First match, at Richmond, April 13 First home match, Antigua, April 20 First visits by this year's expansion squads: Tampa on June 22 Phoenix on July 24 This year's home game against an MLS Reserve squad: Houston, June 8 Toughest road trip: At Pittsburgh on June 15 At Rochester on June 16 Longest home stand: 4 games, May 25-June 8 Rochester, May 25 Harrisburg May 31 Charlotte, June 5 Houston, June 8 The Florida Fortnight: June 22-July 13. Four consecutive games against the league's two Florida teams. Home against Tampa and Orlando on June 22 and July 5. Away at Tampa and Orlando on July 11 and 13. Unbalanced: The Battery doesn't play on the road at Antigua, and its two home games against the Caribbean squad bookend the season. Antigua is our home opener, and the last regular-season home game of the 2013 schedule. Shortest road-trips to away games: At Charlotte on May 14 At Orlando on July 11 At Wilmington on Aug. 2 thanks to a battery fan on FB for the synopsis
I am going to make it up but as it is a Tuesday night I imagine it will limit the numbers so probably will just be a car pool type thing.
Can someone explain to me why the USL Pro season is so short? Why does it end in August? I know there are playoffs but surely they could/should add another 2 weeks to the regular season.
Its not ideal and I would prefer it to be longer as well. Just my guess, but I would think that it has to do with money. Most USL contracts are only for the season and paid by the month. So extending the season by the month would result in an additional month of pay for players. According to Rochesters coach in a recent interview, his players make between $1500 to $4000 a month (housing is included) I'd say that is pretty much in line with what I have heard here in Charleston as well. That means the average pay is about $2500 per player for 21 players, that works out to $52,500 a month. Add in appartments and housing for player you could easily look at the budget rising by $70,000 for an additional month. Sadly, it seems to be a cost cutting necessity for most clubs.
plus, players wouldn't get a chance to get loaned up to bigger clubs for their end of the season runs
You gotta love Coastal's Coach Docking....he's playing all pro teams in preseason......now that's preparation.
nine preseason matches announced: Charleston Battery Pre-Season Schedule Thursday, Feb 28 at College of Charleston, Patriots Point, 2:30pm Saturday, March 2 at Clemson University 3pm Tuesday, March 5 vs. Georgia Southern, 8pm Thursday, March 7 vs. Coastal Carolina, 6pm Friday, March 15 at Carolina Railhawks, TBD Tuesday, March 19 vs. College of Charleston, 2:30pm Saturday, March 23 vs. Wilmington Hammerheads, 6pm Tuesday, March 26 at Coastal Carolina, TBD Saturday, March 30 vs. Carolina Railhawks, 2:00pm
Annnnnd... Any of the home games coming up soon that I really need to hit up? I need to get away for a weekend and score a new jersey...
I know the May 11 match v. Wilmington will be good. We'll have a big tailgate planned and expect a bunch of Hammerhead fans to come down. But of course they all are going to be great!
Hi guys, just a curiosity, I was checking the USL scores and standings around, can somebody explain to me the sense of Antigua Barracuda team? They play all their games away (? did i read that correctly? How can they afford?) - so far the lost 19 in a row with 8 goals scored and a passive of 66 goals... ??? Is there a specific reason why they're in the league? Wouldn't it be just best without them? Thanks
yeah they are definitely an enigma They are mainly funded by the Antiguian FA with the main aim of improving their national team. Whether that is working or not is up for debate. I really don't know how they get anyone to play this year, they are basically like a band on tour. We will see they will be around next season and if they change anything.
I think that's not good for your championship either as some final position could be determined by goal difference and so it's kind of a race to who scores more goals to Antigua in those games where you play them, but that may not reflect the real value of the teams... Not sure whether I explained this well or not...