USL Expansion General discussion

Discussion in 'USL Expansion' started by mikehurst21, Jan 4, 2016.

  1. Expansion Franchise

    Chattanooga FC
    United States
    Apr 7, 2018
    It's Cal United Strikers FC (so, Orange County). They were originally in the Founders Cup but ditched it and were replaced by Napa Valley.
     
  2. Lewis N. Clark

    Jul 1, 2014
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    San Diego to USL fronted by a legend and news about Des Moines

     
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  3. Lewis N. Clark

    Jul 1, 2014
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    I looked deeper into the May 29 tweet and saw this about Des Moines:



    Also this about USL expansion:

     
  4. aetraxx7

    aetraxx7 Member+

    Jun 25, 2005
    Des Moines, IA
    Club:
    Des Moines Menace
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #754 aetraxx7, Jun 19, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2019
    Yeah, the Census-designated metro statistical area (680K) is about 70k shy of the USSF professional standard* (750k), but if you throw in the Ames statistical area (roughly 45 minutes from Ames to DM), that number jumps over 800k. Through in Marshalltown (roughly 45 minutes from DM) and you add another 25k or so. Considering that high numbers of residents from both of these areas work in DM, this is fairly practical. They also make up good chunks of the crowds at I-Cubs (AAA), Wild (AHL), Barnstormers (IFL), and Wolves (NBAGL) games. The same goes for DM (and Marshalltown) residents attending Iowa State University events in Ames. It's really an interconnected triangle of shared radio and TV broadcasts treated as three separate metro areas.
    Aside from that, it's Kyle Krause. WTF is Kevin? I agree that he may not have the net worth under the USSF guidelines. I do not know his financials as KG is a privately held company.
    Honestly though, with the teams in League One, I'd be happy there. Nice professional rivalries with Madison, Omaha, and the possibility of Swope Park moving down.
    **I did not find an updated standard that puts the metro size at 1 million. That is very limiting when you break down the number of MSAs that are really subsets of current markets in MLS and USLC...
     
  5. Lewis N. Clark

    Jul 1, 2014
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    I found this recent interview of USL pres. Jake Edwards from SI on Jan. 14, 2019.
    https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/01/14/usl-jake-edwards-future-expansion-promotion-relegation

    Some key items:
    Quoting Edwards: "We’re looking at the ideal number [in the Championship] somewhere around 38 or 40, and that’s where we’re going to top out and cease expansion. What that means is there will be a number of teams—probably 10 or 12—currently in our Championship that will come out of our league over the next years and go into League One. That leaves us with about 15 expansion spots for the Championship between now and 2026,” Edwards continued. “We’re happy to say that supply is limited, and the demand is extremely high."

    Quoting the article: U.S. Soccer has set standards for the three divisions in the areas of ownership, stadium and market size. The first tier (MLS) needs an owner with a net worth greater than $40 million ($70 million if it’s a group), a stadium of greater than 15,000 capacity and a market size of at least one million people. The second tier (USL Championship) needs a local owner with a net worth greater than $20 million, a stadium capacity greater than 5,000 and a market size of at least 750,000 people. And the third tier (USL League One) needs a local owner with a net worth greater than $10 million, a stadium capacity greater than 3,500 and a market size of at least 150,000.

    Championship requires a market of 750,000. According to wiki, the Des Moines Combined Statistical Area (which includes Ames) is estimated in 2018 at 846,048. The Metro area (without Ames) is estimated 682,877. The distance between Ames and downtown Des Moines is 35 miles straight down Interstate 35. I think Des Moines could wiggle its way in.

    The curve ball is whatever is contained in the USL 20/20 plan. The new Omaha USL-1 owner said that USL-C will require SSS by 2020.
     
  6. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    I don't think that population requirement is for every city in a particular division.

    The PLS says this:

    For Division I

    ii. At least 75 percent of the league’s teams must play in metropolitan markets of at least 1,000,000 persons.

    For Division II

    ii. At least 75 percent of the league’s teams must play in metropolitan markets of at least 750,000 persons.

    For Division II

    I don't see any population requirement.


    Does anyone have evidence that these standards have been changed?
     
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  7. Expansion Franchise

    Chattanooga FC
    United States
    Apr 7, 2018
    There is no way this will be "required" as there's no chance in hell it can happen. I don't think USL's concern is over SSS, anyway, as it is about the team controlling revenue: for Memphis, New Mexico, etc. this isn't an issue because they're owned by the same group as the MiLB teams (El Paso maybe, too). None of these will have some SSS in 2020 (although Alburquerque is apparently interested in working with United - there's nothing concrete, though). The others may be the same way, but, AFAIK, there's been no movement for Tulsa or Reno to get a SSS either. And Fresno is trying to find a place to build to a stadium, but not having much luck: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/marek-warszawski/article229078449.html
    I see this refrain "every USL team in a SSS by 2020" a lot, but it's more something they'd like than something they mandate.
     
  8. athletics68

    athletics68 Member+

    Dec 12, 2006
    San Diego & San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    More about San Diego from SI.

    https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/06/19/usl-san-diego-landon-donovan-warren-smith?utm_source=reddit.com

    Warren Smith is the primary investor (of Sac Republic relation). Donovan is an investor and executive. Play will begin in 2020 at USD’s 6000 seat Torero Stadium.
     
