I read a bit about the new PDL team here in Columbus and this made me wonder about how many PDL teams there were. I actually went way beyond just wondering and got a copy of a map showing the 48 states of the continental US. I plotted all the teams in MLS, A-League, USL Pro Select and PDL. I was surprised to see that there are only 14 states left that do not have some form of pro or semi-pro soccer team: Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, Connecticut and Maine. An additional 10 states have only PDL teams: Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, West Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, South Dakota, Michigan and Nevada. Some were not really a surprise, but why is MLS so gung-ho about Oklahoma, when they have not shown any real interest in soccer before? Also, wasn't there a team in Arizona or New Mexico? I would think with such large Latino populations, they could at least make a USL team work. I also found it interesting looking at Florida. There was once 2 MLS teams, no there are only 4 PDL teams. Also, with the amount of soccer tradition in St. Louis, why do they only have a PDL team. Why is MLS not looking there? All in all, it breaks down as: 10 MLS 19 A-League (4 in Canada) 13 USL Pro Select 51 PDL (3 in Canada) Is anyone else bothered by MLS looking at Canada for expansion? The currency has proved to be a nightmare for all other pro leagues and there are plenty of sites for expansion in the US.
Division III = Pro Select Division II = A- League Basically, you require more money for an A-League franchise. And there are other differences in player caliber fanbase, etc. (and remember you BSers, it etc., never ect.) DB Anyone want to catch the Syracuse-Rochester back-to-back over Memoral Day weekend? It's A-leaguetastic!
Arizona has the Saguaro's and Tiburon's...although I just did some research and they left the USL and went to the MPSL. Both at some point were D3 and PDL I believe
Dunno if this has any relation to this thread but in Jackson, Mississippi a few years back (i.e. maybe 4?) there was a team called the Jackson Chargers, dunno anything about their professional situation, though. They left a few years back though. thanks
Wrong, Lexington has a team. Or did have. The Lexington Bluegrass Bandits. I remember as a kid when we had a pro indoor team in Louisville.
eggy indoor team was the Louisville thunder, coached by keith tozer, coach of milwaukee wave in MISL, big star on the team was Jim Gabarra and Saheed Bahktiari god dont ask me how i remember this... but i was on their mailing list for press passes and the like... and i was only 14.... pretty schweet!!!
IIRC, an A League Franchise is $250,000 down and $100,000 letter of credit. It also carries stipulations regarding full-time employees, stadium, etc. A Pro Select franchise will only set you back around $75,000, and requires you to have a full-time phone line.