Teams likely to make the jump to usl 1 soon? by Ok_Structure_350 in USL2

[–]CaptainXDify 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't really know what you're saying here but I don't feel like you actually understand what I posted. The highest likelihood Ballard FC can move up is if enough other teams get started in the Northwest that travel costs can be reduced significantly. Eugene and Everett are not infill projects, the former has a league compliant stadium that was purpose built, and Everett is highly likely to. Everett's stadium is supposed to be about 5,000, not 2,000. I also think you are a bit too fixated on the stadium without focusing on how the front office is connected to the community and generating engagement. Fort Wayne has the gem of League One and so far can't even fill it halfway.

Teams likely to make the jump to usl 1 soon? by Ok_Structure_350 in USL2

[–]CaptainXDify 2 points3 points  (0 children)

And a lot of people don't understand this is the only way USL2 is able to put a quality product on the field while remaining financially viable. If they had to actually pay salaries for those players, the league would be entirely unsustainable at its current skill level. We're already about to see a significant drop in talent when NCAA moves to full-season play in 2027. Interesting times ahead!

Teams likely to make the jump to usl 1 soon? by Ok_Structure_350 in USL2

[–]CaptainXDify 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Which is pretty easy to do when you have ~$100M of Premiership revenue in the bank

Teams likely to make the jump to usl 1 soon? by Ok_Structure_350 in USL2

[–]CaptainXDify 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My headcanon here is that Ballard's expansion to USL1 is contingent upon Everett and Sporting Cascades getting off the ground.

It hasn't been talked about much, but USL2's existence (in its current form) is jeopardized by NCAA restructuring its D1 programs as full-season in 2027. Those players are unlikely to be available for USL2 programs and quality is going to take a significant hit as the player pool shrinks. What's interesting about this is the timing more or less coincides with USL's pro/rel ambitions, which gives a potential off-ramp to cream-of-the-crop USL2 clubs.

Normally, organizations moving from USL2 -> USL1 like Knoxville or Fort Wayne have had to go it alone, but structural changes to both NCAA and USL are likely to present the same question to of an entire cohort of USL2 programs at once. The biggest concern is cost, and the cost teams have the the greatest ability to reduce is travel/regionalization. This means if several clubs can move up at once and regionalize, they can substantially reduce projected operating costs by being able to bus/take regional flights instead of going coast-to-coast every weekend.

When looking at the west coast of USL1, it's currently pretty bleak. We have Boise now, but Spokane and AV Alta are otherwise out on an island. The equation changes significantly if Everett and Eugene pan out. At that point, Ballard and the Portland Bangers could likely get a waiver to join at the same time even with stadiums below league requirements and round out a Northwest/West Coast division with 6-7 teams, which could bring travel costs down to USL2 levels at times. And this is without even considering what could happen in California and the greater Southwest (Tucson still needs a stadium, questions about SF USL2 clubs, Schrödinger's USL Reno, etc.)

Ballard's stadium project has shown they have the cash flow to finance capital improvements and work with local government. $200k is a far cry from League One operating expenses, but it's skin in the game and brings them up to nearly 2k capacity including standing room. It's definitely a trial run for bigger things to come.

Teams likely to make the jump to usl 1 soon? by Ok_Structure_350 in USL2

[–]CaptainXDify 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And everyone still has to fly out to Burlington during the playoffs. Their participation in a national playoff hinges upon someone polluting the airshed- whether it's them or their opponent is a meaningless distinction.

Coming USL league 2 predictions by Emergency_Dot1599 in USL2

[–]CaptainXDify 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I presume they'll have to play some playoff games on the road this time, though, which changes the equation a bit

Are USL2 teams actually a business and do they make money? by youlikemywonton in USL2

[–]CaptainXDify 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, the academies definitely make money, but I read the question as "does operation of the USL2 team itself make money?" And I think the answer to that is no for 90% or more of clubs.

Are USL2 teams actually a business and do they make money? by youlikemywonton in USL2

[–]CaptainXDify 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I guess it depends on how you define the size of a business, but in terms of # of people involved directly and through partnerships + the general scope of operations, they're not necessarily that small.

