MJWalker45

The 2024 USL Championship Divisions

Also, in USL Women's news, San Antonio Athenians have moved up to USL-W starting in 2024. I'd expect they'll play at Toyota Field as well, but I haven't seen that confirmed yet. 

https://www.uslwleague.com/news_article/show/1294776

26 minutes ago, Burmy said:

And here I was looking forward to the USL, NISA, NPSL and other lower leagues finally having a chance this year...

8 minutes ago, crashcarson15 said:

What's the point of having a "chance" in a competition that loses all its meaning? Any mid-major college basketball program would rather make the NCAA tournament than have a "chance" to win the NIT.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-statement

And MLS basically says, "We're just going to use those same MLS Next Pro teams and dress them  in first team uniforms, because the non-MLS teams in that league are allowed to play in the Open Cup". 

12 minutes ago, Burmy said:

And here I was looking forward to the USL, NISA, NPSL and other lower leagues finally having a chance this year...

They probably will, because we'll still see teams that host MLS teams playing the backups and kids, just like most years. I wonder if the lower league teams will have to do a lottery to see who hosts Miami. 

1 hour ago, Dilbert said:

Good to see US Soccer sticking to their guns. Allowing MLS to not follow the guidelines of all eligible teams participating in the tournament would break division sanctioning guidelines, would also show advantage to the defunct NASL in their ongoing lawsuit with USSF

1 hour ago, Digby said:

I'm just shocked that USSF actually had enough spine for this. I thought the incestuousness of the suits that run the game here would be too much to overcome. I still don't have a lot of faith that this will ultimately resolve in a way that benefits the American soccer fan, because these things rarely do, but I'm at least interested to see the fight.

 

Maybe MLS is finally running into the limits of incorporating the worst of Big 4 N. American sports with the worst of the modern global game!

1 hour ago, crashcarson15 said:

 

Gonna be honest, I didn't have "the nation's top soccer league gets into a war with the federation over the Open Cup" on my "society tries to run back the roaring '20s" bingo card, but hey!

On 12/18/2023 at 11:07 AM, Digby said:

Alexi Lalas will well-actually anything.

 

I'm sure there's a kernel of truth insofar as MLS Next Pro looks like glorified training scrimmages or junior-varsity most of the time. But of course it's about the money.

To be fair, all MLS had to do, is exactly what they've done for years. Put all their bench players in as starters and call up MLS Next kids to fill in the rest of the roster. Treat it with the same disdain as EPL teams treat the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup up until the 5th Round. Garver needed to get smacked down about something, and this is just a start to what he deserves. The only good thing about MLS Cup this year, according to the fans, was not allowing the jackhammer celebration after Crew goals. MLS banned "Wise Men" being sung before the match, so the fans just sang it over the MLS Processional march instead. I also wonder if FIFA may have made a call to US Soccer to remind them to finally hold MLS to account.

SIDE NOTE:

Also, looking at who Inter Miami are bringing in the door, reportedly, I'd like to hear how that's happening without changes to the salary cap nor the designated player rules. 

8 minutes ago, McCall said:

I doubt they'd play at NRG. Right before the merger talks were announced in September, it was said they were close or had an agreement for the Roughnecks to play at Rice. Seems more plausible. Shell Energy Stadium would be cool, but Rice would appear to have more open availability.

I also think Rice has to be the site for this year, but I would prefer Shell Energy over them and NRG Stadium. I know Moose Johnson has pull over some stadiums in Texas, and he can lean on Troy Aikman to help him out. I also think this league would rather play in a 15,000-20,000 seat stadium and look like they are packing in crowds rather than playing with the equivalent of a giant bedsheet over one or both sides of the stadium like when the Spurs were at the Alamodome, or even the when the Talons were playing there. 

Kashima Antlers 2024 uniforms

Al Ahly. Regular season jersey. the top sponsor was removed for the Club World Cup. 

