MLS Next Pro is real deal...but don't you think you started off on the wrong foot? Why don't they change the team names? Anyone really interested in seeing Columbus Crew 2 vs Earthquakes 2? I think it would be nicer if teams had real names like San Jose Clash, Kansas City Wizards, Colorado Foxes, New England Tea Men, Chicago Sting...
Connecticut, you are MLS NEXT Pro Based in Bridgeport, @ctunited becomes the fifth independent team to join the league with a target start date of 2025! https://bit.ly/48nQZYw
Really, you are worried about team names. People know the product on the field and will watch or not despite the team's name.
Maybe, but I have no interest in seeing LAFC2 vs. San Jose Earthquakes 2. If it was Los Angeles Aztecs vs. San Jose Clash...that would be cool, even though it's a reserve league.
MLS Buzz @MLS_Buzz MLS is trialing in its reserve league what I have LONG believed they will implement in MLS.. divisions. These are in a way a preview of what I think will eventually be in the top flight. As MLS inevitably gets to 32 teams, it minimizes travel while also offering a template to ensure that no two teams go too long without facing off. In a 32-team MLS with a 34 match season, you would do.. - 4 divisions with 8 teams in each - Top 4 teams from each division make the playoffs - 14 matches vs divisional opponents (1 home, 1 away against each) - 8 matches vs teams in the other division in the same conference (4 home, 4 away) - 12 matches vs the 16 teams from the opposite conference (6 home, 6 away) This format would ensure that no two clubs go more than 2 seasons without facing one another, which is something that's been happening in MLS as it's grown in size. It also would minimize travel, only having to travel to the opposite conference 6 times per season.
I believe this is the first time they split the two conferences into two divisions each. And separating Salt Lake and Colorado is annoying. I recognize every other Pacific team is west of SLC and every other Frontier team is east of Denver, so that's the logical place for the split, but I hope MLS doesn't get the idea that this is a good way to do it going forward.
It has had those divisions from the start, but only used them for scheduling purposes, with playoffs determined by the conference standings. I don't see anything the press release that says anything has changed in that regard.
2023 Division alignment: Western Conference Frontier Division Colorado Rapids 2 North Texas SC Houston Dynamo 2 Sporting KC II MNUFC2 St. Louis CITY2 Austin FC II Pacific Division Real Monarchs Earthquakes II Tacoma Defiance Timbers2 LA Galaxy II Los Angeles Football Club 2 Whitecaps FC 2 Eastern Conference Northeast Division New England Revolution II NYCFC II Philadelphia Union II New York Red Bulls II TFC II Crown Legacy FC Central Division Chicago Fire FC II FC Cincinnati 2 Crew 2 Inter Miami II Orlando City B Atlanta United 2 Huntsville City FC 2022 also had divisions in two conferences: https://www.mlsnextpro.com/about/competition-guidelines
“Move back” implies returning Salt Lake to some previous condition where they were in the same division as Colorado. But that was not the case in the first 2 seasons of MLS Next Pro. Can’t move back to somewhere they never were.
US Soccer will announce that the 2024 US Open Cup will include only 8 MLS teams. The nine teams that finished below San Jose in the standings will be represented by MLS NEXT Pro teams. NYCFC II and RBNY II will be joined by Austin FC II, Chicago Fire FC II, Colorado Rapids 2, Crown Legacy FC, LA Galaxy II, Minnesota United FC 2, and Portland Timbers 2. The reserve teams will be joined by the two independent MLS NEXT Pro teams, Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC. https://www.hudsonriverblue.com/nyc...AAMeOdnKcCRxX4URdAptp7buL3WjadGgHUuGwGDIeZBtw
2024 LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP TOURNAMENT PROPER First Round Tuesday, March 19 - Thursday, March 21 Second Round Tuesday, April 2 - Wednesday, April 3 Third Round Tuesday, April 16 - Wednesday, April 17 Round of 32 Tuesday, May 7 - Wednesday, May 8 Round of 16 Tuesday, May 21 - Wednesday, May 22 Quarterfinal Tuesday, July 9 - Wednesday, July 10 Semifinal Tuesday, Aug. 27 - Wednesday, Aug. 28 Final Wednesday, Sept. 25 First round matchups will be announced at a later date. https://www.ussoccer.com/us-open-cup/schedule
MLS Next Pro's first affiliate team, The Town FC Announced. Read more about it here: The Town FC to join MLS Next Pro as San Jose Earthquakes affiliate
rebrand of San Jose Quakes II New at @SBJ: The @SJEarthquakes are the first @MLS club to license the commercial rights for its development team to a third party. The Quakes' @MLSNEXTPRO team will now be known as @TheTown_FC as play most home matches at @StMarysU in Moraga, Calif.
rebrand of LA Galaxy II The LA Galaxy today announced that the organization’s MLS NEXT Pro club will now compete under the name “Ventura County FC” (VCFC) in partnership with Oak Sports Holding. Previously known as LA Galaxy II, Ventura County’s newest professional sports team will play their home matches at California Lutheran University. AEG, the LA Galaxy’s ownership group, will retain ownership of the MLS NEXT Pro club.