• Soc Takes understands Indy Eleven has furloughed a number of front office staff in recent days as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. A statement from Indy Eleven to Soc Takes confirmed our report: “While we maintained full staffing levels for as long as possible, the economic impact of…
• One of the enduring questions about lower-division soccer remains: Where do USL franchise fees — currently at $10 million for the Championship and $1 million for League One — go? The seeming answer is a reinvestment into USL headquarters; namely front office salaries, benefits, office rent, etc. However, based…
• Soc Takes understands that Colombian footballer Sebastian Velasquez will be playing his football in America once again. The 2012 MLS draft pick has previously played for Real Salt Lake and New York City FC in MLS, Real Monarchs in USL as well as Rayo OKC in the now-defunct NASL….
• Tommy Heinemann has endured a difficult year. From the highs of winning the NASL and signing a contract with FC Cincinnati, to the lows of the events of early January and beyond. On Nov. 15, Heinemann’s agent, PJ Savage, confirmed via Twitter that Heinemann won his arbitration case against…
• The USL released its 2018 All-League Teams on Monday, honoring 22 of the best footballers in the league this season. Louisville City FC, last year’s champions, will host Didier Drogba and Phoenix Rising FC in Thursday’s USL Cup final looking to make it back-to-back titles. 2018 USL All-League First…
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• Eight teams remain, four in each conference, with the second round of the USL playoffs set to kick off this weekend. Which four sides do you think will advance to the conference finals? Drop a comment below with your predictions. Follow John on Twitter: @JohnMLTX. Support Soc Takes on Patreon…
• LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville-Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest (LIPAFC), the derby contested between the Indy Eleven and Louisville City FC, tends to bring out the best in both clubs and supporters’ groups in terms of smack talk. And while the Eleven got served up properly on the pitch…
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• LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Yes indeed, Louisville City FC and the Indy Eleven are taking the Louisville-Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest (LIPAFC) to the postseason. Having both already clinched a playoff spot, the teams met last weekend at Louisville Slugger Field with LouCity coming away with a 1-0 win. Now,…
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• As DeKalb, Ill.-based DeKalb County United prepares for 2020, their third season in competition, we caught up with club president John Hall to find out what’s new with the “Green & Black.” Kevin Johnston: How did 2019 turn out for DeKalb County United on the pitch and what was…
• Nashville SC and the Indy Eleven will square off Saturday with a spot in the Eastern Conference final on the line. To preview the match, I enlisted the help of For Club and Country‘s Tim Sullivan. We asked each other six questions to find out what might transpire in…
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• INDIANAPOLIS — A Thursday evening doubleheader saw a pair of Big Ten foes visit the Sellick Bowl to face the Butler men’s and women’s squads. The Bulldogs traded victories, with the women falling 2-1 to Illinois in the first match and the men wrapping up the night with a…
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• INDIANAPOLIS — The fifth-annual Mayor’s International Futsal Cup, the largest adult futsal tournament in the United States, returns to the Circle City over Labor Day weekend from Aug. 31-Sept. 2. The tournament takes place outdoors in downtown Indianapolis at 201 North Capitol Avenue, in the shadow of the historic…
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• WESTFIELD, Ind. — When legendary British rockers Iron Maiden hit the road, they do what any warm-blooded, footy-obsessed blokes from across the pond might do. They seek out a game. Thus, as the band’s Legacy of the Beast Tour rolled along stateside with a show at Ruoff Home Mortgage…
• INDIANAPOLIS — Outside Lucas Oil Stadium during the second half of Sunday’s match between the Indy Eleven and Saint Louis FC, a nasty thunderstorm began spewing down from the heavens. Inside the stadium, a mild tempest of its own formed around the same time. After a nil-nil first half,…
• FC Cincinnati‘s inaugural season in MLS has all but hit the skids. Sitting on a measly 17 points through 24 matches, good for dead last in the Supporters’ Shield standings, it’s time for the club to turn its focus toward the future. That’s precisely what the club has done…
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Are we ready to return to play? I’m sorry, but we are not. Not even close.

Photo credit: Robbie Mehling/Soc Takes

It feels as though it has been years since I watched Tyler Pasher terrorize Tim Howard in Indy Eleven’s away win against Memphis 901. Since then, U.S. Soccer has come to a complete standstill.

The impact of COVID-19 has been global, and the number of cases and deaths in the United States have been remarkable. Currently, over a quarter of the world’s cases and deaths have occurred in America. The impact on global and local economies has been catastrophic and a fifth of Americans currently find themselves unemployed.

One of many economies struck by the pandemic is professional sport, and particularly my favorite niche, professional soccer. Leagues all across the world have rightly canceled matches and training over the past two months, but are now exploring resuming sporting activities. In England, suggestions are that the Premier League may resume in early June, even though it must be noted that mother nature was so upset at the idea of a Liverpool Premier League win, that she imparted a global pandemic upon us.

