USL Championship explained

Organiser:United Soccer League
USL Championship
Current:2024 USL Championship season
Country:United States
American:yes
First:2011
Conferences:Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Teams:24
Levels:2
Domest Cup:U.S. Open Cup
Champions:Phoenix Rising FC
Season:2023
Shieldtitle:Players' Shield
Shieldseason:2023
Most Shields:Orlando City (3 titles)

The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began play in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as a Division II league since 2017, placing it under Major League Soccer (Division I) in the hierarchy.[1] The USL is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.[2]

The league is owned and operated by United Soccer League and was formed as result of the merger of their USL First (USL-1) and Second Divisions (USL-2), following the 2010 season which saw neither the USL-1 nor the North American Soccer League (NASL) receive Division II sanctioning from the USSF, resulting in the temporary USSF Division 2 Pro League. United Soccer Leagues stated that the merger would strengthen the league's position within the American professional soccer landscape through stability, commercial growth and the professional development of soccer in four main regions throughout the United States and Canada.[3]

History

Founding (2010)

On September 8, 2010, the United Soccer Leagues formally announced the creation of USL Pro in a press release.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 USL-1, the Austin Aztex were the only remaining USL-1 team not yet a part of 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. 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". 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-2 Champions, the Charleston Battery, would be joining USL Pro for its launch in 2011.[8] 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.[9] On October 4 and 7, 2010, the USL revealed two USL-2 clubs, the Charlotte Eagles and the Harrisburg City Islanders (later known as Penn FC), would be making the jump to USL Pro for 2011.[10] [11]

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds were added as the 9th official team on October 22, 2010.[12] October 25, 2010, saw the addition of the Rochester Rhinos[13] who had previously committed to the NASL, along with expansion team Orlando City SC (formerly the Austin Aztex FC of USL-1) after new ownership secured and moved the team from Texas to Florida.[14]

On November 9, 2010, former USL-2 side Wilmington Hammerheads officially joined the league as the 12th team,[15] 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.

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,[18] marking the last of the 15 teams that would compete in USL Pro in its inaugural 2011 season.

On September 14, 2010, United Soccer Leagues President Tim Holt expressed the desired structure for the league to launch with 14–18 teams across four specific geographic areas in 2011, expansion to 22–26 teams by 2013, and 28–32 teams by 2015.[19]

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.

Progression of expansion!Season!# Teams
201112
201211
201313
201414
201524
201629
201730
201833
201936
202035
202131
202227
202324
2024

Play begins (2011–2012)

See main article: 2011 USL Pro season and 2012 USL Pro season. USL Pro debuted in 2011, starting with 15 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.[20] [21] [22]

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 two teams in the International Division played-off against each other to reach the semi-finals. 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 Cup. In all playoff matches the highest seeded team hosted.

The first league game was played on April 2, 2011. The Richmond Kickers defeated Orlando City SC 2–0 at Richmond's City Stadium. Stanley Nyazamba scored the first goal in the 35th minute on a penalty kick.[23]

On May 10, 2011, early in the league's inaugural season, the league announced that it was dropping the three Puerto Rican clubs from the USL Pro schedule.[24] The PRSL clubs were dropped due to economic and ownership issues. 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.

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.[25]

Beginnings of MLS partnership (2013–2014)

See main article: 2013 USL Pro season and 2014 USL Pro season. Two expansion teams joined for the 2013 season: Phoenix FC[26] [27] and the VSI Tampa Bay FC.[28]

On January 23, 2013, the United Soccer Leagues and the Major League Soccer 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.

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.[29] [30] The Houston Dynamo announced that they would be partnering with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 2014.[31] However, this partnership between the Riverhounds and Dynamo was dissolved after just one year.[32] Following the conclusion of the 2013 season, VSI Tampa Bay folded after only one season, along with founding league member Antigua.[33]

In December 2012, Sacramento announced it would begin play in 2014 as an expansion team,[34] and in July 2014, USL announced that Oklahoma City would also join USL in 2014.[35] Orlando City announced that it would leave USL after the 2014 season to join MLS as an expansion team for the 2015 season.[36] [37] [38] The Los Angeles Blues were rebranded as Orange County Blues FC on February 5, 2014.[39] The Phoenix FC franchise was revoked and replaced with Arizona United SC on March 13, 2014.[40]

In what would become a major trend, on January 29, 2014, the LA Galaxy announced the creation of LA Galaxy II, a reserve team within the club's existing development structure. The Galaxy purchased a USL Pro expansion franchise[41] and became the first MLS club to enter its reserve team into the USL Pro.

Expansion of MLS partnership and first rebranding (2015–2016)

See main article: 2015 USL season and 2016 USL season.

USL Pro nearly doubled the number of teams in the league for 2015 in large part due to MLS franchises following the path taken by the LA Galaxy II. Seven MLS clubs announced the purchase of a USL Pro franchise for their reserve team. These MLS franchises joined four independent expansion teams that were previously announced for Colorado Springs, St. Louis, Tulsa and Austin. Additionally, Orlando City sold its franchise rights to Louisville interests, which unveiled Louisville City FC on June 3, 2014, as an affiliate of the new MLS side.[42] The United Soccer Leagues announced that the Charlotte Eagles would drop to its Premier Development League (PDL), now known as USL League Two, while selling their franchise rights to another Charlotte group, which formed Charlotte Independence for play beginning in 2015.[43] Finally, on December 11, 2014, the Dayton Dutch Lions self-relegated to play in the PDL starting in 2015.[44]

During 2014 and early 2015, the various MLS clubs in conjunction with the USL announced seven new franchises that would be owned or controlled by MLS team ownership, and would all begin play in 2015. On September 10, 2014, Real Salt Lake revealed the name of their previously announced USL Pro affiliate team would be Real Monarchs, and confirmed that the team would begin play in 2015.[45] [46] The team played at Rio Tinto Stadium until the 5,000-seat Zions Bank Stadium was built in Herriman, Utah.[47] Both the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC created their own USL Pro squads, Portland Timbers 2 and Seattle Sounders FC 2 on October 14, 2014.[48] The Montreal Impact announced that it would field a USL Pro team in September 2014. On November 18, 2014, FC Montreal officially joined the league.[49] [50] [51] On November 20, 2014, Toronto FC announced that it would also field a team, subsequently named Toronto FC II, for the 2015 season.[52] Whitecaps FC 2 joined USL Pro the next day.[53] After discussing plans for a USL Pro team in 2015,[54] then postponing those plans in September,[55] the New York Red Bulls announced that their USL Pro team, New York Red Bulls II would begin play in 2015.[56] [57]

MLS affiliations were announced for the remaining MLS teams that did not have an affiliation in 2014 and did not elect to purchase a USL Pro franchise. On September 18, 2014, the Colorado Rapids announced an affiliation partnership with the Charlotte Independence.[58] On January 16, 2015 New York City FC announced that it would have an affiliate relationship with the Wilmington Hammerheads[59] and the Chicago Fire announced their affiliation with St Louis.[60] On February 9, 2015, FC Dallas announced it would add Arizona United SC as its USL Pro affiliate.[61] [62] As a result, all 20 MLS teams for the 2015 season were either fielding their own team in the USL Pro or were affiliated with an independent USL Pro club.

