By RYAN TOLMICH
Toronto FC are set to become the sixth MLS team to expand into USL Pro.
In an announcement Monday, TFC said that the club had successfully acquired the rights to a USL Pro franchise, joining the LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, Montreal Impact and Real Salt Lake as MLS franchises owning clubs in the third-tier league.
The club also revealed that the new side will be coached by Jason Bent, who has worked as an assistant with the first team and academy since joining the club in 2008.
“First and foremost we must thank (Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment) for the continued support and commitment to Toronto FC,” Bent said. “I’d also like to thank the front office for the opportunity to continue my development as a coach. I feel this pathway will help us bridge the gap between the academy and first team level and enable some talented young men, especially Canadian players, to really learn their trade and develop into legitimate first team players.”
The addition is set to be USL Pro’s 11th expansion side heading into the 2015 season, as Toronto joins clubs in Austin, Charlotte, Colorado Springs, Louisville, Montreal, Portland, Salt Lake City, Seattle, St. Louis and Tulsa as the league’s newest teams.
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What do you think of the continued USL Pro expansions? How many MLS teams do you see moving into USL Pro?
Share your thoughts below.
Maybe this TFC will actually be able to make the playoffs.
For yankiboy and kosh, Nasl can easily expand or relocate.
Nasl is barely growing and sooner or later it will have more teams, like 20.
You guys don’t forget Nasl will try to get into any kind of new market, then sell the market to MLS or even sell the whole league in 10 years.
Nasl wont go down that easy 🙂 the more markets they get better for Nasl, and what if Nasl steals markets from Uslpro like Austin or Charlotte.
Also, as long as Nasl has markets like Cosmos,San Antonio, Minnesota, tampa bay, indy, they wont die.
I never said anything about them dying (though your “they like selling to MLS” argument does support that notion) I was just questioning how they reach 20 teams – with their current setup and the MLS-USL connection.
Does NASL make any money when a team goes to MLS? Don’t think they do, MLS will just cherry pick markets and of the 5 you mentioned three want into MLS, one is in a market where MLS is already heavily there and one is Tampa Bay.
NASL makes the same of that sort of situation as you and I do: ZIPPY!
But it sounds like a cool way to offset the loss of a franchise. It’s just never happened to date for either the NASL or the USL. But is sounds kinda cool (although it doesn’t and won’t happen).
EG,
I admire your optimism but it’s not based on past results or the current reality–but hey, positive attitude is usually an asset in life. 🙂
The fact is that NASL expansion has currently hit a pretty significant ceiling. Adding Indy has looked like a great win (so far). Let’s see how Jacksonville pans out.
Since the marriage with the Cosmos, NASL hasn’t managed to hang with USLPRO. an of even close. For all of the Cavalier talk from current Commish, Mr. Bill Peterson about some NASL franchises being eager to do battle locally with MLS and for all big dreaming from league architect, Mr. Aaron Davidson, the league is eating USLPRO’s dust on the expansion front. The Silverbacks and Cosmos situations indicate that MLS coming to your neighborhood is viewed less as an opportunity and more as a threat; Even Peterson was spittin’ sparks (yes, utterly shameless, I know) about MLS coming into established NASL markets earlier this year.
The numbers speak for themselves. NASL has more or less hit a wall. I’m not predicting it’s death.
Clearly, NASL isn’t as easy as you, BP or AD think that it is or it would be actually happening. Back away from the NASL Kool-Aid or dilute it with some water. Probably would be a lot healthier, Bro.
Will be funny when TFCusl beats TFC in a derby game.
Somebody beat me to it, but, yeah, my first reaction when I read the headline was “there is no need for a second Toronto FC team in the USL”.
Toronto FC: the prime example as to why promotion/relegation is needed.
Toronto FC is truly the worst football team in the history of mankind, and, yet, its continuous failures on the field are “punished” by not making the “playoffs”…laughable.
At least Bradley benefited from his return to the MLS…nevermind…
How is not making the playoffs (not having a chance to win a cup, in other words) not a real punishment for poor performance?
To me, TFC is a prime example for why pro/rel would not be good for MLS. TFC is trying to get it right, and signs point to them being a big player in MLS when they do. They are spending big money on players, player development, and infrastructure. Why do you want them out of the league and how would that benefit everyone else? The team that got promoted in their place would likely not have the same commitment and financial resources that they have.
don, in case you are new here, meet Ivan. “Why can’t MLS be more like Europe” is his thing around these parts.
Good luck.
Why would they get relegated? They did not finish in the top 2 or 3 in the regular season.
Pro/Rel in MLS: When some sucker ownership group comes along and pays $100M+ for an MLS franchise that could get relegated to USLPRO I’ll be laughing hysterically. What a great investment!
I’m not sold on the idea of pro/rel, but I don’t think it could work at all until MLS finishes expanding. No one will invest in team that could easily get relegated the next season.
Say what you want but having a good 4 tier system of soccer in the US only benefits everyone. Not every player will develop like a Landon Donovan. Some are late bloomers that need that experience in a second or third tier league. Happens all the time in Basketball, Baseball, and Football.
Too bad RBNY cheaped out and reneged on its previously stated intention to field a USL PRO team next season. Although the team is in the midst of a nice playoff run, there are still serious questions about Red Bull’s commitment going forward.
Yep. “Cheaped out” is a good way to put it. Some of the folks in the supporters groups — the only fans who have “official” communications with the club — should mention their displeasure with this decision.
Then they complain they can’t keep their best youth talent.
If you want to keep the kids, give them somewhere to play….
So uslpro might end up with 40 teams around 2020. Interesting future for soccer in the U.S.
MLS will have 24 by 2020 & Nasl 20 by 2020.
Only if MLS had more communication with Nasl.
NASL walked away from table when they didn’t like the deal that MLS was interested in. So now they are living with that decision.
With all due respect, Bro-Other than from the mouth of Mr. Bill Peterson or Aaron Davidson, I’m not quite sure why you’re kicking around that “20” number for the amount of anticipated NASL teams come 2020.
Honestly, I’m horrible at math but I’d be surprised if NASL is at 17 or 18 by then. USLPRO is killing the NASL in increasing it’s number of (nonMLS owned) expansion franchises. NASL has a disaster on its hands with Virginia, Oklahoma City and will very possibly shed Atlanta during the winter. The throw in possibly losing Minnesota. San Antonio has also been in talks with MLS and might have a cash infusion to help propel them there.
Things aren’t looking that great when it comes to NASL expansion. They mad the choice thT they felt they had to when they passed on the MLS affiliation. With the deal that MLS brokered with USLPRO, they don’t really need NASL.
It would be nice if there was more communication but I doubt that it will happens any time soon now that the two leagues decided not to affiliate.
Agreed. I am no NASL expert at all but just based on the information out there I too was wondering where this 20 team expansion was going to come from. The MLS-USL connection cannot be good for them. Now there’s a lot of country out there but I still don’t see it.
So now two USL quality teams will be playing in Toronto
^this. lol
Zing!
LOL
Thanks for that funny, I needed that this morning. 🙂
LOL, stop please, I’m at work……
Ahahahahaha!