Closer to home, Major League Soccer (MLS) and the United Soccer League (USL) are all beginning to explore a return to training, while the professional National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) and multiple amateur leagues have suspended play for the spring season.

But should we start playing soccer?

While there has been no statistical analysis of this yet, the downturn in the economy is undoubtedly negatively affecting club finances. Based on the financial instability of American club soccer — even before the pandemic — it is likely that we stumble to the other side of this thing with more defunct clubs and more irresponsible behavior directed toward players and staff. The latest example of this will be possible cuts to player salaries.

So, in the unfortunate roller coaster that is American soccer, financial implications demand a return to play. And, likely, a return to play that includes incorporation of supporters. Unlike the financial behemoths of England, Spain, etc., which can account for sponsorships and TV revenue as a significant portion of club income, American soccer continues to rely heavily on ticket revenue to remain financially solvent.

In other words, the ecosystem of players, technical and non-technical staff, referees, administrators, vendors, etc. need the game to return at some point. Fans, too, need a distraction from the terrifying reality of the world around us.

But are we ready to return to play? I’m sorry, but we are not. Not even close.

In order to return to play, we must be able to test players regularly. How regularly? Every day. Every day that they train and/or play a game. Can we achieve this?  We — and I cannot stress this enough — cannot.  Harvard Global Health Institute analyzed that the country should be conducting approximately 900,000 tests every day by May 15th. Our current rate of testing is far short of that at around 350,000 tests. So, even in a best case scenario, we are not close to our testing goal.

Beyond that, there are significant ethical considerations to prioritizing testing professional athletes over healthcare personnel, the elderly and other at-risk populations.

But, let’s assume that we do get to a panacea that allows for us testing everyone. There are two more things we should consider: a methodological and epidemiological concern about testing.

The first has to do with the test itself. You see, there are two ways we are testing for COVID-19. The first and most common test is a Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)-based test. That’s a fancy way of saying: It is a test for presence/absence of viral particles in a patient’s blood. The other, the antibody test, looks for signs of a patient’s immune response to the virus, and is therefore an indirect measure of infection.

To put it simply, the former allows you to test for current infections more accurately. The latter — depending on the type of immunoglobulin (A flag your immune cells produce in response to infection) being tested — can affirm current or previous infections.

Here’s the kicker. Neither test is perfectly accurate. The current estimate for the RT-PCR (viral-particle)-based test suggests that it inaccurately diagnoses between 10-20% of tested individuals as COVID-19 free. Other tests can be less accurate.

Using those statistics in an overly simplistic way, that means that if we test our 10 outfield players — let’s ignore goalkeepers because they don’t really matter — it is possible we misdiagnose one of them as being COVID-19 free when they are not.

The assumption above is that all 10 players are COVID-19 positive, so it is far from a perfect illustration and forgive me the imperfect analogy. The key is to understand that with a big enough population, this false negative will eventually manifest. If we test every player, every day, this will manifest. Given the close quarters professional athletes find themselves in — locker rooms, hotel rooms, contact on the field, etc. — this could be the beginning of a focal breakout.

A focal breakout, where a potentially asymptomatic individual infects multiple other people during a training session or a game.

Does either league have a plan for this scenario? Or are we in – “let’s figure it out later” mode?

As a proof of concept, the CDC reported a scenario where one individual infected multiple other individuals during a 2.5-hour choir rehearsal. While I don’t anticipate watching Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mark-Anthony Kaye singing harmony on “Bridge over Troubled Waters,” anytime soon, the same issue of close contact during a soccer game presents potential superspreader risk.

The second problem with the testing is the latency period of the virus. Let’s return to our current scenario of testing, where people are being tested when they start to show symptoms. To put it simply, if you are exposed to the virus on May 12, it is likely that you will show symptoms by May 15. But, it may be between 1-24 days until you show symptoms.

And, as many of you know by now, it is possible that that player can spread the virus during that time.

So, please, I implore you, we are not ready.

One commonly cited method of returning to professional support envisions a scenario where players are sequestered from the outside world. They live in hotels, do not physically interact with their families, and simply train and play football. 

In premise, this seems reasonable. But, how realistic is it in practice? Sure, we can sequester players in a hotel. But, what about coaches? Sure, let’s throw them in there, too. What about referees? Alright, get Howard Webb the presidential suite at the Ritz Carlton. Sorted. Ummm… what about non-technical staff who interact with players? What about hotel workers? What about the mental toll of separating players from their families during a global pandemic?

Sure, if the question is: Would a player accept being separated from his family over not getting paid? The answer is likely “yes.” But, I implore you to recognize that the problem is THAT question.

The question should be – “How dare a millionaire or billionaire ask a player to decide between his health (and that of his loved ones) or a paycheck?”

And how dare Major League Soccer and United Soccer League – who will continue to generate revenue – allow owners to do so?

So, please, I implore you, we are not ready.

