USL Championship

USL Championship
Organizing bodyUnited Soccer League
Founded
  • September 8, 2010; 14 years ago (2010-09-08)
  • (as USL Pro) (2010–2014)
  • (as USL) (2015–2018)
First season2011
CountryUnited States
Confederation
ConferencesEastern Conference
Western Conference
Number of teams24
Level on pyramid2
Domestic cup(s)U.S. Open Cup
Current champion(s)Phoenix Rising FC
(2023)
Current Players' ShieldLouisville City FC
(2024)
Most championships
Most Players' ShieldsOrlando City (3 titles)
TV partners
Websiteuslchampionship.com
Current: 2024 USL Championship season
United Soccer League divisions
Men's leagues
Women's leagues
Youth leagues

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 (USSF) 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

[edit]

Founding (2010)

[edit]

On September 8, 2010, the United Soccer Leagues formally announced the creation of USL Pro in a press release.[3] 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.[7] 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".[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11][12]

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds were added as the 9th official team on October 22, 2010.[13] October 25, 2010, saw the addition of the Rochester Rhinos[14] 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.[15]

On November 9, 2010, former USL-2 side Wilmington Hammerheads officially joined the league as the 12th team,[16] followed on November 17, 2010, by F.C. New York.[17] 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.[16]

The Los Angeles Blues, associated with the successful women's Pali Blues organization, was added on December 7, 2010, with a message of future "Western Conference" growth into 2012.[18] The "Caribbean Division" of USL Pro grew to four teams on December 9, 2010, with the addition of Puerto Rico United to the league,[8] 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.[20]

Progression of expansion
Season # Teams
2011 12
2012 11
2013 13
2014 14
2015 24
2016 29
2017 30
2018 33
2019 36
2020 35
2021 31
2022 27
2023 24
2024

Play begins (2011–2012)

[edit]
Main articles: 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), and 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.[23]

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.[24]

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.[25] The PRSL clubs were dropped due to economic and ownership issues.[25] 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.[26]

Charleston Battery celebrates winning the league title in 2012.

Beginnings of MLS partnership (2013–2014)

[edit]
Main articles: 2013 USL Pro season and 2014 USL Pro season

Two expansion teams joined for the 2013 season: Phoenix FC[27][28] and the VSI Tampa Bay FC.[29]

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[30] 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.[31][32] The Houston Dynamo announced that they would be partnering with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 2014.[33] However, this partnership between the Riverhounds and Dynamo was dissolved after just one year.[34] Following the conclusion of the 2013 season, VSI Tampa Bay folded after only one season, along with founding league member Antigua.[35]

In December 2012, Sacramento announced it would begin play in 2014 as an expansion team,[36] and in July 2014, USL announced that Oklahoma City would also join USL in 2014.[37] Orlando City announced that it would leave USL after the 2014 season to join MLS as an expansion team for the 2015 season.[38][39][40] The Los Angeles Blues were rebranded as Orange County Blues FC on February 5, 2014.[41] The Phoenix FC franchise was revoked and replaced with Arizona United SC on March 13, 2014.[42]

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[43] and became the first MLS club to enter its reserve team into the USL Pro.

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

[edit]
Main articles: 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.[44] 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.[45] Finally, on December 11, 2014, the Dayton Dutch Lions self-relegated to play in the PDL starting in 2015.[46]

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.[47][48] The team played at Rio Tinto Stadium until the 5,000-seat Zions Bank Stadium was built in Herriman, Utah.[49] 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.[50] 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.[51][52][53] On November 20, 2014, Toronto FC announced that it would also field a team, subsequently named Toronto FC II, for the 2015 season.[54] Whitecaps FC 2 joined USL Pro the next day.[55] After discussing plans for a USL Pro team in 2015,[56] then postponing those plans in September,[57] the New York Red Bulls announced that their USL Pro team, New York Red Bulls II would begin play in 2015.[58][59]

