USL Drops The Pro, Seeks D2 Sanctioning
By Sean Maslin
Apparently re-branding is all the rage. After a year which has seen MLS drop their classic logo and teams all across the North American soccer pyramid change their logos and names, it seems that USL PRO. Wants to get in on the act. On Tuesday the league announced that it would be dropping the PRO and be simply be known as USL.
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Aside from a slight name change and really nifty redesign of their logo, perhaps the biggest news was that the league is looking to regain their Second Division status. On their website USL states
:
"All aspects of our league have been elevated, both on and off the field, to the extent that the time is right for USL to re-establish its Division 2 status. This year the League will apply for USSF Division 2 sanctioning to accurately reflect the quality of our league, our ownership groups, our stadiums and our fans."
USL used to be the Second Division of US Soccer from 2005 to 2009. In 2009, both the USL and the NASL contested that they should be the Second Division of US Soccer. After both leagues agreed to play as one league in 2010 (USSF D2 Pro League,) USL announced that the USL First and Second Divisions would be consolidated into one division.
This news of course means that USL would go into direct conflict with the NASL, which is currently the Second Division league in North American soccer. NASL was given Second Division status in 2010 by U.S. Soccer.
But part of the agreement that the NASL struck with US Soccer is that the league would eventually have teams in the Eastern, Central, and Pacific timezones. The NASL has until next year to have a team on the West Coast otherwise US Soccer could pull their D2 status. FC Edmonton is in the Mountain Timezone.
While the NASL has struggled to pick up a team on the west coast, the USL has expanded rapidly in the past year. The league has expanded to 24 teams for the 2015 season, most of which have come from their close relationship with MLS. 20 of the 24 USL teams are either direct affiliates of MLS clubs or have a working relationship with an MLS club.
Only the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Orange County Blues, and Tulsa Roughnecks are fully independent from MLS.
If USL were to gain D2 status it would strike a serious blow to those who want promotion/relegation in the United States and Canada. Although there are broader economic issues that would also need to be addressed first, having teams that are direct affiliates of MLS clubs in the Second Division would mean that First Division could not be relegated to the Second Division. Additional rules and regulations would need to be put into place.
Furthermore it really puts the pressure on the NASL. After an off-season which saw the league make several strong signings and ride the wave of Miguel Ibarra’s US Men’s National Team appearance, today’s news means that the league has to move quicker on expansion. There seems to be a price for their desire to be treated as an equal with MLS even though it still has yet to touch the West Coast.