Let’s take a hypothetical scenario. We restart MLS/USL seasons. All goes well for the first couple of game days. Indy Eleven is top of the table, per usual. Players are enjoying their hotels, spending their time playing video games, eating delicious lasagna at the hotel and FaceTiming with their loved ones. But then, it happens. (And it undoubtedly will at some point.)

One of the players tests positive for COVID-19.

What’s the plan? If you are an MLS player, you’re covered by medical insurance. If you’re a player in the USL, are you paying out of pocket in absence of medical insurance?

OK, let’s look past the uncomfortable reality of player insurance that we all like to avoid. Let’s look at logistics. In terms of logistics, quarantining the player is the easy part. Who else gets quarantined? His roommate? Easy. Check. Every person he has interacted with? Yeah, probably. Since everyone is coexisting in a hotel, that means the entire team. Players, technical staff, everyone.

So, please, I implore you, we are not ready.

I know, I know. I’m a complainer not a doer. It’s easy for me to point out the problems and not give you a solution.

And, you know what, I’m fine with that characterization. Because, the only solution right now is — we need more time. We all do. We are in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic that is evolving before our eyes. We are still understanding the scientific mechanisms, spread (have we considered the possibility of a soccer ball as a disease vector?), evolution and the likelihood of a second wave. In the absence of achieving an estimated 70% recovery-contingent herd immunity, we must wait. We must wait for access to a reliable and safe treatment modality. Ideally, we must wait on a vaccine.

So yes, there are significant financial implications at stake. But, the burden of those questions SHOULD be on MLS and USL owners. Those owners should not be placing the health of their employees over their own short-term financial stability.

While I don’t have clear-cut solutions other than “more time,” I know what isn’t a responsible decision — players should not face salary cuts. Whether owners have to take short-term hits, this is what they signed up for. In an environment where lower-division soccer players are paid low wages and occasionally don’t have medical insurance, truncating their salaries is unacceptable.

Across the country, states are reopening businesses as the scientific consensus has taken a backseat to right-leaning politicking. As a soccer community, let’s not make the same mistake.

I implore you, we are not ready.

Follow Nipun on Twitter: @NipunChopra7.

Support Soc Takes on Patreon for access to exclusive content and supporter benefits. Click here to become a patron today.

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Image credit: Chattanooga FC

With his team almost a decade old, Tim Kelly, chairman of Chattanooga FC, is equal parts concerned and bullish about the future of American soccer. During our conversation, he repeatedly pivoted his concerns with statements of, “We need to end the divisiveness,” and “I’m not going to throw stones.”

Kelly’s goal for organizing the summit was centered on the concept of unity and building a healthy ecosystem for community-based clubs and sustainability. “(I wanted to) elucidate some common vision that we can all agree on,” he said. The goal was to have “teams with sustainable business models playing in stable leagues against quality opponents with enthusiastic community support.”

The vision

While details about the exact structure of the new system are scarce and fluid (Soc Takes will have a separate article on this next week), the summit attempted to get teams to sign up for five common principles:

• Club > League. “The central malfunction in American soccer is that we have placed leagues above teams. What is extraordinary is that we now have clubs, like ours that are a success in spite of their leagues, not because of it,” said Kelly.
• Commitment to the community. Will never pick up and leave.
• Club is bigger than the game. We do as much work in the community as we do in the field. We have a non-profit arm doing work in the community.
• World’s game, World’s rules – Promotion/Relegation is the right course – legally, ethically and economically. Kelly argues that Pro/Rel would help generate investment into the US Soccer pyramid.
• Supporter ownership. At the meeting, Kim Arnome, Vice president of Cutting Edge Capital presented the attendees with ideas to generate community capital, via crowdfunding, via public offering or via community investment funds. Per her presentation (provided to Soc Takes), each method of revenue generation has its own pros and cons, including caps on money raised, costs, etc. Per Kelly, the idea of supporter ownership received pushback from some of the attendees.

Kelly said that as of March 14, 12-13 teams have signed on to these principles.

NISA

It is noticeable that some of the ideas shared in the vision align well with those postulated by NISA. Therefore, it is no coincidence that Chattanooga FC was “one of the first teams who spoke to Peter (Wilt) about NISA, “ Kelly says, “We visited him in Chicago and tried to reform the terms of agreement with him.”

Luis Hernandez of Pint after Podcast  was the first to report that Chattanooga FC is not expected to play in NISA.

Hearing that Chattanooga may officially be out of #NISA.

I have not confirmed this.

— Luis Hernandez (@DeltaReaper) March 10, 2018

Per Kelly, Chattanooga FC has backed away from its commitment to NISA. “In some ways, this meeting was a consequence of how long (NISA) was taking,” Kelly said, later adding, “The clock is ticking, if they get critical mass, we will take a look at it again.”

In recent weeks, Soc Takes has been told that some other early proponents of NISA are exploring other options and reneging on commitments to NISA. Unanimously, each conversation has heaped praise on the integrity of NISA co-founder Peter Wilt, but raised concerns about the other partners involved in the NISA project.

