So, given the massive number of new teams, (do we know yet how many?) I imagine the season format will change. Has the league hinted at how this will change? Will there be a single table or conferences? Balanced schedule or not (I'm guessing not)? And what about the play-offs, I assume they will be expanded. How will they work. Has the league answered any of these questions yet? I know that their focus must have been on 2014, but I'm curious about 2015 now.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/taking-look-real-monarchs-potential-202953226.html http://soccerblog.dallasnews.com/2014/08/dan-hunt-reveals-fc-dallas-usl-pro-plans.html/ http://odfcnews.com/2014/08/03/usl-...raises-arizona-united-talks-league-expansion/ These might answer some of the questions you have
Would be easy to do Eastern and Western Conferences with the Mississippi as the divider: East: Pittsburgh Rochester Harrisburg Charlotte Charleston Richmond Wilmington Louisville Cincinnati Montreal II West: Seattle II Vancouver II Salt Lake II LA II Portland II Orange County Arizona Colorado Springs Sacramento St Louis Tulsa OKC Austin
Mike- thanks, but these articles are all speculation or from a while ago, and no longer up to date. I'm curious about what is actually set in stone for next year. Are there any actual answers?
Several of the MLS clubs are still a question mark. Vancouver is having troubles, Portland has rumored it but no news yet. I think Seattle, RSL and Montreal are legit. However I also think Orange County is a question mark. Still prefer more region conferences, but at least a west-east split is better than it is now.
If they don't do official conferences I imagine in the least they'll still make the schedule regional like they did this year. If the league continues to operate like they have been you probably won't hear anything definitive on anything until January or February.
And you can add Toronto to the east, based on a couple of interviews from last week. So 11 in the east and 13 in the west. I thought I read somewhere that they were going to stay at 28 games. Would be interesting to see how they would break it up. I think some type of conference and division sit up would work best. Where you play teams in your division 4 times and the other division 2. And then don't play the other conference till the playoffs.
If your very life depends on confirming the USL Pro format this very instant I suggest checking their website or getting Tim Holt's cell number. Or, as Kenn said, consult a calendar and solve one of life's other great mysteries while you wait.
I can give it to you if you want it. Here's the thing: Any time there's an announcement from the league, they'll put it on their site. And someone will put it here. And even when there's just a rumor of an announcement, someone will put that here, too. That's how the process works. When things are actually announced, they're not hard to find. Speculation is the stock in trade around here. If you look here and look there and don't see anything, you can be reasonably sure nothing has been announced or rumored. If people would like to have someone ring them up whenever there's an announcement or rumor, so they don't have to go through the trouble of checking two websites....well, that's not happening.
I'm so worried that the USL will make this like the PDL. 8 divisions of 3. I like the idea of two regional divisions. After that, I'd hope it will tier down. Just feels like too many teams in the top three tiers. USL (22), NASL (12) and MLS (21). MLS's schedule this year is 34 games. If that is a good number of games then 18 teams makes that work. Take the top 18 teams from the 55 and you are left with 37. Split the 37 into two regional divisions ... 18-19. Seems like it could work. I am curious if MLS and USL Pro will get to a three conference format again.
They won't do 8 divisions of 3, that's silly. And, no, it's not too many teams in the top 3 tiers. We had far more teams than this 15 years ago. Also silly.
Conference Alignments announced: here's the full link to the play-off format as well 2015 USL PRO Alignment Eastern Conference Charleston Battery Charlotte Independence FC Montreal Harrisburg City Islanders Louisville City FC *New York Red Bulls Pittsburgh Riverhounds Richmond Kickers Rochester Rhinos Saint Louis FC Toronto FC II Wilmington Hammerheads FC Western Conference Arizona United SC Austin Aztex Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC LA Galaxy II OKC Energy FC Orange County Blues FC Portland Timbers 2 Real Monarchs SLC Sacramento Republic FC Seattle Sounders FC 2 Tulsa Roughnecks FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
now that MLS and USL Pro are partners, what happens if MLS fails to finalize its CBA before the start of USL Pro season? Is there a USLPro Players Union? Would MLS loaned players show up? (I doubt it) what about MLS teams? would USLPro, non affiliated teams show up? etc. Any Rumors or insiders with any information?
No insider information, but I would assume there would be no MLS players loaned to affiliates (they would be on strike). MLS2 sides would show up with no players on MLS contracts, playing with players on USL contracts and Academy players.
FC Montréal 0-1 Richmond Kickers Pittsburgh 5-1 Toronto FC II Louisville City 2-0 Tulsa OKC Energy FC 1-2 Saint Louis FC Austin 1-0 Colorado Springs Real Monarchs SLC 0-1 LA Galaxy II Arizona United 0-2 Timbers 2
USL had a good showing against their D2 counterparts in NASL on Wednesday night. http://www.sbisoccer.com/2015/05/seven-perfect-third.html USL teams swept all 7 of their head to head matchups against the NASL. This despite the Open Cup matches being the USL's third matches already and the NASL only playing their first (and now last).
That is incorrect. The USL teams entered in the 2nd round. Each had played one game in the tournament before playing the NASL teams.