D3 Division Super Thread

Discussion in 'United Soccer Leagues' started by thomas19064, Mar 30, 2017.

  1. Yoshou

    Yoshou Fan of the CCL Champ

    May 12, 2009
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It depends on what the goal is for USL's D3, doesn't it? Are we talking about a true D3 that is somewhere in the middle between USL's PDL and D2 leagues with regards to payroll, or are we talking about an almost D2 league like we had back when USL was D3? If it is the former, a small market that only gets a thousand or two fans per game might be able to support it.
     
  2. 2in10

    2in10 Member+

    LA Galaxy, Internazionale
    United States
    Jun 19, 2016
    Sparks, NV
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  3. 2in10

    2in10 Member+

    LA Galaxy, Internazionale
    United States
    Jun 19, 2016
    Sparks, NV
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    A team in the West will be announced 2-6.
     
  4. 2in10

    2in10 Member+

    LA Galaxy, Internazionale
    United States
    Jun 19, 2016
    Sparks, NV
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Here are the requirements for ownership from the USL D3 website.

    • Strong local ownership
      • Primary owner with a net worth in excess of $10 million and 35% or greater share of the potential franchise
    • Soccer-specific stadia
      • Seating Capacity: 3,500
      • Pitch Size: 110 yards x 70 yards
    • Viable market size and support
      • Markets with a population between 150,000 to one million and a strong corporate and fan base for support
     
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  5. VBCity72

    VBCity72 Member+

    Aug 17, 2014
    Sunny San Diego
    Club:
    Plymouth Argyle FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Any idea on who that might be?
     
  6. 2in10

    2in10 Member+

    LA Galaxy, Internazionale
    United States
    Jun 19, 2016
    Sparks, NV
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    No idea. I wasn't even expecting a team to be announced in the west given the league was concentrating on the SE and MW.

    There should be some teams all over the country that have made the move if I think about it. It waits to be seen when each conference will start up and how many there will be. For all we know there are enough teams to start all planned conferences. There may be a lot of PDL teams that may be looking to make the jump and have committed to the move. I think we may see Des Moines being announced soon as they are known to be committed to trying to make the move. I think teams have chosen to keep it quiet.
     
  7. ThePonchat

    ThePonchat Member+

    #ProRelForUSA
    United States
    Jan 10, 2013
    I've Been Everywhere Man
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Never heard any talk of FC Tucson looking pro. Good for them.

    I thought for sure it'd be ABQ until USL D3 narrowed it down from "West" to "California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona." Then, I had no idea but assumed it'd be one in California.
     
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  8. ButlerBob

    ButlerBob Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 13, 2001
    Evanston, IL
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The group that owns Phoenix Rising, bought them last year. I think they may have mentioned they wanted to make them a development team.


    Also, I changed the title of the thread to Super Thread. So that it's more of an ongoing thread about the league.
     
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  9. ThePonchat

    ThePonchat Member+

    #ProRelForUSA
    United States
    Jan 10, 2013
    I've Been Everywhere Man
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I wonder if this is a move that Phoenix is doing to try to get MLS and have their second team in D3?
     
  10. Balerion

    Balerion Member+

    Aug 5, 2006
    Roslindale, MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't see why having a D3 affiliate would have a material effect on their chances of joining MLS.
     
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  11. ThePonchat

    ThePonchat Member+

    #ProRelForUSA
    United States
    Jan 10, 2013
    I've Been Everywhere Man
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Mentioned it as them not having a D2 team and operating it in D3 instead.
     
  12. thomas19064

    thomas19064 Member+

    Apr 29, 2008
    Delco
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think it has zero impact on their expansion chances.

    It is interesting that this is a "2" team in D3.... I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more of these crop up with both USL and MLS ownership. Could help the footprint of the league and future independent expansion the same way the "2" teams in USL helped flesh out that league.
     