When asked if he had such concerns (about Wilt’s partners), Kelly refused to comment.

Soc Takes reached out to Wilt for comment. Wilt said:

“Tim and I communicated today. We agreed that for them, NISA needs to solidify behind critical mass. There are many teams like them that want to be team number nine, 10 or 11. We have five qualified commitments now and expect a sixth tomorrow. We are working to add several more before April 1. When we reach eight, we will submit to US Soccer for sanctioning consideration. If Chattanooga would like to join NISA once we achieve that critical mass, they will be welcomed.”

Wilt was not in attendance at the summit last weekend.

Unity

Kelly plans on scheduling another meeting to finalize the next steps. Those steps involve finding ways to reach “critical mass,” working on the NPSL’s full-season play and continuing to unite the leagues.

.@SocTakes understands that @NPSLSoccer has appointed Scott Frauenhofer (co-owner of FC Buffalo) to oversee the likely transition to full-season play in 2019. Frauenhofer will vet interested teams in the next few months.

— Nipun Chopra (@NipunChopra7) March 14, 2018

In order to unite the leagues, Kelly (and other interested owners such as Robert Palmer) will have to find ways to bring the UPSL and NPSL to the table, two leagues that have an uneasy relationship. Kelly is cognizant of the issues. “Yeah, there is some antagonism. But, we had a couple of UPSL teams at the meeting, and I want them (UPSL) to be a part of it.”

Also post-Chattanooga worth noting @JaxArmadaFC owner @rp_robertpalmer is emerging quickly as a real leader in independent US soccer. Not partial to any league, personality or ideology, and has in short-time won the trust of many in #NPSL #NASL & #UPSL .

— Kartik Krishnaiyer (@kkfla737) March 13, 2018

“If we (NPSL/UPSL) can just agree on common principles and suspend all the bullshit, we can make it work. We don’t have to agree on every single detail, and that’s OK.”

Kelly is also concerned that setting up to play a full season for the NPSL may provide logistical, financial and legal challenges going forward. Soc Takes has reported on some of the logistical issues, which include the new USASA standards.

The legal pushback may come from other sanctioned leagues. If the NPSL operates as a professional league (it would likely have to pay players to play a full season) sanctioned by the USASA, as opposed to the USSF, that would raise questions about the need for stringent Professional League Standards as codified by the USSF.

Soc Takes understands that Robert Palmer, who was in attendance at the meeting, along with Riccardo Silva, are expected to help provide financial backstops for some teams. Kelly clarified that Chattanooga FC is “self-sufficient,” but suggested a financial backstop for other teams would help reach critical mass.

Conclusion

From the perspective of conversation, the summit in Chattanooga was a success. Multiple teams and US soccer personnel were in attendance. Yet, the follow up to the summit will be ultimately be more interesting. Meanwhile, while ideologically similar, Wilt’s NISA league may suddenly find itself in competition to secure “independent” markets, as owners suddenly find themselves with other options.

Follow Nipun on Twitter: @NipunChopra7.

Support Soc Takes on Patreon for access to exclusive content and supporter benefits. Click here to become a patron today.

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Trevor James. Credit: Indy XI

Multiple sources inform Soc Takes that Indy XI has terminated the contract of experienced assistant coach and scout Trevor James. The decision was made on Thursday, March 1.

James was the sole holdover from last year’s coaching staff, and Soc Takes understands that James helped identify many of this season’s players. While the writing was on the wall — Indy XI currently has two other assistant coaches — the news is yet another example of the club’s questionable approach towards its players and staff.

It has to be said that Indy XI’s approach to its personnel is business savvy. Nothing the club has done, including its repeated application of player termination clauses, has been illegal. An argument can be made that the club is functioning as a responsible business – that Indy XI owner Ersal Ozdemir is ensuring financial prudence. Certainly, the club has never, to the extent of Soc Takes’ conversations, missed any payroll commitments. That fact alone places Indy XI in an elite group of ex-NASL clubs.

Yet, eagle-eyed Indy XI supporters should be concerned about a consistent lack of regard for players and staff and their futures. Soc Takes understands multiple exiting players were informed about their futures via email or by non-technical front office staff, with player requests for meetings with current coaching staff being declined.

James is a popular figure at the club and possesses a long history of coaching and scouting via his work at LA Galaxy, Chicago Fire and Portland Timbers. James’ exit leaves the club without any semblance of a technical director to help identify players.

Yes, Indy XI is a business. But, the sport of soccer is much more than a business to the supporters who have stood by it through hard times. Just like any business, the club must find a way to remain financially solvent. Yet, just like any business, the club must find a way of not alienating it’s number one clients — fans. Ceasing the callous termination of beloved players and staff would be a good start.

Trevor James declined Soc Takes’ request for comment. As of last night, an Indy XI spokesperson was not made aware of the termination of James’ contract.

Follow Nipun on Twitter: @NipunChopra7.

