USL announced a flexible start date and competition organization for the upcoming 2021 USL Championship season on Thursday.
First, the season is tentatively tabbed to kick off on or around May 1, with the Board of Governors approving a start date between Apr. 24 and May 15. The release does not get into it, but there are several possible reasons for the flexible start date. First and foremost, the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt life around the United States, and there are plenty of uncertainties around holding sporting events in 2021. In addition, the USL Championship has a symbiotic relationship with MLS, and generally starts its season a week or two after MLS, so they are likely waiting to find out when the top flight will kick off in 2021.
In addition, USL announced the 2021 season format for the USL Championship will have the clubs divided into four divisions, with plans to play a 32-game regular season schedule. The four divisions will be considerably larger than the 2020 main competition format, which was four- or five-team groups, with teams playing a few games outside those regional groups.
Obviously there’s plenty of waiting for all of this to come through and we know now that plans don’t always come together. But, this is what’s on tap and we’ll see what happens as we gear up for the 2021 season. Let the season countdown begin!
What do you think? Leave a comment below.
Comments
Season 2021
Any idea how they are going to divide up the teams? Maybe like last season, but larger bubbles?
By LasVegasLights33 on 01.22.21 10:22am
Season 2021
I imagine a season would look like this for USL West.
Group A
Tacoma Defiance
Sacramento Republic
Oakland Roots
LA Galaxy 2
Orange County SC
San Diego Loyal
Las Vegas Lights
Phoenix Rising
Real Monarchs
Group B
Colorado Springs Switchbacks
New Mexico United
El Paso Locomotive
Rio Grande Valley Toros
San Antonio FC
Austin FC
OKC Energy
FC Tulsa
Then each team would play each other twice.
By LasVegasLights33 on 01.22.21 10:58am
I'm planning on writing about this before long
But spoiler alert, you pretty much hit on what I was thinking, more or less.
By Alicia Rodriguez on 01.22.21 3:52pm
Only thing, I would really expect Salt Lake and Co Springs to be kept in the same division
By left hand on 01.24.21 8:25am
SB Nation
By the way, how difficult is it to start a SB Nation community? I don’t mind not getting paid.
By LasVegasLights33 on 01.22.21 7:52pm
SB Nation
And would it require any coding knowledge? Thanks.
By LasVegasLights33 on 01.22.21 7:56pm
It doesn't really work that way
I would say we’re likely not going to be starting any more USL sites for the time being.
By Alicia Rodriguez on 01.24.21 11:35am