First level soccer environment. That is the United Soccer League (USL). The USL can be seen as the 3rd division of soccer in the United States. Currently in playoffs, the games are attractive and well supported, extremely well compared to any other 3rd division in the whole continent. Economic sustainability, enviable public attendance statistics and good soccer are the characteristics of this tournament, some of them not even seen at many 1st divisions in Latin America.
Louisville City – Charleston
Battery
A spot in the Eastern
Conference Finals was in stake. The city responded to its team, 8517 people
paid for a ticket to be present at the stadium. 52 ˚F in a windy night, but
that did not stop the people from supporting their team for 90 minutes and then
30 minutes more of extra time. Great organization and staff, baseball field
converted into a soccer pitch for the night and an incredible group of fans
that cheered for the entire 120 minutes in a peaceful behavior as expected.
Louisville ended up winning
2-0 in the extra time with 2 goals scored by the former MLS player Matthew
Fondy, who also set a new single season goal scoring record in the USL this
same season.
Louisville City FC is the
example of success for a recently established soccer club.
Compared to Latin America
If we go over the 3rd
division soccer leagues in Latin America, only the Brasileirao Serie C can be
compared in terms of attendance. If we talk about monetary sustainability, USL
can be in the top 10 in the whole continent, including 1st
divisions, taking in consideration that even in some 1st divisions there are teams
constantly going broke or that have huge
debts.
All the accomplishments of
this league are just the result of great organization that can be seen in every
sport in the United States. If we go even further, we could be able to realize
that college soccer in North America is better handled and moves more money
than many professional leagues in Central and South America.
There is no doubt that
corruption and lack of organization are the main factors that make some Latin
American soccer leagues to stand below the level (not of the game) of a 3rd
division tournament. United States is becoming a leader in the sport in the
whole continent. With all the success that the MLS is having, it is easy to say
that the leagues beneath it are following the right path. Soccer in North
America could soon evolve to be the best soccer league in the continent in the
matters of achievement and success.
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