Cremonese Holiday kits

FC St. Pauli Diversity and Inclusion jersey

1 hour ago, gosioux76 said:

 

I assume, and I hope, that this answers the question of whether it would be the Gamblers or Roughnecks surviving the merger in Houston. 

Yeah, but that Houston team still may have to play a year in Canton, unless they get a deal done with the Dynamo, Texans, or Rice University. I'd almost rather they just do what San Antonio did last year and tarp off the top decks at NRG Stadium, and use only the lower bowl for Gamblers games until they get enough fans to justify opening up the other areas. 

https://www.xfl.com/teams/arlington/news/2023/12/14/arlington-renegades-announce-additional-premium-seating-options-for-2024-season

It also looks like Arlington got a big bump from the XFL championship last year. Not sure I'd pay $1000/seat, but it's offering pretty much the same things that the Lone Star Club is offering at the Alamodome, but in a more modern stadium. My tickets for the Lone Star Club were $650/seat. 

5 minutes ago, WBeltz said:

I feel like Galaxy's doesn't look as bad, but it still doesn't look right. Hoping that theres a mix and match of MLS teams that have normal allignment vs centered.

I'm hoping that Columbus' shirt has the club badge to the left. With the stars and such, it makes things more difficult when you center it on uniforms. 

5 hours ago, MrOrange said:

 

Galaxy using the same template for their home

 

 

 

All of this year's new shirts will be using that template. Hopefully they still use multiple collars instead of just one design. 

Bid logo for the 2030 hosts. Unfortunately this won't be used for the competition.

England's away kit for the Euros. It's not their normal away choice, but I love the look.

Portugal away, and last Nike kit since they're moving to Puma. 

Argentina Copa America jerseys

adult size look for Miami.

Week 16 schedule:

New Orleans vs. LA Rams

Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh

Buffalo vs. LA Chargers

Washington vs. NY Jets

Detroit vs. Minnesota

Cleveland vs. Houston

Green Bay vs. Carolina

Seattle vs. Tennessee

Indianapolis vs. Atlanta

Jacksonville vs. Tampa

Dallas vs. Miami

Arizona vs. Chicago

New England vs. Denver

Las Vegas vs. Kansas City

NY Giants vs. Philadelphia

Baltimore vs. San Francisco

4 hours ago, Dilbert said:

USL Championships Rio Grande Valley FC Toros have ceased operations after 8 years. Their home, H-E-B Park will become home to UTRGVs new football program.

Sad to hear that. They always had great games against SAFC.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39141084/steelers-damontae-kazee-suspended-rest-season-hit

Damontae Kazee is out for the rest of the regular season for spearing Michael Pittman on Saturday. Apparently there's been multiple infractions, per the letter, and not just this one play.

8 hours ago, TenaciousG said:

I’m terrified to see if they are doing this so they can eventually get away with small ads on both sides. I’ve said it before but it’s worth repeating: fans need to boycott shirt sponsors. It’s the only way we have a chance at getting the stupid genie back in the bottle.

I don't think centering the badge is just about more ads on the shirts. Liga MX uses up pretty much every inch of space they can without centering badges. I'd expect them to clog up the sleeves and below the numbers before they add secondary logos on the front. 

And unless someone threw Saudi insane levels of money, no team in Europe or the Americas is going without shirt sponsors ever again. I'm actually surprised FIFA hasn't done that with national team shirts yet. Chelsea only went without for part of this year because no one was willing to pay what they wanted, until Infinite Athlete did. 

49 minutes ago, TBGKon said:

Most of the time it's not the school, its the bowl event management organization (mostly ESPN for the lower to mid tier games).  Painting over turf is cheaper.

I understand that. But there needs to be more than an outline stencil on the 25's. If you know you'll be hosting bowl games, just repaint it based on the games instead of stitching logos and wordmarks into the field. I know the USFL probably has more money for painting fields than the bowl game does but it can be done.

19 hours ago, WestCoastBias said:

Boise just needs to bring back these.

 

 

They also need to ditch the asymmetric design on the helmet. Just put the bronco on both sides.

