We can dedicate this thread to David Ochoa. Here's the 2019 in-season edition: https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/yn...on-pro-players-2019-in-season-thread.2102420/
Snip: A Connecticut-based real estate developer and his Buffalo-based partner are announcing they have secured conditional rights to a United Soccer League franchise for Buffalo. But it comes on the condition they can get a soccer-specific stadium built. https://news.wbfo.org/post/real-est...tner-envision-buffalo-pro-soccer-club-stadium
https://news.wbfo.org/post/real-est...tner-envision-buffalo-pro-soccer-club-stadium Buffalo hoping to have a USL team by 2023 if they can get a soccer specific stadium built. Between Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, upstate New York is definitely underserved in terms of the professional game with only Rochester fielding a League One team at the moment. If Buffalo were in League One, Buffalo and Rochester and Toronto II might be able to create a nice rivalry. A third team in the state in one of New York’s many small to mid-range cities could create a nice regional ecosystem, but we will have to wait and see how the game grows naturally. Having said that, Buffalo are looking to start a USL Championship team. I don’t see it at the moment, when they could build a rivalry with Rochester and Toronto II right off the bat, but I guess they are going for rivalries with higher level clubs.
Just to piggyback on your point - According to Google Maps, for what it’s worth, Queensboro FC would be a longer trip from Buffalo than the following USL Championship and League One sides (although some will no longer exist by 2023) 1. Rochester Rhinos 2. Toronto II 3. Penn FC 4. Bethlehem Steele 5. Red Bulls II 6. Hartford FC 7. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 8. Montreal II The following towns, if they got teams, would be a shorter trip to Buffalo than Queens: 1. Cleveland 2. Columbus 3. Detroit 4. Baltimore Also Cincinnati, if they fielded a second team in USL, are listed as a one minute longer trip than Queens. Foxborough while definitely a longer trip to Buffalo, is less than half an hour longer of a trip than Queens. So, yes, while you may have exaggerated the travel time between Queens and Toronto a little, it wasn’t by much and your point is well taken. Just explaining it for people who never realized the weird geographic location of Buffalo. It always surprised me that, from northern Virginia, I could drive to Detroit in a shorter time than I could drive to Buffalo.
That was the time Google Maps provided when I wrote the post. (To be precise, I recall it being 9 hours and 3 minutes.) Thanks for the opportunity to clarify that I did not account for different routes, hours of departure, or traffic conditions at that time -- and hats off to you for managing, despite that, to somehow discern my point. Next time, I'll try to build my model to scale and paint it first.
Hmmmm. I used to live in Upstate NY and would go to Syracuse Salty Dogs and Rochester Rhinos games. The Rhinos, who folks seem to think of as a minor league success story due to one US Open Cup trophy, have been a disaster of late. This decade they've made several "stop, starts" and are now looking to relaunch yet again in USL League One next year. They struggled to support the game then, and I think would continue struggling now. Rochester did OK in the mid to late 90s when there wasn't MLS, and then it was just getting off the ground. They used to get about 10k per game then. And they had a nice little stadium actually. In 2017 they were down to 2k per game. If you're a reserve team of an MLS club, then 2k is sustainable in the USL. Its not if you're an independent team. See the Lansing team that just folded as an example. My favorite Syracuse Salty Dogs moment was when a player strode to volley a shot................and tripped over a pitcher's mound. Ah, the memories of professional soccer in upstate NY. I just don't see how Buffalo is going to be successful, knowing the population there........................
Only tangential to this thread I suppose but maybe interesting that third-division South Georgia sold a player (American '95 Connor Antley) for cash to second-division Indy. USL-1 did some PR on it. https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1066577
Tacoma Defiance announced today that Shandon Hopeau and Nick Hinds were signed to new contracts for 2020. The club also exercised the contract options of forward Azriel Gonzalez and defender Sam Rogers. Midfielders Josh Atencio and Danny Robles as well as forwards Alec Diaz, Ray Serrano and Marlon Vargas were already under contract for next season. T2 also announced their contract decisions today. Harold Hanson and Carlos Anguiano remain under contract.