The league also announced in 2015 that the league would be divided into two conferences. Teams would play a 28-game schedule with 22 games against all the teams in their conference, and the teams would be further assigned to four-club subdivisions for the other six games with an eye towards geographic rivalries between clubs.[63]

On February 10, 2015, United Soccer Leagues announced a branding change for the league. It would now be called the United Soccer League or "USL" for short. They introduced a new logo and branding, and stated their intention to apply for Division II status within the United States Soccer Federation hierarchy.[64]

During the 2015 season, USL announced several expansion teams for the 2016 season. The 25th franchise was awarded to Lone Star, LLC and the team would be named Rio Grande Valley FC.[65] In a first for the USL, the team has a "hybrid" affiliation with the Houston Dynamo, who are responsible for the tactical part of the club, while the ownership group, Lone Star, is responsible for operations and management.[66] [67] FC Cincinnati was added as the 26th franchise[68] [69] and Bethlehem Steel FC, in the Lehigh Valley area and owned by the Philadelphia Union, became the 27th, Orlando City B (owned by Orlando City SC) as the 29th,[70] the Swope Park Rangers (owned by Sporting Kansas City) as the 30th,[71] and San Antonio FC as the 31st.[72]

The Austin Aztex announced that they would go on hiatus for the 2016 USL season on October 2, 2015. Floods damaging House Park midway through the 2015 season forced the team to relocate to a high school facility. The team was intended to return in 2017, pending construction of a new, soccer-specific stadium.[73] However, stadium and ownership issues continued to plague the franchise, and they did not return.[74]

Division II sanctioning and second rebranding (2017–2019)

See main article: 2017 USL season, 2018 USL season and 2019 USL Championship season.

Expansion continued for the 2017 season with Reno 1868 FC, which had been announced during the 2015 season as the 28th franchise, starting play.[75] On October 25, 2016, the USL added two teams from the North American Soccer League (NASL): the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury FC. This was the first time a club moved from the NASL to the USL.[76] The Montreal Impact also announced that it would fold its USL team, FC Montreal, in favor of affiliating with Ottawa Fury FC.[77]

On August 31, 2016, Kyle Eng sold his majority share of Arizona United SC to an investment group led by Berke Bakay and was rebranded as Phoenix Rising FC.[78] [79] [80] Ivory Coast Soccer Legend Didier Drogba later purchased a share of the team and played the final two seasons of his career there.[81] [82] [83] [84]

On January 6, 2017, the U.S. Soccer board of directors voted to grant provisional Division II status to the USL for the 2017 season, placing the league on the same tier as the North American Soccer League. The NASL was also downgraded from Division II sanctioning to a provisional status because its membership decreased below the 12-team minimum. Following the 2017 season, the USL gained two more NASL teams: Indy Eleven[85] and North Carolina FC.[86] For the 2018 season, the NASL's provisional sanctioning was not renewed by U.S. Soccer, while the USL was granted full sanctioning under Division II on a year-to-year basis.[87] The NASL sued U.S. Soccer, asking a court to order U.S. Soccer to grant NASL Division II status, but the request was denied by the trial court, and denied again by the appeals court.[88]

The USL's expansion efforts continued in the 2018 season with the additions of Nashville SC,[89] [90] Las Vegas Lights FC,[91] [92] [93] Fresno FC (affiliated with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC)[94] and Atlanta United 2 (owned by Atlanta United FC).[95] [96] The league also lost Orlando City B and the Rochester Rhinos, which each announced a hiatus,[97] [98] while the Whitecaps FC 2 were folded after its parent team in Vancouver decided to no longer run its own development team and affiliated with the new Fresno expansion.

Four teams left the USL top flight after the 2018 season. The ownership group of FC Cincinnati was awarded an MLS franchise that started play under the FC Cincinnati name in 2019.[99] Penn FC,[100] the Richmond Kickers,[101] and Toronto FC II voluntarily dropped to USL League One, a new third-level league that United Soccer Leagues launched in 2019.[102] The Kickers and Toronto FC II began League One play in 2019; Penn FC suspended professional operations for 2019 and will resume play in League One in 2020. In addition, the announced hiatuses for both the Rhinos and Orlando City B became permanent departures. The Rhinos originally announced they would extend their hiatus through 2019 before resuming play in League One in 2020,[103] but ended up not resuming play until 2022, by which time the club had changed its name to Rochester New York FC and joined the new third-level MLS Next Pro.[104] Orlando City B resumed play in 2019 in League One.[105]

The league also approved several other expansion locations in Austin,[106] Birmingham,[107] Memphis,[108] [109] Chicago,[110] [111] Oakland East Bay, Hartford,[112] Albuquerque,[113] El Paso,[114] Loudoun County, Virginia,[115] and San Diego.[116] All of these teams began play in 2019 except for San Diego, which began play in the 2020 season; Chicago and East Bay were both announced to launch by 2021, but were indefinitely put on hold when they had issues in securing stadium plans.[117]

COVID 19 Impact (2020–2021)

See main article: 2020 USL Championship season and 2021 USL Championship season.

Following the end of the 2019 season, three teams left the USL Championship. Nashville SC was awarded a Major League Soccer franchise,[118] Fresno FC announced that they would not be returning to Fresno,[119] and Ottawa Fury FC announced that they would be suspending operations after not receiving sanctioning to remain in USL by CONCACAF and U.S. Soccer.[120] An expansion team was announced for the New York City borough of Queens to be named Queensboro FC.[121] On December 11, the Ottawa Fury announced the sale of its franchise rights to the ownership group of Miami FC, with Miami set to participate in the 2020 USL Championship season. This marked the entrance of another former NASL team into the league, with Miami having previously spent time in NPSL and the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) after the NASL folded.

Saint Louis FC folded at the end of the 2020 season. At the time, the city was set to receive an MLS franchise, with St. Louis City SC ultimately starting play in 2023. A spokesperson for SLFC told Sports Illustrated in August 2020, "The ownership decided that with the financial impact of COVID-19 and MLS on the horizon, it didn't make sense to continue operations."[122] Also at the end of the 2020 season, two MLS clubs, the Philadelphia Union and Portland Timbers, withdrew their reserve sides, Philadelphia Union II and Portland Timbers 2, from the United Soccer League system.[123] The proposed East Bay club's bid had faltered due to stadium issues and its USL franchise rights were purchased by Oakland Roots SC, which had previously played in the NISA, with plans to debut in the USLC for the 2021 season.[124] [125] On November 6, 2020, Reno 1868 FC announced it was ceasing operations as a result of the financial and operational impacts of COVID-19.[126] On January 10, 2021, North Carolina FC club chairman Stephen Malik announced that the club would make a "strategic move" to USL League One.[127]

On February 1, 2021, Monterey Bay FC joined the USL Championship. Monterey Bay FC is a continuation of the USL Championship's Fresno FC franchise. Fresno FC, the original club owned by Ray Beshoff, ceased operations after the 2019 season because he was unable to secure construction of a soccer-specific stadium. Beshoff, however, retained the franchise rights and managed to land the franchise to play their home matches at Cardinale Stadium on the campus of California State University, Monterey Bay in Seaside, California. On November 13, 2021, it was announced that Detroit City would join the USL Championship for the 2022 USL Championship season, becoming the third NISA team to join the league after Miami FC and Oakland Roots SC.[128] On December 2, 2021, Charlotte Independence decided to drop down to the third tier USL League One for 2022, with the goal of better serving its youth players, as well as the fact that a new expansion franchise in the city Charlotte FC was joining Major League Soccer that season, with whom several Independence players had signed for.[129] [130] On December 3, 2021, Oklahoma City Energy FC announced that it will temporarily suspend soccer operations and will not compete in the 2022 USL Championship season. The decision comes after Energy FC's home field at Taft Stadium, which is owned and operated by the Oklahoma City Public Schools, will undergo major renovations that directly overlap with the 2022 USL Championship season and will resume play for the 2023 USL Championship season in its temporary home at Taft Stadium.[131]