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  9. Lewis N. Clark

    Jul 1, 2014
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Here is a quote by Gary Green who is putting a League 1 team in Omaha. He was interviewed by Nipun Chopra for SocTakes:

    NC: Why League One instead of Championship?
    GG: I think our facility is fantastic, but the USL going forward wants their Championship league teams in soccer-only stadiums.
    https://www.soctakes.com/2019/05/22/gary-green-omaha-usl-league-one/

    I count 9 USLC teams sharing baseball stadiums right now (not including Las Vegas & Tampa). Maybe USLC is not letting in any new teams using baseball stadiums that don't have serious plans for a SSS within a reasonable time frame?
     
  10. mikehurst21

    mikehurst21 Member

    Oklahoma City Energy FC
    United States
    Nov 6, 2013
    Moore Oklahoma
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  11. Expansion Franchise

    Chattanooga FC
    United States
    Apr 7, 2018
    I think they're more interested in if the ownership could credibly do that (and would be willing to put in the effort), if necessary. I highly doubt that they'd make Memphis or Tulsa move unless their stadiums became some kind of embarrassment.
     
  12. mikehurst21

    mikehurst21 Member

    Oklahoma City Energy FC
    United States
    Nov 6, 2013
    Moore Oklahoma
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
     
  13. Lewis N. Clark

    Jul 1, 2014
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Above I posted SI.com quoting Jake Edwards- USL President, "We’re looking at the ideal number [in USL-C] somewhere around 38 or 40 (teams). What that means is there will be a number of teams—probably 10 or 12—currently in our Championship that will come out of our league over the next years and go into League One. That leaves us with about 15 expansion spots for the Championship between now and 2026. We’re happy to say that the demand is extremely high."

    I wonder which are the 10-12 teams currently in USLC that Jake Edwards sees gone in the next few years?

    To MLS (and replaced maybe by a USL1 team): Nashville, Sacramento, St. Louis, Phoenix? Indy? Vegas?
    To CPL: Ottawa?
    To USL1: SPR, LAG II, NYRB II, Austin Bold, others?
     
  14. Expansion Franchise

    Chattanooga FC
    United States
    Apr 7, 2018
    My money's on Charleston, too.
     
  15. Expansion Franchise

    Chattanooga FC
    United States
    Apr 7, 2018
    So when he made this quote, Vegas would not have been on anybody's radar, and IIRC, would have predated both St. Louis and Indianapolis.
     
  16. Salvadanish

    Salvadanish Member

    Sep 14, 2014
    Vancouver, WA
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Interesting quote ... I would agree that Sacramento and St Louis are likely (hopefully) MLS-bound along with Nashville of course, possibly Phoenix or Las Vegas (but I doubt both), I doubt Indy would be included into MLS, but then again Cincinnati surprised the hell out of me. I suspect this will be Ottawa's last year in USL, we'll see what the respective leagues and federations decide.

    As for potential relegatees, I'd predict some but not all current MLS-2 teams - LAG Jr, RedBullitos, SPR, possibly Monarchs at some point? I seem to recall that Tacoma (née Sounders-2) actually preferred to remain at the D2 level, and being a hybrid team now they have better potential to boost attendance and make the league look good. T2 also seems to be content as-is, though I wouldn't be opposed to a nearby relocation, but that's up to them.

    Part of the problem is geography, particularly in the West. There's nothing to gain for either Tacoma or T2 to step down to USL1, with only one other team (Tucson) present on this side of the Rockies. Add a few D3 teams in California (still plenty of decent-sized cities avail.) then perhaps they reconsider? We'd also have to see whether teams in Boise and/or Spokane ever materialize, and which level they choose. There might be "D3 potential" in place like Eugene or Olympia? But beyond that, you start to run out of cities with enough people to produce sustainable attendance.
     
  17. VBCity72

    VBCity72 Member+

    Aug 17, 2014
    Sunny San Diego
    Club:
    Plymouth Argyle FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Where the hell is Walnut Creek?
     
  18. Expansion Franchise

    Chattanooga FC
    United States
    Apr 7, 2018
    It's apparently the same thing as what was formerly called the "East Bay" or "Concord" expansion team.
     
  19. VBCity72

    VBCity72 Member+

    Aug 17, 2014
    Sunny San Diego
    Club:
    Plymouth Argyle FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ok. I had never hear of it referred to as Walnut Creek before so I was confused.
     
  20. athletics68

    athletics68 Member+

    Dec 12, 2006
    San Diego & San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It’s where they’ll actually be playing. Bout 20 miles east of Oakland.
     
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  21. mikehurst21

    mikehurst21 Member

    Oklahoma City Energy FC
    United States
    Nov 6, 2013
    Moore Oklahoma
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  22. Futbol_Head

    Futbol_Head Member+

    Manchester United
    Aug 18, 2007
    Bay Area, CA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Born and raised in Walnut Creek. The team will likely play in a city called Concord (pending stadium site approval), which is right next door. This is honestly a dream come true, and very much looking forward to it.
     
  23. Lewis N. Clark

    Jul 1, 2014
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    responding to Salvadanish, #766 above:

    "The Red Bullitos"-

    I like that name so much.
    "New York Red Bulls 2" doesn't roll off the tongue- not poetic at all.
    "NYRBII" looks like a computer glitch.
    That really needs to be their name !!
     
  24. Futbol_Head

    Futbol_Head Member+

    Manchester United
    Aug 18, 2007
    Bay Area, CA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Los Toros Rojo
     
  25. VBCity72

    VBCity72 Member+

    Aug 17, 2014
    Sunny San Diego
    Club:
    Plymouth Argyle FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    aetraxx7 repped this.

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