USL Expansion to … Antigua?
USL: Barracuda FC To Join USL First Division:
United Soccer Leagues continues the expansion of its top professional league Tuesday with the announcement that Barracuda FC of Antigua and Barbuda [Wikipedia] will join the USL First Division for the 2011 season.
Currently a professional association team, Barracuda FC plays at a 12,000-seat stadium in St. John’s, Antigua. . . . As was previously the case with USL teams Puerto Rico Islanders and Bermuda Hogges, the participation of Antigua Barracuda FC in the USL First Division will be subject to the formal approval of both federations (Antigua & Barbuda Football Association and United States Soccer Federation), as well as the Confederation and FIFA.
What this means with regard to how next year’s Division-2 league is run, or by whom, I have no idea. (I doubt anyone does.) At least it’s not a market that would jump up to MLS anytime soon.
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1 comment to 'USL Expansion to … Antigua?'
May 26, 2010
Let’s see. Assuming Puerto Rico and Austin stay in USL, that gives us Puerto Rico, Austin, A&B and Orlando in the USL1, and Rochester, St. Louis, Carolina, Montreal, Edmonton, Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Baltimore, Miami and Atlanta in the NASL.
USL1 still has 4 teams to go, and only 4-5 months to do it in. I’ve seen comments that San Antonio and Phoenix are working on teams, and probably trying to decide which league to go with. And San Diego is out there, and supposedly New York. Only if ALL FOUR of those go USL1 can the USL1 survive.
And I really think adding A&B is a stupid move. It will actually be less likely now for San Deigo or Phoenix to join the league. Knowing that they have to travel all the way down there, I think they’re far more likely to join the NASL. The issues with St. Louis and Baltimore aside, if Atlanta does make it, they’ll have enough teams. San Diego and/or Phoenix would just be gravy.
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