End of MLS partnership (2021–2022)

On December 6, 2021, Major League Soccer announced MLS Next Pro, a Division III league that would begin play in 2022. The MLS–USL partnership that started in 2014 came to an end: all MLS clubs with reserve teams in USL Championship or USL League One would be moving their affiliated teams to MLS Next Pro by 2023, with the exception of Loudoun United FC (although under a different ownership).[132] On December 10, 2021, the USL Championship approved a new ownership group for USL Championship club Austin Bold FC. The new ownership group consists of Donnie Nelson, Neil Leibman, and Bobby Epstein. The team did not participate in the 2022 USL Championship season as it actively seeks relocation to another city in Texas.[133]

On January 27, 2022, the USL officially awarded USL Pro Iowa an expansion team to be based in Des Moines, Iowa, that would join the league in the 2024 season. The team's majority owner is Kyle Krause, who has been the majority owner of USL League Two side Des Moines Menace since 1998.[134] On July 14, 2022, the USL announced a group that intended to bring USL Championship and Super League teams to New Orleans, Louisiana, with a goal for the Championship side to kick off by 2025.[135] On August 12, 2022, ground was broken in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on a stadium that will be the home of Rhode Island FC.[136] The team begins play in the 2024 season in Smithfield, Rhode Island, as the construction is completed in Pawtucket.[137] On August 30, 2022, the USL announced that a group of investors had formed to bring USL Championship and USL Super League expansion teams to Jacksonville, Florida, with the goal for the Championship side to kick off in 2025.[138] On October 19, 2022, the USL awarded an expansion team to USL Milwaukee, set to begin play in 2025 with plans to build an 8,000-seat stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[139]

Recent history (2023–present)

On July 12, 2023, the USL awarded an expansion team to USL Arkansas with the intent to bring USL Championship and Super League teams to Rogers, Arkansas, with a goal for the Championship and Super League sides to kick off by 2026 and play in a new 5,000-seat stadium.[140]

On August 7, 2023, North Carolina FC majority owner Steve Malik has announced that the club would come back from USL League One to the USL Championship starting from the 2024 season.[141]

On August 24, 2023, San Diego Loyal ownership announced that the team would shut down at the end of the season,[142] and the USL announced that it would transfer the franchise rights of the Loyal due to an inability to find a "viable near- and long-term stadium solution."[143] The announcement came three months after Major League Soccer announced a San Diego expansion team that would begin play in 2025 as San Diego FC. The club's final game was a 4–3 extra-time playoff quarterfinal loss to Phoenix Rising, the eventual playoff champions.[144]

On November 29, 2023, it was announced that Milwaukee's expansion will be deferred to the 2026 season.[145] On December 14, 2023, the USL awarded an expansion team to USL Palm Beach with the intent to bring USL Championship and Super League teams to Palm Beach County, Florida, with a goal for the Super League side to kick off by 2025.[146]

On December 18, 2023, Rio Grande Valley FC Toros announced they were ceasing all soccer and business operations, officially ending their eight-year business partnership with USL.[147]

Teams

The following teams are playing in the 2024 USL Championship season.[148]

Overview of USL Championship teams
ConferenceTeamCityStadium CapacityFoundedJoinedHead coach
Eastern ConferenceBirmingham Legion FCBirmingham, AlabamaProtective Stadium47,10020172019 Tom Soehn
Charleston BatteryMount Pleasant, South CarolinaPatriots Point Soccer Complex3,90019932011 Ben Pirmann
Detroit City FCHamtramck, MichiganKeyworth Stadium7,93320122022 Danny Dichio
Hartford AthleticHartford, ConnecticutTrinity Health Stadium5,50020182019 Brendan Burke[149]
Indy ElevenIndianapolis, IndianaCarroll Stadium10,524 20132018 Sean McAuley[150]
Loudoun United FCLeesburg, VirginiaSegra Field5,00020182019 Ryan Martin
Louisville City FCLouisville, KentuckyLynn Family Stadium11,70020142015 Danny Cruz
Miami FCUniversity Park, FloridaFIU Stadium20,00020152020 Antonio Nocerino
North Carolina FCCary, North CarolinaWakeMed Soccer Park10,00020062024 John Bradford
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SCPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaHighmark Stadium5,00019982011 Bob Lilley
Rhode Island FCSmithfield, Rhode IslandBeirne Stadium[151] 5,25220192024 Khano Smith
Tampa Bay RowdiesSt. Petersburg, FloridaAl Lang Stadium7,22720082017 Robbie Neilson
Western ConferenceColorado Springs Switchbacks FCColorado Springs, ColoradoWeidner Field8,00020132015 James Chambers
El Paso Locomotive FCEl Paso, TexasSouthwest University Park9,50020182019 Wilmer Cabrera
Las Vegas Lights FCLas Vegas, NevadaCashman Field9,33420172018 Dennis Sanchez
Memphis 901 FCMemphis, TennesseeAutoZone Park10,00020182019 Stephen Glass
Monterey Bay FCSeaside, CaliforniaCardinale Stadium6,00020212022 Jordan Stewart
New Mexico UnitedAlbuquerque, New MexicoRio Grande Credit Union Field13,50020182019 Eric Quill
Oakland Roots SCOakland, CaliforniaPioneer Stadium5,00020182021 Gavin Glinton (interim)
Orange County SCIrvine, CaliforniaChampionship Soccer Stadium5,00020102011
Phoenix Rising FCPhoenix, ArizonaPhoenix Rising Soccer Stadium[152] 10,0002014 Diego Gómez (interim)
Sacramento Republic FCSacramento, CaliforniaHeart Health Park11,56920122014 Mark Briggs
San Antonio FCSan Antonio, TexasToyota Field8,2962016 Alen Marcina
FC TulsaTulsa, OklahomaOneok Field7,83320132015 Mario Sanchez

Expansion teams

Overview of USL Championship planned teams
TeamCityStadium CapacityFoundedJoiningHead coach
Brooklyn FC[153] Maimonides Park[154] 7,00020232025 [155]
Sporting Club JacksonvilleJacksonville, FloridaTBDTBD20222025[156]
Lexington SC[157] Lexington, Kentucky7,50020212025 Darren Powell
Milwaukee Pro SoccerMilwaukee, WisconsinIron District Stadium8,00020222026[158] [159]
USL Arkansas[160] [161] Rogers, ArkansasUSL Arkansas Stadium5,00020232026
Buffalo Pro SoccerBuffalo, New YorkTBDTBD20242026[162]
USL Pro Iowa[163] [164] Des Moines, IowaPro Iowa Stadium6,3002022TBD[165]
USL New Orleans[166] New Orleans, LouisianaTBDTBD2022TBD
USL Palm Beach[167] Palm Beach County, FloridaTBDTBD2023TBD

