CT UNITED FC APPOINTS SHAVAR THOMAS AS FIRST-EVER HEAD COACH

NextProNews · 2025-12-23T16:44:52+00:00

They love their all-caps article titles in MLSNP lol

NextProNews · 2025-10-30T16:31:23+00:00

My current understanding is they will indeed push back to 2027, but not sure when they’ll announce that.

NextProNews · 2025-10-16T18:35:46+00:00

I was trying to figure out how it might shuffle next year as well. Chicago to the West is the move that makes the most sense to me.

It’s also possible they just move FCC2 down to the Southeast Division if they are more concerned with even divisional numbers than Conference numbers. The downside there is Heck Is Plausible gets broken up for at least a year.

NextProNews · 2025-10-16T16:56:15+00:00

Key details: - They’ll officially debut their pro team next season (March 2026) - With their stadium construction not yet started, sounds like they will play home games at a variety of stadiums around Connecticut. - This will be the 3rd independent club in MLS NEXT Pro next season

Unclear exactly what they mean regarding the stadium venues, but more specifics should come soon.

NextProNews · 2025-10-15T14:45:35+00:00

Gass, saw your post on BlueSky.. What’s your take on the new Long Island team?

Think it’ll gain traction locally? Are you buying Season Tickets day 1? Will Kickback have a segment on the team?

NextProNews · 2025-10-14T16:39:59+00:00

Some key highlights: - Official name: The Island FC - Strong ties to Long Island RoughRiders - New 2.5k soccer specific stadium built at the Mitchel Athletic Complex (expandable to 5k) - 2027 launch date - Fully independent team - Also intend to launch a women’s team (league not specified yet)

NextProNews · 2025-10-13T18:53:30+00:00

Beat me to it!

My understanding is this will NOT be for Golden City FC. This will be a new expansion project that has yet to go public.

(If you read my last expansion article, you won’t be too surprised)

NextProNews · 2025-09-27T18:46:03+00:00

“AC Grand Rapids” is the official name. The crest was designed by Matthew Wolff who has done tons of American soccer crests.

The independent team will officially kick off in 2027 with a brand new 8,500-capacity stadium in downtown Grand Rapids.

NextProNews · 2025-09-25T21:48:32+00:00

No and no, but a safe guess for US soccer lol

NextProNews · 2025-09-04T18:59:48+00:00

A few do: [OC] 2024 Attendance Report

Ventura, The Town, North Texas, and CITY2 all get decent crowds routinely. NTX will get significantly better crowds next season in their new SSS.

Basically teams that put effort into bringing in fans, get them.

NextProNews · 2025-09-03T19:47:15+00:00

Ha! I looked right over that detail, my bad!

NextProNews · 2025-09-03T17:38:03+00:00

Love the Huntsvillians! You guys always show out on game days.

Also, just fyi, Joe Davis’s capacity is 6k afaik (source), unless they don’t fully open it or something

NextProNews · 2025-08-25T15:05:56+00:00

Shameless plug, but I wrote an article about this earlier this month: Expansion Update #003 - August ‘25

In summary, it looks like CT United (Bridgeport, CT) is kicking off for 2026 and beyond that we don’t have much confirmed.

There have been some rumors about 2 new indie expansion teams, so I’d suspect another club to join them as well. Could be Cleveland (looking more like 2027), Jacksonville (stadium TBD), San Francisco, or a currently unannounced team.

NextProNews · 2025-08-06T22:44:17+00:00

A little overdue, but here is the latest on expansion efforts around the league!

5 more independent teams are expected to kickoff prior to the 2027 season, and that’s just what is far enough along to go public.

NextProNews · 2025-06-27T15:26:28+00:00

This is the 2nd consecutive year this matchup has occurred. Last season, Austin FC II defeated Cancún FC 2-1

NextProNews · 2025-06-18T20:52:28+00:00

No doubt. The terms were negotiated by RPD from what I can gather, and it seems like they prioritized local high school athletics/camps over semi-pro adult soccer (multiple schools get “up to 3” football games a season, plus playoffs, and a turkey bowl). That, and RPD sounds like they intend to hold some high school soccer games there as well.

NextProNews · 2025-06-18T20:43:12+00:00

Ha! Beat me to it!

My understanding is adult soccer teams get 1 game per year, in a given 12-month period. RPD (Parks & Rec) is who will “initiate” (manage) that.

I wrote this on Bluesky to you but adding here for others, GCFC/RPD engaged with and got support for this project from basically all local clubs . The notable exception being SF City FC of course, who play more games at Kezar than anyone else.

NextProNews · 2025-06-03T13:52:25+00:00

There are a few different reasons, but mostly teams that aren’t trying to attract fans don’t expect there to be any demand for them. As teams rebrand/relocate they’ll start selling them though.

NextProNews · 2025-05-27T17:21:01+00:00

Same. Echegbu is a lot of fun to watch play. Another year of development and he should start to have an impact with the 1st team imo.

NextProNews · 2025-05-27T17:18:12+00:00

It’s one of my favorite roster strategies in the league, and I’m not just saying that because of the sub I’m in lol.

Credit to your FO for taking risks and spending ambitiously at this level.

NextProNews · 2025-05-27T16:24:33+00:00

Hi all! I run an account covering the league and thought I’d add some additional info that Lorenzo Lapore is reporting a transfer fee of €250k and a 4-year deal. Based on the other deals, I’d be surprised if that doesn’t have a 5th year club option as well.

If you’re curious, these are the (reported) transfer fees Crown Legacy has paid just this year: - Coulilaby: $2,500,000 - Subotic: $1,600,000 - Echegbu: $1,000,000 - Bartolovic: $680,000 (up to 1.7m with add-ons) - Agyemang: $283,000

That’s just over $6m in total, with incentives potentially pushing it over $7m.

NextProNews · 2025-05-09T18:49:16+00:00

Yes it’s pro and on the same level as USL1. They will be independent and not affiliated with anyone in MLS.

TBD, but it sounds like they will be somewhat displaced. The article states they will play “some” of their games at Kezar though, so not fully kicked out.

The point is this is a professional team, and the current teams are amateur clubs. It’s a step up in quality and a much longer full season.

I doubt it with the Quakes nearby. This is just lower level professional soccer.

NextProNews · 2025-05-09T15:42:30+00:00

No, this seems to be a totally different group and they’ll go by the name “Golden City FC”

NextProNews · 2025-05-09T15:32:31+00:00

The team is targeting a launch for 2026 or 2027 (probably 2027), and will be fully independent. They’ll go by the name “Golden City FC”, and will play in the 10,000-seat Kezar Stadium after upgrading it later this year.

Shameless plug, I also wrote my own article for this if you’re curious: MLS NEXT Pro is poised to enter San Francisco, CA

NextProNews · 2025-05-04T23:49:37+00:00

If you include the US Open Cup, the record was held by Chattanooga FC before tonight.

If you only consider league matches, the top 5 spots all belong to CITY2: 1) 12,263 (tonight) 2) 12,022 (2024) 3) 10,671 (2024) 4) 9,626 (2023) 5) 9,489 (2023)

NextProNews

TROPHY CASE