3 will will have attrition and be forced to merge in order to have competition.

It would be better to move that way now, save the teams money, and build up. Better to be pro-active, than re-active.

soccer4ever

31 Jul 2002, 09:55 AM

Originally posted by Mimir19
My big question is this: How would it be easier to follow.. You would have way too many teams in one massive league.. Or are you just talking D3 and A-League?

Division 1 - MLS
Division 2 - A-League, D3 and PDL merged (8 divisions x 6 teams)
Division 3 - Those teams from D3 and PDL that do not merge

Having a larger Division II league would cut down on travel costs because each division would have more teams.

soccer4ever

31 Jul 2002, 10:04 AM

Right now, the

A-League has 21 teams
D3 has has 17 teams
PDL has 45 teams

A super A-League could be formed with 8 division x 8 teams (or 64 teams or at a minimum 6 divisionsx8 teams), with the remaining 19 (83-64) or 35 (86-48)teams forming a true Division III league.

This would unify the grassroots soccer fans behind 1 league and would create the footprint soccer needs in the US to grow into a major sport.

Any thoughts?

panicfc

31 Jul 2002, 10:04 AM

Originally posted by soccer4ever

Division 1 - MLS
Division 2 - A-League, D3 and PDL merged (8 divisions x 6 teams)
Division 3 - Those teams from D3 and PDL that do not merge

Having a larger Division II league would cut down on travel costs because each division would have more teams.

Sounds logical - won't happen.

I think the original A-League teams will not agree as they still think that expensive travel is the way to go.

soccer4ever

31 Jul 2002, 10:09 AM

soccer4ever

31 Jul 2002, 10:10 AM

Originally posted by panicfc

Sounds logical - won't happen.

I think the original A-League teams will not agree as they still think that expensive travel is the way to go.

There is a lot to be gained from a larger, well established league. Teams would have more leverage in negotiating stadium constructions, same for TV coverage, etc.

panicfc

31 Jul 2002, 10:16 AM

Originally posted by soccer4ever
Right now, the

A-League has 21 teams
D3 has has 17 teams
PDL has 45 teams

A super A-League could be formed with 8 division x 8 teams (or 64 teams or at a minimum 6 divisionsx8 teams), with the remaining 19 (83-64) or 35 (86-48)teams forming a true Division III league.

This would unify the grassroots soccer fans behind 1 league and would create the footprint soccer needs in the US to grow into a major sport.

Any thoughts?

A-League has 18 teams
D3 has 18 teams
PDL has 47 teams

The trick is our geography.

Teams west of Mississippi:

Calgary Storm
EL Paso
Seattle Sounders
Vancouver Whitecaps
Arizona Sahuaros
California Gold
Northern Nevada Aces
San Diego Gauchos
Utah Blitzz
Portland Timbers

Teams South of DC

Atlanta Silverbacks
Charleston Battery
Charlotte Eagles
Hampton Roads
Carolina Dynamo
Greenville Lions
Northern VA Royals
Wilmington Hammerheads
Richmond Kickers

Midwest Teams:

Cincinnatti
Indiana
Milwaukee
Minnesota
Pittsburgh
Toronto ?
Reading
(needs St Louis, something near Detroit, Cleveland)

Eastern

Montreal
Rochester
Connecticut
Long Island
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
South Jersey
Westchester
Western Mass

The Wasteland:
New Orleans
Houston
San Antonio
Birmingham
Mobile
Jackson, MS
Memphis
Nashville
Jacksonville
Orlando
Tampa

All used to have teams, but fled with merger and more expensive travel.

panicfc

31 Jul 2002, 10:17 AM

Originally posted by soccer4ever

There is a lot to be gained from a larger, well established league. Teams would have more leverage in negotiating stadium constructions, same for TV coverage, etc.

Preaching to the choir.

The old A-League teams will have fears that the merger will de-value thei name. Of course the fact that only in 7 markets does "A-League" mean didly.

fanmaster

31 Jul 2002, 10:22 AM

The Wasteland . . Funny. I live in Memphis. Let me shake your hand, you hit the nail on the head ;-)

soccer4ever

31 Jul 2002, 10:23 AM

Originally posted by panicfc

A-League has 18 teams
D3 has 18 teams
PDL has 47 teams

Sorry, my mistake.

Even the 36-team A-League would be great. Some teams could be moved a little bit to have better geographical coverage.

panicfc

31 Jul 2002, 10:32 AM

Originally posted by fanmaster
The Wasteland . . Funny. I live in Memphis. Let me shake your hand, you hit the nail on the head ;-)

It's not a bad town. I would move their for the right job.

How's the Memphis PDL team doing?

fanmaster

31 Jul 2002, 10:36 AM

Like all the other division winners, the Memphis PDL lost last weekend.

Memphis has its good and bad points, the weather really stinks. I've just lived too many other places that have great weather compared to here. And yep I should not complain, since I live here by choice.

panicfc

31 Jul 2002, 10:38 AM

Originally posted by soccer4ever

Sorry, my mistake.

Even the 36-team A-League would be great. Some teams could be moved a little bit to have better geographical coverage.

How did you like my geographical divisional alignment?

soccer4ever

31 Jul 2002, 10:40 AM

Originally posted by panicfc

How did you like my geographical divisional alignment?

I like it a lot. However, 6 or 8 divisions would make more sense.

panicfc

31 Jul 2002, 10:40 AM

Originally posted by fanmaster
Like all the other division winners, the Memphis PDL lost last weekend.

Memphis has its good and bad points, the weather really stinks. I've just lived too many other places that have great weather compared to here. And yep I should not complain, since I live here by choice.

Is it the heat?

How is the Mike Rose complex? Did they finish the stadium?

panicfc

31 Jul 2002, 10:45 AM

Originally posted by soccer4ever

I like it a lot. However, 6 or 8 divisions would make more sense.

Good point, but it would require more teams.

The best idea for each division to have 12 teams, playing a 22 game schedule (home and away) in 24 weeks. No back to back games allowed.

Return to 3-1-0 for points.

As for divisions:

Far West - Southern- Atlantic (ACC area), Central, Northeast, and Pacific.

We need teams in:
San Francisco
Sacremento
Bring back Albequerque

another in Los Angeles area.

St Louis
Louisville

Bring up Des Moines

okay I have to work now.