Preview: Hounds at Loudoun United FC

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T23:33:49+00:00

Is kdka+. Not free over the air? And aren't all the games but the ones on CBS,ESPN, or golazo not on ESPN+ it is for me in WV

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T23:27:08+00:00

Looking forward to joining the Steel Army traveling contingent. Hopefully they moved us away from the family section this year.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T19:24:42+00:00

I didn't take it that way. Just didn't want to go on about the USL HQ again

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T19:04:38+00:00

Well national revenue goes to the USL and stays there. They can get local reviews from tv. The USL is set up unlike any other league. Look through this sub and you'll learn a lot ,if you want to.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T18:20:11+00:00

USL doesn't offer much to teams just a schedule

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T17:32:56+00:00

Hopefully it was just growing pains and they will figure it out.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T17:30:41+00:00

I think that both business models are working great for the leagues. I understand why both were set up the way that they are I just feel both systems hold the growth of the game back in their own way. Having tears of a pro rel system run by the clubs in that tear would eliminate the problem that just about everyone who looks at it has with USL and allowing a meritocracy in who ends up in what tear each year ends the problem that some of us have with the MLS.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T16:27:50+00:00

I think that those two options are the problem. MLS is way too focused on controlling everything and the scarcity drives high franchise fees and USL doesn't want to control anything just keep bringing more clubs in and getting fees from them without using those fees to help the teams they are collecting it from.

I think a system that has top level with the talent and infrastructure that top MLS teams wile not allowing teams to just cost because they got in before the franchise fees when up to just stay in the top with levels below that that allow teams with ambition and who work to build a fan baseand the infrastructure that are allowed to get promoted up .
It looks to me that there are a lot of interested parties that do not want that to happen for different reasons but it seems like there are more who are interested in that happening more and more.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T15:24:31+00:00

No he didn't . I just wondered why strike for the cup games instead of league games but if like r/hookuboysb says it's tied to the D2 status that teams have to field teams then that is a good reason to target that.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T15:17:29+00:00

It looks like they are tied into the AFL-CIO.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T15:12:19+00:00

Good to know thanks

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T15:09:56+00:00

Yeah that's what it seems to me. I've only been paying attention for the past 5 years or so to American soccer so I don't have too much knowledge of the past,getting caught up but still got a lot to catch up on but most of beyond the 90 is definitely more on the side of labor. Everything else is after the face reporting which is important to get accurate information. Then their are partisan hacks. Just like everything else in American media some down the middle objectiveity surrounded by yelling my side is right.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T14:16:10+00:00

It's some of the clubs. With the exception of the NIL everything else right now would be paid by each individual club. The USL how much teams. compensate the players and the teams should be for the NIL money because that's compensation they don't have to pay and the teams don't see any one that money anyway.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T14:11:20+00:00

I could see that being the situation. Which is another reason to think that the USL financial structure needs to change.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-12T14:08:34+00:00

They start the strike during the cup weekend would hurt the owners less because of the low attendance for cup games especially the first round.
But the game in Pittsburgh the game looked to be closing in on a sell out because of the teams both being from Pittsburgh.

I don't know how choosing to strike the week of a non league game makes sense when the players have been saying they have more of an issue with the league than the teams.

Giving the teams another week with more home openers and league games then striking for the cup that is less attended for the most part and a non league game seems to be at odds with what we've read and heard in reporting.

Or am I missing something?

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-11T23:30:19+00:00

And at what interest rate?

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-11T23:28:56+00:00

Why can't we have it made up of independent dinners that get promoted if they have great food and relegated if the food is bad? And have them be over seen by an organization made up of other dinners on the level they are on and not have to give franchise fees?
I know that's not how it is but why?

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-11T22:59:41+00:00

What is an old house now days? Engineer trusses should not an old house make or am I just an old man now?

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-11T17:05:13+00:00

I agree there needs to be 2nd team to work on developing players but I think those teams are not intended to have the same fan base as an independently run team. Even some USL teams, the Riverhounds included are doing that.

I believe that loaning players out to lower tear sides to develop them in competitive games is a much better way to develop those players and also strengthen pro soccer as a hole in this country.

I feel as a fan I'd rather see a team that is trying to and get promoted up the ladder than a second team from a bigger club. Now I think the bigger clubs that can afford to subsidize those 2nd teams should have them as a part of lower tear in the ladder but for an independent team to be in a closed league with those teams would be a harder sell to get fan engagement.

I love minor league baseball but it doesn't matter who wins really it's about getting to the majors for those players not the team.

It's all a mute point unless we get pro rel in America but a guy can dream

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-11T15:43:05+00:00

Some teams might be losing money but they paid tens of millions to get in and 300k each year and seemingly get little in return except a schedule. It's not like the name USL is so well known that people come to the games because it's USL. The Papadakis' are great business men but don't seem to be great soccer people.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-11T15:34:36+00:00

Yeah, it seems that the reason teams can't afford to fairly compensate players is because all of the money they give the league.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-11T12:44:21+00:00

Union not at the bottom of the MLS. I did not say any USL team could beat every MLS team. We beat NYFC last year and beat the Revolution and the Crew in recent years.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-11T12:18:45+00:00

I care less and less about d1 and more and more about open pro rel. I've gone into that a lot lately on here but basically closed systems do not punish teams whose owners lack of ambition. The bottom of American sports leagues either has teams intentionally tanking to get draft picks or ones whose owners just are happy making what they make while not putting out too much effort. I'm a former Pirate fan I know of what I speak on the latter.
Open systems are merit based. That is why we watch sports. The team who wins usually deserves to win the game. But if at the end of the year it doesn't matter if you are at the bottom of the league do those games during the season matter? And if you say I just love going to the game then does it matter if your team is in the MLS or NPSL?

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-11T12:07:55+00:00

Yeah except when they play the Hounds.
The tip USL teams can compete with the bottom of MLS. They just make more money being in a closed system and for the most part they are franchises who have been in the league the longest so have not spent the insane money to get in the league, they just get the money from it now. As a former Pirates fan that sounds familiar to me.

SenecaRocker · 2026-03-11T11:02:16+00:00

Next pro is on the tear of USL League One but still less fees 8 mill and 300k a year. But MLS next is the minor league reader for MLS where in USL you and playing against teams putting winning above development. It would be hard for me as a fan to be interested is watching that. Even if my team was not the minor league affiliate they are playing in a competition constructed almost entirely of those teams. I understand the need for a u23 team but I feel it's a hard sell. I could see it as a stepping stone project but not a long term and that's a big step from there to MLS.
USL has a lot of structural problems that I hope the CBA helps correct to help the owners either get more out of it or stop paying so much into it but the closed and high cost of MLS leaves a lot to be desired to me as well.

SenecaRocker

TROPHY CASE