Conference realignment coming in 2018 or 2019 with the creation of a Central Conference. Nashville, Las Vegas and Fresno will begin play in 2018, bringing the count of clubs to 33. Birmingham joins in 2019. A MLS 2 side may move to Omaha and a group in Baltimore is interested in joining. http://newsok.com/article/5557301
Courtesy @xbhaskarx over on the 'Quakes board: Potential USL owner outlines plan S.F. soccer team. These are the guys who own the Burlingame Dragons. Preferred stadium site is south of SFO, between 101 and the bay. If so, that would bring the total number of western conference teams in the three-conference alignment to at least twelve by 2019.
An observation that may only be interesting to me: The 2's occupy the top three and bottom four positions in the western conference standings.The "outlier" is Seattle, which sits dead in the middle with seven teams above it and seven below. Does the approach to how the parent clubs use USL to develop players represent the opposite ends of the spectrum? Perhaps some are using USL to give their youth exposure to a higher level of competition, taking the long view in mind for player development. Meanwhile, others are looking to find older players to contribute to the parent club sooner. Or, maybe this just happens to be where these clubs fall this year.
It's official, Fresno F.C. joins USL for 2018 http://www.fresnofc.com/ Can't forget to mention their fearless GM. I hear this guy's been around.
He looks.............................familiar. lol All in all, these expansions and conference alignments will be good for the fans and for soccer. Even if SRFC doesn't make it to MLS, it will be a lot of fun to travel to Reno or Fresno, or SF for away games...........Who am I kidding? If we don't get a MLS spot, this will be like taking your own sister to the prom.
The league has announced the following for 2018: Regular season expands from 32 to 34 games, to be played over 31 weeks Regular season will run from 3/16 - 10/21 Will retain two conference alignment Playoff format remains the same
Birmingham awarded a franchise to begin play in 2019. http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/821487?referrer_id=2333971 Austin returns in 2019, as well. http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/821487?referrer_id=2333971
Breeding like rabbits, I say. Las Vegas joins USL in 2018 So, that will be 33 teams for 2018. With a 34 game schedule planned, perhaps two or three more teams will be added? Now for the fun part... "Following the announcement of the franchise...six potential team names still in the running, including: -Las Vegas FC -Las Vegas Lights -Las Vegas Action -Viva Vegas -Club Vegas -Las Vegas Silver. Fans can visit the www.VegasProSoccer.com website from now through Monday, Aug. 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT to vote for their favorite team name." Club Vegas is probably the best soccer name of the bunch, outside of the overused <insert city name here>, FC. I find Viva Vegas amusing but, please, no. The rest? Ack. edit: miscounted the teams in 2018. Revised from 34 to 33.
I prefer Vegas Jr. Raiders lol Actually, im diggin' all these teams. I think it provides USL with a lot of regional rivalries that, if done correctly, could really advance interest in the league and the sport.
Not only are the Burlingame Dragons owners closing up shop, they're dropping their USL bid, as well. http://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/earthquakes/quakes-affiliate-folds-withdraws-usl-bid USL home games at AT&T Park? That was ambitious.
Hmm... seems like they couldn't pick up steam (in Burlingame of all places, golly shucks!). With the Quakes already there, SF City, SF Deltas (who knows what their future is?), it's too hard to squeeze in that role. Maybe if they relocated to Oakland they could have made a stronger impact. But at that spot they're really not going higher level, best is being a semi-professional pseudo academy for the Quakes.
Online reporting indicates that, not only is Vancouver dropping their 2, but also Orlando City. Seattle (who's supposed to be moving to Tacoma) and Bethlehem, who issued a letter committing, with some wiggle room, to stay in Lehigh Valley have also been reported to be on their way out of USL. Perhaps they're dropping to USL 3 or the report is wrong altogether. This may have something to do with USL striving to maintain D2 status. Anyway, it looks like both Vancouver and Orlando City will be looking for affiliate clubs in 2018.
I'm continued to be reminded we have no affiliate, and don't get the advantage of having a few MLS-fringe/youth available for our roster. Not a huge deal but have to think that certainly is some disadvantage we've had.
Most definitely. Remember when we won the championship in 2014, we were the affiliate of both the Quakes AND the Timbers. Jake Gleeson anyone?
The Park Rangers win the West in a full 11 round PK Shootout (7-6). Louisville also goes to the championship after PK's.
this Louisville City vs Swope Park Rangers is a good match - it's being shown on ESPNU - I am sure it's better than Monday Night Football
Atlanta United to field a 2 next season: https://www.atlutd.com/post/2017/11/14/atlanta-united-announces-plans-launch-2018-usl-expansion-team *Edit: Also, Penn FC (Harrisburg, PA) starts next season. That brings to five the number of new franchises in 2018, with Vancouver 2 as the only MLS club, that I know of, bowing out.
Rochester Rhinos on the brink of folding, with $1.3M needed to play in 2018... http://www.democratandchronicle.com...eason-jeopardy-professional-soccer/865628001/ Too bad. Wasn't this once the flagship franchise of the league, or close to it?
I didn't realize there was a Sacto Kings ownership tie to the Rhinos. Gotta figure the owners have access to the strategies used by both the Kings and SRFC to make them successful locally. I guess that means the community support (and $$) just isn't there from Rochester. P.S. that quote from the local Soccer Club President is indicative of one of the major problems facing US Soccer. "They stole MY player."
It's official, North Carolina FC leaves NASL and enters USL for 2018. http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/857350
I don't know whether other USL clubs are already building their 2018 rosters as aggressively, but Cincinnati has signed: - Starting midfielder from NASL champs SF Deltas - Starting defender from Charleston Battery, named to starting XI of the week three times and the team's defender of the year. - A Forward who started 20 of 30 games for Real Monarchs, logging 7 goals and 4 assists. I'm not saying that any of these guys are difference-makers, but Cincy is bringing in solid performers with proven 2nd division track-records. I hope we have some irons in the fire.