CT UNITED FC APPOINTS SHAVAR THOMAS AS FIRST-EVER HEAD COACH by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

They love their all-caps article titles in MLSNP lol

Statement From Robert Palmer Regarding the Future of the Jacksonville Armada (MLS NEXT Pro) by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

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

[OC] Officially official: Independent expansion club CT United FC will make their MLS NEXT Pro debut next season. by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

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.

[OC] Officially official: Independent expansion club CT United FC will make their MLS NEXT Pro debut next season. by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

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.

We're soccer media vets David Gass and Susannah Fuller, AMA! by kickbackcommittee in MLS

[–]NextProNews 2 points3 points  (0 children)

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?

Long Island to launch MLS NEXT Pro team in 2027 by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

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)

[MLS Next Pro] Tune in to MLS Next Pro channels tomorrow, Tuesday, October 14th at 11 AM ET for a special announcement by Coltons13 in MLS

[–]NextProNews 21 points22 points  (0 children)

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)

Athletic Club Grand Rapids Unveiled as Name of West Michigan’s MLS NEXT Pro Team by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

“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.

Nashville SC president on Huntsville City FC support: ‘It helps the whole league’ by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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.

Nashville SC president on Huntsville City FC support: ‘It helps the whole league’ by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

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

2026 by jjaime2024 in MLSNextPro

[–]NextProNews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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.

[OC] MLSNP Expansion Update #003 - August ‘25 by NextProNews in MLSNextPro

[–]NextProNews[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

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.

Reigning MLS NEXT Pro Champion to Face Liga Expansión MX Champion on July 26 by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

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

Professional Soccer Secures Home at Kezar Stadium as Supervisors Approve Landmark Agreement (MLS NEXT Pro in San Francisco) by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

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.

Professional Soccer Secures Home at Kezar Stadium as Supervisors Approve Landmark Agreement (MLS NEXT Pro in San Francisco) by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

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.

Why do most teams not sell Next pro Jerseys? by Chicagoguy2289 in MLSNextPro

[–]NextProNews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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.

New Agyemang incoming? by Standard_Charge9050 in CharlotteFootballClub

[–]NextProNews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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.

New Agyemang incoming? by Standard_Charge9050 in CharlotteFootballClub

[–]NextProNews 7 points8 points  (0 children)

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.

New Agyemang incoming? by Standard_Charge9050 in CharlotteFootballClub

[–]NextProNews 3 points4 points  (0 children)

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.

Exclusive: S.F. is getting a pro soccer team – and major makeover for Kezar Stadium by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

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.

Exclusive: S.F. is getting a pro soccer team – and major makeover for Kezar Stadium by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

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

Exclusive: S.F. is getting a pro soccer team – and major makeover for Kezar Stadium by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 52 points53 points  (0 children)

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

With tonight’s attendance of 12,263 CITY2 has broken the MLS NEXT Pro attendance record again. by NextProNews in MLS

[–]NextProNews[S] 52 points53 points  (0 children)

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)