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==Media coverage==
==Media coverage==
The league featured national broadcast coverage on [[Fox Soccer Channel]] in 2011.<ref name='Hammerheads' />
The league featured national broadcast coverage on [[Fox Soccer Channel]] in 2011.<ref name='Hammerheads' />
2014 will have all USL Pro games will broadcast on Youtube
2014 USLPro will broadcast all matches on Youtube


==Clubs==
==Clubs==

Revision as of 23:31, 22 January 2014

USL Pro
File:USL Pro Logo.jpg
FoundedSeptember 8, 2010
CountryUnited States
ConfederationUSSF
Number of teams13
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toNone
Relegation toNone
Domestic cup(s)Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Current championsOrlando City (2013)
Current ShieldRichmond Kickers (2013)
Most championshipsOrlando City (2 titles)
Most Supporters' ShieldsOrlando City (2 shields)
WebsiteUSL Pro website
Current: 2014 USL Pro season

The USL Professional Division, commonly known as USL Pro (stylized USL PRO), is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011. USL Pro is sanctioned as a Division III Professional League by United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer), placing it under Major League Soccer (Division I) and the North American Soccer League (Division II) in the hierarchy.

The league is owned and operated by United Soccer Leagues (USL) and was formed as result of the organization's merger of the old USL First and Second Divisions, following the controversial 2010 season which saw neither the USL First Division or the North American Soccer League (NASL) receive sanctioning from the USSF, resulting in the temporary USSF Division 2 Pro League. The merger is meant to consolidate USL's position within the American professional soccer landscape and focus on stability, commercial growth and the professional development of soccer in four main regions throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.[1]

In January 2013, USL and MLS reached an agreement to integrate USL Pro league competition with the MLS Reserve League, primarily to improve player development in North America, strengthen league competition and build ties between divisions in the American soccer pyramid. This multi-year deal encourages MLS and USL Pro team affiliations and player loans, and it will lead to more games for teams and developing players.[2][3]

History

Founding (2010)

On September 8, 2010, USL formally announced the creation of USL Pro in a press release.[1] Prior to the official announcement of the new league, on August 11, 2010, the Dayton Dutch Lions FC revealed they would be joining the "USL-Pro Championship Division (former USL-2)" at a press conference, revealing the name of the new league before its official announcement.[4] With this disclosure, the Dutch Lions were the first confirmed team in USL Pro for its inaugural 2011 season. Alongside the announcement of the new league, the Richmond Kickers revealed they would be moving to USL Pro for 2011.[5] With the departure of the Portland Timbers to MLS in 2011 and the defection of the Puerto Rico Islanders to the NASL[6] from the USL First Division, the Austin Aztex were the lone First Division team left to fold into USL Pro.

On September 22, 2010, the "Caribbean Division" of USL Pro was announced, with teams from Puerto Rico and Antigua and Barbuda signing on to compete in the league.[7] With the addition of Puerto Rico United to the league and "Caribbean Division", league representatives expressed their intent to see expansion in the region continue, with an eventual 8-team "Caribbean Conference".[8] With the inclusion of a team from Los Angeles, this division eventually became the International Division. On September 22, 2010, USL announced that Sevilla FC Puerto Rico and River Plate Puerto Rico would be joining USL Pro in 2011 alongside Antigua Barracuda FC as part of the building blocks of a Caribbean division.[7] On September 28, 2010, USL announced that one of their flagship clubs and reigning 2010 USL Second Division Champions, the Charleston Battery, would be joining USL Pro for its launch in 2011.[9] On September 30, 2010, nearly two months following the team's own announcement of a "USL Pro Championship Division" move, the USL formally announced Dayton Dutch Lions FC would join USL Pro.[10] On October 4 and October 7, 2010, the USL revealed two Second Division clubs, the Charlotte Eagles and the Harrisburg City Islanders, would be making the jump to USL Pro for 2011.[11] [12]

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds were added as the 9th official team on October 22, 2010.[13] October 25, 2010 saw the addition of the Rochester Rhinos[14] who had previously committed to the NASL, along with expansion team Orlando City Soccer Club (formerly the Austin Aztex of USL First Division) after new ownership secured and moved the team from Texas to Florida.[15]

On November 9, 2010, former USL-2 Division side Wilmington Hammerheads officially joined the league as the 12th team,[16] followed on November 17, 2010 by F.C. New York.[16] The expected number of teams to launch league play in 2011 was announced as 18–20, alongside the announcement of the Wilmington Hammerheads joining the league.[16]

The Los Angeles Blues, associated with the successful women's Pali Blues organization, were added on December 7, 2010 with a message of future "Western Conference" growth into 2012.[17] The "Caribbean Division" of USL Pro grew to four teams on December 9, 2010 with the addition of Puerto Rico United to the league,[8] marking the last of the 15 teams that would compete in USL Pro in its inaugural 2011 season.