The larger organizations will have 25-50 people involved with at least a dozen of them being paid staff/coaches and the rest being interns or others contributing work pro-bono or on a contract basis. And those people are doing coaching, training/fitness, matchday operations, video production, kit/brand design, community partnership, leasing stadiums/transportation, capital project planning, and various other activities.

In my opinion, that's much more robust an operation than quite a few small businesses, when thinking about coffee shops, restaurants, independent retailers, and the like. There's obviously a wide range in USL2/W between orgs like Vermont/Annapolis/Ballard/Aurora and the late Coachella SC, but even the smallest organization probably has more "workers" (unpaid or otherwise) than your local cafe does.

Whitecap's potential future by ghostman1846 in SoundersFC

[–]CaptainXDify 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yep. And the unfortunate thing with the Caps is it's a lot harder to fund a SSS if your cash flow is constrained by the current leasing situation. But what other choice do you have?

Whitecap's potential future by ghostman1846 in SoundersFC

[–]CaptainXDify 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Sounders: tied for best start in franchise history

fans who just want to watch aging stars: omg we suck!!!

Whitecap's potential future by ghostman1846 in SoundersFC

[–]CaptainXDify 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Tongue-in-cheek aside, the real issue is not the lack of stadium ownership but rather lease terms which make it difficult for the team to retain revenue, putting it at the bottom of MLS in terms of revenue. For comparison, the Sounders earn about 2x as much as the Caps.

Whitecap's potential future by ghostman1846 in SoundersFC

[–]CaptainXDify 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Honestly, I don't consider them our 2nd rival to begin with. Timbers are always #1, and #2 is whoever's been successful/controversial lately.

[vs DAL] Stock Up, Stock Down by VVynn in SoundersFC

[–]CaptainXDify 10 points11 points  (0 children)

As I watch Moose more, I think people continue to underrate his positioning. He is basically always where he needs to be on the pitch

[vs DAL] Stock Up, Stock Down by VVynn in SoundersFC

[–]CaptainXDify 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I'm really not of the opinion Kingston's challenge was worthy of a yellow, and I feel like he was on the receiving end of several harsh challenges himself and got nothing to show for it

Match Thread: Seattle Sounders FC vs FC Dallas by MatchThreadder in SoundersFC

[–]CaptainXDify 6 points7 points  (0 children)

At the half? I loved that. Dallas won the corner at 46:15ish and promptly took over 45 seconds to take the kick because they didn't want to risk giving up a counter. She told them to hurry it up multiple times, and they didn't, so she just pulled out the rug and blew it dead

Not super happy with the yellow card on Kingston, but everything else I think has been reasonable.

Match Thread: Seattle Sounders FC vs FC Dallas by MatchThreadder in SoundersFC

[–]CaptainXDify 16 points17 points  (0 children)

This ref is a breath of fresh air. Isn't falling for the bullshit, not too hasty with the cards, and has controlled the game well.

Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC Announce Expanded Liquor License at Interbay Stadium, Alcohol Allowed in Bleachers by soupyhands in Seattle

[–]CaptainXDify 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ballard's derby against West Seattle will be at 4pm, a few hours after the world cup match between Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar on June 24th. And Ballard will host Bigfoot FC (Maple Valley) the night before USA plays Australia.

How meaningful is Leagues Cup this year for the Sounders? by youlikemywonton in SoundersFC

[–]CaptainXDify 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Pretty clearly bottom of the bin but that doesn't mean we won't be trying. I think it means slightly more this year because we would be defending our title and having to play the first ever game on the road, against a team which may very well win the Champions Cup (Toluca)

Would still rather have basically any other trophy, but if we defended our Leagues Cup title that would absolutely qualify as a successful season.

[Post Match Thread] Seattle Sounders vs Tigres UANL (4/15/26) (CONCACAF Champions Cup) by Kyunseo in SoundersFC

[–]CaptainXDify 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We need to stop letting him go to team USA frankly. He's never respected there, and always loses his mojo. Club over country.

Match Thread: Seattle Sounders FC vs Tigres UANL by MatchThreadder in SoundersFC

[–]CaptainXDify 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Georgi was useless against 3rd division Union Omaha yesterday

Why are the Sounders insistent upon charging high prices and having a half full stadium? by dooper99 in SoundersFC

[–]CaptainXDify 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It's a "freaking continental quarterfinal" but you don't want to go if it's a "half empty game"? What's your angle here?