Source: http://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/usl-championship-2019-alignment-and-schedule.2091268/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 22:42:22+00:00

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Discussion in 'United Soccer Leagues' started by newtex, Dec 12, 2018.
Some news has crept out about the 2019 USL alignment. We'll see if comes true.
There is a report that Swope Park and St. Louis will be moving to the Eastern Conference and that a vote will take place later on possibly changing to a three conference alignment in 2020. That makes a certain amount of sense with the shuffle between USL-C and USL-1 to probably continue.
If that that report is true we are probably looking at conferences like this for 2019 with 18 teams in each. That would mean 34 games in a double round-robin within each conference so probably no inter-conference play.
Maybe I spoke too soon. Ottawa appears to be in doubt for 2019. We'll see what happens.
Obviously this is pending the resolution of the Ottawa situation.
CORRECTION: Saint Louis is actually in the un-affiliated category this year.
36 teams. Yikes! And at least two more to be added.
I think they really could've put the five remaining MLS reserve teams in League One, along with one more east team (likely either Charlotte or Bethlehem).
It will also be interesting what USL owners think of Bill Edwards' comments regarding pro/rel within USL auspices.
USL-C has 36 teams but it is effectively two 18 teams leagues. The only inter-conference play is in the USL Cup final. 18 is not an unmanageable number for a league.
I don't think the USL is interesting in "putting" teams into League One. At least for now. They want teams to be where they want to be. I'm not sure where you are getting five remaining MLS reserve teams from. There are still at least 9 (and possibly 11 depending on how you count RGV and Reno) MLS reserve teams in USL-C. Some of them may drop down to USL-1 but it is hard to see the USL pushing them into that. Bethlehem is a MLS reserve team.
Edwards said that the USL might look at pro-rel when they get USL-C and USL-1 up to 40 teams each. That will take a while. And he is not going to do things that the owners don't like.
Orange County is no longer affiliated with LAFC.
Maybe I'm off a bit....but it seems like it would make sense to move all of the MLS reserve teams (the MLS owned ones) to League 1. I'm guessing Reno (billionaire ownership) can still financially justify USL Championship status. That would clear up spots in USL-C from 36 teams to like 27 or 28. Fill out the Championship with bigger markets that wont have a place in MLS, where you can get bigger money owners to still have a robust 2nd division. Cities like Memphis, Albuquerque, Birmingham, etc are good additions. Cleveland, Baltimore, Jacksonville, and New Orleans all make sense to me. Also San Diego and Detroit, depending on whether they ever can get it together for MLS.
I'm not sure where you are getting five remaining MLS reserve teams from. There are still at least 9 (and possibly 11 depending on how you count RGV and Reno) MLS reserve teams in USL-C. Some of them may drop down to USL-1 but it is hard to see the USL pushing them into that. Bethlehem is a MLS reserve team.
I'm referring specifically to the "2" teams. T2, S2, NYRBII, Los Dos, and Atlanta 2.
Ok but teams like Swope Park Rangers and Bethlehem Steel are "2" teams as well but they were just given real names.
The 2019 USL Championship season starts this week.
Home team first, times are ET.
Most games are on ESPN+.