Notes

Overview of former USL Championship teams
ClubCityStadiumCapacityJoinedFinal seasonMLS affiliationFate
St. John's, Antigua5,00020112013NoneFolded
Atlanta United 2Kennesaw, GeorgiaFifth Third Bank Stadium8,31820182022Atlanta UnitedMoved to MLS Next Pro
Austin Bold FCAustin, TexasCircuit of the Americas5,00020172021NoneFolded
Austin, Texas6,5002015Columbus Crew SCFolded
Charlotte EaglesCharlotte, North CarolinaDickson Field5,00620112014NoneMoved to Premier Development League
Charlotte IndependenceCharlotte, North CarolinaMemorial Stadium10,50020142021NoneMoved to USL League One[170]
FC CincinnatiCincinnati, OhioNippert Stadium33,80020152018NoneMoved to Major League Soccer
Dayton Dutch LionsWest Carrollton, OhioDOC Stadium3,00020112014Moved to Premier Development League
FC MontrealMontreal, QuebecComplexe sportif Claude-Robillard3,50020152016Montreal ImpactFolded by MLS parent club
F.C. New YorkQueens, New YorkBelson Stadium2,1682011NoneMoved to National Premier Soccer League
Fresno FCFresno, CaliforniaChukchansi Park12,50020172019NoneRelocated to Monterey County, California, became Monterey Bay FC
LA Galaxy IICarson, CaliforniaDignity Health Sports Park10,00020142022LA GalaxyMoved to MLS Next Pro
Nashville SCNashville, TennesseeFirst Tennessee Park10,00020162019NoneMoved to Major League Soccer
New York Red Bulls IIMontclair, New JerseyMSU Soccer Park5,00020152022New York Red BullsMoved to MLS Next Pro
Orlando City BOrlando, FloridaOrlando City Stadium3,50020162017Orlando City SCMoved to USL League One[171]
Orlando City SCBay Lake, FloridaESPN Wide World of Sports Complex5,50020112014Sporting Kansas CityMoved to Major League Soccer; USL rights transferred to Louisville
Ottawa Fury FCOttawa, OntarioTD Place Stadium24,00020172019Montreal ImpactFolded; USL rights transferred to Miami[172]
Penn FCHarrisburg, PennsylvaniaFNB Field6,18720112018NoneFolded
Philadelphia Union IIChester, PennsylvaniaSubaru Park18,50020152020Philadelphia UnionMoved to MLS Next Pro
Phoenix FCTempe, ArizonaSun Devil Soccer Stadium3,4002013NoneFolded; replaced by Arizona United SC
Portland Timbers 2Hillsboro, OregonHillsboro Stadium7,60020152020Portland TimbersMoved to MLS Next Pro
Aguada, Puerto RicoAguada Stadium4,0002011NoneMoved to Liga Nacional (PR)
Real MonarchsHerriman, UtahZions Bank Stadium5,00020152021Real Salt LakeMoved to MLS Next Pro
Reno 1868 FCReno, NevadaGreater Nevada Field9,01320172020San Jose EarthquakesFolded
Richmond KickersRichmond, VirginiaCity Stadium22,00020112018D.C. UnitedMoved to USL League One
Rio Grande Valley FCEdinburg, TexasH-E-B Park9,40020162023NoneFolded
River Plate Puerto RicoFajardo, Puerto RicoRoberto Clemente Stadium12,5002011NoneMoved to Puerto Rico Soccer League
Rochester RhinosRochester, New YorkMarina Auto Stadium13,76820112017New England RevolutionMoved to MLS Next Pro[173]
Saint Louis FCFenton, MissouriWest Community Stadium5,50020142020NoneFolded
San Diego Loyal SCSan Diego, CaliforniaTorero Stadium6,00020202023NoneFolded
Sevilla Puerto RicoJuncos, Puerto RicoJosué Elevadito González Stadium2,5002011NoneMoved to Liga Nacional (PR)
Sporting Kansas City IIKansas City, KansasChildren's Mercy Park18,46720162021Sporting Kansas CityMoved to MLS Next Pro
Tacoma DefianceTacoma, WashingtonCheney Stadium6,50020152021Seattle Sounders FCMoved to MLS Next Pro
Toronto FC IIToronto, OntarioLamport Stadium9,60020142018Toronto FCMoved to USL League One
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2Vancouver, British ColumbiaThunderbird Stadium3,50020152017Vancouver Whitecaps FCMoved to MLS Next Pro
VSI Tampa Bay FCPlant City, FloridaPlant City Stadium6,70020132013NoneFolded
Wilmington Hammerheads FCWilmington, North CarolinaLegion Stadium6,00020112016Toronto FC & New York City FCMoved to PDL

Timeline

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ScaleMajor = gridcolor:scale unit:year increment:1 start:01/01/2010Legend = orientation:hor position:bottomDefine $other = color:Other textcolor:otherTextLineData = color:scale layer:back width:2 at:01/01/2025 #> CHANGE THIS DATE TO UPDATE CURRENT SEASON <#PlotData= width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

  1. > JOINED IN 2011 <#

bar:ANT color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2013 text:Antigua Barracuda FC

bar:CHS $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USL-2 bar:CHS color:Full from:01/01/2011 till:end text:Charleston Battery

bar:CHE $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USL-2 bar:CHE color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2014 text:Charlotte Eagles bar:CHE $other from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2018 text:PDL bar:CHE $other from:01/01/2019 till:end text:USL2

bar:DDL $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:PDL bar:DDL color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2014 text:Dayton Dutch Lions bar:DDL $other from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2018 text:PDL bar:DDL $other from:01/01/2019 till:end text:USL2

bar:NEW color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2011 text:F.C. New York bar:NEW $other from:01/01/2012 till:12/31/2012 bar:NEW $other from:05/01/2012 till:12/31/2012 text:NPSL #> offset to prevent overlap with club name <#

bar:HCI $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USL-2 bar:HCI color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2017 text:Harrisburg City Islanders bar:HCI color:Former from:01/01/2018 till:12/31/2018 text:Penn FC

bar:OCO color:Full from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2013 text:Los Angeles Blues bar:OCO color:Full from:01/01/2014 till:12/31/2016 text:Orange County Blues bar:OCO color:Full from:01/01/2017 till:end text:Orange County SC

bar:ORL color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2014 text:Orlando City SC bar:ORL $other from:01/01/2015 till:end text:MLS

bar:PGH $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USL-2 bar:PGH color:Full from:01/01/2011 till:end text:Pittsburgh Riverhounds

bar:PR $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:PRSL bar:PR color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:05/11/2011 text:Puerto Rico clubs ‡

bar:RIC $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USL-2 bar:RIC color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2018 text:Richmond Kickers bar:RIC $other from:01/01/2019 till:end text:USL1

bar:ROC $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USSF D2 bar:ROC color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2017 text:Rochester Rhinos bar:ROC $other from:01/01/2022 till:12/31/2022 text:MLS Next Pro

bar:WIL color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2016 text:Wilmington Hammerheads FC bar:WIL $other from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2017 text:PDL

  1. > JOINED IN 2013 <#

bar:PHX color:Former from:01/01/2013 till:12/31/2013 text:Phoenix FC

bar:TAM color:Former from:01/01/2013 till:12/31/2013 text:VSI Tampa Bay FC

  1. > JOINED IN 2014 <#

bar:AZU color:Full from:01/01/2014 till:12/31/2016 text:Arizona United SC bar:AZU color:Full from:01/01/2017 till:end text:Phoenix Rising FC

bar:LAG color:Former from:01/01/2014 till:01/01/2023 text:LA Galaxy II bar:LAG $other from:01/01/2023 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:OKC color:Former from:01/01/2014 till:01/01/2022 text:Oklahoma City Energy FC