Support Soc Takes on Patreon for access to exclusive content and supporter benefits. Click here to become a patron today.

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Photo credit: New York Cosmos

Recently, we discussed the potentially troubling interpretation of the USL’s player contract in the contract termination of FC Cincinnati’s Tommy Heinemann. From our perspective, the troubling clauses in the USL contract have the potential to be abused to limit the validity of player contracts. Unfortunately, another similar contractual clause exists in the NASL version of the player contract.

Clause 12b states:

“Club may terminate this Contract between any seasons at any time after the day of Club’s last game in a season (regular season or playoff) and Club’s first game of the following season. Player acknowledges that part of the compensation paid to Player is in consideration for this right to terminate this Contract.”

The interpretation of this clause is potentially troubling. On face value, it allows teams to terminate a player’s contract without any justification, as long as the date of termination is before the start of the season.

Soc Takes spoke to three legal experts who also cover the beautiful game for their understanding of clause 12b. They suggested that the clause is fairly standard for most (non-soccer) employment contracts and in this case would permit teams to decline extra-year options. In effect, rendering all contracts as rolling one-season contracts.

However, except in the case of one USL expansion team, it should be pointed out that this termination clause does not exist in the generic USL player contract.

Another question arises from that clause. Does the section stating “part of the compensation paid to Player is in consideration for this right to terminate this Contract” suggest that players have a right to compensation of the balance of their contracts or not? The legal experts, the players as well as staff we spoke to all unanimously agreed that that clause facilitates contract termination without any further financial obligations.

APPLICATION

How often is it used? The short answer to this question is “rarely.” Out of a hundred-plus contracts signed by NASL players last year, the number of terminations Soc Takes has learned about is in the single digits. Additionally, certain clubs are more guilty of using it than others. Per club personnel, in recent years, Miami FC and the Jacksonville Armada have not terminated any player contracts using section 12 (b).

Club sources inform Soc Takes that the Jacksonville Armada player contracts have removed clause 12b from their contracts entirely. Club personnel said that the clause was taken out two years ago to protect the players as well as the club from potential legal troubles. (Note: Soc Takes has seen one Jacksonville Armada player contract and it does not contain clause 12b).

The New York Cosmos used clause 12b to terminate multiple player contracts during their financial troubles at the end of the 2016 season. The club did not activate the clause in any player contracts at the end of the 2017 season and is believed to be paying players still on contract.

Club sources have confirmed to Soc Takes that Indy Eleven has executed Clause 12b this year. Soc Takes has learned that the club has executed the clause at least four times in the last two years. On one occasion, the club picked up a player’s contract at the start of the season and then terminated the contract before the season kicked off, citing clause 12b as justification. Indy recently joined the USL and will not be able to use this method to prematurely terminate player contracts any longer. 

The San Francisco Deltas only played for a year, therefore this clause would not apply to them. Soc Takes understands that most Puerto Rico FC players were on one-year contracts, and therefore this clause would not apply to them. Soc Takes was unable to determine the usage of this clause by FC Edmonton and North Carolina FC.

WHAT THIS MEANS

Players in the NASL can have their contracts legally terminated via a specific clause. Soc Takes understands that senior NASL personnel have long debated elimination of this clause, and believe that it has the potential for misuse.

This author hopes to see the NASL survive and play in the fall of 2018. But if the league wants to support its general perception of being player-friendly, it should certainly abandon clause 12b, as it is yet another example of limiting player power at the lower levels of American soccer.

Follow Nipun on Twitter: @NipunChopra7.

Support Soc Takes on Patreon for access to exclusive content and supporter benefits. Click here to become a patron today.

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Photo credit: Ottawa Fury FC

This morning, Miami FC are expected to announce Paul Dalglish as their next head coach. The team – widely considered to be one of the strongest in lower division soccer – is currently still scheduled to play in the NASL.

Dalglish – the son of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish – was most recently head coach and GM of Ottawa Fury. His previous coaching experience in the USA includes stints with the Austin Aztex and Tampa Bay Rowdies.

While Dalglish inherits an immensely talented squad, questions remain about which league will see the likes of Dylan Mares, Richie Ryan and Mason Trafford plying their trade.

While there have been rumors about a switch to the USL, Soc Takes has not been given any corroboration of that information.

• Related: Interview with Miami FC’s Richie Ryan

Given that the NASL season would kick off in August (at the earliest), perhaps Miami FC could play in the NPSL over the summer. While this seems a reasonable scenario, it does not benefit his players as the gulf in ability between the Miami FC squad and what-would-be college soccer players is enormous. Would Miami FC’s players benefit from playing against 19-20 year old boys?

Additionally, would such an arrangement be fair to the other teams in the Sunshine Conference, namely Beaches FC, Boca Raton FC, Jacksonville Armada U-23s, Miami United FC, Naples United FC and Storm FC?

These questions currently have no answers.

But, Miami FC have finally found a coach to replace Alessandro Nesta. And perhaps, this is their first step towards consolidating their future in American soccer.

