(01-26-2018 01:59 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(01-25-2018 09:25 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  

(01-25-2018 09:21 AM)Cajun_lannister Wrote:  

(01-25-2018 08:42 AM)ValleyBoy Wrote:  

Quote:STATESBORO, GA (WTOC) -
Tormenta FC will be announced as the first official team in the new United Soccer League - Division 3.

The USL vice president said on a radio show/podcast, Soccer Down Here, that Tormenta will be a founding member of the league.

The official unveiling will be on Thursday and you can watch the news conference live on D3’s official Facebook page.

Quote:The league is set to begin sometime in 2019. Again, the official announcement is expected on Thursday. More information is also expected on the proposed Tormenta stadium.

http://www.wtoc.com/story/37321780/torme...l-division

Is the USL the minor league of MLS or a semi-pro league ?

MLS is the top tier league in the USL. Previously, the USL only had two tiers: MLS and division 2. Tormenta FC will be the founding member of a new tier: division 3.

Not really sure that's correct.

MLS, USL, and other professional leagues are apart of the US Soccer Pyramid. MLS is the top tier of that Pyramid. Until previously, the North American Soccer League was Tier 2, and USL was Tier 3. USL had a fair number of MLS Teams reserve sides. Then there were regional parts of a 4th tier.

Last season, US Soccer announced they were stripping NASL of its 2nd tier rights and granting those 2nd tier rights to the USL instead. That sparked a massive lawsuit out of the NASL that is still pending in court. NASL claims that US Soccer worked with MLS to force NASL to fold so that the MLS Preferred choice for Tier 2 the USL could take their spot. Since the move a bunch of NASL sides have moved to the USL, and NASL has had to postpone the start of its next season while the court case works itself out

USL's intention is to create a 2nd division within itself that would work as the 3rd tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. That is where the Statesboro team would play.


Normally in real soccer countries, teams within a division must fight for promotion and relegation, in which bottom teams are dropped to a new division and top teams are moved up. But MLS has been overtly against all forms of promotion and relegation because it allows them to help fund themselves with $150 Million franchise fees.

In all likelihood, most of these issues will be laid at the feet of the next US Soccer President, after the current one decided not to run for reelection in the wake of the National Teams failure to qualify for the World Cup. There are 8 candidates. 6 of which have indicated they will implement promotion and relegation, whether MLS Likes it or not. A couple more are promising to address the status of the NASL as well.

I hope, wish, plead, for them to go to promotion/relegation here. Adds excitement to the entire league and keeps teams from tanking like they do in the NFL and NBA.