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.[60] On January 16, 2015 New York City FC announced that it would have an affiliate relationship with the Wilmington Hammerheads[61] and the Chicago Fire announced their affiliation with St Louis.[62] On February 9, 2015, FC Dallas announced it would add Arizona United SC as its USL Pro affiliate.[63][64] 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.[65]

USL logo used from 2015 until 2018

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.[66]

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.[67] 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.[68][69] FC Cincinnati was added as the 26th franchise[70][71] and Bethlehem Steel FC, in the Lehigh Valley area and owned by the Philadelphia Union, became the 27th,[72][73] Orlando City B (owned by Orlando City SC) as the 29th,[74] the Swope Park Rangers (owned by Sporting Kansas City) as the 30th,[75] and San Antonio FC as the 31st.[76]

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.[77] However, stadium and ownership issues continued to plague the franchise, and they did not return.[78]

Division II sanctioning and second rebranding (2017–2019)

[edit]
Main articles: 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.[79] 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.[80] The Montreal Impact also announced that it would fold its USL team, FC Montreal, in favor of affiliating with Ottawa Fury FC.[81]

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.[82][83][84] Ivory Coast Soccer Legend Didier Drogba later purchased a share of the team and played the final two seasons of his career there.[85][86][87][88]

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,[1] 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[89] and North Carolina FC.[90] 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.[91] 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.[92]

The USL's expansion efforts continued in the 2018 season with the additions of Nashville SC,[93][94] Las Vegas Lights FC,[95][96][97] Fresno FC (affiliated with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC)[98] and Atlanta United 2 (owned by Atlanta United FC).[99][100] The league also lost Orlando City B and the Rochester Rhinos, which each announced a hiatus,[101][102] 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.

FC Cincinnati celebrates winning the 2018 regular season title.

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.[103] Penn FC,[104] the Richmond Kickers,[105] and Toronto FC II voluntarily dropped to USL League One, a new third-level league that United Soccer Leagues launched in 2019.[106] The Kickers and Toronto FC II began League One play in 2019; Penn FC suspended professional operations for 2019 and announced that it would resume play in League One in 2020, but it never did, as the team is now defunct with now employers on payroll.[107] 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,[108] 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.[109] Orlando City B resumed play in 2019 in League One.[110]

The league also approved several other expansion locations in Austin,[111] Birmingham,[112] Memphis,[113][114] Chicago,[115][116] Oakland East Bay, Hartford,[117] Albuquerque,[118] El Paso,[119] Loudoun County, Virginia,[120] and San Diego.[121] 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.[122]

COVID 19 Impact (2020–2021)

[edit]
Main articles: 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,[123] Fresno FC announced that they would not be returning to Fresno,[124] 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.[125] An expansion team was announced for the New York City borough of Queens to be named Queensboro FC.[126] 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."[127] 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.[128] 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.[129][130] On November 6, 2020, Reno 1868 FC announced it was ceasing operations as a result of the financial and operational impacts of COVID-19.[131] On January 10, 2021, North Carolina FC club chairman Stephen Malik announced that the club would make a "strategic move" to USL League One.[132]

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.[133] 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.[134][135] On December 3, 2021, Oklahoma City Energy FC announced that it would temporarily suspend soccer operations and would not compete in the 2022 USL Championship season.[136] The decision came after Energy FC's home field at Taft Stadium, which is owned and operated by the Oklahoma City Public Schools, would 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.[137] This came after OKC Energy FC reached an historic agreement only roughly a month earlier renewing their lease with the school district for Taft Stadium.[138]

End of MLS partnership (2021–2022)

[edit]

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).[139] 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.[140]

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.[141] 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.[142] On August 12, 2022, ground was broken in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on a stadium that will be the home of Rhode Island FC.[143] The team begins play in the 2024 season in Smithfield, Rhode Island, as the construction is completed in Pawtucket.[144] 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.[145] 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.[146]

Recent history (2023–present)

[edit]

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.[147]

On August 7, 2023, North Carolina FC majority owner Steve Malik announced that the club would come back from USL League One to the USL Championship starting from the 2024 season.[148]

