USL First Division
Founded2005
Folded2010
CountryUnited States
Other club(s) fromCanada, Puerto Rico
ConfederationCONCACAF
Number of teams11–12
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toNone
Relegation toNone
Domestic cup(s)U.S. Open Cup,
Canadian Championship
International cup(s)CFU Club Championship
Last championsPuerto Rico Islanders
(2010)
Most championshipsSeattle Sounders
Vancouver Whitecaps
(2 titles each)
TV partnersFox Soccer Channel
Websiteusl1.uslsoccer.com

The USL First Division (usually referred to as USL-1) was a professional men's soccer league in the United States and Canada from 2005 to 2010.

During its existence, it formed the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer league system behind Major League Soccer. It was operated by United Soccer Leagues (USL) and was known as the A-League, from 1997 until 2004.

Several teams left the league in 2009 to form the new North American Soccer League, with the intent of running their own second-tier league. Following a brief legal dispute, the two leagues operated in tandem under United States Soccer Federation (USSF) mediation as the USSF Division 2 Professional League in 2010 before the split became final. The teams that remained in the First Division were merged with the USL Second Division in 2011 to form USL Pro.

History

When the A-League became the USL First Division in 2005, the league comprised 12 teams: Atlanta Silverbacks, Charleston Battery, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, Portland Timbers, Puerto Rico Islanders, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Raging Rhinos, Seattle Sounders, Toronto Lynx, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Virginia Beach Mariners. The Calgary Mustangs, Edmonton Aviators, and Syracuse Salty Dogs, all of whom competed in the final A-League season in 2004, folded during the offseason, and did not take up their places in the new league.

The Seattle Sounders won the inaugural USL1 championship, beating Richard on penalty kicks in the championship game after a 1–1 tie in regulation time. The Vancouver Whitecaps won the first of their two USL1 titles in 2006 by beating the Rochester Raging Rhinos 3–0 in the championship game, while Seattle won their second title in 2007 by overcoming the Atlanta Silverbacks in a one-sided 4–0 final. Vancouver won their second USL1 championship in 2008 by beating the Puerto Rico Islanders 2–1 in the first USL1 final to feature no American teams; the championship went north of the border again in 2009 when Montreal Impact won their first USL1 title, beating Vancouver 6–3 on aggregate over two legs in the first all-Canadian affair.

On August 27, 2009, Nike agreed to sell its stake in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) to Rob Hoskins and Alec Papadakis of Atlanta-based NuRock Soccer Holdings, instead of to the USL Team Owner's Association (TOA), a group comprising the owners of several USL First Division clubs. In the months that followed, several prominent TOA members began to voice their concerns about the state of the league in general, its management structure and ownership model, the leadership of USL president Francisco Marcos, and about the sale of the league to NuRock, which the TOA felt was counter-productive and detrimental to the development of the league. Within several weeks, a number of TOA member clubs threatened to break away from USL and start their own league; this break away became official on November 10, 2009, when the majority of USL-1 clubs, as well as one of the expected 2010 expansion franchises, applied to the United States Soccer Federation, the Canadian Soccer Association, and FIFA for approval to create a new North American Soccer League,[1] reducing the league's membership to just three teams.

After lawsuits were filed and heated press statements exchanged, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) declared they would sanction neither the NASL nor the USL First Division in 2010, and ordered both "camps" to work together on a plan to temporarily allow their teams to play a 2010 season. The interim solution was announced on January 7, 2010, with the USSF running the new USSF D2 Pro League comprising clubs from both USL-1 and NASL.[2] All 12 teams from the USL First Division and the NASL competed in the USSF D2 Pro League in 2010, which was won by the Puerto Rico Islanders.

