By J Hutcherson (May 31, 2018) US Soccer Players - From my perspective Chicago was booming in the late 90s. Tech companies with plenty of jobs, people opening things like hipster newsstands to go along with the new restaurants and Japanese stationary stores. Lots of people around my age happy to be there. The dotcom crash wiped most of that out. I don't mean in theory. I mean whole sections of my . . .
Cincinnati gets its MLS team
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (May 30, 2018) US Soccer Players - It only took six or so more months than originally planned, but Cincinnati finally has its MLS expansion team. Major League Soccer and city dignitaries gathered at an Over-the-Rhine brewery on Tuesday night to officially announce Cincinnati as the 24th MLS club. We've seen several years of excellent attendance for the USL club . . .
MLS expands to Cincinnati
We start the soccer news with MLS officially welcoming FC Cincinnati into the league as an expansion team for 2019. FC Cincinnati isn't exactly a surprise, the favorite to join Nashville in the most recent round of expansion. MLS delayed the second-part of that announcement by several months, but now it's Cincinnati getting on the field a season before Nashville and Miami. "The news of Cincinnati . . .
Can LAFC learn from the Vegas Golden Knights?
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (May 23, 2018) US Soccer Players - The new team that arrived with great fanfare this season, taking everyone by storm and captivating viewers across the USA and Canada as it nears a championship wears black and gold. This team is not Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club but rather the National Hockey League’s Vegas Golden Knights. The expansion team had an . . .
MLS, MLB, the NHL, and the expansion game
By J Hutcherson (May 8, 2018) US Soccer Players - MLS has had the expansion game mostly to itself since their decision to revamp the league by doubling the number of teams. The expansion era is happening in isolation, save for the NHL adding Las Vegas this season. It's been a long time since the other North American pro sports teams decided expansion was nice to talk about in theory, but not their . . .
When will MLS reconsider the conferences?
By Jeff Rueter – SAINT PAUL, MN (Apr 26, 2018) US Soccer Players - Last week, we looked at the growing conference imbalance in MLS. Due to population centers and ownership wealth, the Eastern Conference is quickly dwarfing the quality level of its more even-keeled Western neighbors. The Mississippi River has always been a convenient way to break the country up geographically. However, in a league . . .
Playing pro soccer in North Carolina
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Mar 26, 2018) US Soccer Players – When it comes to pro team sports, North Carolina is known for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, and the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. Then there’s college basketball, the hallmark of the state going back decades. Many people are working to add the world’s game to the rich tapestry of sports North Carolina is . . .
MLS in Miami needs a stadium
The soccer news starts with what now seems like an old story in MLS. Where will a team find land and concessions to build a nice new stadium somewhere in the greater metro area? DC United spent over a decade trying to answer that question, eventually ending up on the right side of the District line to satisfy the latest incarnation of MLS. That's playing within the city limits, preferably near . . .
Bob Bradley knows how to turn an MLS expansion team into a champion
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Feb 26, 2018) US Soccer Players – The start of a new MLS season means predictions. There are some easy ones to make. Toronto FC repeating as MLS Cup champions tops that list. Atlanta United turning into a title contender is also an easy option. Then there’s LAFC, and things get complicated. Can the latest MLS expansion team compete in year one amid all the hype and . . .
A Curious 2018 for FC Cincinnati
By Jeff Rueter – SAINT PAUL, MN (Feb 22, 2018) US Soccer Players - It was going to take something special to keep FC Cincinnati’s incomparable momentum moving forward. In 2016, the USL side kicked off in front of record-obliterating crowds at Nippert Stadium. In 2017, they shocked MLS side Chicago Fire in the US Open Cup and forced New York Red Bulls into extra time in the tournament’s semifinal. . . .