On August 24, 2023, San Diego Loyal ownership announced that the team would shut down at the end of the season due to an inability to find a "viable near- and long-term stadium solution".[149] and the USL announced that it would transfer the franchise rights of the Loyal.[150] 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.[149] The club's final game was a 4–3 extra-time playoff quarterfinal loss to Phoenix Rising, the eventual playoff champions.[151]

On November 29, 2023, it was announced that Milwaukee's expansion would be deferred to the 2026 season.[152] 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.[153]

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.[154]

On March 7, 2024, it was announced that Brooklyn FC, originally vying for a spot in League One, would instead move their efforts to try to get a team in the Championship by 2025, along with getting their women's side to play in the inaugural USL Super League season in 2024, both playing at Maimonides Park, the home also to baseball's Brooklyn Cyclones.[155]

In August 2024, the USL announced that Lexington SC would move from League One to the Championship in the 2025 season.[156]

Teams

[edit]
class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams in the USL Championship
  • Western Conference
  • Eastern Conference
  • On hiatus
  • Future team

The following teams are playing in the 2024 USL Championship season.[157]

Overview of USL Championship teams
Conference Team City Stadium Capacity Founded Joined Head coach
Eastern Conference Birmingham Legion FC Birmingham, Alabama Protective Stadium[i] 47,100 2017 2019 United States Tom Soehn
Charleston Battery Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Patriots Point Soccer Complex[ii] 3,900 1993 2011 United States Ben Pirmann
Detroit City FC Hamtramck, Michigan Keyworth Stadium[i] 7,933 2012 2022 England Danny Dichio
Hartford Athletic Hartford, Connecticut Trinity Health Stadium[ii] 5,500 2018 2019 United States Brendan Burke[158]
Indy Eleven Indianapolis, Indiana Carroll Stadium[i] 10,524 2013 2018 England Sean McAuley[159]
Loudoun United FC Leesburg, Virginia Segra Field[ii] 5,000 2018 2019 United States Ryan Martin
Louisville City FC Louisville, Kentucky Lynn Family Stadium[ii] 11,700 2014 2015 United States Danny Cruz
Miami FC University Park, Florida Pitbull Stadium[i] 20,000 2015 2020 Brazil Marcello Alves (interim)
North Carolina FC Cary, North Carolina WakeMed Soccer Park 10,000 2006 2024 United States John Bradford
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Highmark Stadium[ii] 5,000 1998 2011 United States Bob Lilley
Rhode Island FC Smithfield, Rhode Island[iii] Beirne Stadium[i][160][iii] 5,252 2019 2024 Bermuda Khano Smith
Tampa Bay Rowdies St. Petersburg, Florida Al Lang Stadium[iv] 7,227 2008 2017 Scotland Robbie Neilson
Western Conference Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Colorado Springs, Colorado Weidner Field[ii] 8,000 2013 2015 Republic of Ireland James Chambers
El Paso Locomotive FC El Paso, Texas Southwest University Park[iv] 9,500 2018 2019 Colombia Wilmer Cabrera
Las Vegas Lights FC Las Vegas, Nevada Cashman Field[ii] 9,334 2017 2018 United States Dennis Sanchez
Memphis 901 FC Memphis, Tennessee AutoZone Park[iv] 10,000 2018 2019 Scotland Stephen Glass
Monterey Bay FC Seaside, California Cardinale Stadium[ii] 6,000 2021 2022 England Jordan Stewart
New Mexico United Albuquerque, New Mexico Rio Grande Credit Union Field[iv] 13,500 2018 2019 United States Eric Quill
Oakland Roots SC Oakland, California Pioneer Stadium[i] 5,000 2018 2021 Turks and Caicos Islands Gavin Glinton (interim)
Orange County SC Irvine, California Championship Soccer Stadium[ii] 5,000 2010 2011 England Danny Stone (interim)
Phoenix Rising FC Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium[ii][161] 10,000 2014 Spain Diego Gómez (interim)
Sacramento Republic FC Sacramento, California Heart Health Park[ii] 11,569 2012 2014 England Mark Briggs
San Antonio FC San Antonio, Texas Toyota Field[ii] 8,296 2016 Canada Alen Marcina
FC Tulsa Tulsa, Oklahoma Oneok Field[iv] 7,833 2013 2015 United States Mario Sanchez