1. N. Carolina 1 g.p. 3 pts +3 g.d.
2. NYRB II 1 g.p. 3 pts +2 g.d.
3. Bethlehem 1 g.p. 3 pts +2 g.d.
4. Atlanta2 1 g.p. 3 pts +2 g.d.
5. Nashville 1 g.p. 3 pts +2 g.d.
6. Saint Louis 1 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d.
7. Tampa Bay 1 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d.
8. Charleston 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d.
9. Ottawa 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d.
11. Pittsburgh 0 g.p. 0 pts +0 g.d.
12. Indy 1 g.p. 0 pts -1 g.d.
14. Swope Park 1 g.p. 0 pts -2 g.d.
15. Loudoun 1 g.p. 0 pts -2 g.d.
16. Birmingham 1 g.p. 0 pts -2 g.d.
17. Hartford 1 g.p. 0 pts -2 g.d.
18. Louisville 1 g.p. 0 pts -3 g.d.
1. Co. Springs 1 g.p. 3 pts +3 g.d.
3. Tacoma 1 g.p. 3 pts +1g.d.
4. San Antonio 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d.
5. Phoenix 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d.
7. Reno 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d.
8. Fresno 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d.
9. N. Mexico 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d.
10. Portland2 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d.
11. Sacramento 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d.
12. R. Monarchs 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d.
13. Tulsa 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d.
14. Austin 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d.
15. Las Vegas 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d.
16. Rio Grande V. 1 g.p. 0 pts -1 g.d.
17. El Paso 1 g.p. 0 pts -2 g.d.
18. LA Galaxy II 1 g.p. 0 pts -3 g.d.
1. N. Carolina 2 g.p. 6 pts +4 g.d.
2. Tampa Bay 2 g.p. 6 pts +3 g.d.
3. Saint Louis 2 g.p. 6 pts +2 g.d.
4. Charleston 2 g.p. 4 pts +1 g.d.
5. Ottawa 2 g.p. 4 pts +1 g.d.
6. NYRB II 1 g.p. 3 pts +2 g.d.
7. Bethlehem 2 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d.
8. Atlanta2 2 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d.
9. Nashville 2 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d.
10. Indy 2 g.p. 3 pts +0 g.d.
11. Louisville 2 g.p. 3 pts -2 g.d.
13. Loudoun 2 g.p. 1 pts -2 g.d.
14. Charlotte 1 g.p. 0 pts -1 g.d.
15. Swope Park 1 g.p. 0 pts -2 g.d.
16. Pittsburgh 1 g.p. 0 pts -2 g.d.
17. Hartford 2 g.p. 0 pts -3 g.d.
18. Birmingham 2 g.p. 0 pts -3 g.d.
2. Tulsa 2 g.p. 4 pts +2 g.d.
3. Portland2 2 g.p. 4 pts +2 g.d.
4. Fresno 2 g.p. 4 pts +2 g.d.
5. Reno 2 g.p. 4 pts +1 g.d.
6. Sacramento 2 g.p. 4 pts +1 g.d.
7. Co. Springs 2 g.p. 3 pts +2 g.d.
8. LA Galaxy II 2 g.p. 3 pts +0 g.d.
9. Tacoma 2 g.p. 3 pts -1g.d.
10. Phoenix 2 g.p. 2 pts +0 g.d.