Follow Nipun on Twitter: @NipunChopra7.

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Current USL teams. Credit: USL

Author’s note: Expansion stories keep changing. I have personally been working on this piece since March of this year, and formulating it has been a nightmare. This is the fourth iteration of this expansion piece. Finally, I’ve decided on the format of ranking them by likelihood of USL expansion for 2019. Nashville, Fresno and Las Vegas are expansion teams for 2018, and are beyond the scope of this piece. A discussion about a possible 2018 MLS-2 team is included herein. 

Very likely

Memphis

Soc Takes first broke the news of the likelihood of Memphis to USL back in December of 2016. Three months ago, a source told Soc Takes that due to the depressed financial situation in Memphis, an USL team seemed very unlikely.

Yet, here they are on in the “very likely” (Read: Done deal) list. Why? Multiple sources have informed Soc Takes that the Memphis Redbirds group are involved in the ownership structure. The ownership group has stakes in the NY Yankees and recently purchased majority interest in the Memphis Redbirds – a AAA team in the city. Soc Takes understands that along with the financial backing of The Redbirds ownership, USL values the Memphis market due to its ideal geographical location – within driving distance to other markets which will be in its (eventual) central conference.

For now, team is likely to begin the 2019 season at their own AAA stadium. Although, discussions are ongoing about a soccer-specific stadium.

Birmingham

While multiple sources have informed Soc Takes that Birmingham is a ‘done deal’ for 2019, the identity of the ownership group is not certain. Soc Takes was informed by two sources that Birmingham Barons ownership is behind the Birmingham bid. A phone call to Birmingham Barons ownership was not returned.

Soc Takes has received conflicting information regarding the involvement of Birmingham Hammers – currently in the NPSL – in the ownership structure of Birmingham USL. Soc Takes understands the USL expansion announcement could be made locally on Tuesday, August 8th at an invite-only press conference. (Update on 8/8/17 – The Birmingham-USL team will indeed be announced today!).

Likely

Baltimore

Baltimore is a key unexplored market on the East Coast. Home to The Ravens and Orioles, Baltimore, the 29th most populous city in the nation, has a growing youth soccer community, and is a strong candidate to be a USL team . Soc Takes understands that the ownership group involves Kevin Reid – cofounder of Virtustream. Reid is based out of Bethesda, Maryland and has apparently owned sports teams before. A phone call to Virtustream was not returned.

Interestingly, Baltimore was originally expected to involve the Wilmington Hammerheads group. A source close to the story confirms that there was a meeting between Hammerheads ownership and potential local investors. Although that particular trail seems to have gone cold.

San Francisco Football Club (SFFC)

As current Burlingame Dragons GM, Jordan Gardner, revealed in an exclusive to Soc Takes , their group lead by owner Nick Swinmurn have applied for an USL expansion team called SF FC. Their current plan includes building a modular stadium and may include some yet-identified additional investors. Soc Takes understands their bid was discussed at the recently concluded BoG meeting in Chicago; and while SF remains a very attractive market, concerns about the status of SF Deltas were raised. Regardless, given the importance of the market and experience of the ownership, difficult to see this not happening.

Northern VA (DC United)

The big concern for this bid was securing a stadium site. Earlier this year, plans were to play at George Mason University while, in turn, helping fund a stadium and training facilities. The most recent information given to Soc Takes suggests that a modular stadium in Loudoun county, Virginia, will be the site of training and games for the DC United 2 team.

In a recent press release, USL stated “10 teams owned and operated by MLS organization are also set to return in 2018, with the potential of one more addition to the group pending final stadium approval.” While Soc Takes is unable to say with certainty, based on status of other MLS-2 projects, the aforementioned team is likely to be DC United 2.

Less likely

Albuquerque

Ron Patel, President of Albuquerque Sol FC, informed KRQE news that the team is interested in USL expansion.

A source informed Soc Takes that representatives of the Albuquerque group attended last year’s USL meetings to better understand the operational algorithm associated with setting up a professional DII team. At this moment, the bid is believed to need more investors as well as a viable stadium plan. 

Soc Takes spoke to Patel. He said, “We’re working really hard to figure out what the long-term stadium will be. There is an option of a temporary stadium that might meet USL requirements.. We’re not there yet, but we are working towards making this happen.”

(This is a map of the expansion cities discussed herein. Green indicates 2018 teams, while blue indicates ‘very likely’ 2019 teams.)

Omaha

As journalist Chris Peter reported  , Omaha is interested in bringing an USL team to Nebraska. Soc Takes was informed earlier this year that these conversations were “preliminary”. Based on that, 2020 was considered more likely than 2019. Soc Takes contributor, Jeff Kuhns, wrote an informative opinion piece explaining why Omaha is ready for professional soccer. 

Soc Takes understands there were previously discussions about moving Swope Park Rangers to Omaha as well. The status of these discussions is unknown.

