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The United Soccer Leagues First Division (often referred to as simply, USL-1) is a professional men's soccer league in North America. It is the second tier of soccer in the United States and Canada league pyramid behind Major League Soccer. It is managed by the United Soccer Leagues (USL). It was known as the A-League until 2004.
Unlike most other nations, there is currently no system of merit-based promotion and relegation in the American and Canadian pyramids, meaning that the champions of USL-1 cannot move up to Major League Soccer and, similarly, the worst teams in MLS are not in danger of being demoted to USL-1. However, some USL-1 teams have in the past chosen to take voluntary relegation to a lower level of the USL system, often to reduce operating costs, while teams have also decided to move up to USL-1 after finding success at the lower levels.
[edit] Expansion and contraction
In 1998, the A-League consisted of 28 teams. By 2006, only 12 remained in the USL First Division. For the most part, the teams that left dropped down to lower classifications, such as the USL Second Division and Premier Development League. These teams generally dropped down to rid themselves of the high costs of travel and player payrolls.
There is some speculation that several First Division clubs are waiting for the top-tier Major League Soccer to expand, in hopes that they will be given the opportunity to move up. The First Division does not have the promotion/relegation system common in most countries' football pyramids, although teams theoretically could move up if they meet MLS' criteria for expansion franchises. The costs of moving to a higher division are usually not recouped with higher attendance at the First Division level.
On January 26, 2006, the USL announced that it was expanding USL First Division in 2007 to include a new team in the Triangle region of North Carolina, playing out of Cary. The Cary franchise, since named the Carolina RailHawks, hosted an exhibition schedule in 2006 in advance of its first full league schedule in 2007. On May 16, 2006, it was also announced that the USL would place a team in Northern California under the ownership of Dmitry Piterman, chairman of Spanish team Deportivo Alavés. The Northern Californian team, the California Victory, folded after the end of the 2007 season, playing only one season. Other possible cities mentioned for future campaigns include Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Syracuse, New York. Syracuse had had a highly-attended team from 2002–2004, but it folded due to stadium issues, having ground-shared with the local baseball team. Ft. Lauderdale also has a history of teams from the NASL, ASL, and USL First Division. There is also discussion that Argentinian team River Plate is interested in putting a second USL team in Puerto Rico.
On March 30, 2007 the Virginia Beach Mariners team folded just prior to the start of the 2007 season due to an ownership dispute which left the team without financing.
The Seattle Sounders were cut from the 2009 season due to the entrance of the MLS team Seattle Sounders FC. In November 2008, the Atlanta Silverbacks announced that they would sit out the 2009 season to "reassess the landscape," and would possibly return at a future date. [1] Also, the Cleveland City Stars, who won the USL Second Division title in 2008, are voluntarily moving up to USL-1 for the 2009 season. [2]
On June 19, 2008, an announcement was made that an expansion franchise had been awarded to Tampa Bay, Florida. The plan is for the club to join the league in 2010 and be named the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The main investors are Andrew Nestor (CEO) and Hinds Howard (Chairman) of Citrus Ventures.[3] Recent reports, however, have indicated that the Tampa Bay franchise may play instead in a new breakaway league instead of USL First Division.
There are also several cities where interest has been raised in placing USL-1 franchises, including St. Louis, Missouri (led by the current PDL franchise St. Louis Lions),[4] Orlando, Florida (with Mexican side C.F. Pachuca being rumored as connected to it),[5], Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Detroit, Michigan, Hamilton, Ontario.[6] and San Antonio, Texas[7], Ottawa, Ontario. An official announcement from the USL on any of these possibilities has yet to be made.
On September 1, 2009. A group from Ottawa applied for a USL-1 team, contingent on the approval of updates to Lansdowne Park. The team would share a field with the Ottawa CFL team..[8]
On December 2, 2009, Inside Minnesota Soccer reported that the USL had asked the Cleveland City Stars to terminate the contracts of all the players, as the franchise was to be dissolved. Posting an email addressed to all players under contract with the Cleveland City Stars and written by team president Jonathan Ortlip and executive director Aaron Tredway, the club executives went on to accept the decision to terminate the franchise. [9]
[edit] 2010 teams
- Note: This list of teams will most likely NOT be the actual list of teams competing in the USL First Division in 2010. In November 2009 a number of current USL1 teams - the Carolina RailHawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, Rochester Rhinos, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Vancouver Whitecaps, plus the Atlanta Silverbacks, USL2's Crystal Palace Baltimore and a brand new team led by St. Louis Soccer United - announced their intent to leave the USL to become the co-founders of a new North American Soccer League (2010), beginning play in 2010[10]. The new NASL has yet to be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation or the Canadian Soccer Association, and has not yet finalized its membership, and as such the membership of the new NASL and both the USL First and Second Divisions remain in flux.