11. N. Mexico 2 g.p. 2 pts +0 g.d.
12. R. Monarchs 2 g.p. 2 pts +0 g.d.
13. Las Vegas 2 g.p. 1 pts -1 g.d.
14. Austin 2 g.p. 1 pts -1 g.d.
16. San Antonio 2 g.p. 1 pts -2 g.d.
17. El Paso 2 g.p. 1 pts -1 g.d.
18. Rio Grande V. 2 g.p. 0 pts -3 g.d.
1. Tampa Bay 3 g.p. 7 pts +3 g.d.
2. Saint Louis 3 g.p. 7 pts +2 g.d.
3. N. Carolina 2 g.p. 6 pts +4 g.d.
4. Louisville 3 g.p. 6 pts -1 g.d.
5. NYRB II 2 g.p. 4 pts +2 g.d.
6. Atlanta2 3 g.p. 4 pts +1 g.d.
7. Charleston 2 g.p. 4 pts +1 g.d.
8. Nashville 3 g.p. 4 pts +1 g.d.
9. Ottawa 2 g.p. 4 pts +1 g.d.
11. Indy 2 g.p. 3 pts +0 g.d.
12. Bethlehem 3 g.p. 3 pts +0 g.d.
13. Charlotte 2 g.p. 1 pts -1 g.d.
14. Swope Park 2 g.p. 1 pts -2 g.d.
15. Pittsburgh 2 g.p. 1 pts -2 g.d.
16. Loudoun 2 g.p. 1 pts -2 g.d.
17. Birmingham 2 g.p. 0 pts -3 g.d.
18. Hartford 3 g.p. 0 pts -4 g.d.
1. Tulsa 4 g.p. 7 pts +5 g.d.
2. Portland2 3 g.p. 7 pts +4 g.d.
3. Sacramento 3 g.p. 7 pts +4 g.d.
4. Co. Springs 3 g.p. 6 pts +3 g.d.
5. OKC Energy 3 g.p. 6 pts +0 g.d.
6. N. Mexico 4 g.p. 6 pts +1 g.d.
7. R. Monarchs 3 g.p. 5 pts +5 g.d.
8. Fresno 3 g.p. 5 pts +2 g.d.
9. Reno 3 g.p. 5 pts +1 g.d.
10. LA Galaxy II 3 g.p. 3 pts -5 g.d.
11. Tacoma 3 g.p. 3 pts -6 g.d.
12. Phoenix 2 g.p. 2 pts +0 g.d.
13. Orange Cty 3 g.p. 2 pts -2 g.d.
14. El Paso 3 g.p. 2 pts -2 g.d.
15. Austin 2 g.p. 1 pts -1 g.d.
16. San Antonio 3 g.p. 1 pts -3 g.d.
17. Rio Grande V. 3 g.p. 1 pts -3 g.d.
18. Las Vegas 3 g.p. 1 pts -3 g.d.
1. Saint Louis 4 g.p. 10 pts +3 g.d.
2. Tampa Bay 4 g.p. 8 pts +3 g.d.
3. N. Carolina 3 g.p. 7 pts +4 g.d.
4. NYRB II 3 g.p. 7 pts +3 g.d.
5. Indy 3 g.p. 6 pts +1 g.d.
7. Louisville 4 g.p. 6 pts -2 g.d.
8. Charleston 3 g.p. 5 pts +1 g.d.
9. Nashville 3 g.p. 4 pts +1 g.d.
10. Ottawa 2 g.p. 4 pts +1 g.d.
11. Bethlehem 4 g.p. 4 pts +0 g.d.
13. Birmingham 3 g.p. 3 pts -2 g.d.
14. Pittsburgh 3 g.p. 2 pts -2 g.d.
15. Loudoun 3 g.p. 2 pts -2 g.d.
16. Charlotte 3 g.p. 1 pts -2 g.d.
17. Swope Park 2 g.p. 1 pts -2 g.d.
18. Hartford 4 g.p. 0 pts -5 g.d.
1. Tulsa 5 g.p. 10 pts +6 g.d.
2. N. Mexico 5 g.p. 9 pts +2 g.d.
3. Portland2 4 g.p. 7 pts +3 g.d.
4. Co. Springs 4 g.p. 7 pts +3 g.d.
5. Sacramento 4 g.p. 7 pts +3 g.d.
6. OKC Energy 4 g.p. 7 pts +0 g.d.
7. LA Galaxy II 4 g.p. 6 pts -4 g.d.
8. Tacoma 5 g.p. 6 pts -6 g.d.
9. Reno 4 g.p. 6 pts +1 g.d.
10. R. Monarchs 4 g.p. 5 pts +4 g.d.
11. Fresno 3 g.p. 5 pts +2 g.d.
12. El Paso 4 g.p. 5 pts +0 g.d.
13. Austin 3 g.p. 4 pts +0 g.d.
14. Las Vegas 4 g.p. 4 pts -2 g.d.
15. Phoenix 3 g.p. 3 pts +0 g.d.
16. Orange Cty 4 g.p. 2 pts -4 g.d.
17. San Antonio 4 g.p. 1 pts -4 g.d.
18. Rio Grande V. 4 g.p. 1 pts -4 g.d.
1. Saint Louis 5 g.p. 13 pts +5 g.d.
