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 division 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, having formed from teams from the original A-League.
Unlike most other nations, there is currently no system of promotion and relegation in North American soccer, 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.
History
In 1996, the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues established the new Select League consisting of its strongest teams from its professional FIFA Division 3 sanctioned Pro League and its amateur Premier League in hopes of gaining FIFA Division 2 sanctioning. The next season, the Select League and the independent Division 2 A-League merged to form a new A-League under the USISL umbrella. In 1999 the umbrella USISL changed its name to the United Soccer Leagues and in 2005 the league took its current name as the USL First Division.
As announced on February 22, 2007, the USL-1 will now be doing live Videocasts through a partnership with Turner Broadcasting. The matches, of which not all can be found on traditional broadcast or cable television distribution, will be available on the new broadband channel USL Live at www.USLLive.com, which launched early April 2007. The league also has a television deal with Fox Soccer Channel in the US and Canada, showing a "Game of the Week" from USL-1.
League Tables for Division 1 & Division 2, and PDL for the 2007 season can be viewed at the League Table page. Standings from the 2006 and 2007 seasons are also available.
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, did so 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 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 Cary, North Carolina. 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.
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.[1]
2008 teams
| Club |
Founded |
Colors |
Stadium |
Territory |
 Atlanta Silverbacks |
1993 |
Red, Black, White |
Atlanta Silverbacks Park |
Atlanta Metropolitan Area, GA |
| Carolina RailHawks |
2006 |
Blue, Orange |
WakeMed Soccer Park |
Research Triangle, NC |
| Charleston Battery |
1993 |
Yellow, Black |
Blackbaud Stadium |
Charleston, SC |
| Miami FC |
2005 |
Blue, Orange |
Tropical Park Stadium |
South Florida |
| Minnesota Thunder |
1990 |
Navy Blue, Light Blue, Silver, White |
National Sports Center |
Minneapolis-St.Paul |
 Montreal Impact |
1993 |
Blue, White, Black |
Saputo Stadium |
Quebec (whole) |
| Portland Timbers |
2001 |
Green, White, Yellow |
PGE Park |
Portland, OR |
 Puerto Rico Islanders |
2003 |
Orange, Navy Blue, White |
Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel |
Puerto Rico (whole) |
| Rochester Rhinos |
1996 |
Green, Black, Gold |
PAETEC Park |
Western New York |
| Seattle Sounders |
1994 |
Light blue, White, Green |
Starfire Sports Complex
Qwest Field (home opening game) |
Greater Seattle, WA |
| Vancouver Whitecaps |
1986 |
White, Blue |
Swangard Stadium |
British Columbia (whole) |
Future expansion
Playoff format
In 2008, 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.
The first round, which should be played September 26 and 28, will involve the #2 - #7 seeds competing in two-leg aggregate score series, with the three winners advancing to semi-finals, and the #1 seed pitted against the lowest remaining seed.
The semi-final series should take place October 3 and 5, and the championship final will be played Saturday October 11, 2008.
League derbies
 Stars indicate derby titles won
Cascadia Cup
Southern Derby
Voyageurs Cup
(Starting in 2008, the MLS's Toronto FC will also play for the Voyageurs Cup through the Canadian Championship)
Former teams
|
|
- Milwaukee Wave United (2003-04)
- MLS Project 40 (1998-2000)
- Nashville Metros (1997-2001, as Tennessee Rhythm in 1999-2000)
- New Orleans Storm (1997-99, as New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers in 1997)
- Orange County Waves (1997-2000, as Orange County Zodiac in 1997-99)
- Orlando Sundogs (1997)
- Pittsburgh Riverhounds (1999-2003)
- Raleigh Express (1997-2000, as Raleigh Flyers in 1997-98)
- Richmond Kickers (1997-2005)
- 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)
- Staten Island Vipers (1998-99)
- Syracuse Salty Dogs (2003-04)
- Toronto Lynx (1997-2006)
- Virginia Beach Mariners (1998-2000, 2002-2006, as Hampton Roads Mariners 1998-2000, 2002)
|
1996 USISL Select League
Notable players
 Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar, Seattle- Byron Alvarez, Charleston
 Raúl Díaz Arce, Puerto Rico and Charleston- Mauro Biello, Montreal
 Alex Pineda Chacón, Atlanta Fabian Dawkins, Montreal- Joey Gjertsen, Vancouver
 Mathew Page, Puerto Rico- Andrew Gregor, Portland
- Ben Hollingsworth, Charleston
- Jason Jordan, Vancouver
- Roger Levesque, Seattle
 Mario "Loco" Rodriguez, Miami Marlon Rojas, Atlanta Romario, Miami Melvin Tarley, Minnesota- Scot Thompson, Portland
- Cam Weaver, Seattle
- Brian Ching, Seattle
- Zinho, Miami
 Rey Ángel Martínez, Rochester Takayuki Suzuki, Portland Benjamin Totori, Portland
|
Past regular season champions (Commissioner’s Cup Winners)
Past playoff champions / top goal scorer
Most Successful Clubs
| Club |
Championships |
Runners-up |
| Seattle Sounders |
4 |
1 |
| Rochester Rhinos |
3 |
2 |
| Milwaukee Rampage |
2 |
0 |
| Minnesota Thunder |
1 |
3 |
| Charleston Battery |
1 |
0 |
| Montreal Impact |
1 |
0 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps |
1 |
0 |
| Richmond Kickers |
0 |
2 |
| Carolina Dynamo |
0 |
1 |
| Hershey Wildcats |
0 |
1 |
League average attendance
(as of July 28, 2008)
| Year |
Regular season |
Playoffs |
| 2008 |
5,086 |
TBD |
| 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 |
2,690 |
5,092 |
All-time USL leaders
See also
Notes
References
- ^ Encina, Eduardo A. (2008-06-19). "Tampa Bay Rowdies to get new life in USL" (in english), St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
External links
|