On September 8, 2010, the USL announced the formation of USL Pro which would merge the USL First Division and USL Second Division to begin play in 2011. The merger is meant to consolidate USL's position within the American professional soccer landscape and focus on commercial growth and professional development of soccer in 4 main regions throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.[3] The First Division was formally dissolved following the completion of the temporary season to make way for USL Pro.[4]

Expansion and contraction

Prior to 2010, the league had a steady rate of expansion and contraction. Richmond was voluntarily relegated to the USL Second Division in 2006 to cut costs, Toronto was voluntarily relegated to the USL Premier Development League in 2007 because of MLS expansion, and on March 30, 2007, the Virginia Beach Mariners folded just prior to the start of the 2007 season due to an ownership dispute which left the team without financing. These teams were replaced by two new teams: the Carolina RailHawks from the Triangle region of North Carolina, playing out of Cary, and California Victory, a team in Northern California under the ownership of Dmitry Piterman (chairman of Spanish team Deportivo Alavés) which folded after the end of the 2007 season, having played only one season.

In November 2008, the Atlanta Silverbacks announced that they would sit out the 2009 season to "reassess the landscape," and would possibly return at a future date.[5] Similarly, the Seattle Sounders left prior to the 2009 season due to the imminent entrance of Seattle Sounders FC into Major League Soccer. Their spot in the league was taken by the Cleveland City Stars, who won the USL Second Division title in 2008, and voluntarily moved up to USL-1 for the 2009 season,[6] folded at the end of the year. On December 2, 2009, Inside Minnesota Soccer reported that the USL had asked the City Stars to terminate the contracts of all the players, as the franchise was to be dissolved. Posting an email addressed to all players under contract with the Cleveland City Stars and written by team president Jonathan Ortlip and executive director Aaron Tredway, the club executives went on to accept the decision to terminate the franchise.[7]

On June 19, 2008, an announcement was made that an expansion slot had been awarded to a Tampa Bay, Florida-based franchise led by main investors Andrew Nestor (CEO) and Hinds Howard (chairman) of Citrus Ventures.[8] The plan was for the club to join the league in 2010 and be named the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Expansion rumors

Possible cities mentioned for future campaigns included Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Syracuse, New York. Syracuse had had a highly attended team in the A-League from 2002 to 2004, but it folded due to stadium issues, having ground-shared with the local baseball team. Fort Lauderdale also had a history of teams from the NASL, American Soccer League, and USL First Division. There was also discussion that Argentinian team River Plate is interested in putting a second USL team in Puerto Rico, as well as discussion that recent start-up team, the San Diego Flash may also join either the USL or NASL.

Prior to the 2009 NASL split several other cities had been mentioned as being locations where future USL-1 franchises might launch, including St. Louis, Missouri (led by the current USL Premier Development League (PDL) franchise St. Louis Lions);[9] Orlando, Florida (with Mexican side Pachuca being rumored as connected to it);[10] Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Detroit, Michigan; Hamilton, Ontario;[11] San Antonio, Texas; and Ottawa, Ontario. On September 1, 2009, a group from Ottawa formally applied for USL-1 team, contingent on the approval of updates to Lansdowne Park. The team would share a field with the Ottawa Redblacks football team.[12] The Ottawa group subsequently committed to the NASL.[13]

Structure

Unlike most other nations, there is no system of merit-based promotion and relegation in the American and Canadian pyramids, meaning that the champions of USL-1 could not move up to Major League Soccer and, similarly, the worst teams in MLS were not in danger of being demoted to USL-1. However, some USL-1 teams had in the past chosen to take voluntary relegation to a lower level of the USL system, often to reduce operating costs, while teams had also decided to move up to USL-1 after finding success at the lower levels.

Playoff format

The top seven teams advanced to the playoff tournament, with the Commissioner's Cup winner (regular season champion) receiving a bye into the semi-finals. Each round consisted of two legs, the lower seeded team hosting the first leg, and the higher seed hosting the second. Prior to 2009, the final was played as a single leg at the higher seed's stadium. After the first legs were completed, the lowest remaining seed played the Commissioner's Cup winner, and the higher seeds played each other. The highest remaining seed hosted the penultimate game of the Finals. The playoffs started the week after the completion of the regular season, and typically ended in mid-October.