Expansion teams

[edit]
Overview of USL Championship planned teams
Team City Stadium Capacity Founded Joining Head coach
Lexington SC[162] Lexington, Kentucky Lexington SC Stadium[ii] 7,500 2021 2025[163] England Darren Powell
Brooklyn FC[164] Brooklyn, New York City, New York Maimonides Park[165] 7,000 2023 2025[166]
Sporting Club Jacksonville[167] Jacksonville, Florida TBD TBD 2022 2026[168][169]
Milwaukee Pro Soccer[170] Milwaukee, Wisconsin Iron District Stadium[ii] 8,000 2022 2026[171][172]
Ozark United FC[173][174] Rogers, Arkansas Ozark United Stadium[ii] 5,000 2023 2026[174]
Buffalo Pro Soccer Buffalo, New York TBD TBD 2024 2026[175]
USL Pro Iowa[176][177] Des Moines, Iowa Pro Iowa Stadium[ii] 6,300 2022 TBD[178]
USL New Orleans[179] New Orleans, Louisiana TBD TBD 2022 TBD
USL Palm Beach[180] Palm Beach County, Florida TBD TBD 2023 TBD

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Shared facility; not a soccer-specific stadium
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Soccer-specific stadium
  3. ^ a b Temporary home until a new stadium is built in the club's planned home of Pawtucket.
  4. ^ a b c d e Baseball park
Overview of inactive USL Championship teams
Club City Stadium Capacity Joined Last played Notes
OKC Energy FC Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Taft Stadium 7,500 2014 2021 Planned 2027 return, pending new stadium completion[181][182]
Overview of former USL Championship teams
Club City Stadium Capacity Joined Final season MLS affiliation Fate
Antigua Barracuda FC St. John's, Antigua Stanford Cricket Ground 5,000 2011 2013 None Folded
Atlanta United 2 Kennesaw, Georgia Fifth Third Bank Stadium 8,318 2018 2022 Atlanta United Moved to MLS Next Pro
Austin Bold FC Austin, Texas Circuit of the Americas 5,000 2017 2021 None Folded
Austin Aztex Austin, Texas House Park 6,500 2015 Columbus Crew SC Folded
Charlotte Eagles Charlotte, North Carolina Dickson Field 5,006 2011 2014 None Moved to Premier Development League[i]
Charlotte Independence Charlotte, North Carolina Memorial Stadium 10,500 2014 2021 None Moved to USL League One[183]
FC Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio Nippert Stadium 33,800 2015 2018 None Moved to Major League Soccer
Dayton Dutch Lions West Carrollton, Ohio DOC Stadium 3,000 2011 2014 Columbus Crew SC Moved to Premier Development League[i]
FC Montreal Montreal, Quebec Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard 3,500 2015 2016 Montreal Impact Folded by MLS parent club
F.C. New York Queens, New York Belson Stadium 2,168 2011 None Moved to National Premier Soccer League
Fresno FC Fresno, California Chukchansi Park 12,500 2017 2019 None Relocated to Monterey County, California, became Monterey Bay FC
LA Galaxy II Carson, California Dignity Health Sports Park 10,000 2014 2022 LA Galaxy Moved to MLS Next Pro
Nashville SC Nashville, Tennessee First Tennessee Park 10,000 2016 2019 None Moved to Major League Soccer
New York Red Bulls II Montclair, New Jersey MSU Soccer Park 5,000 2015 2022 New York Red Bulls Moved to MLS Next Pro