  13. ThePonchat

    ThePonchat Member+

    #ProRelForUSA
    United States
    Jan 10, 2013
    I've Been Everywhere Man
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Since it is the second person to do so, nowhere in this post did I assume or infer that Phoenix having a D3 team MEANT they would have a "better" or "increased" chance to get an MLS franchise.

    I will reiterate the initial post: I wonder if this is a move that Phoenix Rising is doing as they try to possibly get an MLS franchise and have their "second" or "reserve" or "affiliate" team play in D3 rather than D2.
     
  14. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    I don't understand your question. Phoenix is trying to get a MLS expansion slot. And they bought Tucson FC to move them into to the new USL D3. They probably would not be allowed to own a second USL D2 team while they are still in that league.

    What are you asking? If they would leave the team in D3 after they get into MLS? That is a pretty speculative question since it depends on Phoenix getting into MLS.

    Or are you asking if Phoenix plans to use Tucson as a developmental team? It sure seems like it.
     
  15. Balerion

    Balerion Member+

    Aug 5, 2006
    Roslindale, MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thanks for clarifying, but your initial post did read like that was what you were saying; you first wrote "...to try to get MLS" not "...as they try to get MLS".

    I do think that we'll see a number of MLS teams move their "2" teams to D3 when it becomes geographically possible to do so. There are some "2" teams that have somewhat older rosters who can compete at D2, but others have been playing a lot of teenagers, taking a beating, and would probably be a bit more productive from a developmental standpoint if they played at a lower level. Being challenged is good, but being consistently overwhelmed probably isn't. Divisions with smaller geographic footprints should offer cheaper operational costs, too. Perhaps that will induce some of the MLS teams without a "2" team to get off the sideline and enter a second squad in D3.
     
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  16. ThePonchat

    ThePonchat Member+

    #ProRelForUSA
    United States
    Jan 10, 2013
    I've Been Everywhere Man
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If I meant to say "it would bolster their chances of getting MLS" I would have stated it that way. I didn't state it that way, so it never was meant to "infer" that.

    I know USL is really pushing hard for these D3 markets. It seems they have a much bigger and better start than NISA. As you and others have mentioned, I do see several MLS 2 teams going the D3 route -- possibly a reason why Orlando City B is taking a hiatus too. Will be interesting to see the route that new MLS franchises take too (Nashville, Miami, FCC?, Sacramento?, etc.).
     
  17. Owen Thornhill

    Dec 22, 2012
    Club:
    Cork City
    NISA clubs should just join the USL D3. No point having competing leagues at that level.
     
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  18. Yoshou

    Yoshou Fan of the CCL Champ

    May 12, 2009
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They have an entirely different model than USL.. While I understand your point, I don't think there is a problem with people trying different models to see what works best in this country.
     
  19. ThePonchat

    ThePonchat Member+

    #ProRelForUSA
    United States
    Jan 10, 2013
    I've Been Everywhere Man
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This is the issue when USSF doesn't operate the leagues. Anyone and their mother can run a league independently in the US and go through USASA or USSF for sanctioning.

    If USSF had their heads screwed on straight, they'd understand they're the ones missing out by not operating the leagues themselves. Talk about a financial stability situation all the way around.
     
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  20. Owen Thornhill

    Dec 22, 2012
    Club:
    Cork City
    But they can all be more successful if they work together. I feel the same about the NASL and USL over the last few years. MLS has no rival to work with anytime soon.
     
  21. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    So this appears to be where we are on the new USL D3:

    Southeast
    South Georgia Tormenta SC

    Southwest
    FC Tucson

    Any guesses on who is next?
     
  22. Balerion

    Balerion Member+

    Aug 5, 2006
    Roslindale, MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  23. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
  24. hipityhop

    hipityhop Member

    New Mexico United
    United States
    Jan 10, 1999
    Mission TX
    Club:
    SønderjyskE
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    At this rate of announcements, USL D3 might have ten teams total.
     

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