Great overview, D from B…it’s been a few years since I’ve been involved with the GCPL, but I hope to really dive in and help cover some of the teams in this region; at least Pensacola FC, as I only live about an hour away. Mobile, Panama City, Tallahassee and Gulfport are within three hours, and I could manage getting to the others for important matches.
Thank you. I'm determined to find my way down for a Union 10 and/or AFC Mobile match if I can make it work. My attention is primarily focused on those teams, but of course all of this impacts them significantly. It really is a good region for soccer.
I haven’t been in a few years, but I really like the AFC Mobile folks. They have a great small soccer atmosphere (even if they do play on a high school football field). Maybe we can get together if the schedules work out right.
Love reading stuff like this. Seeing how flaky, shaky, and messy the Gulf Coast has been, I'm really hoping that TLFC and WPSL taking over the GCPL duties can lead to some stability. Only comment I have is that LA Krewe is in Lafayette. Kenner is outside New Orleans about 2 hours away.
Are you getting the sense that in the future, the progression for clubs will likely be: NPSL > GCPL > USL League Two > USL League One?
Some clubs, like several of Hitchcock's empire of clubs, have gone directly from NPSL to USL L2 but have massive attendances that would do well if transferrable to USL L1 (like the Annapolis Blues).
In this region, I think NPSL will end up going away, with clubs fully absorbed into GCPL/LfC or USL2.
There's also a pretty big opportunity for the UPSL to grow here. There's a new club called Magnolia FC in Jackson, MS that was initiated in the Fall for UPSL, but doesn't have a schedule - there's nobody to play. So, I see the intent and opportunity there for a lot of city league clubs in places like Mobile and New Orleans to "move up" to UPSL. The only gain is basically getting into playoffs and facing competition that's not local. That has to be weighed against league fees and then some travel expense.
As far as making the jump to pro, it's a weird dynamic. Annapolis is a great example, but in the region Dothan United fits that bill as well. USL2 currently, and they drew around 5000 fans per game in their first season. The stadium can hold up to 10,000, and there's a big push for an increase in attendance for this summer. And this is a SMALL market by any measure for pro. But the founder is a seasoned professional sports figure, who founded Rochester Rhinos, among many other things. No doubt he has his eyes set on that for Dothan. But... it's a massive (Massive) change moving from a Summer league to year-round pro. The extra dates, the payroll, and the enormous jump in travel costs. Which is why I think Hitchcock has been content to profitably operate multiple summer clubs. It's a matter of drive vs reality.
Good points about the massive additional financial requirements needed to move from USL2 to USL1 & USL-C. There would need to be compensatory revenue opportunities, such as from a big broadcast deal or the possibility of promotion (via pro/rel), or more sponsorship opportunities.
What are the relative costs of LfC versus USL2, ignoring travel costs? Are the seasonal or franchise fees comparable?
Last but not least, we are all still eagerly wishing for the definitive interview with Hitchcock in which he reveals his candid thoughts about NPSL!
My understanding of fees for USL2 compared to LfC is limited to what I've seen discussed on some message boards. My understanding is that the fees for League Two are significantly higher (I've seen $75k quoted) compared to LfC (I've seen more like $15k stated). But I also think that there's some wiggle room on negotiating that.
I haven't really reached out to interview anyone before, but Hitchcock might be a good place to start.
That's also possible, or even that it's a fee to establish the franchise, and then annually it's more i line with other summer leagues. You would think that the numbers would be publicly available, but they're not published anywhere that I've found.
It seems USL2 clubs have been fairly stable, without the churn seen in other lower leagues. Almost certainly, the franchise fee is amortized over many years to ensure loyalty and be less taxing on the clubs. Further, part or all of it may "refundable" as a sort of bond or mortgage, so the terms of total amount, how many years to pay back, how much the rebate is, are all negotiable in all likelihood....
