Last week's launch party was great. Lot's of news including our affiliation with Columbus. At first, many were surprised that the affiliate wasn't a Texas team but the Crew seem to be a nice fit with our FO. New jerseys, the beer garden makes a magnificent return, and some renovations to House Park are a few of the other news items. Paul mentioned via twitter this morning that they have identified and signed up to 14 members of the squad, and player announcements will follow USLPro approval. He also mentioned a desire to sign around 20 with the remainder to be filled through our Columbus affiliation. Most of us are really excited about this year and the years to follow. Things are looking bright for soccer in Austin.
The only thing I know that was officially announced is there will be a club section with seat backs. Obviously the SGs will not be in that section. There will be a family section, not sure the details there, other than it will be in the NW corner of House Park. Rumor is they have a solution to removing the football lines from the turf. Not sure if that means new turf or a new paint job, but the FO is interested in having soccer lines only. Hope that happens. I sense that House Park will have a more professional feel than it has in previous years. The club just isn't ready to reveal all of the details at this time.
Really hoping this partnership will be fruitful. I kinda hope we send you Ben Swanson and he gets some PT. I will certainly be tuning into games if Crew players are being utilized. Seems like Berhalter and Daglish seem to be on the same page. Hopeful for big things
I was also surprised. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. The Aztex want a long-term affiliation, and both Houston and Dallas are planning on their own USLPRO teams, probably next year. Between affiliations that already exist and MLS teams already having USLPRO teams, there wasn't a lot to pick from.
Former Aztex watch: San Jose left Tyrpak unprotected in the expansion draft, no doubt assuming that he won't be picked up. But if Orlando kept tabs on Austin, and why wouldn't they since we almost met their PDL team in the playoffs a couple of times, it wouldn't be wholly surprising if they took him.
According to this article, USL Pro is being organized into two different conferences - East and West (see above). The East is filled with most of the old guard, like Charleston and Richmond, while every team except for the OC Blues is 2 years at the oldest. It is interesting to note that 42% of the teams in the Western Conference will be from the Western Conference, so if they are the same caliber as LA Galaxy II, then the West will be incredibly difficult to win or even get to the playoffs. That's not even including the defending champs (Sacramento). The schedule is going to be a home and home with everyone in your conference, 3 additional home and home with teams in close proximity (for us, probably OKC Energy, Tulsa Roughnecks, and STL FC). That's definitely different from last year, meaning we probably won't be meeting a Rochester or Charleston at all this year, unless it is in the playoffs. The Season will be 28 games from March until end of September, with the playoffs in October. Hopefully will be playing until the end of October.
Do you think this is unfair to Austin? Just sounds like where you were going with your post. I like the conference approach. Anything to reduce travel and cost. How are playoffs structured?
I like it. There's no glory in playing the old 2nd-tier guard in the East. The more we see of the future MLS stars, and right now the better ones are in the West, the better for everyone.
Not sure if Austin fans are following the Crew offseason but here are the moves made thus far. Will certainly impact who we send your way. http://www.thecrew.com/media/transactions
I think it is a little unfair that our conference is so difficult, but I don't really mind. If you want to be the best you have to play the best. Not to mention, I would rather play the newer teams in the west than the older teams in the East. And about the playoffs, I don't think the structure has been released, though the website I quoted said that he would release it today.
Top 5 from each conference... with Portland, Seattle, LA, RSL, Vancouver, and Sacramento in the mix, that's a damn tall order, but I'm really excited to see how we do.
Then again, if you look at last year's standings, only two of the five western teams were in the top half. Plus, if we do end up doubling up against Tulsa, OKC, and St. Louis (two of them newbies like us), it could give us a leg up on having a better record. All hail unbalanced schedules! I'm also excited to see how we do. Anyone been keeping track of how our fellow newbies are doing at filling out their rosters?
I couldn't believe when I saw you guys signed Ambrose. What a great pick up. I hope he is on a couple year contract because I could easily see him sold to an MLS side.
ATX Pro Challenge This looks awesome! Maybe one day we can do a Texas Derby with the Dynamo, FC Dallas and the Scorpions too
I think that being a former PDL team is giving us the option on players like this. It is unlikely that he would go to us if he hadn't have played for our PDL team last year. Hopefully we can get some more of our standouts last year to join us.
I am surprised because many would say he is the best left back in college. At worse a 2nd-3rd rounder.
Ambrose to Austin is great ... he thinks he can develop better in USL Pro with Austin than one more year at Maryland ... and he's likely doing this instead of the draft so he can continue to live in Texas and get much more playing time and not be tied down to an MLS deal that could keep him in MLS for longer than he wants (MLS 4 year deals could be something that needs to be looked at when signing draft picks). This will only push MLS to look to become more flexible in signing talent in the future as well as figuring out a way for teams to get compensated for developing players and not being able to sign them (NYRB having Homegrowns pick a different route too). All for the better of the entire system IMO. 2-3 years ago ... college kids wouldn't have thought this was a potential path that was worth while, now they do.
I just found the Austin Aztex subreddit. Lets join it and help answer some questions. http://www.reddit.com/r/AustinAztex/