Atlanta United 2 exercised Jackson Conway's contract option. Alessandro Castro is out of contract. Amir Bashti remains under contract. For Sporting Kansas City II John Pulskamp, Brooks Thompson, Will Little, and Wilson Harris remain under contract. They also changed the name of the team from Swope Park Rangers to Sporting Kansas City II.
The U-Va. connection strikes again. Former YNT coach Clint Peay (who I played against once, and not particularly successfully I might add) will coach Revs 2. https://www.revolutionsoccer.net/post/2019/11/25/clint-peay-hired-inaugural-head-coach-revolution-ii
heres to hoping you get a shot at coaching against him and it goes more successfully this time around
I wouldn't count on it, but thanks for the support! Since you didn't ask, I remember it pretty vaguely at this point. It was in some kind of D.C.-area summer amateur league, almost definitely 1992. (Looks like he's a year older than I am, and must have been at U-Va. at the time.) Think he was with the Maryland Bays though at the time I'm not sure what their principal competition would've been. We were a pretty ragtag team and I think lost maybe 2-0 or so. He played CB and was just so calm and composed in every movement. I do not post this to suggest I was anywhere near his level, to be clear!
North Texas SC roster moves. Contract option picked up for Arturo Rodriguez. Option on Hector Motalvo turned down. 📰 NEWS: We've announced our roster decisions for the 2020 season! 👇https://t.co/RtzCmT3SVK— North Texas SC (@northtexasSC) November 27, 2019
Shouldnt' Arturo be on a FCD full team deal by now? What more does he have to prove? If he gets stuck in USL for another year, that's not a good look for that program. But sure, there is a logjam in front of him with Dante, Reynolds, Roberts, Cerrillo et al. Can't sign them all to HG deals and I think the next round of guys are seeing that.
I can easily see them loaning Arturo out to a USL Championship team next season. San Antonio, Austin, or El Paso would fit the bill. So they retain him in their fold, but he gets to take a step up in terms of competition. Of course if players like Roberts, Hayes, etc. leave then all of a sudden there might be a first team spot. Of course, let's not forget that FCD has Aranguiz, Twumasi, and Atuahene returning from loan. All under contract for next season (as of this moment). That's a young DP and two GenAds they couldn't find time for last season.
🚨 @_DiegoxLopez, Francis Jacobs, and @aaroncerv20 are BACK for the 2020 season.#ForCounty pic.twitter.com/IODTrUft68— Orange County SC (@orangecountysc) December 4, 2019
NEWS: The Kickers have transferred @Jgallardo98_7 to @RealMonarchs in the @USLChampionship The club received a transfer fee, plus future considerationsDetails: https://t.co/z93S6A5J2o #RVAisRed pic.twitter.com/ahy54hNL11— Richmond Kickers 🦘 (@RichmondKickers) December 5, 2019
Great move. A pity that his injury has ruined his career. I've said before, but I think Joe could have been better than he is now.
Roberto Avila '00 has signed a pro deal with Austin Bold. He was with them as an academy player last season. https://www.austinboldfc.com/news_article/show/1069737
Kyle Zajec ('97) and Omar Sowe ('00) will be back with NYRB2 next year. Akil Watts ('00) will be back with Indy.
Among the more interesting non-player offseason moves, USL Ottawa has sold its franchise to the Miami FC folks, recently a NISA/NPSL group: TAMPA, Fla. – Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group announced Wednesday that they have exercised their right to relocate and have sold their franchise rights to The Miami FC. The club will compete as The Miami FC and play all home matches at Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Second-division Hartford acquired Kevin Politz via "transfer," according to the league, from third-division Greenville. He's not thread-eligible, of course, but I guess it's still a possible sign of more players moving between domestic leagues via transaction rather than free agency. The USL1 version of the release says this was the third such deal this offseason.