  1. > JOINED IN 2015 <#

bar:AUS $other from:01/01/2012 till:12/31/2014 text:PDL bar:AUS color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2015 text:Austin Aztex

bar:CLT color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2021 text:Charlotte Independence bar:CLT $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:USL1

bar:CSS color:Full from:01/01/2015 till:end text:Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

bar:MON color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2016 text:FC Montreal

bar:LOU color:Full from:01/01/2015 till:end text:Louisville City FC

bar:NYR color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2023 text:New York Red Bulls II bar:NYR $other from:01/01/2023 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:POR color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2020 text:Portland Timbers 2 bar:POR $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:RMO color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2022 text:Real Monarchs bar:RMO $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:STL color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2020 text:Saint Louis FC

bar:TAC color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2018 text:Seattle Sounders FC 2 bar:TAC color:Former from:01/01/2019 till:01/01/2022 text:Tacoma Defiance bar:TAC $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:TOR color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2018 text:Toronto FC II bar:TOR $other from:01/01/2019 till:12/31/2019 text:USL1 bar:TOR $other from:01/01/2021 till:01/01/2022 text:USL1 bar:TOR $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:TUL color:Full from:01/01/2015 till:end text:Tulsa Roughnecks FC bar:TUL color:Full from:01/01/2020 till:end text:FC Tulsa

bar:VAN color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2017 text:Whitecaps FC 2 bar:VAN $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

  1. > JOINED IN 2016 <#

bar:PHI color:Former from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2019 text:Bethlehem Steel FC bar:PHI color:Former from:01/01/2020 till:12/31/2020 text:Philadelphia Union II bar:PHI $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:CIN color:Former from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2018 text:FC Cincinnati bar:CIN $other from:01/01/2019 till:end text:MLS

bar:OCB color:Former from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2017 text:Orlando City B bar:OCB $other from:01/01/2019 till:12/31/2020 text:USL1 bar:OCB $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:RGV color:Former from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2023 text:Rio Grande Valley FC

bar:SAN color:Full from:01/01/2016 till:end text:San Antonio FC

bar:SPR color:Former from:01/01/2016 till:end text:Swope Park Rangers bar:SPR color:Former from:01/01/2020 till:01/01/2022 text:Sporting Kansas City II bar:SPR $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

  1. > JOINED IN 2017 <#

bar:OTT $other from:01/01/2014 till:12/31/2016 text:NASL bar:OTT color:Former from:01/01/2017 till:12/31/2019 text:Ottawa Fury FC

bar:REN color:Former from:01/01/2017 till:12/31/2020 text:Reno 1868 FC

bar:TBR $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USSF D2 bar:TBR $other from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2016 text:NASL bar:TBR color:Full from:01/01/2017 till:end text:Tampa Bay Rowdies

  1. > JOINED IN 2018 <#

bar:ATL color:Former from:01/01/2018 till:01/01/2023 text:Atlanta United 2 bar:ATL $other from:01/01/2023 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:MTR color:Former from:01/01/2018 till:12/31/2019 text:Fresno FC bar:MTR color:Full from:01/01/2022 till:end text:Monterey Bay

bar:IND $other from:01/01/2014 till:12/31/2017 text:NASL bar:IND color:Full from:01/01/2018 till:end text:Indy Eleven

bar:LVL color:Full from:01/01/2018 till:end text:Las Vegas Lights FC

bar:NSH color:Former from:01/01/2018 till:12/31/2019 text:Nashville SC bar:NSH $other from:01/01/2020 till:end text:MLS

bar:NCA $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USSF D2 bar:NCA $other from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2017 text:NASL bar:NCA color:Full from:01/01/2018 till:12/31/2020 text:North Carolina FC bar:NCA $other from:01/01/2021 till:12/31/2023 text:USL1 bar:NCA color:Full from:01/01/2024 till:end text:

  1. > JOINED IN 2019 <#

bar:BLD color:Former from:01/01/2019 till:12/31/2021 text:Austin Bold FC

bar:BHM color:Full from:01/01/2019 till:end text:Birmingham Legion FC

bar:ELP color:Full from:01/01/2019 till:end text:El Paso Locomotive FC

bar:HAR color:Full from:01/01/2019 till:end text:Hartford Athletic

bar:LDN color:Full from:01/01/2019 till:end text:Loudoun United FC

bar:MEM color:Full from:01/01/2019 till:end text:Memphis 901 FC

bar:NMU color:Full from:01/01/2019 till:end text:New Mexico United

  1. > JOINED IN 2020 <#

bar:MIA $other from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2017 text:NASL bar:MIA $other from:01/01/2018 till:06/30/2019 text:NPSL bar:MIA $other from:07/01/2019 till:12/31/2019 text:NISA bar:MIA color:Full from:01/01/2020 till:end text:Miami FC bar:SDL color:Former from:01/01/2020 till:12/31/2023 text:San Diego Loyal SC

  1. > JOINED IN 2021 <#
  1. > JOINED IN 2022 <#
  1. > JOINED IN 2024 <#

bar:RHD color:Full from:01/01/2024 till:end text:Rhode Island FC

  1. > FUTURE <#

bar:BKN color:Future from:01/01/2025 till:end text:Brooklyn

bar:JAX color:Future from:01/01/2025 till:end text:Jacksonville

bar:LEX $other from:01/01/2023 till:12/31/2024 text:USL1 bar:LEX color:Future from:01/01/2025 till:end text:Lexington SC

bar:IOW color:Future from:01/01/2026 till:end text:Iowa

bar:MIL color:Future from:01/01/2026 till:end text:Milwaukee

bar:ARK color:Future from:01/01/2026 till:end text:Arkansas

bar:NO color:Future from:01/01/2026 till:end text:New Orleans

bar:BUF color:Future from:01/01/2026 till:end text:Buffalo

‡ Puerto Rico clubs Puerto Rico United, River Plate Puerto Rico, and Sevilla Puerto Rico began play in the league, but in May 2011 United Soccer Leagues announced that the teams would not finish the season due to financial difficulties.[174]

Competition format

For the 2024 season, teams play a home-and-away schedule within their conference and an additional twelve games (six home and six away) against teams in the opposing conference for a 34-game schedule. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top eight teams in each conference will qualify for the playoffs. The USL Championship playoffs is a single-elimination tournament with a fixed bracket format, culminating in the USL Championship Final.[175]

Before the current format, all teams played 28 regular-season matches stretching from March to September. This included a 22-game, double-round-robin schedule that pitted each team against all its conference opponents at home and on the road. The remaining six fixtures were played against regional rivals, which lead to some inter-conference regular season matches. The top six finishers in each conference went through to the October playoffs, which continued as a series of single-game knockout rounds. After three rounds of intra-conference play, the two conference champions met in the championship match, to be hosted by the team with the better regular-season record.[176] USL Pro's scheduling format changed for the 2015 season to accommodate the expansion that took place during the 2014–15 off-season, and the league's resulting need to divide teams into conferences – which eliminated the single table.[177] [178] For 2016 season the season was extended to 30 games.

Media coverage

The USL has been partnered with ESPN since the 2016 season. The first iteration of the deal brought 20 matches to ESPN3 and the championship match to one of its linear networks, while all remaining matches were broadcast directly by the league on its YouTube channel.[179]

Beginning with the launch of ESPN+ on April 12, 2018, all USL matches moved to the over-the-top service, with 18 games of the week and the championship continuing to air on one of ESPN's linear channels.[180] The 2019 final will also air on ESPN Deportes. The deal with ESPN expired after the 2019 season, but was subsequently renewed for three additional seasons. Although the ESPN+ match streams are not blacked out in-market, individual clubs are also allowed to syndicate the USL-produced broadcast to local television stations.[181]

The English-language commentary team for the USL Championship on ESPN has included Mike Watts and Devon Kerr since 2018. Watts and Kerr also host a weekly program, USL All-Access, on Sirius XM FC. Broadcasts on ESPN Deportes have been led by Jesús Eduardo Acosta and José Armando Rodriguez.[182]

In August 2020, the USL announced their first international broadcast partner with Caribbean broadcaster Flow Sports.[183]

In August 2021, the USL announced a new broadcast agreement with OneFootball in Italy.[184]

The USL announced that four-year media deal with CBS Sports beginning with the 2024 season through 2027.[185] On February 27, 2024, the USL also announced multi-year deal with ESPN as a second broadcast partner through 2026.[186]

RegionBroadcaster
United StatesCBS Sports


(CBS, Paramount+, CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network)

ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+
CaribbeanFlow Sports
ItalyOneFootball

Champions

Teams that no longer participate in the USL Championship are in italics.