On September 14, 2010, USL President Tim Holt expressed the desired structure for the league to launch with 14–18 teams across 4 specific geographic areas in 2011, expansion to 22–26 teams by 2013, and 28–32 teams by 2015.[18]

Following USL Pro's first annual general meeting, the league confirmed it would debut with 16 teams playing a 24 game regular season schedule in 2011, with planned growth for 20–24 teams to start the 2012 season.[19]

Play begins (2011-2012)

USL Pro debuted in 2011 with 12 teams playing a 24-game regular season schedule. American and National Division teams played a home-and-away series against all opponents from the two divisions (totaling 18 games), 2 additional regional rivalry matches, with each team making an additional trip to either Los Angeles or the Caribbean to play two games while hosting International Division competition for two games. International Division teams played each team in their division four times (twice home, twice away, totaling 16 games) while traveling to face American or National Division opponents in four games and hosting those opponents for four games.[19][20][21]

The original playoff format saw eight teams compete in a one-game quarterfinal. Both the American and National Divisions saw their top three teams advance for an inter-divisional playoff, while the top 2 teams in the International Division played-off against each other to reach the semifinals. The four remaining teams were re-seeded for a single semi-final match, again with the higher seed hosting, leading up to a single match for the USL Pro Championship. In all playoff matches the highest seeded team hosted.[22]

On May 10, 2011, early in the league's inaugural season, the USL announced that it was dropping the three Puerto Rican clubs from the USL PRO schedule.[23] The PRSL clubs were dropped due to economic and ownership issues.[citation needed] The two remaining International Division teams – Antigua Barracuda FC and Los Angeles Blues – were re-aligned into the American and National Divisions. Due to the removal of the International Division, the revised playoff format featured the top four teams in each of the two divisions. The two division playoff winners met in the USL Pro Championship at the home venue of the team with the better record. On May 10, 2011, the USL announced it formally removed the three Puerto Rico Soccer League (PRSL) teams from the 2011 USL PRO schedule due to severe economic difficulties and serious unforeseen medical situations involving owners from two of the three PRSL teams. The USL announced a revised schedule for USL PRO, with the Antigua Barracuda FC joining the American Division and the Los Angeles Blues joining the National Division as part of the adjusted divisional alignment resulting in two, six-team divisions.

USL PRO Progression
Season Teams Added Lost
2011 15→12 -- Puerto Rico United
Sevilla FC P. Rico
River Plate P. Rico
2012 11 -- F.C. New York
2013 13 Phoenix FC
Tampa Bay FC 		--
2014 13 Oklahoma City Energy
Sacramento Republic 		Antigua Barracuda
Tampa Bay FC
2015 TBD Colorado Springs
Tulsa 		Orlando City SC

Following the 2011 season, USL Pro announced with the release of the 2012 season schedule that F.C. New York would not be returning to play, with the former National and American Divisions being dissolved to form a single, eleven team league table.[24] With F.C. New York withdrawing in January 2012, the league announced an eleven team single-table schedule for the 2012 season.[24]

MLS partnership (2013-present)

Two expansion teams joined for the 2013 season: Phoenix FC[25][26] and the VSI Tampa Bay FC.[27]

On January 23, 2013 USL Pro and MLS announced a multi-year agreement to integrate MLS Reserve League play with USL Pro teams, first through team affiliations and "interleague" play, but eventually fully merging MLS Reserves into the USL Pro structure. The stated goals of this partnership are to improve North American player development, strengthen league competition, build long-term ties between the leagues and expand the audience for both the leagues and developing players.[citation needed]

While the 2013 season would feature partnered competitions between USL Pro and MLS Reserve teams, four Major League Soccer clubs opted to affiliate with an existing USL Pro team, agreeing to loan at least four MLS players to their affiliate: Sporting Kansas City with Orlando City, the Philadelphia Union with the Harrisburg City Islanders, D.C. United with the Richmond Kickers and the New England Revolution with the Rochester Rhinos. Each MLS club will eventually be expected to either affiliate with a USL Pro team or operate an independent reserve team in the league.[2][3] The Houston Dynamo announced that they will be partnering with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 2014.[28]

Following the conclusion of the 2013 season, VSI Tampa Bay folded after only one season, along with founding league member Antigua.[29]