[edit] Playoff format
The top seven teams will advance to the playoff tournament, with the Commissioner’s Cup winner (regular season champion) receiving a bye into the semi-finals. However, with at least two teams joining for 2010, as well as Portland and Vancouver Whitecaps FC making way for their counterparts in the MLS, this may change in the future.
Each round consists of two legs, the lower seeded team hosting the first leg, and the higher seed hosting the second. Prior to 2009, the final was played as a single leg at the higher seed's stadium. In the Quarterfinal round, the #2 seed plays #7, #3 plays #6, and #4 plays #5. After these legs are completed, the lowest remaining seed plays the Commissioner's Cup winner, and the higher seeds play each other. The highest remaining seed hosts the penultimate game of the Finals. The playoffs start the week after the completion of the regular season, and typically end in mid-October.
[edit] Former teams
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- Milwaukee Wave United (2003-04)
- MLS Project 40 (1998-2000)
- Nashville Metros (1997-2001, as Tennessee Rhythm in 1999-2000) (now in the PDL)
- New Orleans Storm (1997-99, as New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers in 1997)
- Orange County Waves (1997-2000, as Orange County Zodiac in 1997-99. Now play in the PDL as Orange County Blue Star)
- Orlando Sundogs (1997)
- Pittsburgh Riverhounds (1999-2003) (Now in the USL-2)
- Raleigh Express (1997-2000, as Raleigh Flyers in 1997-98)
- Richmond Kickers (1997-2005) (Now in the USL-2)
- Sacramento Geckos (1998-99, as Albuquerque Geckos in 1998)
- San Diego Flash (1997-2001, as Colorado Foxes in 1997)
- San Francisco Bay Seals (1998-2000, as Bay Area Seals in 2000)
- Seattle Sounders (1997-2008) (now in MLS as the Seattle Sounders FC)
- Staten Island Vipers (1998-99)
- Syracuse Salty Dogs (2003-04)
- Toronto Lynx (1997-2006) (now in the PDL)
- Virginia Beach Mariners (1998-2000, 2002-2006, as Hampton Roads Mariners 1998-2000, 2002)
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[edit] League champions / top goal scorer
[edit] Regular season champions (Commissioner’s Cup Winners)
Note: The point systems used throughout the league's history has changed. The league first started using the standard points system (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw) in 2003.
[edit] Most Successful Clubs (A-League/USL Era)
[edit] League average attendance
| Year |
Regular season |
Playoffs |
| 2009 |
4,720 |
7,065 |
| 2008 |
5,164 |
7,786 |
| 2007 |
4,420 |
7,741 |
| 2006 |
4,667 |
5,998 |
| 2005 |
4,527 |
12,498 |
| 2004 |
3,879 |
9,402 |
| 2003 |
3,335 |
9,672 |
| 2002 |
3,034 |
8,902 |
| 2001 |
2,954 |
9,193 |
| 2000 |
2,684 |
7,562 |
| 1999 |
2,374 |
5,309 |
| 1998 |
2,531 |
6,091 |
| 1997 |
1,690 |
5,092 |
[edit] All-time USL leaders
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/news/displaynews.php?id=1046&cat=1
- ^ http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/sports/story.html?id=ec02001e-f74c-4ba1-9242-7a34cf0a3eaf
- ^ Encina, Eduardo A. (2008-06-19). "Tampa Bay Rowdies to get new life in USL". St. Petersburg Times. http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/article633711.ece. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ http://www.stllions.com/
- ^ "MLS: Atlanta Out! Orlando to USL. St Louis weak? Philly behind schedule...". Orlando Sentinel. 2009-01-16. http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_soccerblog/2009/01/mls-atlanta-out.html. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
- ^ http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?
- ^ www.mysa.com date=4-18-09 id=268484&lid=headline&lpos=secStory_soccer
- ^ http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/361425.html
- ^ http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/
- ^ USL outcasts set to launch new league in 2010
[edit] External links
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Current Stadiums in the USL First Division |
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United States
Canada
Puerto Rico