Cleveland

Chris Kivlehan reported that Cleveland is a potential USL expansion team, although the time-frame (2019 or later) wasn’t indicated. Soc Takes has not been able to independently verify Cleveland as a potential USL market.

Boise

Another ownership group that owns minor league baseball teams, per a well-placed source. While the ownership group is understood to meet Division II ownership requirements, the missing piece appears to be a stadium. Soc Takes understands ownership is interested in a multipurpose venue in downtown Boise.

Unlikely, but previously discussed

Minnesota United 2

Minnesota United 2 will need to formalize a partnership with someone as MLS requires an association with an USL team. There were conversations about launching a team in Richmond, Minnesota, but the status of those conversations remains unknown.

Tucson

Soc Takes understands USL is interested in Tucson as a market. FC Tucson ownership is on the record as coveting an USL move. Last update given to Soc Takes suggested that additional investors may be required to meet Division II standards. 

Soc Takes understands FC Tucson personnel spoke with various owners at the 2016 end of year league meetings about the costs associated with operating a USL franchise.

Hartford

A source informed Soc Takes in May that conversations with Hartford had taken place, but these conversations are not believed to include the current Hartford City NPSL team. Challenges include limited possibilities for corporate partnerships (outside of Lego) as well as no stadium plan. The identity of ownership also remains unknown. 

Other teams

Others have speculated on Dallas II, Bahamas and El Paso. Soc Takes does not have additional information on any of those bids.

Current NASL teams

Multiple sources have confirmed to Soc Takes that conversations between USL and NASL teams took place towards the end of 2016, as well as in early 2017. These teams include Indy Eleven, Miami FC, North Carolina FC, Puerto Rico FC and San Francisco Deltas. Understanding is that none of those teams is imminently poised to make a switch to USL.

***

You can follow Nipun on Twitter: @NipunChopra7.

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SF Football Club’s logo. Image credit: SF FC

Nipun Chopra – Thanks for speaking to Soc Takes, Jordan. We understand you have information you’d like to share with everyone.

Jordan Gardner – Yes, we have applied for an USL expansion franchise in San Francisco to kickoff in Spring 2019. We’re still looking at venue sites in the city of San Francisco and the Bay area. We are hoping to finalize details and have an expansion announcement by the end of the year.

NC – Who is the “we” and why 2019 and not 2018?

JG – The “we” is an ownership group led by Nick Swinmurn, the founder of Zappos and owner of Burlingame Dragons. I will be part of the minority ownership group as well as the president and operator of the club. We are also speaking to several other investors who are interested that we can’t name at this time. We were looking originally at a Spring 2018 launch, but logistically we won’t be able to get a venue in place in time. We want to make sure we have a proper launch, buildup and go from there.

NC – Were there any other reasons other than the stadium that 2018 wasn’t possible? The reason I ask is, given the strong expansion efforts on the west coast by NASL this year, I wonder if USL would like to have SF-USL done sooner than 2019?

JG – The league has been very supportive with whatever timeline works for us. We felt that 2018 was too rushed and that 2019 would make better sense for us to launch and have the right pieces in place.

NC – Let me ask the question in a better way. What are the things that need to get done for the 2019 launch to happen?

JG – The only pieces missing ares the stadium and approval from United Soccer League. [Author’s note: A league source confirmed to Soc Takes that the league is interested in an SF team and that the stadium is “only problem” right now.]

NC – So why aren’t Dragons and yourself able to reveal who the investors are?

JG – For now, we are focusing on the majority local ownership. We do have people who are looking to get involved, but that’s something we’ll focus on down the road when the stadium is finalized.

NC – You were on the Soc Takes Pod (click here) and talked about the idiosyncrasies of the San Francisco market. You were also very critical of Deltas’ marketing, branding, etc. What convinces you that Dragons have all the pieces in place to make your USL bid in SF a success.

JG – We are looking at constructing a modular stadium. The stadium is a significant difference between what Deltas have done and what we are doing. I think our branding, marketing and infrastructure will be better than the Deltas. The USL already has an excellent infrastructure in place with other teams in the areas. Those are built-in rivalries. Whether it’s Sacramento, Reno or Fresno; which will reduce our travel cost as well. We see the league being significantly more stable. We like the business model of the USL, and it’s the model we believe in moving forward. We’re certainly not looking to lose millions like the Deltas are doing.

NC – We don’t know that for sure.

JG – Right. All I’m saying is that we feel we have a better ownership group to be successful.

Jordan Gardner will be the GM of the new planned SF-USL team. Credit: Burlingame Dragons

NC – What is the advantage of a modular stadium vs. Kezar? And, given the bottomless riches of  Deltas’ 18-member ownership group, why are you convinced yours is better?

