USL First Division
The
United Soccer Leagues First Division 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.
Unlike most other nations, there is currently no system of
promotion and relegation in American soccer; it has repeatedly been suggested to introduce it, but many feel that such a system is contrary to the way Americans think about sports and, more importantly, it is not currently practical given the financial state of American soccer.
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.
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, 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 move up.
The First Division does not have the promotion/relegation system common in most countries' football pyramids. 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 advanced 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. Other possible cities mentioned for the 2007 campaign 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.
| Club | Founded | Colors | Stadium | Logo |
|---|
| Atlanta Silverbacks | 1993 | Red, Black, White | Silverbacks Park | |
| Charleston Battery | 1993 | Yellow, Black | Blackbaud Stadium | |
| Miami FC | 2005 | Blue, Orange | Tropical Park Stadium | |
| Minnesota Thunder | 1990 | Blue, Gold | James Griffin Stadium | |
| Montreal Impact | 1993 | Blue, White | Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard | |
| Portland Timbers | 2001 | Green, White, Yellow | PGE Park | |
| Puerto Rico Islanders | 2003 | Orange, Blue, White | Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium | |
| Rochester Raging Rhinos | 1996 | Green, Black, Yellow | PAETEC Park | |
| Seattle Sounders | 1994 | Teal, White, Green | Qwest Field
Starfire Sports Complex (alt.) | |
| Toronto Lynx | 1997 | Gold, Black, White | Centennial Park Stadium | |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 1986 | Blue, White | Swangard Stadium | |
| Virginia Beach Mariners | 1994 | Sea Green, White | Virginia Beach Sportsplex | |
*
Carolina RailHawks FC (Cary, N.C.)
*Northern California (owned by
Deportivo Alavés)
*Fort Lauderdale
*
Syracuse*River Plate PR
*Bermuda
{|valign="top"|
*
Atlanta Silverbacks (1997-current, as
Atlanta Ruckus in 1997-98)
*
Boston Bulldogs (1997-2000, as
Worcester Wildfire in 1997-98)
*
Calgary Mustangs (2002-04, as
Calgary Storm in 2002-03)
*
California Jaguars (1997-98)
*
Carolina Dynamo (1997)
*
Charleston Battery (1997-current)
*
Charlotte Eagles (2001-03)
*
Cincinnati Riverhawks (1998-2003)
*
Colorado Foxes (1997)
*
Connecticut Wolves (1997-2001)
*
Edmonton Aviators (2004, as
Edmonton F.C. at the end of the season)
*
El Paso Patriots (1997-2003)
*
Hershey Wildcats (1997-2001)
*
Indiana Blast (1999-2003)
*
Jacksonville Cyclones (1997-99)
*
Lehigh Valley Steam (1999)
*
Long Island Rough Riders (1997-2001)
*
Maryland Mania (1999)
*
Miami FC (2006-current)
*
Milwaukee Rampage (1997-2002)
*
Milwaukee Wave United (2003-04)
*
Minnesota Thunder (1997-current)
*MLS Project 40 (1998-00)
*Montreal Impact (1997-1998, 2000-current)
*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)
*Portland Timbers (2001-current)
*Puerto Rico Islanders (2004-current)
*Raleigh Express (1997-2000, as Raleigh Flyers in 1997-98)
*Richmond Kickers (1997-2005)
*Rochester Raging Rhinos (1997-current)
*Sacramento Geckos (1998-99, as Albuquerque Geckos in 1998)
*San Diego Flash (1998-2001)
*San Francisco Bay Seals (1998-2000, as Bay Area Seals in 2000)
*Seattle Sounders (1997-current)
*Staten Island Vipers (1998-99)
*Syracuse Salty Dogs (2003-04)
*Toronto Lynx (1997-current)
*Vancouver Whitecaps (2001-current, as Vancouver 86ers in 1997-2000)
*Virginia Beach Mariners (1998-2000, 2002-current, as Hampton Roads Mariners 1998-2000, 2002) | 
