Presuming the USL keeps Ottawa, loses Nashville, and adds San Diego for 2020, this might be the time to go to three conferences: Western: Tacoma Defiance Portland Timbers 2 Sacramento Republic Fresno Reno 1868 Las Vegas Lights Los Angles Galaxy II Orange County San Diego Phoenix Rising Real Moarchs Colorado Springs Switchbacks Central: New Mexico United El Paso Locomotive Rio Grande Valley Toros Austin Bold San Antonio OKC Energy Tulsa Roughnecks Memphis 901 Saint Louis Swope Park Rangers Indy Eleven Louisville City Eastern: Birmingham Legion Atlanta United 2 Tampa Bay Rowdies Charleston Battery Charlotte Independence North Carolina Loudon United New York Red Bulls 2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds Bethlehem Steel Ottawa Fury Hartford Athletic A couple tough calls at the edges of each division, but keeping Birmingham in the East gives the other southern teams some rivals. With the distances out west, New Mexico and Colorado Springs aren't really that close to anyone (other than New Mexico-El Paso). Assuming there is no further expansion for 2021, and Ottawa moves to the CPL, I would expect East Bay to bump Colorado Springs to the Central, and then Birmingham swaps with Indy and Louisville. I'd expect wholesale changes in 2022 due to MLS expansion. The playoffs would expand to 21, or 7 in each conference, but it would give the regular season champion in each conference a first-round bye. The three conference champions could then play a round-robin to for the USL Cup.
There are reports of the MLS2 teams either being forced down to USL-1 or some of them doing it on their own. Speculation is OK but we don't really know how many teams will be in the USL-Championship next year. And, if there are 36 teams, why wouldn't they just stay with two 18-team conferences like this year?
Nashville will certainly be gone, so it won't be the same 36 teams as it was for 2019. If you add a western team in place of Nashville, doing an 18/18 split would put Oklahoma City and Tulsa in separate conferences. Adding anyone east of Kansas City In place of Nashville would allow for the same alignment as this season. If the league expands to 38 teams, that may present an interesting dilemma - do you have 19 in each conference, or do you split 20 and 18 to prevent open dates on the weekends (the same issue would exist with 34 teams as well). There probably won't be any reason to rock the boat at 35 teams, in spite of the headaches that creates, although I could see 3 MLS reserve teams being asked to move down to get to 32.
If I'm not hallucinating, I remember an interview with Jake Edwards where he said that 3 divisions with more regional travel was the goal. They put it off since they had new teams entering. But I doubt he has deleted that file from his computer. LouCityFan, that's a good arrangement. If USLC announces something like that it will be proof that they follow BigSoccer's USL forum closely gleaning the best ideas from the best minds!!
Congratulations on making the event. I wish I had been able to make the Reno announcement. Any of them.
I remember being at the 1868 FC announcement above the arch at the Whitney Peak climbing wall. It was crowded up there!
There is a possibility of Fresno going on hiatus next season due to financial issues with their lease at Chukchansi Park.
I think a lot has been made of that one article that supposed they needed to move because of a General USL rule that to date has never been enforced.
It will be interesting to see if the team was just blowing smoke or they are in financial straights due to the lease. As for the rule I believe it was for teams that were already in the league, supposedly. Fresno came in after the rule was added, but as you stated it has not been enforced.
I think as long as their is a path forward on the stadium, the league will work with them. The other possibility would be is if the baseball team buys the soccer team, or vice versa, which makes the lease situation moot.
Ottawa is holding a press conference Friday, reportedly to announce they are folding. Even if they do join the CPL, they are gone from the USL. Apparently League One is not an option since they are not a reserve team like Toronto FC II. This likely means Tulsa will be moving to the Eastern Conference to balance both sides at 17 teams. The league can still maintain a 34 game schedule by having one inter-conferencd series like it did for the 2015 season. Tulsa and OKC get each other for their non-conference flings: Western : Eastern OKC Energy : Tulsa Roughnecks Austin Bold : Sporting KC II San Antonio : Memphis 901 RGV Toros : Saint Louis El Paso Locomotive : Hartford Athletic New Mexico United : NY Red Bulls II Colorado Springs : Loudon United Phoenix Rising : Bethlehem Steel Real Monarchs : Pittsburgh Riverhounds San Diego Loyal : Birmingham Legion Las Vegas Lights : Tampa Bay Rowdies LA Galaxy II : Atlanta United II Orange County : Charleston Battery Reno 1868 : Charlotte Independence Sacramento Republic : North Carolina Portland Timbers II : Louisville City Tacoma Defiance : Indy Eleven