Orlando City B Orlando, Florida Orlando City Stadium 3,500 2016 2017 Orlando City SC Moved to USL League One[184]
Orlando City SC Bay Lake, Florida ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex 5,500 2011 2014 Sporting Kansas City Moved to Major League Soccer; USL rights transferred to Louisville
Ottawa Fury FC Ottawa, Ontario TD Place Stadium 24,000 2017 2019 Montreal Impact Folded;[125] USL rights transferred to Miami[185]
Penn FC Harrisburg, Pennsylvania FNB Field 6,187 2011 2018 None Folded
Philadelphia Union II Chester, Pennsylvania Subaru Park 18,500 2015 2020 Philadelphia Union Moved to MLS Next Pro
Phoenix FC Tempe, Arizona Sun Devil Soccer Stadium 3,400 2013 None Folded; replaced by Arizona United SC[ii]
Portland Timbers 2 Hillsboro, Oregon Hillsboro Stadium 7,600 2015 2020 Portland Timbers Moved to MLS Next Pro
Puerto Rico United[iii] Aguada, Puerto Rico Aguada Stadium 4,000 2011 None Moved to Liga Nacional (PR)
Real Monarchs Herriman, Utah Zions Bank Stadium[iv] 5,000 2015 2021 Real Salt Lake Moved to MLS Next Pro
Reno 1868 FC Reno, Nevada Greater Nevada Field[v] 9,013 2017 2020 San Jose Earthquakes Folded
Richmond Kickers Richmond, Virginia City Stadium 22,000 2011 2018 D.C. United Moved to USL League One
Rio Grande Valley FC Edinburg, Texas H-E-B Park[iv] 9,400 2016 2023 None Folded
River Plate Puerto Rico[iii] Fajardo, Puerto Rico Roberto Clemente Stadium 12,500 2011 None Moved to Puerto Rico Soccer League
Rochester Rhinos Rochester, New York Marina Auto Stadium 13,768 2011 2017 New England Revolution Moved to MLS Next Pro[186]
Saint Louis FC Fenton, Missouri West Community Stadium[iv] 5,500 2014 2020 None Folded
San Diego Loyal SC San Diego, California Torero Stadium 6,000 2020 2023 None Folded
Sevilla Puerto Rico[iii] Juncos, Puerto Rico Josué Elevadito González Stadium 2,500 2011 None Moved to Liga Nacional (PR)
Sporting Kansas City II Kansas City, Kansas Children's Mercy Park[iv] 18,467 2016 2021 Sporting Kansas City Moved to MLS Next Pro
Tacoma Defiance Tacoma, Washington Cheney Stadium[v] 6,500 2015 2021 Seattle Sounders FC Moved to MLS Next Pro
Toronto FC II Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium 9,600 2014 2018 Toronto FC Moved to USL League One
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 Vancouver, British Columbia Thunderbird Stadium 3,500 2015 2017 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Moved to MLS Next Pro
VSI Tampa Bay FC Plant City, Florida Plant City Stadium 6,700 2013 2013 None Folded
Wilmington Hammerheads FC Wilmington, North Carolina Legion Stadium 6,000 2011 2016 Toronto FC & New York City FC Moved to PDL[i]
  1. ^ a b c Known as USL League Two (USL2) since the 2019 season
  2. ^ Renamed as Phoenix Rising FC in 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Puerto Rico United, River Plate Puerto Rico, and Sevilla Puerto Rico tried to participate in the USL's first season but had financial difficulties almost immediately and the league had to cancel all games after May and make significant changes to the remaining schedule
  4. ^ a b c d Soccer specific stadium
  5. ^ a b Baseball park