Sacramento was announced in December 2012 as an expansion team for 2014,[30] and USL announced in July 2013 that Oklahoma City would also join USL in 2014.[31] Orlando City Soccer Club will leave USL after the 2014 season to join MLS as an expansion team for the 2015 season.[32][33][34]

class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams for the 2014 USL PRO season

Competition format

With the release of the 2012 season schedule, the league stated that teams play 24 games in the 2012 season with a maximum of four games played against any single opponent. The 2012 USL PRO Playoffs include the top six finishers in the table, with the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds receiving a first-round bye. The semifinals featuring the four remaining teams are played the following weekend, followed by the 2012 USL PRO Championship. All playoff rounds feature a single-game knockout format.[24]

Media coverage

The league featured national broadcast coverage on Fox Soccer Channel in 2011.[16] 2014 USLPro will broadcast all matches on Youtube

Clubs

Current clubs

The following teams are currently playing in the USL Pro division.[35]

Team City Stadium (Capacity) Founded First Season Head Coach MLS Affiliate
Charleston Battery Charleston, SC Blackbaud Stadium (5,100) 1993 2011 United States Michael Anhaeuser
Charlotte Eagles Charlotte, NC Dickson Field (5,000) 1991 2011 United States Mark Steffens
Dayton Dutch Lions Beavercreek, OH Beavercreek Stadium (5,000) 2009 2011 Netherlands Sid van Druenen Columbus Crew
Harrisburg City Islanders Harrisburg, PA Skyline Sports Complex (4,000) 2004 2011 United States Bill Becher Philadelphia Union
Los Angeles Blues Fullerton, CA Titan Stadium (10,000) 2010 2011 Iran Dariush Yazdani
Oklahoma City Energy Oklahoma City, OK Pribil Stadium (7,000) 2013 2014 Denmark Jimmy Nielsen Sporting Kansas City
Orlando City† Lake Buena Vista, FL ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (5,300) 2010 2011 England Adrian Heath Sporting Kansas City
Phoenix FC Scottsdale, AZ Peoria Sports Complex (12,880) 2012 2013 Scotland David Robertson
Pittsburgh Riverhounds Pittsburgh, PA Highmark Stadium (4,000) 1999 2011 United States Justin Evans Houston Dynamo
Richmond Kickers Richmond, VA City Stadium (22,000) 1993 2011 England Leigh Cowlishaw D.C. United
Rochester Rhinos Rochester, NY Sahlen's Stadium (13,770) 1996 2011 United States Bob Lilley New England Revolution
Sacramento Republic Sacramento, CA TBA 2012 2014 United States Preki Portland Timbers
Wilmington Hammerheads Wilmington, NC Legion Stadium (6,000) 1996 2011 England David Irving Toronto FC

†Orlando City will be leaving the league after the 2014 season for Major League Soccer.[32]

Future clubs

Team City Stadium (Capacity) Founded First Season Head Coach MLS Affiliate
Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO Sand Creek Stadium (2,000) 2013 2015 TBA
Tulsa Tulsa, OK ONEOK Field (7,833) 2013 2015

Former clubs

Team City Stadium (Capacity) First Season Final Season MLS Affiliate
Antigua Barracuda St. John's , Antigua Stanford Cricket Ground (5,000) 2011 2013 None
F.C. New York New York City, NY Belson Stadium (5,000) 2011 2011 None
Puerto Rico United Aguada, Puerto Rico Aguada Stadium (4,000) 2011 2011 None
River Plate Puerto Rico Fajardo, Puerto Rico Roberto Clemente Stadium (12,500) 2011 2011 None
Sevilla Puerto Rico Juncos, Puerto Rico Josué Elevadito González Stadium (2,500) 2011 2011 None
VSI Tampa Bay Plant City, FL Plant City Stadium (6,700) 2013 2013 None

Champions

USL Pro Trophy Winners
Season USL Pro
Championship Series 		Commissioner's Cup
(Regular Season)
2011 Orlando City Orlando City
2012 Charleston Battery Orlando City
2013 Orlando City Richmond Kickers

Results

Season Champions Score Runners–up Venue Attendance Notes
2011 Orlando City  †2–2 † Harrisburg City Islanders Citrus Bowl 11,220 Orlando won 3–2 on PSO
2012 Charleston Battery 1–0 Wilmington Hammerheads Blackbaud Stadium 4,963
2013 Orlando City 7–4 Charlotte Eagles Citrus Bowl 20,886 USL PRO attendance record
Key
† Match decided by a penalty shootout after extra time
Bold Finished the regular season with the Best Record