SeasonPlayoff championsPlayers' Shield
USL Professional Division (USL Pro)
2011Orlando City SCOrlando City SC
2012Charleston BatteryOrlando City SC
2013Orlando City SCRichmond Kickers
2014Sacramento Republic FCOrlando City SC
United Soccer League
2015Rochester RhinosRochester Rhinos
2016New York Red Bulls IINew York Red Bulls II
2017Louisville City FCReal Monarchs SLC
2018Louisville City FCFC Cincinnati
USL Championship
2019Real Monarchs SLCPhoenix Rising FC
2020Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemicReno 1868 FC
2021Orange County SCTampa Bay Rowdies
2022San Antonio FCSan Antonio FC
2023Phoenix Rising FCPittsburgh Riverhounds SC

USL Championship Final results

SeasonChampionsScoreRunners–upVenueAttendanceMVP
2011Orlando City2–2 Harrisburg City IslandersCitrus Bowl11,220Sean Kelley (ORL)
2012Charleston Battery1–0Wilmington HammerheadsBlackbaud Stadium4,963Jose Cuevas (CHB)
2013Orlando City7–4Charlotte EaglesCitrus Bowl20,886Dom Dwyer (ORL)
2014Sacramento Republic2–0Harrisburg City IslandersBonney Field8,000Rodrigo López (SAC)
2015Rochester Rhinos2–1 LA Galaxy IISahlen's Stadium5,247Asani Samuels (ROC)
2016New York Red Bulls II5–1Swope Park RangersRed Bull Arena5,547Brandon Allen (NYRB)
2017Louisville City FC1–0Swope Park RangersLouisville Slugger Field14,456Paolo DelPiccolo (LOU)
2018Louisville City FC 1–0 Phoenix Rising FCLynn Stadium7,025Luke Spencer (LOU)
2019Real Monarchs3–1 Louisville City FCLynn Stadium7,025Konrad Plewa (SLC)
2020Final cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
Orange County SC 3–1 7,521 Ronaldo Damus (OCO)
San Antonio FC 3–1 8,534 Santiago Patiño (SAN)
Phoenix Rising FC 1–1 5,094 Rocco Ríos Novo (PHX)

USL club honors

Updated to the end of the 2023 USL playoffs; sorted by major honors (championships).

TeamSeasonsUSL playoffsUSL regular seasonTotal honorsMajor honors /
championships
WinnerRunner-upWinnerRunner-up
Orlando City SC 4 2 3 1 6 5
9 2 2 3 7 2
10 1 2 1 4 2
Rochester Rhinos 7 1 1 1 3 2
New York Red Bulls II 8 1 1 2 2
Real Monarchs 7 1 1 2 2
8 1 1 2 2
7 2 1 3 1
10 1 1 2 1
13 1 1 2 1
13 1 1 1
FC Cincinnati 3 1 1 1
Reno 1868 FC 4 1 1 1
Richmond Kickers 8 1 1 1
13 1 1 1
Penn FC 8 2 2 0
Wilmington Hammerheads 6 1 1 2 0
Sporting Kansas City II 6 2 2 0
LA Galaxy II 8 1 1 0
Charlotte Eagles 4 1 1 0

Player records

Most USL goals!Rank!!Player!!Goals
1 Dane Kelly104
2 Neco Brett86
3 Corey Hertzog73
4 Jorge Herrera72
5 Cameron Lancaster71
6 Chandler Hoffman66
7 Hadji Barry63
8 Kyle Greig61
9 Cameron Iwasa59
10 George Davis IV57
10 Junior Flemmings
Most USL appearances!Rank!!Player!!Apps
1 George Davis IV242
2 Taylor Mueller241
2 Jorge Herrera231
4 Dane Kelly228
5 Josh Suggs223
6 Kyle Greig222
7 Neco Brett203
8200
9 Christian Duke199
10 Kareem Dacres197
Most USL assists!Rank!!Player!!Asts
1 Kenardo Forbes45
2 Danny Barrera44
3 Solomon Asante41
4 Maikel Chang38
5 Jorge Herrera35
6 Antoine Hoppenot33
Rodrigo Lopez33
7 Christiano Francis32
Bryan Ownby32
8 Enzo Martinez30
Most USL clean sheets!Rank!!Player!!CS
1 Evan Newton57
2 Brandon Miller43
3 Odisnel Cooper40
4 Matt Pickens37
Tomas Gomez37
5 Cody Laurendi36
6 Carl Woszczynski34
7 Alex Tambakis33
8 Miguel Gallardo32
Andrew Dykstra32

Attendance

scope=colSeasonscope=colTeamsscope=colLeague avg.scope=colPlayoff avg.scope=colHighest teamsscope=colLowest teamsscope=colRef
12 2,274 5,555 5,330 (Orlando City)
4,927 (Rochester)
410 (Los Angeles Blues)
542 (Dayton)
[187]
11 2,777 4,252 6,606 (Orlando City)
6,265 (Rochester)
666 (Los Angeles Blues)
722 (Dayton)
[188]
13 2,611 6,989 8,056 (Orlando City)
5,898 (Rochester)
378 (VSI Tampa Bay)
718 (Los Angeles Blues)
[189]
14 3,114 5,397 11,293 (Sacramento)
5,329 (Rochester)
533 (Dayton)
597 (LA Galaxy II)
[190]
201524 3,369 5,463 11,313 (Sacramento)
6,765 (Louisville City)
313 (FC Montreal)
479 (Toronto FC ll)
[191]
201629 3,439 5,281 17,296 (FC Cincinnati)
11,514 (Sacramento)
243 (FC Montreal)
589 (New York Red Bulls II)
[192]
201730 4,302 5,339 21,198 (FC Cincinnati)
11,569 (Sacramento)
632 (New York Red Bulls II)
869 (Vancouver Whitecaps 2)
201833 4,923 7,786 25,717 (FC Cincinnati)
11,311 (Sacramento)
810 (Toronto FC II)
812 (New York Red Bulls II)
[193]
201936 4,478 5,389 12,693 (New Mexico United)
10,734 (Indy Eleven)
478 (Bethlehem Steel FC)
505 (Swope Park Rangers)
2020N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
202131 4,138 6,645 12,115 (Louisville City)
10,418 (New Mexico United)
310 (Loudoun United)
369 (New York Red Bulls II)
[194] [195]
202227 5,061 7,841 14,673 (Louisville City FC)
14,519 (New Mexico United)
122 (New York Red Bulls II)
182 (New York Red Bulls II)
[196]
2023245,8036,39410,627 (Sacramento)10,547 (Louisville City)1,432 (Miami FC)2,664 (Loudoun United)[197]

