Interesting article about Madison. It's rare that a city would fast track $1.3 million in improvements 3 years ahead of schedule unless they knew that they had a some income that would make it worthwhile. The improvement to 5000 seats seems to signal a USL 2 team.
AND for those not familiar with Madison, below is the location of the stadium. That is if USL2 is the plan. We may be getting ahead of ourselves. Breeze Stevens Stadium Population: ~250k Metro Population: ~650k Height limit in town so that nothing can be taller than the capital dome. That and the isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona isn't that wide and it has created pretty good density for a city this size.
I don't know if this is a good thread for this discussion - if there is a Swope Park Rangers subforum I haven't seen it. Mod's can move this if there is a better place. It's really interesting to me what has been happening with SPR and their field situation. First there was whatever happened last Oct. 23 during the playoffs. Will the match be at Swope, in Sacramento, at Children's Mercy? Remember this tweet: UPDATE (sort of): Just spoke with USL Media Contact. Here is what they had to say when asked about the confusion and "challenges" in KC.. pic.twitter.com/zC4brYgqo8— Drew Bollea (@Drew_WCCB) October 24, 2017 The playoffs end Nov. 13. On January 18 the team announces: “We are excited to play our 2018 home matches at Shawnee Mission South District Stadium,” Sporting KC President Jake Reid said. “In our search for a facility that met U.S. Soccer Division II standards, this was the perfect fit right in the heart of our fan base.” Then after only 1 match at Shawnee the USL cancels the April 14 match on short notice with no explanation to the public. (Well, maybe they gave a hint with this story posted the day after the cancellation: https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/907178?referrer_id=3338999). Then on April 24 SPR announces that the rest of the season will be played at Children's Mercy Park. This tug-of-war between the USL and SPR has been going on for awhile. I suspect SKC has been more focused on finishing their training facility (which opened in Feb.) than on USL 2. Maybe in a few years they do a modular SSS at their training grounds that meets USL 2 standards. But I think SPR is going to get "relegated" to USL 3. The USL front office has shown they are not messing around. This situation illustrates the conflict of interests between the MLS teams' priority to develop their players and the USL's priority to develop their league. Which interest will prevail? The arrival of the MLS2s helped out the USL several years ago. But I think the USL has the stronger hand at this point with the demise of NASL and all the interest in expansion. S2, AU2, TFC2 seem to have gotten the hint. Even LA2 put more bleachers around the track (although they are still empty). Does anyone have more information about this SPR/USL staredown? Any guesses about where SPR will be next year?
The Midwest is about to have its first USL Division III team!DETAILS: https://t.co/YVANydTkSb#USLD3 | #ProSocc3r pic.twitter.com/Dw07CZnTOE— USL League One (@USLLeagueOne) May 5, 2018
Yeah, this quote pretty much tips the hand: “As we look forward to the 2019 summer with the launch of professional soccer at the venue, which we all agree is the best purpose, the best years and the best use of that facility is certainly in front of us,” Big Top Events president Vern Stenman said. To get the city to spend that much money, he must have something pretty solid up his sleeve. If not... he's a very good poker player.
Another update Big Top Events, which also runs the Madison Mallards summer collegiate baseball team that plays at Warner Park, intends to reveal its soccer plans at a 6 p.m. Thursday public event at Breese Stevens Field, 917 E. Mifflin St.
Another Madison update. With a big name attached. Big Top hires Peter Wilt to launch pro soccer team at Breese Stevens Field in 2019
Just a note that this likely sticks a fork in NISA. In addition to taking the Madison USL job, Wilt is leaving NISA. http://www.nisaofficial.com/2018/05/17/committee-formed-to-select-new-nisa-leadership/ They have team owners?
I believe after NASL and NISA (?!, died before born) failure it will be very hard someone trying to lunch another professional league in USA. US soccer pyramide is formed at top level: MLS - USL - USL D3
So why isn't Chattanooga mentioned more in these discussions? Are they not interested? If not, why not? Is it just a case of "if it ain't broke don't fix it"?
I'm a little concerned that this league starts in less than a year and there are only 3 teams announced and they are no where near each other. Wisconsin, Arizona and Georgia are really far away from each other for a start up league. I mean maybe these are the flagship franchises for 3 divisions, Southeast, Southwest, Midwest but they need to start cranking out teams so they can have enough time to build the team and supporters.
Four teams (you left Greenville out), but I agree. It's going to be tough sledding for a team in Statesboro, GA to play in a league with Tuscon and Madison. Others have said that maybe they're waiting for the summer leagues to finish, but I'm with you: I'd rather be building energy earlier and using the current amateur season to build excitement.
Orlando City B is likely to return in this league and I would not be surprised to see the erstwhile Cal United come in as well. My guess is three divisions/conferences to start, maybe 12 teams and a somewhat limited schedule. I would imagine there are other teams currently playing for whom an announcement could be forthcoming, but would not necessarily be mission critical, since they would not be starting from zero. Agreed, they should be announcing more teams soon, but they don't have to do it tomorrow or the next day. But building a front office is far more important than "building energy" (whatever that means) or "building excitement," and you don't have to do that publicly.
I forgot about the MLS2s. Depending on who is interested in self-relegation, that could fill in a lot of blanks and could happen whenever.
It appears that FC Dallas is looking to have a D3 for 2019. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/21/stejskal-fc-dallas-nearing-deal-start-usl-d3-team-2019 That was rumored. Now to see if it is true.
Looks like things are going start moving quickly soon. https://www.usld3.com/news_article/show/922157?referrer_id=3067503
Madison is down to 8 possible team names. Feel free to vote! https://www.madisonprosoccer.com/news_article/show/929934
Supposedly TFC2 will be moving to USL D3 too. The commentators mentioned it on the match broadcast last night during their 3-3 draw with FC Cincinnati.
I would hope the rate of new club announcements picks up shortly after the WC is over. It's hard to get a club up and running and to build momentum for an opening season.
USLD3 is stating a goal of 12-16 teams for 2019, with two conferences. Wondering what's next for USL Division III?@Steph_Smigiel has the answers in this week's episode of The Advantage!MORE: https://t.co/S6gHqntBtS#USLD3 | #ProSocc3r pic.twitter.com/OIQhZ6XFRr— USL League One (@USLLeagueOne) June 29, 2018