Ottawa Fury (also) joining USL

The rumor mill over the last few weeks, fueled further by USL President Jake Edwards’s announcement on Sunday that two expansion sides would be named this week, has produced two solid candidates for such a move: the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and the Ottawa Fury.

As announced earlier today and expanded upon here, Tampa Bay will be joining the USL from the flagging NASL next season. Now, the Fury - with the USL front office - have confirmed that they will be making the move too.

Coached since late 2015 by Paul Dalglish, formerly of now-on-hiatus USL side Austin Aztex, the Fury were reported by Brian Straus in September to be finalizing a move to the objectively more-stable USL. They will join established USL Canadian sides FC Montreal, Toronto FC II, and Vancouver Whitecaps 2. For the moment, Edmonton remains the lone Canadian market represented in the NASL.

The Fury play in the spacious TD Place Stadium, affectionately still known as Lansdowne Park. With a capacity of 24,000 it would be the third-largest venue in the USL behind Red Bull Arena - assuming New York Red Bulls II do not secure a new location - and Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium. LA Galaxy II has utilized the 27,000-seat Stub Hub Center on occasion.

What are your thoughts on Ottawa joining the USL? Hot, cold, and medium takes go in the comments below.