USL Pro Club Honors

Team Playoffs Regular Season US Open Cup Total Championships
Winner Runner Up Winner Runner Up Winner Furthest USLP Entry
Orlando City SC 2 - 2 1 - 1 6 4
Richmond Kickers - - 1 - 1 (pre-USLP) 1 3 2
Rochester Rhinos - - - 1 1 (pre-USLP) - 2 1
Charleston Battery 1 - - - - - 1 1
Wilmington Hammerheads - 1 - 1 – - 2 0
Harrisburg City Islanders - 1 - - – 1 2 0
Charlotte Eagles - 1 - - – - 1 0

Attendance

Season League Avg. Highest Team Lowest Team Ref
2011 2,274 5,330 (Orlando City) 410 (Los Angeles) [36]
2012 2,777 6,606 (Orlando City) 666 (Los Angeles) [37]
2013 2,611 8,056 (Orlando City) 378 (Tampa Bay) [38]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "USL Restructures Professional Division". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-09-08. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
  2. ^ a b "MLS, USL Pro reach deal on restructured Reserve League". www.mlssoccer.com. 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
  3. ^ a b "USL PRO & MLS Announce Partnership". www.uslpro.uslsoccer.com. 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  4. ^ "DDL FC will play USL next season". www.dutchlionsfc.com. 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  5. ^ "Kickers Join USL Pro". www.richmondkickers.com. 2010-09-08. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  6. ^ "Puerto Rico Islanders Join NASL". www.carolinarailhawks.com. 2010-09-09. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
  7. ^ a b "Sevilla, River Plate Join USL Pro". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  8. ^ a b "Puerto Rico United Joins USL Pro". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-12-09. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
  9. ^ "Battery To Play in USL Pro". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  10. ^ "Dutch Lions Join USL Pro". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-09-30. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  11. ^ "Charlotte Joins USL Pro". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-10-04. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  12. ^ "City Islanders Join USL Pro". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-10-07. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  13. ^ "Riverhounds Join USL Pro". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  14. ^ "Rochester Rhinos Back in USL". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-10-25. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  15. ^ "Orlando City Joins USL Pro". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-10-25. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  16. ^ a b c d "Hammerheads Return for 2011". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-11-09. Retrieved 2010-11-12. Cite error: The named reference "Hammerheads" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  17. ^ "LA Blues Set to Play in USL Pro". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-12-07. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  18. ^ "USL Pro League seeks to embrace regional model". www.potomacsoccerwire.com. 2010-09-14. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  19. ^ a b "USL Pro Concludes Successful AGM". www.uslsoccer.com. 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  20. ^ "USL Pro Schedule Released". www.uslsoccer.com. 2011-01-14. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  21. ^ "Shaping the USL Pro Schedule". www.uslsoccer.com. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  22. ^ "USL Pro Postseason Format Unveiled". www.uslsoccer.com. 2011-01-24. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  23. ^ "USL Reforms Agreement with PRSL". www.uslsoccer.com. 2011-05-10. Retrieved 2011-05-11.
  24. ^ a b c "USL PRO 2012 Schedule Released". www.uslsoccer.com. 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2012-01-22.
  25. ^ "Phoenix to Join USL PRO in 2013". United Soccer Leagues (USL). 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  26. ^ "Phoenix Announces Name and Logo". United Soccer Leagues (USL). September 7, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  27. ^ "VisionPro Academy Headed to Tampa". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 16, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  28. ^ Lovell, Darrell. "USL PRO side Pittsburgh Riverhounds "a great place to send our players to develop" for Houston Dynamo". mlsssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  29. ^ http://odfcnews.com/2013/11/17/usl-pro-teams-fold-mls-field-squads-team-partnership/
  30. ^ "Sacramento lands minor league soccer franchise". Sacramento Bee. 2012-12-03. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
  31. ^ "Oklahoma City to Join USL PRO in 2014". USLSoccer.com. 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2013-07-02.
  32. ^ a b "MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER AWARDS EXPANSION TEAM TO ORLANDO". orlandocitysoccer.com. Orlando City Soccer Club. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  33. ^ Schmitz, Brian (November 19, 2013). "MLS officially awards Orlando soccer franchise". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  34. ^ Wiebe, Andrew (November 19, 2013). "Orlando City SC fans, owners see years of hard work bear fruit, but promise there's plenty more to come". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  35. ^ USL PRO 2012 Schedule Released
  36. ^ http://www.usldiscussions.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/topic/26612/gonew/1
  37. ^ Doherty Soccer, 2012 USL-Pro Attendance, http://dohertysoccer.com/2012-lower-division-attendance/2012-usl-pro-attendance/
  38. ^ 2013 USL-Pro Attendance, http://www.kenn.com/the_blog/?p=5613
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