USL First Division

The United Soccer Leagues First Division (often referred to briefly as USL -1 ) was from 1995 to 2009, a professional soccer league in North America. In her playing teams from the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. She was the second division in the U.S. league system.

History

The old American Professional Soccer League changed its old name in A-League in their last two seasons in 1995 and it was recognized as second division in 1996. 1996. In 1997 she was acquired by the USISL and renamed USISL A-League. In 1999, the USISL the name United Soccer Leagues ( USL ) and the league was renamed the USL A-League. As of 2005, it was called the USL First Division. The end of 2009 most of the teams wanted to change in the North American Soccer League edition after the investment firm NuRock Soccer Holdings had acquired the rights to the USL. Therefore, the League rested 2010. 2011 it was merged with the USL Second Division to the USL Professional Division. This is the third in the hierarchy league behind Major League Soccer and the North American Soccer League.

Changes in composition

1998 started in the A-League a total of 28 teams. After several additions and disposals were 2006 only twelve teams left, who participated in the match operation. The other clubs attracted mostly for cost reasons back today and play in the USL Second Division ( third league) or the USL Premier Development League (4th league).

Since there is no system of climbing or descending, the teams of the First Division can move up in this only an expansion of Major League Soccer. Do this, they must comply with the financial and organizational requirements of the MLS.

The USL himself gave on 26 January 2006 announced its intention to expand the 2007 season. For this, the Carolina RailHawks FC was recovered. California Victory, a newly formed club in San Francisco, has received the second new license. Other candidates for a new football team were Fort Lauderdale and Syracuse. In addition, the Argentine club Club Atlético River Plate interest in it to form a second team in Puerto Rico.

On 30 March 2007, the Virginia Beach Mariners announced that they will no longer play due to disputes over the continued funding of the association, in the league. In September 2007, the Spanish club Deportivo Alaves declared its withdrawal from California Victory. Since then, no longer takes part in the California Victory game mode. And so it was for the 2008 season even only eleven teams.

In the 2009 season the Seattle Sounders stopped the game mode because instead of a new MLS team from Seattle participated. However, the number of participants of the USL - 1 remained the same since a new team from the Texan capital of Austin, Austin Aztex, the game started operations.

Master / Scorers

Complete List of Franchises

  • Atlanta Ruckus (1995-1998)
  • Atlanta Silverbacks FC (1999-2008)
  • Austin Aztex (2009)
  • Boston Bulldogs (1997-2000)
  • Calgary Mustangs (2002-2004)
  • California Jaguars (1997-1998)
  • Carolina Dynamo (1997)
  • Carolina RailHawks FC (2007-2009)
  • Victory California (2007)
  • Charleston Battery (1997-2009)
  • Charlotte Eagles (2001-2003)
  • Cincinnati River Hawks (1998-2003)
  • Colorado Foxes (1995-1997)
  • Connecticut Wolves (1997-2001)
  • Edmonton F. C. (2004)
  • El Paso Patriots (1997-2003)
  • Hershey Wildcats (1997-2001)
  • Jacksonville Cyclones (1997-1999)
  • Lehigh Valley Steam (1999)
  • Long Iceland Roughriders (1997-2001)
  • Maryland Mania ( 1999)
  • Miami FC (2006-2009)
  • Milwaukee Wave United (1997-2004)
  • Minnesota Thunder (1997-2009)
  • MLS Project 40 (1998-2000)
  • Montreal Impact (1995-1998, 2000-2009)
  • Nashville Metros (1997-2001)
  • New Orleans Storm ( 1997-99 )
  • New York Centaurs ( 1995-96 )
  • Orange County Waves (1997-2000)
  • Orlando Sundogs (1997)
  • Pittsburgh Riverhounds (1999-2003)
  • Portland Timbers (2001-2009)
  • Raleigh Express (1997-2000)
  • Richmond Kickers (1997-2005)
  • Rochester Rhinos (1996-2009)
  • Sacramento Geckos (1998-1999)
  • San Diego Flash (1998-2001)
  • San Francisco Bay Seals (1998-2000)
  • Seattle Sounders (1995-2008)
  • Staten Iceland Vipers (1998-99 )
  • Syracuse Salty Dogs (2003-2004)
  • Toronto Lynx (1997-2006)
  • Vancouver Whitecaps (1995-2009)
  • Virginia Beach Mariners (1998-2000, 2002-2006)

Average attendance per game ( season / playoffs )

  • 2008: 5164 / 7786
  • 2007: 4,420 / 7,741
  • 2006: 4,667 / 5,998
  • 2005: 4,527 / 12,498
  • 2004: 3879 / 9402
  • 2003: 3,335 / 9,672
  • 2002: 3,034 / 8,902
  • 2001: 2954 / 9193
  • 2000: 2684 / 7562
  • 1999: 2374 / 5309
  • 1998: 2,531 / 6,091
  • 1997: 1,690 / 5,092
United States Soccer Federation Syracuse (New York) Deportivo Alavés Austin (Texas) Austin Aztex FC 2009 United Soccer Leagues Vancouver Whitecaps (1986–2010) Portland Timbers (2001–2010) 2008 United Soccer Leagues Puerto Rico Islanders 2007 United Soccer Leagues Fort Lauderdale Strikers Generation Adidas
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