There was an article in The Athletic last week (https://theathletic.com/1083944/201...hampionship-to-third-tier-league-one-by-2021/ - if you have a subscription -- I don't) that apparently explained how the contract with MLS lets USL place the teams in whatever level they want. Also of note, the MLS teams don't/didn't pay expansion fees.
================ Thats a little gem of info- MLS-2 didn't pay expansion fees. Therefore, the USL can maybe say, drop to USL-1 and the no fees will continue Then, as I felt earlier, this clears the way for USL-C to bring on some more markets, ie:, more expansion fees, while keeping the USL-C of a reasonable /manageable size- in my mind 32 or less. Even if the MLS-2 teams drop, there is still work to be done in bringing all teams up in attendance, better stadium situations and lets not forget, the league is loosing Nashville as a market, most likely loosing SAC and STL and then also also an MLS team entering its AUSTIN market, so USL still has there work cut out , as second divisions and in this case, third divisions always will.
Nashville is nowhere near as big a loss as Cincinnati. Austin and Charlotte would be inconsequential. If the MLS-2 markets drop, then USL-C will pretty much be stable. The only remaining issues would be Tulsa, Charleston, Pittsburgh, and Charlotte (including it here since Charlotte is not a lock for MLS).
----------- I know Charleston has a long history, but maybe they too consider USL-1 ? Lots of close rivals in the east to cut travel expenses= (currently- Richmond, Greenville ,Chattanooga, Tormenta ,ORL B and if would be cool if ATL 2 joined the party..
The thought of Charleston going to USL-1 has occurred to me. And if MLS is considering pushing most to all of their MLS2 reserve clubs to USL-1, then ATL 2 will definitely be going with them. They're not an outlier like Tacoma, RGV, or Portland. ******** \
Back in the old days, when Seattle, Portland, Vancouver and Montreal were in USL... 6k was considered very good. Vancouver sat right around there for YEARS, Portland grew from around 5k up to 15k before joining MLS, Seattle was rarely ever there, but Montreal was doing 10k nearly the entire time they were in USL. Interestingly, Rochester was also a powerhouse, but things went south. Seeing the numbers that some of these clubs have done is really impressive. Obviously Sacramento has shown that they are ready for MLS. New Mexico would be such an amazing addition, but when it comes to TV, I'm not sure MLS is clamoring.
Seattle would have been (literal) outlier here, as they were the only one of this group that played out in the suburbs.
they got like 25k for the first game (first event ever at the stadium) but did not exactly pack them in after that.
Des Moines Menace @MenaceSoccer94 7m Largest crowd to EVER watch a soccer match in Iowa, 7,342. You did it Menace fans!
--------------------------- Very cool. Is Des Moines ready to go USL-1 or USL-C? Longer season, more travel etc. Do you thing a jump in division brings a equal bump in attendence? The stadium looks good by the way, hope it happens.