Timeline

[edit]
Buffalo Pro SoccerUSL New OrleansUSL ArkansasMilwaukee Pro SoccerUSL Pro IowaSporting Club JacksonvilleLexington SCBrooklyn FCRhode Island FCDetroit City FCOakland Roots SCSan Diego Loyal SCMiami FCNew Mexico UnitedMemphis 901 FCLoudoun United FCHartford AthleticEl Paso Locomotive FCBirmingham Legion FCAustin Bold FCNorth Carolina FCNashville SC (2018–19)Las Vegas Lights FCIndy ElevenMonterey Bay FCFresno FCAtlanta United 2Tampa Bay RowdiesReno 1868 FCOttawa Fury FCSporting Kansas City IISwope Park RangersSan Antonio FCRio Grande Valley FCOrlando City BFC Cincinnati (2016–18)Philadelphia Union IIBethlehem Steel FCWhitecaps FC 2FC TulsaTulsa Roughnecks FCToronto FC IITacoma DefianceSeattle Sounders FC 2Saint Louis FCReal MonarchsPortland Timbers 2New York Red Bulls IILouisville City FCFC MontrealColorado Springs Switchbacks FCCharlotte IndependenceAustin AztexSacramento Republic FCOklahoma City Energy FCLA Galaxy IIPhoenix Rising FCArizona United SCVSI Tampa Bay FCPhoenix FCWilmington Hammerheads FCRochester New York FCRichmond KickersPittsburgh Riverhounds SCOrlando City SC (2010–2014)Orange County SCOrange County SCOrange County SCPenn FCHarrisburg City IslandersF.C. New YorkDayton Dutch LionsCharlotte EaglesCharleston BatteryAntigua Barracuda FC

‡ 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.[187]

Competition format

[edit]

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.[188]

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.[189] 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.[190][191] For 2016 season the season was extended to 30 games.[192]

Media coverage

[edit]

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.[193]

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.[194] 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.[195]

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.[196]

In August 2020, the USL announced their first international broadcast partner with Caribbean broadcaster Flow Sports.[197]

In August 2021, the USL announced a new broadcast agreement with OneFootball in Italy.[198]

The USL announced that four-year media deal with CBS Sports beginning with the 2024 season through 2027.[199] On February 27, 2024, the USL also announced multi-year deal with ESPN as a second broadcast partner through 2026.[200]

Region Broadcaster
United States CBS Sports:
(CBS, Paramount+, CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network)
ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+
Caribbean Flow Sports
Italy OneFootball

Champions

[edit]

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

Season Playoff champions Players' Shield[a]
USL Professional Division (USL Pro)
2011 Orlando City SC Orlando City SC
2012 Charleston Battery Orlando City SC
2013 Orlando City SC Richmond Kickers
2014 Sacramento Republic FC Orlando City SC
United Soccer League
2015 Rochester Rhinos Rochester Rhinos
2016 New York Red Bulls II New York Red Bulls II
2017 Louisville City FC Real Monarchs SLC
2018 Louisville City FC FC Cincinnati
USL Championship
2019 Real Monarchs SLC Phoenix Rising FC
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic Reno 1868 FC
2021 Orange County SC Tampa Bay Rowdies
2022 San Antonio FC San Antonio FC
2023 Phoenix Rising FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
2024 TBD Louisville City FC

USL Championship Final results

[edit]
Season Champions Score Runners–up Venue Attendance MVP
2011 Orlando City 2–2 (p) Harrisburg City Islanders Citrus Bowl 11,220 Sean Kelley (ORL)
2012 Charleston Battery 1–0 Wilmington Hammerheads Blackbaud Stadium 4,963 Jose Cuevas (CHS)
2013 Orlando City 7–4 Charlotte Eagles Citrus Bowl 20,886 Dom Dwyer (ORL)
2014 Sacramento Republic 2–0 Harrisburg City Islanders Bonney Field 8,000 Rodrigo López (SAC)
2015 Rochester Rhinos 2–1 (a.e.t.) LA Galaxy II Sahlen's Stadium 5,247 Asani Samuels (ROC)
2016 New York Red Bulls II 5–1 Swope Park Rangers Red Bull Arena 5,547 Brandon Allen (NYRB)
2017 Louisville City FC 1–0 Swope Park Rangers Louisville Slugger Field 14,456 Paolo DelPiccolo (LOU)
2018 Louisville City FC 1–0 Phoenix Rising FC Lynn Stadium 7,025 Luke Spencer (LOU)
2019 Real Monarchs 3–1 Louisville City FC Lynn Stadium 7,025 Konrad Plewa (SLC)
2020 Final cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[b]
2021 Orange County SC 3–1 Tampa Bay Rowdies Al Lang Stadium 7,521 Ronaldo Damus (OCO)
2022 San Antonio FC 3–1 Louisville City FC Toyota Field 8,534 Santiago Patiño (SAN)
2023 Phoenix Rising FC 1–1 (p) Charleston Battery Patriots Point Soccer Complex 5,094 Rocco Ríos Novo (PHX)
  1. ^ Known as the "Commissioners Cup" from 2011 to 2014 and the "regular season champions" from 2015 to 2022
  2. ^ The 2020 Final was scheduled to be played at Al Lang Stadium between Tampa Bay Rowdies and Phoenix Rising FC

