We already know that the 2018 USL regular season will be 34 games long and last from March 14 to October 16. http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/820024-usl-announces-regular-season-expansion Still to come is exactly how many teams will be in the league. Three expansion teams (Fresno, Las Vegas, and Nashville) are set to join while the Vancouver Whitecaps 2 team is folding. Today we hear that Atlana United will be starting a USL reserve team next year. Atlanta had previously been affiliated with Charleston Battery. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/11/14/atlanta-united-announce-plans-launch-usl-team-2018 That means that the USL is now at 33 teams for 2018 with more teams likely to join from the NASL. The Ottawa Fury has also talked about the potential of leaving the USL and joining the new Canadian Premier League. That has not been announced yet. The Seattle Sounders are moving their MLS2 team to Tacoma but the team will reportedly still be called Seattle Sounders 2 for 2018. The USL had previously said that the league would go to 3 conferences when it reached 36 teams. That is getting close. Current list (all of this is subject to change before March): MLS owned teams Atlanta United II? (Atlanta United) Bethlehem Steel (Philadelphia Union) New York Red Bulls II (New York Red Bulls) Orlando City B (Orlando City) Toronto FC II (Toronto FC) LA Galaxy II (LA Galaxy) Portland Timbers 2 (Portland Timbers) Real Monarchs SLC (Real Salt Lake) Seattle Sounders 2 (Seattle Sounders) Swope Park Rangers (Sporting Kansas City) MLS managed teams Reno 1868 (San Jose Earthquakes) Rio Grande Valley Toros (Houston Dynamo) Affiliated teams Charlotte Independence (Colorado Rapids) Pittsburgh Riverhounds (Columbus Crew) Ottawa Fury (Montreal Impact) Richmond Kickers (DC United) Rochester Rhinos (New England Revolution) OKC Energy (FC Dallas) Orange County SC (Los Angeles FC) San Antonio FC (New York City FC) Tulsa Roughnecks (Chicago Fire) Fresno FC (Vancouver Whitecaps) Non-affiliated teams Charleston Battery FC Cincinnati Harrisburg City Islanders Louisville City Nashville FC Saint Louis FC Tampa Bay Rowdies Colorado Springs Switchbacks Las Vegas Lights Phoenix Rising Sacramento Republic
I have a feeling this off-season is going to be as hectic as the last. NASL was circling the drain and we were all wondering who would jump ship. We have that again this time but there are now more daggers in NASLs side: dropping to D3, more legal cases, champion SFD folding, NCFC jumping ship, two new California teams with (seemingly) universally disliked branding, etc. How many more clubs are the USL going to welcome with open arms? I'm just hoping that they figure it out soon so they can focus on the 2018 schedule and league structure. They only need a few to hit that magic three conference number. Hell, they could stay at 33 clubs and it would still be worth it to add a Central Conference. Three conferences may be very beneficial to the league; reduced travel costs could help clubs stay in the black, or allow successful clubs to spend more on salaries. The only drawback is that some fans may be bummed to not play certain clubs that are made unavailable in a different conference.
Updated with the official word out of North Carolina. That makes 34 teams as of today. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Current list (all of this is subject to change before March): MLS owned teams Atlanta United II? (Atlanta United) Bethlehem Steel (Philadelphia Union) New York Red Bulls II (New York Red Bulls) Orlando City B (Orlando City) Toronto FC II (Toronto FC) LA Galaxy II (LA Galaxy) Portland Timbers 2 (Portland Timbers) Real Monarchs SLC (Real Salt Lake) Seattle Sounders 2 (Seattle Sounders) Swope Park Rangers (Sporting Kansas City) MLS managed teams Reno 1868 (San Jose Earthquakes) Rio Grande Valley Toros (Houston Dynamo) Affiliated teams Charlotte Independence (Colorado Rapids) Pittsburgh Riverhounds (Columbus Crew) Ottawa Fury (Montreal Impact) Richmond Kickers (DC United) Rochester Rhinos (New England Revolution) OKC Energy (FC Dallas) Orange County SC (Los Angeles FC) San Antonio FC (New York City FC) Tulsa Roughnecks (Chicago Fire) Fresno FC (Vancouver Whitecaps) Non-affiliated teams Charleston Battery FC Cincinnati Harrisburg City Islanders Louisville City Nashville FC North Carolina FC Saint Louis FC Tampa Bay Rowdies Colorado Springs Switchbacks Las Vegas Lights Phoenix Rising Sacramento Republic
Not expansion/contraction news, but the Harrisburg City Islanders are rebranding as Penn FC ahead of the 2018 season http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/856982?referrer_id=2333971
While there’s been no official press release, all the local reporters are saying the affiliation between the Hounds and the Crew is over (regardless of what happens with the possible Austin move)
Towards the end of the season no. Brandt was on record saying he was refusing loans because he didn’t think the team needed it.
