USL launching "Tier 1" league to compete with MLS

[Sean Miller Fan]

MLS really dropped the ball. Over the years, I've said that 20 or 30 teams isn't enough and that they should have an almost unlimited amount of teams broken into different tiers with promotion/relegation and that grandfathered MLS clubs could never be relegated (or else those owners would never vote for it). It is incredibly stupid that Pittsburgh, Detroit, Sacramento, Raleigh, etc have no path to MLS.

So what is USL doing? They have gotten approval from US Soccer to launch a Tier 1 league. What does this mean exactly? I dont know but they plan on going head to head with MLS and having a pro/rel setup. And it couldn't come at a better time since MLS isn't really on TV anymore. Their Apple Season Pass was so bad I canceled it and very few games are on linear TV.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

MLS really dropped the ball. Over the years, I've said that 20 or 30 teams isn't enough and that they should have an almost unlimited amount of teams broken into different tiers with promotion/relegation and that grandfathered MLS clubs could never be relegated (or else those owners would never vote for it). It is incredibly stupid that Pittsburgh, Detroit, Sacramento, Raleigh, etc have no path to MLS.

So what is USL doing? They have gotten approval from US Soccer to launch a Tier 1 league. What does this mean exactly? I dont know but they plan on going head to head with MLS and having a pro/rel setup. And it couldn't come at a better time since MLS isn't really on TV anymore. Their Apple Season Pass was so bad I canceled it and very few games are on linear TV.

How many USL teams play in real stadiums?

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

How many USL teams play in real stadiums?

Birmingham plays at UAB's stadium and Miami plays at FIU's stadium (such as it is), so probably two.

Actually I think Louisville plays in the same stadium as the Louisville NWSL team, so that probably makes three.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Birmingham plays at UAB's stadium and Miami plays at FIU's stadium (such as it is), so probably two.

Actually I think Louisville plays in the same stadium as the Louisville NWSL team, so that probably makes three.

Yeah the louisville stadium seems to be decent.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Yeah the louisville stadium seems to be decent.

I remember Birmingham because they used to play at Legion Field, and it was funny to see like 1,000 people there watching a soccer game in a stadium that big. But when UAB stopped playing there the USL team stopped too.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

How many USL teams play in real stadiums?

San Antonio has a nice one. Sacramento draws more than some MLS teams. New Mexico plays on a glorious dirt infield. A lot of teams are building new stadiums. Seem to be 10K-15K.

 

[brdst11]

How many USL teams play in real stadiums?

According to this article, they have two stadiums which meet the 15k criteria, and both play in football stadiums.

I don't see how just declaring you're first division makes it so. They're going to need a bunch of waivers just to make an argument and at that point, are you even meeting the criteria?

They're teasing pro/rel without providing any details. If they're not going to have it at the start though, will they have it at all? That's the time to do it, because once you collect franchise fees, you're never going to relegate those teams.

USL has a good thing going, not sure why they'd risk that.

USL Division One: which clubs could be in, and can it succeed?

On the USL's bold plan to compete with MLS at the D1 level

www.usltactics.com

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

According to this article, they have two stadiums which meet the 15k criteria, and both play in football stadiums.

I don't see how just declaring you're first division makes it so. They're going to need a bunch of waivers just to make an argument and at that point, are you even meeting the criteria?

They're teasing pro/rel without providing any details. If they're not going to have it at the start though, will they have it at all? That's the time to do it, because once you collect franchise fees, you're never going to relegate those teams.

USL has a good thing going, not sure why they'd risk that.

USL Division One: which clubs could be in, and can it succeed?

On the USL's bold plan to compete with MLS at the D1 level

www.usltactics.com

Sort of sounds like they are going to use my pro/rel idea in that they will grandfather in 12-14 franchises who "buy in" to the league and then have 8-10 teams who get promoted from USL Championship.

I read an article that this is an attempt at a merger with MLS...and they should merge.

 

[brdst11]

Sort of sounds like they are going to use my pro/rel idea in that they will grandfather in 12-14 franchises who "buy in" to the league and then have 8-10 teams who get promoted from USL Championship.

I read an article that this is an attempt at a merger with MLS...and they should merge.

What leverage do they have to force a merger?

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

What leverage do they have to force a merger?

Gaining market share?

 

[brdst11]

Gaining market share?

MLS has decided they aren't interested in those markets. I don't see how calling themselves First Division makes them any more appealing.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

MLS has decided they aren't interested in those markets. I don't see how calling themselves First Division makes them any more appealing.

I honestly don't know what it really means but the USSF had to sanction it so what does this upper tier level do for them that they couldn't do? Eligible for some extra USSF funds? I dont know. But perhaps part of the thinking is if they consolidate into a smaller league with better monied owners, they can pay average MLS salaries and compete for those players. Probably can't afford the old Euro stars but that's probably not part of the plan. As a casual fan, if Pgh was in this league or had a path to it through pro/rel, maybe I become a fan. I see they resigned Bertin Jacquesson and usually have a few Pitt bros.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I honestly don't know what it really means but the USSF had to sanction it so what does this upper tier level do for them that they couldn't do? Eligible for some extra USSF funds? I dont know. But perhaps part of the thinking is if they consolidate into a smaller league with better monied owners, they can pay average MLS salaries and compete for those players. Probably can't afford the old Euro stars but that's probably not part of the plan. As a casual fan, if Pgh was in this league or had a path to it through pro/rel, maybe I become a fan. I see they resigned Bertin Jacquesson and usually have a few Pitt bros.

Competition eliminates complacency. It remains to be seen, but if the USL can motivate MLS to improve their product, maybe the soccer in this country will be watchable.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Competition eliminates complacency. It remains to be seen, but if the USL can motivate MLS to improve their product, maybe the soccer in this country will be watchable.

MLS has hit a full. The decision to go off of TV and onto a streaming service may have been better financially in the short-term but its probably not great that 99% of Americans can't watch Messi play in MLS.