USL club honors

[edit]

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

Team Seasons USL playoffs USL regular season Total honors Major honors /
championships
Winner Runner-up Winner Runner-up
Orlando City SC 4 2 — 3 1 6 5
Louisville City FC 9 2 2 — 3 7 2
Phoenix Rising FC 10 1 2[a] 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
San Antonio FC 8 1 — 1 — 2 2
Tampa Bay Rowdies 7 — 2[a] 1 — 3 1
Sacramento Republic 10 1 — — 1 2 1
Charleston Battery 13 1 1 — — 2 1
Orange County SC 13 1 — — — 1 1
FC Cincinnati 3 — — 1 — 1 1
Reno 1868 FC 4 — — 1 — 1 1
Richmond Kickers 8 — — 1 — 1 1
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 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
  1. ^ a b Includes the canceled 2020 finals.

Player records

[edit]
As of January 27, 2024[201]
Most USL clean sheets
Rank Player CS
1 United States Evan Newton 57
2 United States Brandon Miller 43
3 Cuba Odisnel Cooper 40
4 United States Matt Pickens 37
United States Tomas Gomez 37
5 Puerto Rico Cody Laurendi 36
6 United States Carl Woszczynski 34
7 Alex Tambakis 33
8 Mexico Miguel Gallardo 32
United States Andrew Dykstra 32

Attendance

[edit]
Season Teams League avg. Playoff avg. Highest teams Lowest teams Ref
2011 12 2,274 5,555 5,330 (Orlando City)
4,927 (Rochester)		 410 (Los Angeles Blues)
542 (Dayton)		 [202]
2012 11 2,777 4,252 6,606 (Orlando City)
6,265 (Rochester)		 666 (Los Angeles Blues)
722 (Dayton)		 [203]
2013 13 2,611 6,989 8,056 (Orlando City)
5,898 (Rochester)		 378 (VSI Tampa Bay)
718 (Los Angeles Blues)		 [204]
2014 14 3,114 5,397 11,293 (Sacramento)
5,329 (Rochester)		 533 (Dayton)
597 (LA Galaxy II)		 [205]
2015 24 3,369 5,463 11,313 (Sacramento)
6,765 (Louisville City)		 313 (FC Montreal)
479 (Toronto FC ll)		 [206]
2016 29 3,439 5,281 17,296 (FC Cincinnati)
11,514 (Sacramento)		 243 (FC Montreal)
589 (New York Red Bulls II)		 [207]
2017 30 4,302 5,339 21,198 (FC Cincinnati)
11,569 (Sacramento)		 632 (New York Red Bulls II)
869 (Vancouver Whitecaps 2)
2018 33 4,923 7,786 25,717 (FC Cincinnati)
11,311 (Sacramento)		 810 (Toronto FC II)
812 (New York Red Bulls II)		 [208]
2019 36 4,478 5,389 12,693 (New Mexico United)
10,734 (Indy Eleven)		 478 (Bethlehem Steel FC)
505 (Swope Park Rangers)
2020 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
2021 31 4,138 6,645 12,115 (Louisville City)
10,418 (New Mexico United)		 310 (Loudoun United)
369 (New York Red Bulls II)		 [209][210]
2022 27 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)		 [211]
2023 24 5,803 6,394 10,627 (Sacramento)

10,547 (Louisville City)

1,432 (Miami FC)

2,664 (Loudoun United)

[212]

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.[213] 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.[214] Cincinnati broke the record again on May 14, 2016, with a new all-time high of 23,375.[215] 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.[216] 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.[217] 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[218]

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