USL-1 expanding to New York?

Friday, 13 March 09, 03:13 PM · Comments (0)

According to Dylan Butler at Soccer By Ives, yes.

This would be very interesting. While MLS officially has a New York team, Red Bull, the team actually plays across State lines in East Rutherford, New Jersey (and as of 2010, Harrison, NJ). So it has potential to succeed. They key word being "potential", because success in American soccer is anything but a sure thing.

If the bid goes through, and I'm usually inclined to believe Ives' site as he's normally right on the money, it could see four new teams (the others being the Stoke City-owned Austin Aztex, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and the potential Pachuca-owned as-of-yet unnamed Orlando team) feature in the USL First Division in 2010.

This news comes on the heels of Portland and Vancouver all but officially becoming the newest MLS cities. This news had to come as a huge blow the Francisco Marcos and the USL as the Portland Timbers and Vancover Whitecaps are considered among the shining stars of the league. But with that said, I don't think it's a death blow, in fact I see it as a blessing in disguise. While the Cascadian clubs are wonderful for the league, the travel involved in playing them is a massive burden on the Eastern clubs which constitute a majority of the league

If, and that's a very big if, this New York expansion bares fruit, do not be suprised to see the USL expand into another MLS "market". The one I'm thinking of is Dallas-Fort Worth. FC Dallas' stadium is a good clip from where most fans in the area are located, and Fort Worth (the 17th largest city in the country, and that figure will jump with the 2010 cencus) and the rest of the western metro is somewhat sports starved. This would create a natural rival for Austin as well.

Another city recently being floated for expansion to the USL is Hamilton, Ontario. If New York and Hamilton happen and Atlanta comes back, the USL would see it's western stars replaced with a strong east coast backbone.

Like this blog? Help spread the word: