USL First Division

USL First Division

File:USL First Division.png
Founded	1997
Country	United States Canada Puerto Rico
Confederation	US Soccer
Number of teams	11
Level on pyramid	2
Promotion to	None
Relegation to	None
Domestic cup(s)	Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Canadian Championship
International cup(s)	CFU Club Championship
Current champions	Vancouver Whitecaps (2008)
Most championships	Seattle Sounders (4 titles)
TV partners	Fox Soccer Channel
Website	Official site in English
Current: USL 2009

The United Soccer Leagues First Division (often referred to as simply, USL-1) is a professional men's soccer league in North America. It is the second tier of soccer in the United States and Canada league pyramid behind Major League Soccer. It is managed by the United Soccer Leagues (USL). It was known as the A-League until 2004, having formed from teams from the original A-League.

Unlike most other nations, there is currently no system of merit-based promotion and relegation in the American and Canadian pyramids, meaning that the champions of USL-1 cannot move up to Major League Soccer and, similarly, the worst teams in MLS are not in danger of being demoted to USL-1. However, some USL-1 teams have in the past chosen to take voluntary relegation to a lower level of the USL system, often to reduce operating costs, while teams have also decided to move up to USL-1 after finding success at the lower levels.

Expansion and contraction

In 1998, the A-League consisted of 28 teams. By 2006, only 12 remained in the USL First Division. For the most part, the teams that left dropped down to lower classifications, such as the USL Second Division and Premier Development League. These teams generally dropped down to rid themselves of the high costs of travel and player payrolls.

There is some speculation that several First Division clubs are waiting for the top-tier Major League Soccer to expand, in hopes that they will be given the opportunity move up. The First Division does not have the promotion/relegation system common in most countries' football pyramids, although teams theoretically could move up if they meet MLS' criteria for expansion franchises. The costs of moving to a higher division are usually not recouped with higher attendance at the First Division level.

On January 26, 2006, the USL announced that it was expanding USL First Division in 2007 to include a new team in the Triangle region of North Carolina, playing out of Cary. The Cary franchise, since named the Carolina RailHawks, hosted an exhibition schedule in 2006 in advance of its first full league schedule in 2007. On May 16, 2006, it was also announced that the USL would place a team in Northern California under the ownership of Dmitry Piterman, chairman of Spanish team Deportivo Alavés. The Northern Californian team, the California Victory, folded after the end of the 2007 season, playing only one season. Other possible cities mentioned for future campaigns include Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Syracuse, New York. Syracuse had had a highly-attended team from 2002–2004, but it folded due to stadium issues, having ground-shared with the local baseball team. Ft. Lauderdale also has a history of teams from the NASL, ASL, and USL First Division. There is also discussion that Argentinian team River Plate is interested in putting a second USL team in Puerto Rico.

On March 30, 2007 the Virginia Beach Mariners team folded just prior to the start of the 2007 season due to an ownership dispute which left the team without financing.

The Seattle Sounders will be cut from the 2009 season due to the entrance of the MLS team Seattle Sounders FC. In November 2008, the Atlanta Silverbacks announced that they would sit out the 2009 season to "reassess the landscape," and would possibly return at a future date. Also, the Cleveland City Stars, who won the USL Second Division title in 2008, are voluntarily moving up to USL-1 for the 2009 season.

On June 19, 2008, an announcement was made that an expansion franchise had been awarded to Tampa Bay, Florida. The plan is for the club to join the league in 2010 and be named the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The main investors are Andrew Nestor (CEO) and Hinds Howard (Chairman) of Citrus Ventures.

There are also several cities where interest has been raised in placing USL-1 franchises, including St. Louis, Missouri (led by the current PDL franchise St. Louis Lions), Orlando, Florida (with Mexican side C.F. Pachuca being rumored as connected to it), Long Island, New York City and Hamilton, Ontario. An official announcement from the USL on any of these possibilities has yet to be made.

Playoff format

In 2008, the top seven teams will advance to the playoff tournament, with the Commissioner’s Cup winner (regular season champion) receiving a bye into the semi-finals.

The first round, which should be played September 26 and 28, will involve the #2 - #7 seeds competing in two-leg aggregate score series, with the three winners advancing to semi-finals, and the #1 seed pitted against the lowest remaining seed.

The semi-final series should take place October 3 and 5, and the championship final will be played Saturday October 11, 2008.

League rivalries

Stars indicate derby titles won

Cascadia Cup (to become a cup with all three teams in the MLS for 2011)

• Vancouver Whitecaps FC (moving to the MLS in 2011)
• Portland Timbers (moving to the MLS in 2011)
• Seattle Sounders (moved to the MLS in 2009)

Southern Derby

• Charleston Battery
• Carolina Railhawks

Voyageurs Cup (awarded to the winner of the Canadian Championship as of 2008)

• Vancouver Whitecaps FC (moving to the MLS in 2011)
• Montreal Impact
• Toronto FC (founded as an MLS team for the 2007 season)

Ponce De Leon Cup

• Miami FC
• Puerto Rico Islanders
• Tampa Bay Rowdies (starting play in 2010)

Former teams

Atlanta Silverbacks (1997-2008) Boston Bulldogs (1997-2000, as Worcester Wildfire in 1997-98) Calgary Mustangs (2002-04, as Calgary Storm in 2002-03) California Jaguars (1997-98) California Victory (2007) Carolina Dynamo (1997) (now in the PDL) Charlotte Eagles (2001-03) (Now in the USL-2) Cincinnati Riverhawks (1998-2003) Connecticut Wolves (1997-2001) Edmonton Aviators (2004, as Edmonton F.C. at the end of the season) El Paso Patriots (1997-2003) (now in the PDL) Hershey Wildcats (1997-2001) Indiana Blast (1999-2003) Jacksonville Cyclones (1997-99, as Tampa Bay Cyclones in 1995-1996) Lehigh Valley Steam (1999) Long Island Rough Riders (1997-2001) (now in the PDL) Maryland Mania (1999) Milwaukee Rampage (1997-2002)

Milwaukee Wave United (2003-04) MLS Project 40 (1998-2000) Nashville Metros (1997-2001, as Tennessee Rhythm in 1999-2000) (now in the PDL) New Orleans Storm (1997-99, as New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers in 1997) Orange County Waves (1997-2000, as Orange County Zodiac in 1997-99. Now play in the PDL as Orange County Blue Star) Orlando Sundogs (1997) Pittsburgh Riverhounds (1999-2003) (Now in the USL-2) Raleigh Express (1997-2000, as Raleigh Flyers in 1997-98) Richmond Kickers (1997-2005) (Now in the USL-2) Sacramento Geckos (1998-99, as Albuquerque Geckos in 1998) San Diego Flash (1997-2001, as Colorado Foxes in 1997) San Francisco Bay Seals (1998-2000, as Bay Area Seals in 2000) Seattle Sounders (1997-2008) (now in MLS as the Seattle Sounders FC) Staten Island Vipers (1998-99) Syracuse Salty Dogs (2003-04) Toronto Lynx (1997-2006) (now in the PDL) Virginia Beach Mariners (1998-2000, 2002-2006, as Hampton Roads Mariners 1998-2000, 2002)

1996 USISL Select League

California Jaguars Cape Cod Crusaders Carolina Dynamo Chicago Stingers Connecticut Wolves Delaware Wizards El Paso Patriots Hampton Roads Mariners Long Island Rough Riders Milwaukee Rampage Minnesota Thunder

New Mexico Chiles New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers New York/New Jersey Stallions Ohio Xoggz Raleigh Flyers Reno Rattlers Richmond Kickers Sacramento Scorpions South Carolina Shamrocks Tampa Bay Cyclones (becomes Jacksonville Cylones in 1997)

Notable players

Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar, Seattle Byron Alvarez, Portland Raúl Díaz Arce, Puerto Rico and Charleston Mauro Biello, Montreal Alex Pineda Chacón, Atlanta Brian Ching, Seattle Fabian Dawkins, Montreal Joey Gjertsen, Montreal Andrew Gregor, Rochester Ben Hollingsworth, Charleston Jason Jordan, Vancouver Sébastien Le Toux, Seattle Roger Levesque, Seattle Rey Ángel Martínez, Rochester Mathew Page, Puerto Rico Mario Rodriguez, Miami Marlon Rojas, Atlanta Romario, Miami Takayuki Suzuki, Portland Melvin Tarley, Minnesota Scot Thompson, Portland Benjamin Totori, Portland Cam Weaver, Seattle Zinho, Miami

Past regular season champions (Commissioner’s Cup Winners)

Note: The point systems used throughout the league's history has changed. The league first started using the standard points system (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw) in 2003.

Season	Winner	Record (W-L-T)	Points	Playoff	Results (W-L-T)		Runners-Up	Record (W-L-T)	Points
2008 USL D-1	Puerto Rico Islanders	15-6-9	54	Lost in final	0-0-0		Vancouver Whitecaps	15-7-8	53
2007 USL D-1	Seattle Sounders	16-6-6	54	Won Championship	4-1-0		Portland Timbers	14-5-9	51
2006 USL D-1	Montreal Impact	14-5-9	51	Lost in semifinal series	0-1-1		Rochester Raging Rhinos	13-4-11	50
2005 USL D-1	Montreal Impact	18-3-7	61	Lost in semifinal series	0-1-1		Rochester Raging Rhinos	15-7-6	51
2004 A-League	Portland Timbers	18-7-3	57	Lost in conference semifinal series overtime	1-1-0		Montreal Impact	17-6-5	56
2003 A-League	Milwaukee Wave United	18-10-0	54	Lost in division final series overtime	1-1-0		Montreal Impact	16-6-6	54
2002 A-League	Seattle Sounders	23-4-1	107	Lost in conference semifinal series	0-2-0		Charleston Battery	19-3-6	89
2001 A-League	Richmond Kickers	16-7-3	76	Lost in quarterfinal series	0-2-0		Hershey Wildcats	16-7-3	75
2000 A-League	Minnesota Thunder	20-4-4	99	Lost in final	4-2-0		Milwaukee Rampage	18-9-1	89
1999 A-League	Rochester Raging Rhinos	22-6	92	Lost in final	5-3		San Diego Flash	20-8	90
1998 A-League	Rochester Raging Rhinos	24-4	70	Won Championship	6-0		San Diego Flash	21-7	61
1997 A-League	Montreal Impact	21-7	61	Lost in conference final series	3-2		Hershey Wildcats	19-9	55
1996 APSL	Montreal Impact	21-6	55	Lost in semifinal	0-1		Colorado Foxes	16-11	44
1995 APSL	Montreal Impact	17-7	51	Lost in semifinal series	1-2		Seattle Sounders	18-6	51
1994 APSL	Seattle Sounders	14-6	121	Lost in semifinal series	1-2		Los Angeles Salsa	12-8	106
1993 APSL	Vancouver 86ers	15-9	126	Lost in semifinals in shootout	0-1		Colorado Foxes	15-9	121
1992 APSL	Colorado Foxes	11-5	89	Won Championship	2-0		Tampa Bay Rowdies	10-6	87
1991 APSL	Maryland Bays	19-2	158	Lost in semifinal series	1-2		San Francisco Bay Blackhawks	17-4	126
1990 APSL	Different point systems used in each conference
1985 - 1989  :	Two independent leagues

League average attendance

Year	Regular season	Playoffs
2008	5,164	7,786
2007	4,420	7,741
2006	4,667	5,998
2005	4,527	12,498
2004	3,879	9,402
2003	3,335	9,672
2002	3,034	8,902
2001	2,954	9,193
2000	2,684	7,562
1999	2,374	5,309
1998	2,531	6,091
1997	1,690	5,092

All-time USL leaders

All-Time Goal Leaders

Rank	Player	Goals
1	Mark Baena	86
2	Paul Conway	79
3	Doug Miller	77
4	Mauro Biello	76
5	Jason Jordan	70
6	Eduardo Sebrango	70
7	Chance Fry	68
8	Domenic Mobilio‎	65
9	Jamel Mitchell	64
10	Kevin Jeffrey	61

All-time appearances in the USL

Rank	Player	Appearances
1	Mauro Biello	320
2	Nick DeSantis	245
3	Lloyd Barker	242
4	Nevio Pizzolito	228
5	Scott Jenkins	220
6	Lenin Steenkamp	219
7	Bill Sedgewick	218
8	David Diplacido‎	217
9	Steve Klein	211

See also

• Sports attendances

Notes

• (*) Puerto Rico can qualify for the CFU Club Championship via a domestic cup competition.

External links

• Official league web site
• Unofficial site created for the Fans, by the Fans