Great overview, D from B…it’s been a few years since I’ve been involved with the GCPL, but I hope to really dive in and help cover some of the teams in this region; at least Pensacola FC, as I only live about an hour away. Mobile, Panama City, Tallahassee and Gulfport are within three hours, and I could manage getting to the others for important matches.
Again, well done! I enjoy your work.
Thank you. I'm determined to find my way down for a Union 10 and/or AFC Mobile match if I can make it work. My attention is primarily focused on those teams, but of course all of this impacts them significantly. It really is a good region for soccer.
I haven’t been in a few years, but I really like the AFC Mobile folks. They have a great small soccer atmosphere (even if they do play on a high school football field). Maybe we can get together if the schedules work out right.
Love reading stuff like this. Seeing how flaky, shaky, and messy the Gulf Coast has been, I'm really hoping that TLFC and WPSL taking over the GCPL duties can lead to some stability. Only comment I have is that LA Krewe is in Lafayette. Kenner is outside New Orleans about 2 hours away.
You're right, of course. I had them misplaced in my head, and put it on paper. I also hope, and believe, that TLfC will bring some added stability.
Are you getting the sense that in the future, the progression for clubs will likely be: NPSL > GCPL > USL League Two > USL League One?
Some clubs, like several of Hitchcock's empire of clubs, have gone directly from NPSL to USL L2 but have massive attendances that would do well if transferrable to USL L1 (like the Annapolis Blues).
In this region, I think NPSL will end up going away, with clubs fully absorbed into GCPL/LfC or USL2.
There's also a pretty big opportunity for the UPSL to grow here. There's a new club called Magnolia FC in Jackson, MS that was initiated in the Fall for UPSL, but doesn't have a schedule - there's nobody to play. So, I see the intent and opportunity there for a lot of city league clubs in places like Mobile and New Orleans to "move up" to UPSL. The only gain is basically getting into playoffs and facing competition that's not local. That has to be weighed against league fees and then some travel expense.
As far as making the jump to pro, it's a weird dynamic. Annapolis is a great example, but in the region Dothan United fits that bill as well. USL2 currently, and they drew around 5000 fans per game in their first season. The stadium can hold up to 10,000, and there's a big push for an increase in attendance for this summer. And this is a SMALL market by any measure for pro. But the founder is a seasoned professional sports figure, who founded Rochester Rhinos, among many other things. No doubt he has his eyes set on that for Dothan. But... it's a massive (Massive) change moving from a Summer league to year-round pro. The extra dates, the payroll, and the enormous jump in travel costs. Which is why I think Hitchcock has been content to profitably operate multiple summer clubs. It's a matter of drive vs reality.
Good points about the massive additional financial requirements needed to move from USL2 to USL1 & USL-C. There would need to be compensatory revenue opportunities, such as from a big broadcast deal or the possibility of promotion (via pro/rel), or more sponsorship opportunities.
What are the relative costs of LfC versus USL2, ignoring travel costs? Are the seasonal or franchise fees comparable?
Last but not least, we are all still eagerly wishing for the definitive interview with Hitchcock in which he reveals his candid thoughts about NPSL!
My understanding of fees for USL2 compared to LfC is limited to what I've seen discussed on some message boards. My understanding is that the fees for League Two are significantly higher (I've seen $75k quoted) compared to LfC (I've seen more like $15k stated). But I also think that there's some wiggle room on negotiating that.
I haven't really reached out to interview anyone before, but Hitchcock might be a good place to start.
That figure seems high for a summer amateur only USL2 team so may actually instead be the total budget per year.
That's also possible, or even that it's a fee to establish the franchise, and then annually it's more i line with other summer leagues. You would think that the numbers would be publicly available, but they're not published anywhere that I've found.
It seems USL2 clubs have been fairly stable, without the churn seen in other lower leagues. Almost certainly, the franchise fee is amortized over many years to ensure loyalty and be less taxing on the clubs. Further, part or all of it may "refundable" as a sort of bond or mortgage, so the terms of total amount, how many years to pay back, how much the rebate is, are all negotiable in all likelihood....