FC Cincinnati played before a record crowd of 20,497 at Nippert Stadium on April 16, 2016, in a rivalry match against neighboring Louisville City FC.[198] This broke the USL Pro's previous record for attendance at a regular-season match of 20,231 set by Sacramento Republic in its home debut on April 26, 2014, at Hughes Stadium.[199] Cincinnati broke the record again on May 14, 2016, with a new all-time high of 23,375.[200] Cincinnati broke the single game attendance record again on October 2, 2016, in their first ever playoff match against the Charleston Battery, losing 2–1 in the quarterfinals of the 2016 USL playoffs. The attendance of 30,187 also set the USL playoff record.[201] Cincinnati broke the all time regular season record again on August 5, 2017, at Nippert Stadium, drawing 25,308 versus Orlando City B. They broke their own record again about six weeks later drawing 30,417 to a 4–2 win over the New York Red Bulls II.[202] Cincinnati broke the record once more in their final home regular season game as a USL team on September 29, 2018, drawing 31,478 versus Indy Eleven[203]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: U.S. Soccer Board of Directors Grants Provisional Division II Status to NASL and USL . U.S. Soccer . January 6, 2017 . January 7, 2017.
  2. Web site: About . uslsoccer.com . November 16, 2017.
  3. News: USL Restructures Professional Division . uslsoccer.com . September 8, 2010 . September 8, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101011101750/http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/home/464019.html . October 11, 2010.
  4. News: DDL FC will play USL next season. Dutch Lions FC. August 11, 2010. September 10, 2010.
  5. News: Kickers Join USL Pro . https://web.archive.org/web/20100912173707/http://www.richmondkickers.com/home/464229.html . dead . September 12, 2010. richmondkickers.com . September 8, 2010. September 14, 2010.
  6. News: Puerto Rico Islanders Join NASL. Carolina Rail Hawks. September 9, 2010. September 15, 2010. July 15, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150715000401/http://www.carolinarailhawks.com/article/puerto-rico-islanders-join-nasl. dead.
  7. News: Sevilla, River Plate Join USL Pro . uslsoccer.com . September 23, 2010. September 24, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101105041235/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/468481.html . November 5, 2010. dead . mdy-all.
  8. News: Battery To Play in USL Pro . uslsoccer.com . September 28, 2010. September 28, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101001190158/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/469414.html . October 1, 2010. dead . mdy-all.
  9. News: Dutch Lions Join USL Pro . uslsoccer.com . September 30, 2010. September 30, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110610174556/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/470161.html . June 10, 2011. dead . mdy-all.
  10. News: Charlotte Joins USL Pro. uslsoccer.com. October 4, 2010. October 8, 2010.
  11. News: City Islanders Join USL Pro . uslsoccer.com . October 7, 2010. October 8, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101009083436/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/471990.html . October 9, 2010. dead . mdy-all.
  12. News: Riverhounds Join USL Pro . uslsoccer.com . October 22, 2010. October 25, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20121009220245/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/475949.html . October 9, 2012. dead . mdy-all.
  13. News: Rochester Rhinos Back in USL . uslsoccer.com . October 25, 2010. October 28, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101027030313/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/476335.html . October 27, 2010. dead . mdy-all.
  14. News: Orlando City Joins USL Pro . uslsoccer.com . October 25, 2010. October 28, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101027025426/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/476358.html . October 27, 2010. dead . mdy-all.
  15. News: Hammerheads Return for 2011. uslsoccer.com. November 9, 2010. November 12, 2010.
  16. News: FC New York set for USL Pro. uslsoccer.com. November 17, 2010. November 18, 2010.
  17. News: LA Blues Set to Play in USL Pro . uslsoccer.com . December 7, 2010. December 7, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101210082907/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/485304.html . December 10, 2010. dead . mdy-all.
  18. News: Puerto Rico United Joins USL Pro . uslsoccer.com . December 9, 2010. December 9, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110716110254/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/485822.html . July 16, 2011. dead . mdy-all.
  19. News: USL Pro League seeks to embrace regional model. potomacsoccerwire.com. September 14, 2010. September 14, 2010. March 1, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120301202123/http://www.potomacsoccerwire.com/news/460/12906. dead.
  20. News: USL Pro Concludes Successful AGM . uslsoccer.com . November 23, 2010. November 24, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101127180023/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/482512.html . November 27, 2010. dead . mdy-all.
  21. News: USL Pro Schedule Released. uslsoccer.com. January 14, 2011. January 20, 2011.
  22. News: Shaping the USL Pro Schedule. uslsoccer.com. January 17, 2011. January 20, 2011.
  23. Web site: USL Pro: Week 1 Observations. SC Soccer Blog. April 3, 2011. November 4, 2022.
  24. News: USL Reforms Agreement with PRSL . uslsoccer.com . May 10, 2011 . May 11, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110514205255/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/524777.html . May 14, 2011 . dead . mdy-all.
  25. News: USL PRO 2012 Schedule Released . uslsoccer.com . January 11, 2012 . January 22, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120115214800/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/589973.html . January 15, 2012 . dead . mdy-all.
  26. News: Phoenix to Join USL PRO in 2013. United Soccer Leagues (USL). July 2, 2012. July 2, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120723012957/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/641849.html. July 23, 2012. dead.
  27. News: Phoenix Announces Name and Logo . United Soccer Leagues (USL) . September 7, 2012 . April 17, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121018003923/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/661405.html . October 18, 2012 . dead . mdy-all.
  28. News: VisionPro Academy Headed to Tampa . United Soccer Leagues (USL) . November 16, 2011 . August 14, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120527230727/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/579849.html . May 27, 2012 . dead . mdy-all.
  29. News: MLS, USL Pro reach deal on restructured Reserve League . mlssoccer.com . January 23, 2013 . January 27, 2013 . January 26, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130126060258/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/01/23/mls-usl-pro-reach-deal-restructured-reserve-league . dead.
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  31. Web site: Lovell. Darrell. USL PRO side Pittsburgh Riverhounds 'a great place to send our players to develop' for Houston Dynamo. mlsssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. November 26, 2013. August 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150802020821/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/11/26/usl-pro-side-pittsburgh-riverhounds-great-place-send-our-players-develop-hou. dead.
  32. Web site: Meyer. Craig. Riverhounds hire new president, head coach. Pittsburgh Post Gazette. April 3, 2015.
  33. Web site: USL PRO to see teams fold; MLS to field squads; new team partnership. dead. May 2, 2014. ODFC News . October 6, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092256/http://odfcnews.com/2013/11/17/usl-pro-teams-fold-mls-field-squads-team-partnership/.
  34. Web site: Sacramento lands minor league soccer franchise . . December 3, 2012 . December 4, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121204145924/http://blogs.sacbee.com/city-beat/2012/12/sacramento-lands-minor-league-soccer-franchise.html . December 4, 2012 . dead.
  35. Web site: Oklahoma City to Join USL PRO in 2014 . USLSoccer.com . July 2, 2013 . July 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130705233032/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/734282.html . July 5, 2013 . dead.
  36. Web site: MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER AWARDS EXPANSION TEAM TO ORLANDO. orlandocitysoccer.com. Orlando City Soccer Club. November 20, 2013. November 24, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131124081339/http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/?article_id=1655. dead.
  37. News: Schmitz . Brian . November 19, 2013 . MLS officially awards Orlando soccer franchise. Orlando Sentinel . November 20, 2013.