JG – The modular stadium gives us flexibility in terms of location and seating. We’re looking at building a world-class venue which will resonate in this market. We’re working with the same company as Phoenix Rising and plan to construct something similar. That’s a top-notch venue and I explained on the podcast why Kezar is not a viable venue. We also plan on providing premium amenities, beer gardens, in-game entertainment, scoreboard – the last of which they don’t have at Kezar. We’re looking towards a modern venue that is more in line with what fans are craving in this area.

In terms of ownership group — we are local — we have operated at the PDL level at a high and successful level. The Deltas are not necessarily in tune with the market dynamics. I believe their majority investor is in Brazil, whereas Nick and I are on the ground – we know the market and we have strong business acumen to design a business model for long-term success. The branding we are looking at is to name the team San Francisco football club. It’s simple and will resonate.

NC – How will your USL teams link with current PDL teams, in other words, what is the future of the Dragons, and will there be any relationship with SF City FC?

JG – We haven’t decided the future of Dragons in the PDL. most likely we’ll run the Dragons for another year and then revisit if we want to run the franchise as a base of our model. Obviously, we’d like to collaborate with PDL franchises around especially in terms of player development. Our PDL teams in the area produce top quality talent. We are really going to focus on player development – something the Deltas haven’t done.

NC – But as you said on the pod, on the pitch, you gave them (The Deltas) an A-grade.

JG – Right, but they’ve signed players from abroad, which is fine. But, we want to focus on developing players from our local community. Way down the road, we may start an academy, too, but it’s not a focus at this time.

NC – What do you think the soccer landscape will look like in 2019. Will there be other NASL and USL expansion teams in the area by the time your project goes live in 2019?

JG – I think there will be several west coast franchises coming in 2018 and 2019 or down the pipeline which will only help us. In terms of the landscape , it’s hard to tell. Unless the Deltas change what they’re doing, they will go out of business. So, whether they are around or not, we’d like to have a positive relationship with them. But, at the end of the day we are focused on our project and can’t predict the landscape.

Image credit: SF FC

NC – Why did you pick the USL over NASL?

JG – We never considered the NASL. Obviously the Deltas are already here. Also, the financial model of the USL; their front office infrastructure and the people working there are more in-line with what we want. Honestly, we think from those metrics, USL is far ahead of NASL. The decisions that USL makes from a league and club level are all about financial sustainability and making sure the game is growing. That is what has drawn Nick and I. Nick values stability. We see growth and expansion, we see Cincinnati and Sacramento and that’s what we are drawn to. We think the NASL works for some groups, but it’s not one that we think is viable long-term.

NC – My concern listening to you is this — 2-3 years ago, there was massive arrogance shown by NASL team owners/front office staff — and they were saying similar to what you are now. Has that shift happened with USL now? Are you worried about not delivering on these promises?

JG – I don’t think so. I think the USL/MLS partnership is strong. The USL has taken an ambitious approach to expansion and the growth of the game. But, I have no concern that they will not deliver on their ideas. They have a sound model at the D2 level. They are the top D2 league in the world on some metrics. I get what you mean, but, there’s a quiet confidence, not arrogance.

NC – What do you think happens if Deltas consolidates, has a good year next year. Are you worried that you come into 2019 on the defensive as a new team targeting a potentially already-sequestered SF market?

JG – The market is big enough for multiple franchises. Our modular stadium gives us great flexibility about where in the bay area we end up playing. So, from our perspective, whether or not the Deltas are around, it doesn’t really play into our decision making.

NC – Is there a specific part of town you’re targeting? Or a specific demographic? What is the vision to make this a success in a difficult market?

JG – We haven’t narrowed down the stadium site quite yet, we are certainly focused on San Francisco and San Mateo county, there is a large population there. We’re going to be talking to youth teams in the area. We believe that the name San Francisco football club will resonate through everyone in and around the Bay area. It’s one of the things Deltas have struggled with is – they don’t have any market share outside of the city.

I would say we are following the mold of LAFC and FC Cincinnati. While those might not be sexy names, we feel the fans in those cities identify with the fact that their community is being represented.

NC – Deltas have been a revelation in their desire to change the pre-existing dynamic of the NASL — they’ve encouraged collaboration and transparency. What sort of relationship can we expect between SF FC and Deltas in 2019?

We’re going to be in competition to garner market share and fan support. But, I think my personal opinion is the more soccer the better. Like I said earlier, the city isn’t close to an over-saturation point. Ideally, they can be successful and we can be successful too. Whether that happens, I don’t know, they need to figure out some issues, and truthfully, we still have things to get done ourselves.

NC – What about your relationship with the Earthquakes?

JG – We have a two year agreement to be the PDL affiliate for Earthquakes. We will continue that next year. Beyond that, they already have a USL affiliate in Reno.

NC – Thank you for your time.

JG – Thanks.

You can follow Jordan and the new team on Twitter at @DragonsPrez and @SFFC2019. You can follow Nipun on Twitter at @NipunChopra7.

Soc Takes is now on Patreon. Support the staff while getting access to patron-only Soc Takes Pod episodes, exclusive written content and tier rewards. Click here to become a patron today.

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