Updated with the news about Rochester. That makes 33 teams as of today. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Current list (all of this is subject to change before March): MLS owned teams Atlanta United II? (Atlanta United) Bethlehem Steel (Philadelphia Union) New York Red Bulls II (New York Red Bulls) Orlando City B (Orlando City) Toronto FC II (Toronto FC) LA Galaxy II (LA Galaxy) Portland Timbers 2 (Portland Timbers) Real Monarchs SLC (Real Salt Lake) Seattle Sounders 2 (Seattle Sounders) Swope Park Rangers (Sporting Kansas City) MLS managed teams Reno 1868 (San Jose Earthquakes) Rio Grande Valley Toros (Houston Dynamo) Affiliated teams Charlotte Independence (Colorado Rapids) Pittsburgh Riverhounds (Columbus Crew) Ottawa Fury (Montreal Impact) Richmond Kickers (DC United) Rochester Rhinos (New England Revolution)- on hiatus OKC Energy (FC Dallas) Orange County SC (Los Angeles FC) San Antonio FC (New York City FC) Tulsa Roughnecks (Chicago Fire) Fresno FC (Vancouver Whitecaps) Non-affiliated teams Charleston Battery FC Cincinnati Penn FC - new name Louisville City Nashville FC North Carolina FC Saint Louis FC Tampa Bay Rowdies Colorado Springs Switchbacks Las Vegas Lights Phoenix Rising Sacramento Republic
Re: Penn FC. I like the logo. Almost anything is better than the old logo. Kind of looks like a hidden "R" in there, though. Is that alluding to the Rush? Or am I just seeing things? The name seems a bit slangy and sure doesn't scream Harrisburg/South Central PA for me. I'm happy for NCFC. I thought there might be an NPSL team heading into the league, but I can't remember who I am thinking of. Being in San Diego, I'm a bit worried about 1904 and the NASL situation.
There was a rumor that Orlando City B would take 2018 off as well (not fold, but hiatus, which seems to me to indicate “see you in D3 in 2019”).
Some @USL news from a highly placed source: Orlando City B is to go on hiatus in 2018 and come back in @USL_D3 in 2019. The Rochester Rhinos have option to go to USL D3 in 2019 too.— Bob Williams (@WilliamsBob75) December 7, 2017
Oh, Bob Williams. 50/50, then. Bob is a copy editor who fancies himself a journalist, yet did not know the NPSL is an amateur league.
Ah fair enough. I've just seen that tweet floating around in the past, hasn't seen anybody scoff at it yet. Thanks for the dose of reality.
One small update. The Rhino-Rev affiliation has been weak at best for the past two seasons. I do not think that there was any player movement in 2017 between the clubs.
The main site crashed, so we are publishing this here:Breaking: @IndyEleven to join the @USL in 2018:. Latest for @SocTakes https://t.co/Lobf3To9Xw pic.twitter.com/poo9eZzgtV— Nipun Chopra, PhD (@NipunChopra7) January 6, 2018
Yes I agree I think we will hear something from both teams soon. Scrolling through some of the other threads the current rumors are that 1904 has been holding talks with USL and Jax will go on hiatus and join Nisa because they are dumb.
The USL said they would when they got to 36 teams. With Indy apparently in I believe they are now at 34. Some of the details will change but this is the list I see. Am I missing anyone? It would take both Jacksonville and San Diego joining to get to 36. MLS owned teams (10) Atlanta United II? (Atlanta United) Bethlehem Steel (Philadelphia Union) New York Red Bulls II (New York Red Bulls) Orlando City B (Orlando City) Toronto FC II (Toronto FC) LA Galaxy II (LA Galaxy) Portland Timbers 2 (Portland Timbers) Real Monarchs SLC (Real Salt Lake) Seattle Sounders 2 (Seattle Sounders) Swope Park Rangers (Sporting Kansas City) MLS managed teams (2) Reno 1868 (San Jose Earthquakes) Rio Grande Valley Toros (Houston Dynamo) Affiliated teams (9) Charlotte Independence (Colorado Rapids) Pittsburgh Riverhounds (Columbus Crew) Ottawa Fury (Montreal Impact) Richmond Kickers (DC United) OKC Energy (FC Dallas) Orange County SC (Los Angeles FC) San Antonio FC (New York City FC) Tulsa Roughnecks (Chicago Fire) Fresno FC (Vancouver Whitecaps) Non-affiliated teams (13) Charleston Battery FC Cincinnati Penn FC Indy Eleven Louisville City Nashville FC North Carolina FC Saint Louis FC Tampa Bay Rowdies Colorado Springs Switchbacks Las Vegas Lights Phoenix Rising Sacramento Republic
Jeff RueterVerified account @jeffrueter 2h2 hours ago Sources telling me that Miami FC met with the #USL yesterday to discuss a potential switch from the #NASL. USL declined comment.