Teams

Cleveland City StarsAustin Aztex FCNorth Carolina FCCalifornia VictoryFort Lauderdale StrikersMiami FC (2006)Virginia Beach MarinersVancouver WhitecapsVancouver Whitecaps (1986–2010)Premier Development LeagueToronto LynxSeattle SoundersSeattle Sounders (1994–2008)Rochester RhinosUSL Second DivisionRichmond KickersPuerto Rico IslandersPortland TimbersPortland Timbers (2001–10)CF MontrealUSSF Division 2Montreal Impact (1992–2011)Minnesota ThunderUnited Soccer LeagueUSL Second DivisionCharleston BatteryNorth American Soccer League (2011–2017)Atlanta Silverbacks

†The Austin Aztex have been awarded a USL Pro franchise and will begin play in 2015 in that league.

Active clubs   Former Club   USSF D2 Season (2010)   Club moved to MLS   Club moved to NASL   Club moved to USL   Club moved to USL 2nd Div or PDL   Club on hiatus

League champions / top goal scorer

Season Winner Score Runner-up Top Goalscorer(s) Team Goals
2005 Seattle Sounders 1–1 (PK) Richmond Kickers Jason Jordan Vancouver Whitecaps 17
2006 Vancouver Whitecaps 3–0 Rochester Raging Rhinos Romário and Cam Weaver Miami FC and Seattle Sounders 18
2007 Seattle Sounders 4–0 Atlanta Silverbacks Sébastien Le Toux and Charles Gbeke Seattle Sounders and Montreal Impact 10
2008 Vancouver Whitecaps 2–1 Puerto Rico Islanders Alex Afonso Miami FC 15
2009 Montreal Impact 6–3[lower-alpha 1] Vancouver Whitecaps Charles Gbeke Vancouver Whitecaps 12
  1. ↑ Leg 1:Vancouver 2–3 Montreal
    Leg 2: Montreal 3–1 Vancouver

Regular season champions (Commissioner’s Cup winners)

Season Winner Record (W–L–T) Points Playoff Runners-Up
2005 Montreal Impact18–3–761 Lost in semifinal series Rochester Raging Rhinos
2006 Montreal Impact14–5–951 Lost in semifinal series Rochester Raging Rhinos
2007 Seattle Sounders16–6–654 Won Championship Portland Timbers
2008 Puerto Rico Islanders15–6–954 Lost in final Vancouver Whitecaps
2009 Portland Timbers16–4–1058 Lost in semifinal series Carolina RailHawks FC

Most successful clubs

Club Championships Runners-up Regular season Championships
Seattle Sounders 2 0 1
Vancouver Whitecaps 2 1 0
Montreal Impact 1 0 2
Puerto Rico Islanders 0 1 1
Portland Timbers 0 0 1
Atlanta Silverbacks 0 1 0
Richmond Kickers 0 1 0
Rochester Rhinos 0 1 0

League average attendance

YearRegular seasonPlayoffs
20054,52712,498
20064,6675,998
20074,4207,741
20085,1647,786
20094,7204,702

All-time USL leaders

  • Note: includes stats from the old A-League

See also

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "Teams Split From USL-1; To Form New League In 2010". Goal.com. November 10, 2009. Archived from the original on November 13, 2009. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Division 2 Professional League To Operate in 2010". ussoccer.com. January 7, 2010. Archived from the original on January 10, 2010. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
  3. ↑ "USL Restructures Professional Division". www.uslsoccer.com. September 8, 2010. Archived from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  4. ↑ "USL Restructures Professional Division". www.uslsoccer.com. September 8, 2010. Archived from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Atlanta Silverbacks". Archived from the original on December 29, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Business as usual in the United Soccer League". Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Cleveland City Stars Release Players from Contracts - IMS Soccer News". December 2, 2009. Archived from the original on December 6, 2009. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
  8. ↑ Encina, Eduardo A. (June 19, 2008). "Tampa Bay Rowdies to get new life in USL". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Home - St. Louis Lions". www.stllions.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
  10. ↑ "MLS: Atlanta Out! Orlando to USL. St Louis weak? Philly behind schedule..." Orlando Sentinel. January 16, 2009. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on September 4, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
  13. ↑ "NASL". Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
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