That's OK. I hadn't heard that but it could certainly be possible. Atlanta has already hooked up. It wouldn't seem like an affiliation would take two years but we'll see what happens.
Completely agree ... and they have a facility in Blaine and some fanbase that may prefer that location/price point that could compete in the USL. If they go the "in market" route/non affiliation route.
so is the USL potentially playing some tricks in connection with their playoff hosting rights??? http://www.onceametro.com/2016/9/23...pionship-game-away-from-new-york-red-bulls-ii
Unfortunate as this is for NYRB2, it makes sense. Play this game before or after a NYRB game, doesn't matter which, it will be a ghost town. And the title game is going to be on one of the ESPN channels, so the league needs to put it's best foot forward
If allowing a reserve team to host the championship is going to be this big of a problem, they should consider a neutral-site championship.
End of the regular season, 2016: The standings: New Teams MLS2 Teams ( I counted RGVFC but not Charlotte) *Unaffiliated I split the colors on the new MLS2 teams. STANDINGS EAST 1. NY RB II 69 pts 2. Louisville* 60 pts 3. Cincinnati* 56 pts 4. Rochester 51 pts 5. Charlotte 50 pts 6. Charleston 48 pts 7. Richmond 45 pts 8. Orlando City B 35 pts -------------------------- 9. Wilmington 34 pts 10. Harrisburg* 31 pts 11. Bethlehem 28 pts 12. Toronto II 26 pts 13. Pittsburgh 25 pts 14. Montreal II 23 pts WEST 1. Sacramento 52 pts 2. RGV FC 51 pts 3. Co. Springs* 49 pts 4. Swope Park 48 pts 5. LA Galaxy II 47 pts 6. Vancouver2 45 pts 7. OKC Energy 43 pts 8. Orange Cty* 40 pts ---------------------------------- 9. Portland2 40 pts 10. San Antonio* 38 pts 11. R. Monarchs 36 pts 12. Seattle2 35 pts 13. Arizona Utd* 34 pts 14. Saint Louis 34 pts 15. Tulsa* 19 pts The new teams were mostly in the top half of each conference with San Antonio just missing the playoffs. MLS2 teams were mostly in the middle of each conference but half of them did make the playoffs. As in the other updates, unaffiliated teams are all over the place but half of them did make the playoffs. The overall table: 1. NY RB II 69 pts 2. Louisville* 60 pts 3. Cincinnati* 56 pts 4. Sacramento 52 pts 5. RGV FC 51 pts 6. Rochester 51 pts 7. Charlotte 50 pts 8. Co. Springs* 49 pts 9. Charleston 48 pts 10. Swope Park 48 pts 11. LA Galaxy II 47 pts 12. Vancouver2 45 pts 13. Richmond 45 pts 14. OKC Energy 43 pts 15. Orange Cty* 40 pts 16. Portland2 40 pts ---------------------------------- 17. San Antonio* 38 pts 18. R. Monarchs 36 pts 19. Seattle2 35 pts 20. Orlando City B 35 pts 21. Wilmington 34 pts 22. Arizona Utd* 34 pts 23. Saint Louis 34 pts 24. Harrisburg* 31 pts 25. Bethlehem 28 pts 26. Toronto II 26 pts 27. Pittsburgh 25 pts 28. Montreal II 23 pts 29. Tulsa* 19 pts The top of the table is dominated by veteran USL teams. Only 3 MLS2 teams in the top 10 and only 3 new teams up there. I find it hard to draw too many other conclusions. Next year maybe a better test since we will likely have many fewer new teams.
in USL playoff action last nite: it was 2-2 at the end of 90 it was 3-3 at the end of 120, Rochester gave away a game tying pk in the 119th minute... NYRBII wins 5-4 in kicks taken from the spot
USL playoff action today: October 9 FT Vancouver Whitecaps II 3 - 2 OKC Energy FC FT Louisville City FC 1 - 0 Charleston Battery
after 120 mins, NYRB2 once again prevail in kicks from the spot...Ryan Meara came up huge and saved 2 kicks. We host the USL finals next weekend!
I still do not understand why so many people think that having MLS reserve teams in the league would drag the competition down. For the second year in a row, we have one of them in the final.
I think the fear isn't reduced quality, but low interest. I mean, would you rather have the USL Championship being played in front of a sold out crowd in Louisville on national TV, or your current scenario: a cavernously empty RBA since this won't be a double header on a national TV.
From a fan watching on TV in another market ... does the number of butts in the seat make more of a difference than quality on the pitch? From a fan in the market ... go out to the game and make a difference in the number of butts in the seat. The argument is silly. I do think that the further into this we get, the harder it will be for MLS2 teams to continue this success. The two reasons I think this will be the case is ... 1- MLS2 teams will get younger from years 1 & 2 to years 4 & 5. I think they'll gradually use more academy graduates and will have fewer need to have "experience" non academy players on those teams as the academy graduates get experience themselves. While younger doesn't mean they won't be more talented, but those older players (The Dane Kelley's, Tommy Meyers of Swope Park) will go to independent teams making them better. 2- MLS2 teams are not only developing players for their MLS club (or other MLS clubs). They're developing a more broad base for all independent teams to sign players from. Before, the players USL independent clubs were signing were college kids who didn't make a MLS roster and aging vets that didn't make a MLS roster. They'll still have those players available to them ... but they'll also have players that are being let go from their MLS2 teams that have gotten a LOT of quality minutes but failed to impress enough to warrant an MLS contract, and they're getting too old to have on the "reserve" team (the MLS2 teams needs to let them go in order to provide minutes to younger players that my make the MLS team in the future). USL independents will have more players (and players with more pro experience) to choose from in the coming years, making them more quality and likely deeper sides than they have been in the past. There will always be a few MLS2 rosters talented enough to make runs in the playoffs (especially from those soccer development hotbeds like NY/LA/Dallas), but I think it will be progressively harder to do. Especially as the USL independents get to allocate more $$ to player salaries as things progress.
Obviously not speaking for everyone, but that certainly makes a difference for me when I'm watching a game. If it's not worth the time and money of the people in the town to watch, why would it be worth mine? But that's just me. Also, I was really hoping Swope Park would 'win the bid' and I'd get to watch the USL Championship, since the field is like 10 minutes from my house
Deserved too...IMO they are the best Minor League team in the US this year. Absolutely dominant group...Future is very bright for the Red Bulls.
Neil Morris@ByNeilMorris 24m24 minutes ago Hearing from sources that @OttawaFuryFC poised to become USL affiliate for @impactmontreal, which will shutter @fcmontrealusl. Interesting. Hope that doesn't sour attendance in Ottawa. Glad to see them bringing in a lot of their NASL players though!
Good question, but it seems like most of these "affiliations" are more of a year to year decision that are likely to change. I would put this in that category. This is the first time a full blown "MLS2" team has ended so quickly after starting.