Nashville SC hoped to break the USL attendance record for a franchise home debut but fell short with fewer than 19,000. Republic still hold that record with 20,321.
Since losing to Republic, Orange County has been absolutely crushing it, taking all 12 points in their last four matches by a combined score of 12-0.
Yeah, but those four teams have an average PPM thus far this season of 0.583 or so. They've got one more semi-patsy in a roadie to RGV, then they are home to PHX and at SLC...and then we'll have a better picture of what OC's made of.
USL announced expansion into Albuquerque for 2019, joining Austin (still), Memphis, Birmingham and El Paso. With Cincy's departure next season, that brings USL up to 37 clubs. Chicago is the lone franchise announced for 2020 and East Bay for 2021. So far.
OaklandProSoccer @OakProSoccer 10h10 hours ago Coming to Oakland....Be ready. Updates to follow as we inch closer by the end of July.
Me 2009: I bet in the future America Soccer teams will have cool names. 2018:#USL pic.twitter.com/VwxA8vDUzT— USL Memes ⭐ (@USLMemes) August 3, 2018
Here are the franchises that are in and out for 2019, as far as I can tell. Out (so far) Cincinnati - MLS Richmond Pin Ball Paddles - USL League 1 Toronto Wooden Spoons FC - League 1 In Austin Bold FC (pass the barbeque sauce) Birmingham Legion FC Hartford Athletic El Paso Locomotive (choo-choo!) Memphis 901 FC (yes, 901 IS the area code for Memphis. OMG! Represent!) New Mexico (not yet named) Loudon United FC That puts the league at 37, by my count.
Cohen nominated for Goal of the Month. You know what to do... https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/956170
Add one to the "Out" List. Penn FC ceasing operation for 2019 and joining League One in 2020. https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/956974 That gets the league to a nice, round 36 for 2019, so far.
Now if only the league would make a balanced schedule, 18 teams play eachother home/away, that would be great.
More name recognition comes to USL. Lights FC Appoints Eric Wynalda as Head Coach & Technical Director The outlook for D2 soccer in US continues to improve.
Wynalda to LVL is a strange one. However, I’m seeing this trend shape up where coaches are going to get their chops in the second division before hopefully landing a head coach position in MLS. See it around the word so this makes sense that way.
There's at least one brilliant marketer in D3... Our placeholder logo will be no more in four days, but did anyone really understand its true meaning? We've created a #LogoExplainer to make it all clear... pic.twitter.com/qnkUm9UK85— Forward Madison FC (@ForwardMSNFC) November 14, 2018
USL players form union, prepare for labor negotiations For those of you who can't get past the paywall, here are some excerpts... The league this week formally recognized the USL Players Association as an independent labor union representing the workforce in the U.S. second division, known as USL Championship... The sides are expected to open negotiations soon in hopes of striking a deal on a collective bargaining agreement before the 36 teams open the season in March. Among the prominent issues: minimum salaries... “We are in a unique situation in that a lot of USL executives, at both the club and league level, are former players," said Jay Heaps, a longtime MLS defender who is president and general manager of expansion Birmingham Legion FC. "With that, there is a degree of learned empathy for what players go through in their careers that exists here in the USL more than most professional sports organizations. I believe that will go a long way to ensure a collaborative collective bargaining process. We will have to work together to get it right, but ultimately, this is good for everyone.”
...and here's the 2019 alignment... Here's looking at you, 2019. ⭐#BeChampions pic.twitter.com/ISHq7rfvo5— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) December 13, 2018
Did anyone else catch the San Diego team announcement? I saw a thumbnail photo with the headline and thought, "Hey, that looks like Warren Smith." Turns out it is! https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/1029745 Was it known that he was working with Landon to bring a USL team to San Diego? In any case, good for him. I wish the man nothing but success.
I want to say this came about earlier this year. I am sure LD reached out to him, because LD was in it from the start. I remember Eden Hazard being in on this too, but that was a NASL Franchise. Not sure what he status on being an investor for a San Diego Franchise is now.