  38. Web site: Orlando City SC fans, owners see years of hard work bear fruit, but promise there's plenty more to come . Wiebe . Andrew . November 19, 2013 . mlssoccer.com . Major League Soccer . November 20, 2013 . November 23, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131123185415/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/11/19/orlando-city-sc-fans-owners-see-years-hard-work-bear-fruit-promise-theres-pl . dead.
  39. Web site: Orange County Blues Set For New Era. United Soccer Leagues (USL). February 5, 2014. February 6, 2014. February 7, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140207234203/http://uslsoccer.com/home/785709.html. dead.
  40. Web site: Ownership Change, Rebrand in Phoenix . United Soccer Leagues (USL) . March 13, 2014 . March 13, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140313223014/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/794323.html . March 13, 2014 . dead . mdy-all.
  41. Web site: LA Galaxy announce USL PRO team LA Galaxy II. LA Galaxy. January 29, 2014. February 2, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202095901/http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2014/01/la-galaxy-announce-usl-pro-team-la-galaxy-ii. dead.
  42. News: Linter. Jonathan. Louisville pro soccer club to be unveiled Wednesday. . June 3, 2014. June 3, 2014.
  43. Web site: USL PRO Welcomes Independence. USL Pro Men's Soccer.
  44. Web site: Dayton Dutch Lions FC To Compete in PDL in 2015 . Dayton Dutch Lions . December 11, 2014 . December 11, 2014.
  45. Web site: Real Salt Lake announce that new USL PRO team will be called Real Monarchs . Major League Soccer (MLS) . September 10, 2014 . September 10, 2014 . September 11, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140911051123/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/09/10/real-salt-lake-announce-new-usl-pro-team-will-be-called-real-monarchs . dead.
  46. Web site: Real Salt Lake Announces USL PRO Team . November 3, 2014 . United Soccer Leagues . November 5, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150325132711/http://www.uslsoccer.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=32800&ATCLID=209840289 . March 25, 2015 . dead.
  47. Web site: Real Monarchs reveal new stadium proposal in West Valley . Jasen . Lee . March 3, 2015 . KSL Broadcasting.
  48. Web site: Portland & Seattle Launch USL PRO Teams. United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 14, 2014. October 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141021095429/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/842042.html. October 21, 2014. dead.
  49. Web site: Montreal Impact to field USL PRO team to ease transition to MLS for young players . MLSSoccer.com . September 4, 2014 . November 4, 2014 . August 5, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150805002428/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/09/04/montreal-impact-field-usl-pro-team-ease-transition-mls-young-players . dead.
  50. Web site: A new USL Pro team . Montreal Impact . September 4, 2014 . November 5, 2014.
  51. Web site: Montreal Impact to Field USL PRO Team . United Soccer Leagues (USL) . November 18, 2014 . November 18, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141122111508/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/848024.html . November 22, 2014 . dead.
  52. Web site: Toronto FC announces USL PRO team. Toronto FC. November 20, 2014. November 20, 2014. November 22, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141122210921/http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2014/11/toronto-fc-announces-usl-pro-team. dead.
  53. Web site: Whitecaps FC launch USL PRO team, provide update on National Soccer Development Centre at UBC. Vancouver Whitecaps . November 21, 2014 . November 21, 2014.
  54. Web site: New York Red Bulls ready to launch USL PRO side in 2015: "We see it as a big, big advantage". MLSsoccer.com. October 2, 2014. August 5, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150805002537/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/03/05/new-york-red-bulls-ready-launch-usl-pro-side-2015-we-see-it-big-big-advantag. dead.
  55. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/09/16/mike-petke-regrets-understands-new-york-red-bulls-decision-not-field-usl-pro Mike Petke regrets but understands New York Red Bulls decision not to field USL PRO team in 2015
  56. http://www.empireofsoccer.com/bulls-field-york-31309/ Red Bulls will field USL Pro team in 2015, may play in New York City
  57. Toronto FC, NY Red Bulls unveil USL Pro franchises. Toronto FC. Sports Illustrated. March 21, 2015.
  58. Web site: Colorado Rapids' Pablo Mastroeni ecstatic about USL PRO partnership with Charlotte Independence. mlssoccer.com. September 18, 2014. February 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150214052831/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/09/18/colorado-rapids-pablo-mastroeni-ecstatic-about-affiliate-partnership-usl-pro. dead.
  59. http://www.nycfc.com/post/2015/01/16/nycfc-announce-affiliation-wilmington-hammerheads NYCFC Announce Affiliation with Wilmington Hammerheads
  60. http://next.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/01/16/chicago-fire-announce-affiliation-usl-pro-side-st-louis Chicago Fire announce affiliation with USL PRO side in St. Louis
  61. Web site: Arizona United Soccer Club Affiliates With Major League Soccer's FC Dallas . Arizona United SC . February 9, 2015 . February 9, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150209222841/http://arizonaunited.com/arizona-united-soccer-club-affiliates-major-league-soccers-fc-dallas/ . February 9, 2015 . dead.
  62. Web site: FC Dallas announces USL PRO affiliation with Arizona United SC . FC Dallas . February 9, 2015 . February 9, 2015 . October 26, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151026040131/http://www.fcdallas.com/news/2015/02/fc-dallas-announces-usl-pro-affiliation-arizona-united-sc . dead .
  63. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/01/21/expanded-usl-pro-announces-new-league-alignment-competition-format-2015-seas Expanded USL PRO announces new league alignment, competition format for 2015 season
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  73. Web site: Austin Aztex Will Not Participate in 2016 Season. United Soccer League (USL). October 2, 2015. October 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151004092733/http://www.uslsoccer.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=32800&ATCLID=210386800. October 4, 2015. dead.
  74. Web site: USL promoted, but Austin pro soccer grounded for another year. Austin American-Statesman. January 7, 2017. May 27, 2017. December 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171225030230/http://www.mystatesman.com/sports/pro-sports/usl-promoted-but-austin-pro-soccer-grounded-for-another-year/DpHzzrzGQvQ0QjYhtz0vyK/. dead.
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  77. Web site: The Montreal Impact associates with Ottawa Fury FC in the USL. Montreal Impact. December 9, 2016. December 9, 2016.
  78. Web site: Leading Phoenix-Based Businessmen Acquire Arizona United Soccer Club. https://web.archive.org/web/20160903150203/http://arizonaunited.com/leading-phoenix-based-businessmen-acquire-arizona-united-soccer-club/. dead. September 3, 2016. Arizona United SC. August 31, 2016. August 31, 2016.
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  86. Web site: Morris. Neil. North Carolina FC announces exit from NASL; club to join USL. WRAL Sports Fan. November 16, 2017 . November 16, 2017.
  87. Web site: US Soccer grants USL 2nd-division status . . January 17, 2018.
  88. Web site: Carlisle. Jeff. Court denies NASL's appeal for injunction. ESPN. February 23, 2018. February 23, 2018.
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  110. Web site: Sterling Bay Executives to Bring USL to Chicago . USL . November 21, 2017.
  111. Web site: United Soccer League expansion team coming to North Side site proposed for Amazon's HQ2 . . November 21, 2017.
  112. Web site: Hartford Launches Name the Team Contest. May 4, 2018 . USL. May 4, 2018.
  113. Web site: United Soccer League Announces New Mexico Club. USL. June 6, 2018.
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  116. Landon Donovan, Warren Smith bring USL to San Diego. Straus . Brian . June 19, 2019. Sports Illustrated. June 19, 2019.
  117. Web site: Proposed Plans for USL Soccer Stadium in Downtown Chicago Fall Through . Caron . Emily . January 8, 2019 . November 12, 2019.
  118. Web site: Nashville awarded MLS expansion club . Rosano . Nick . December 20, 2017 . November 12, 2019.
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  123. Three MLS Teams Withdraw from USL Competition . United Soccer League . October 16, 2020 . November 4, 2020.
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  128. https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1193403 Detroit City to join USL Championship for 2022 season
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  153. Web site: June 8, 2023 . Brooklyn, N.Y. awarded USL League One franchise . June 9, 2023 . USLLeagueOne.com . en-us.
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