Maybe they could update this logo with the current bronco as well.

3 hours ago, Discrim said:

Bears-Browns...what.  was.  That.

I know Cairo Santos doesn't have the strongest leg, but there was no reason to go for a hail Mary there.

If he doesn't think he can hit it from there, you have to. And they almost pulled it off.

1 hour ago, DCarp1231 said:

“You never know. He’s on the bench, all by himself, and he looks like he’s ready to hang himself and they’re winning.”

 

- My dad on Joe Flacco

Before the last 3 minutes that's what my face looked like.

52 minutes ago, Cujo said:

Literally any uniform would have been better than what they did this year

 

Or at least have white pants. But I agree with you, these helmets weren't needed unless you make the rest of the uniform work with them.

9 hours ago, Cujo said:

 

The Broncos got into the endzone TWICE on back-to-back plays, both ruled by the refs short by an inch. Then were called for offensive offsides when it wasn't. Not saying it cost those calls Broncos the game, but the refs got it wrong on three consecutive plays.

 

Also on that note, I know scoring plays are automatically reviewed. The NFL needs to start auto-reviewing plays that are rules an inch short from the goal line as well.

For either of those goal line denials, the Broncos should have challenged it. In reality, they should have been given by the refs but losing one timeout at that point was less important than 6 or 7 points at that point in the game. Chewing out Russ for it was a pretty crap look on Sean Payton too. What's Russ supposed to do that Payton couldn't? 

Can we require that schools that host bowl games due more than just stencil the bowl logos on the field? Looking at you Myrtle Beach Bowl! 

Not a fan of MLS dropping out of the Open Cup, but unless it made them as much money as Leagues Cup they weren't going to keep juggling both competitions. 

4 minutes ago, GDAWG said:

 

Why do they sound like Madden created players? 

1 hour ago, Burmy said:

The Bay Area covers a wider area than San Jose, "Duke City" is a nickname for Albuquerque, and Gladiators play in Rio Rancho now.

 

So this would be like if the IFL teams rebranded to the Rio Rancho Gladiators, Henderson Knight Hawks or Ashwaubenon Blizzard (or if the NFL had the East Rutherford Giants, Inglewood Rams, Santa Clara 49ers, Landover Commanders or Orchard Park Bills, but that's another discussion).

Common doesn't mean required though. If the Gladiators changed to Rio Rancho I'd say that most people wouldn't know the difference. I liked the East Rutherford allusion, because I remember when Madden had to call some pro teams by cities or states that weren't their official title until they got the NFL approval. I also remember Columbus instead of Ohio State for Bill Walsh, now College Football. 

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/39119912/washington-spirit-owner-kang-buys-london-city-lionesses

Another British team has been bought by an American. London city Lionesses, formerly Millwall Lionesses, have been bought by Michelle Kang, owner of the Washington Spirit. They are currently in the second tier Women's Championship, and are 9th in the league. The team actually requested that the former owner be forced to sell the team so that they could remain competitive. 

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/womens_football/london-city-lionesses-owner-players-sale-b2366504.html

Leon loses to Urawa Red Diamonds today at the Club World Cup. Urawa will play Man City in the semi-finals. Al Ahly and Al Ittihad will play shortly for the honor of playing Fluminese on Monday. 

On 12/14/2023 at 12:21 PM, clonewars2008 said:

I spotted something in the Ottawa release video for 2024. 

 

looks like the new home jersey. 

I'd like them to lean into plaid accents, but if they are going with a modified UCLA stripe that's a good move as well. Just get rid of the hashtags on the pants.

19 hours ago, clonewars2008 said:

Another thing to add, the Edmonton Elks added this graphic to their schedule post, which shows all the logos in Edmonton football history from 1949 - today. 

 

And at the bottom was a certain striping invoking the 80’s look. 
 

 

Could we see a 75th anniversary uniform as it is the 75th anniversary of the club this season. 

I liked the sleeves they had before switching to the Elks. It would be a good update for the team to go back to those.