After the LA Galaxy got the ball rolling last with becoming the first MLS team to have their own reserve team in USL Pro, six more have come board for 2015. How many more do you expect for 2016? Some have already openly discussed their intentions such as Houston and Dallas. I would fully expect NYCFC to seriously think about too. I am thinking as this moves forward the over/under on the number MLS O/O teams in 2016 to be 15. Now the question of when every team will have one, that is a different question. MLS Owned and Operated Teams Los Angeles Galaxy - Los Angeles Galaxy II Montreal Impact - Montreal FC Toronto FC - as yet unnamed reserve team Real Salt Lake - Real Monarchs SLC Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 Seattle Sounders FC - Seattle Sounders 2 Portland Timbers - Portland Timbers 2 Affiliated Teams New England Revolution - Rochester Rhinos New York City FC - Wilmington Hammerheads FC New York Red Bulls - as yet unnamed reserve team Philadelphia Union - Harrisburg City Islanders DC United - Richmond Kickers Orlando City SC - Louisville City FC Columbus Crew SC - Austin Aztex Chicago Fire - Saint Louis FC Sporting Kansas City - Oklahoma City Energy FC Houston Dynamo - Charleston Battery FC Dallas - Arizona United SC Colorado Rapids - Charlotte Independence San Jose Earthquakes - Sacramento Republic FC
We already have a thread for the MLS affiliations, but let's address your question in this thread. As you said NYCFC, Dallas, Houston all seem to be heading towards owning their own USL team. I would say Colorado, NE, DC, SJ are the furthest away from doing it. Crew, Chicago, SKC may follow Orlando's example and co-own a team in USL with local investors. Philly seems to be right in the middle. It will also be interesting what Atlanta and LAFC do and when as 2017 approaches. EDIT: Dallas/Arizona is still not official and NYRB will have its own USL team this year, probably.
Although I am a Galaxy supporter I hope that LAFC might do with Orange County what Orlando is doing with Louisville. Would be good to have some more investment in our club but still have our Orange County Identity.
according to this it could be 45 soon http://www.sbisoccer.com/2015/01/welcoming-continued-expansion.html
I would be interested to see just how much the expansion boom would continue, outside clubs that are directly connected with a MLS team as there D-League club. Similar to the AAA baseball and AHL Hockey, should the USLPro indeed acquire D2 status. It was pointed out to me that more ownership groups choose the USLPro do to the lower financial needs as a D3 that have been set by USSF. Compared to the standards that are set financially for a D2 club in the NASL. If D2 status is obtained under the current financial worth of an ownership group. Any MLS team that owns their own USL Pro club and those co owned with a MLS club would have the financial worth. This could create a unique situation that does not appear in most countries with an D-League D2 division directly and officially connected with the D1 MLS across the board. With an Independent D2 league with a merger or rebranding of NASL clubs and independent USLPro or new clubs vying for that level. As well as more emerging Canadian Cities who can go no higher than the D2 level with MLS unlikely to expand past the big 3 Canadian Markets. A Can-Am league of sorts. Creating a new much larger D3 likely part of the USL with up to 4 regional pockets.
Can add DC United to the potential list for 2016 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...news-and-notes-53/?postshare=5891422553401155
I think it makes sense for clubs with stronger academies to go with their own USL Pro team then to affiliate. That way you get more direct movement up and down from the academies. I think there will be more reviews of the teams coming in this year and how they operate and issues that will probably come up. What cheaper to build a operating model off the swet and money of others. LOL
The outcome of the CBA may also push MLS teams into having their own D3 team sooner than later. If the roster size reduces to 25-27 ... MLS teams will be that much less likely to loan players to their USL D3 affiliate. They'll have fewer spots on the roster for "developmental" players ... and likely more willing to add the cost of a full USL roster at that point (when watching other MLS teams develop at a faster rate and get more games for their young players). The more MLS teams that do put their own club in, the more stand alone USL teams there will be (by expansion and also the loss of MLS teams choosing to go the affiliate route). The loss in financial advantages of being an affiliate (by the MLS team providing free players) will be offset by the more regional play that will happen in an expanded USL Pro. I am enjoying this develop.
Haha ... calm down Kenn ! I don't think he gives a timeline on that "number". IF (and it's a big IF) ... every MLS team puts a USL squad out there you'd get to 38 (counting LAFC and Atlanta) ... 7 more stand alone USL squads in the next 4 years isn't that crazy. Now ... you may be focusing on the "not a problem" part of that statement, but it likely depends on if you think we're reaching anything close to a "critical mass" with regards to number of players available without sacrificing quality. Most probably think that's a big potential problem. It really depends on who you think will get these extra roster spots, etc. MLS decrease in roster sizes may also help part of that. Either way ... 45 sounds like a lot, but he's probably taking the "over" without qualifying the timeframe he's talking about.
Orlando is in for 2016. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...do-city-usl-franchise-2016-20150630-post.html http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...field-usl-team-2016-ending-louisville-affilia That makes 9 MLS-owned teams for next year with Houston and Dallas likely to join that list.
Still to be determined: what happens if USL does achieve D2 status? Do these O&O teams fit that mold? Or will we have to adjust our thinking? Will be interesting to see what 2017 brings.
And if USL continue's to grow does their mindset change regarding wanting to keep EVERY team in 1 division or do they end up splitting them into 2?
No B is what you call the second team in Europe. It just so happens to also stand for the county name.
They should split into two. In many countries, the third division (Spain for instance) is split geographically. That is exactly what I would do with USL Pro.
The USL is already split into East and West. In 2015 there was very limited interconference play. The USL has said that there will be none in 2016. If you mean an upper and lower with all of the MLS2 teams in the lower, that seems unlikely. It would increase travel quite a bit from what they have now and the MLS teams have said that they really value having their reserve teams play against independent opponents rather than just against other reserve teams.
I think it's pretty inevitable that USL eventually ends up with divisions similar to PDL... just not as many.