2. Tampa Bay 5 g.p. 11 pts +7 g.d.
3. N. Carolina 4 g.p. 8 pts +4 g.d.
4. Charleston 4 g.p. 8 pts +3 g.d.
5. Nashville 4 g.p. 7 pts +4 g.d.
6. NYRB II 3 g.p. 7 pts +3 g.d.
7. Bethlehem 5 g.p. 7 pts +1 g.d.
8. Indy 3 g.p. 6 pts +1 g.d.
9. Louisville 5 g.p. 6 pts -3 g.d.
10. Pittsburgh 4 g.p. 5 pts -1 g.d.
12. Atlanta2 4 g.p. 4 pts -1 g.d.
13. Ottawa 3 g.p. 4 pts -2 g.d.
14. Birmingham 3 g.p. 3 pts -2 g.d.
16. Swope Park 3 g.p. 1 pts -3 g.d.
17. Charlotte 4 g.p. 1 pts -4 g.d.
18. Hartford 5 g.p. 0 pts -9 g.d.
1. Tulsa 6 g.p. 10 pts +4 g.d.
2. Portland2 5 g.p. 10 pts +4 g.d.
3. Sacramento 5 g.p. 10 pts +4 g.d.
4. N. Mexico 6 g.p. 10 pts +2 g.d.
5. LA Galaxy II 5 g.p. 9 pts -2 g.d.
6. R. Monarchs 5 g.p. 8 pts +6 g.d.
7. Co. Springs 5 g.p. 7 pts +1 g.d.
8. OKC Energy 5 g.p. 7 pts -1 g.d.
9. Tacoma 5 g.p. 6 pts -6 g.d.
10. Fresno 4 g.p. 6 pts +2 g.d.
11. Reno 5 g.p. 6 pts -1 g.d.
13. Orange Cty 5 g.p. 5 pts -2 g.d.
14. Austin 4 g.p. 4 pts -1 g.d.
15. San Antonio 5 g.p. 4 pts -3 g.d.
16. Las Vegas 5 g.p. 4 pts -3 g.d.
17. Phoenix 4 g.p. 4 pts +0 g.d.
18. Rio Grande V. 5 g.p. 2 pts -4 g.d.
1. Saint Louis 6 g.p. 13 pts +4 g.d.
2. Tampa Bay 6 g.p. 12 pts +7 g.d.
3. Nashville 5 g.p. 10 pts +6 g.d.
4. NYRB II 4 g.p. 10 pts +4 g.d.
5. Bethlehem 6 g.p. 10 pts +3 g.d.
6. Atlanta2 6 g.p. 10 pts +1 g.d.
7. Indy 4 g.p. 9 pts +3 g.d.
8. N. Carolina 5 g.p. 8 pts +3 g.d.
9. Pittsburgh 5 g.p. 8 pts +1 g.d.
10. Charleston 5 g.p. 8 pts +1 g.d.
11. Ottawa 4 g.p. 7 pts +0 g.d.
12. Louisville 6 g.p. 7 pts -3 g.d.
13. Birmingham 7 g.p. 5 pts -4 g.d.
15. Loudoun 4 g.p. 2 pts -4 g.d.
16. Swope Park 4 g.p. 1 pts -5 g.d.
17. Charlotte 5 g.p. 1 pts -5 g.d.
18. Hartford 6 g.p. 0 pts -11 g.d.
1. Portland2 6 g.p. 13 pts +5 g.d.
2. N. Mexico 7 g.p. 13 pts +6 g.d.
3. Sacramento 6 g.p. 10 pts +3 g.d.
4. Tulsa 7 g.p. 10 pts +2 g.d.
5. LA Galaxy II 6 g.p. 9 pts -4 g.d.
6. Fresno 5 g.p. 9 pts +4 g.d.
7. Reno 6 g.p. 9 pts +1 g.d.
8. Orange Cty 6 g.p. 8 pts +2 g.d.
9. R. Monarchs 6 g.p. 8 pts +2 g.d.
10. Las Vegas 6 g.p. 7 pts +2 g.d.
11. San Antonio 6 g.p. 7 pts -1 g.d.
12. Co. Springs 6 g.p. 7 pts -1 g.d.
13. OKC Energy 6 g.p. 7 pts -2 g.d.
14. Phoenix 5 g.p. 7 pts +2 g.d.
15. Tacoma 7 g.p. 6 pts -15 g.d.
16. El Paso 5 g.p. 5 pts -2 g.d.
17. Rio Grande V. 6 g.p. 5 pts -3 g.d.
18. Austin 4 g.p. 4 pts -1 g.d.
So is this the thread where we should be discussing the games? Or is this purely about scheduling (issues or otherwise). With ESPN+, I have begun watching these games, and I struggle to determine where I might go on bigsoccer to chitchat about them.

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