<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/editorial/new-england-revolution/image/1018820?term=Titan+Stadium+Fullerton" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/1018820/new-england-revolution/new-england-revolution.jpg?size=380&amp;imageId=1018820" border="0" alt="FULLERTON, CA - JULY 20: A detailed view of the MLS/SuperLiga ball in play during the SuperLiga match between CD Chivas USA and the New England Revolution at Titan Stadium on July 20, 2008 in Fullerton, California. The Revolution and Chivas USA played to a 1-1 draw. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)" width="380" height="252"></figure></div></a></div>
The West Coast is getting USL PRO representation next year with the announcement of the new LA Blues franchise, set to begin play in 2011.&nbsp; The club, which had been rumored for about a month to be the newest franchise for U.S. soccer’s new third division, will play in Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium and be coached by Charlie Naimo, the former head coach of the Pali Blues (a professional women’s soccer club) and team general manager.
The club becomes the third division’s fourteenth team and moves USL PRO two teams away from its stated goal of having sixteen for the 2011 season.&nbsp; Being able to field a stable and competitive league for the upcoming year would be a major accomplishment for U.S. soccer, considering that last season there was so much turmoil in the second and third levels.&nbsp; For 2011, the USSF Division 2 Professional League (composed of the USL and NASL) will be replaced with the NASL, while the third division USL-2 will be replaced with USL PRO.
LA will join Barracuda FC (Antigua), Charleston Battery, Charlotte Eagles, Dayton Dutch Lions, FC New York, Harrisburg City Islanders, Orlando City FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Richmond Kickers, River Plate Puerto Rico, Rochester Rhinos, Sevilla FC Puerto Rico, and Wilmington Hammerheads in USL PRO.
Notice one thing about the Blues, however, compared to the rest of this list.&nbsp; Los Angeles is the only team on the West Coast.&nbsp; In fact, it is the only U.S. club not on the East Coast, which could cause some major headaches and travel costs for the small start-up.&nbsp; But USL PRO CEO Alec Papadakis promised further West Coast expansion as soon as 2012 and stated LA would be the building block of that effort.&nbsp; Hopefully the team can remain financially competitive until then.
Additionally, the team is located in a city with two other major soccer franchises.&nbsp; Despite the promised Fox Soccer Channel coverage of the league, it will be hard to garner attention in a market already saturated with a product that does not receive enough attention.&nbsp; The club is playing it smart by playing in a small stadium but I wonder where the club’s fan base will come from.
However, I think this is major progress for U.S. soccer.&nbsp; If the Blues can survive and thrive as a west coast division is built, it will help USL PRO reach into new markets and further stabilize the USSF structure.&nbsp; As soccer fans know, a stable soccer pyramid will help this country begin to solidify its hierarchy and regularly produce national team and international club talent in this country.&nbsp; Until that happens, MLS and the rest of American soccer will be a step behind, so welcome to the league LA Blues!

USL PRO Goes Coastal with New LA Franchise

USL PRO Goes Coastal with New LA Franchise - World Soccer Talk

This year’s baseball season is shaping up to have more MLS cities in contention than in past years.&nbsp; The Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners are off to really good starts, and this is not&nbsp;good news&nbsp;for MLS.&nbsp; Currently, both teams sit in first place of their respective divisions.&nbsp; These two cities have drawn better at the gate than any other MLS teams, but will it continue if their baseball counterparts continue to position themselves for a playoff push?
In Toronto on Saturday, Soccer outdrew baseball.&nbsp; According to MLS-daily.com’s attendance and YahooSports attendance figures for boxscores in baseball, Toronto FC had 19,998 and the Toronto Bluejays had 18,331.
The one city MLS need not worry about in baseball is Washington, D.C.&nbsp; The Nationals are the worse team in baseball.&nbsp; But on Saturday, they still outdrew arguably the proudest MLS team.&nbsp; They drew 19,9950 to the United’s 14,225.&nbsp; Go figure that one.
The biggest story in baseball so far has been the Los Angeles Dodgers.&nbsp; They look like they might run away with the division.&nbsp; If they do, ultimately, that could be better for the&nbsp;2 LA soccer teams.&nbsp; But, surely they will be a story to watch for Southern California sports fans this summer.&nbsp; It also looks like the LA Angels will hang around to try and win the division as they have hung around pretty well for each of the last 10 years , either&nbsp;winning divisions or making it close.&nbsp;
The Dodgers drew 47,000 Saturday, while the Galaxy drew 21,000.&nbsp; Surely, the Galaxy would have done better head to head Saturday had Manny not signed that big contract, and had Beckham stuck to the plan.&nbsp;
At Wrigley&nbsp;Field, the&nbsp;Cubs drew 40,000, probably to be expected, knowing the history there.&nbsp; The Cubs are a decent team this year and they carry&nbsp;a more than 100 year relationship with sports.&nbsp; Their drout makes them always the lovable loser and an interesting team when they win.&nbsp; It would be better for the Fire, who drew 10,000 on Saturday, if the Cubs have a crappy season, but that’s not happening apparently.&nbsp; &nbsp;
The Fire need to be compared head to head to the White Sox too, who also seem to be contending.&nbsp; In fact, because of parity, it seems many MLS cities are competing in baseball this year, like the Astros and Rangers.&nbsp; But, maybe they’ll sail out of contention as the year moves on.&nbsp;
The Royals of Kansas City would definitely seem a likely candidate to sail out of contention, but it doesn’t help MLS or the Wiz that the Royals are having a decent season.&nbsp; They have been bad for a long time, so when they are good, it seems an anomaly, and fans start to pay attention.&nbsp;
One team who won’t fall out of contention this year is the Philadelphia Phillies, the defending champs.&nbsp; They are riding a wave in which the core of the team is sticking around.&nbsp; The Phillies have reestablished themselves with their fans&nbsp;via a new stadium and may make it rough on the newest expansion team for MLS next year.&nbsp;
In Colorado, the Rockies seem to be in the decline, and it appears it will be a long season for their fans.&nbsp; But, the Nuggets of the NBA are picking up the slack, pulling out John Elway of Arena Football League fame to announce their starting 5 in a crazed playoff atmosphere last night.&nbsp; The hockey team had a bad year and the Broncos had an unusual year, so as the Rapids average 11,000 in attendance,&nbsp;is it maybe a result of too much sports for one town?&nbsp; 5 pro teams may be one too many.&nbsp;
Colorado seems a good case for general managers&nbsp;from MLS to look to not schedule head to head against rival sports leagues.&nbsp;
It seems it is best to hold back on any judgement on the Red Bulls as everyone awaits their new stadium, which looks appealing.&nbsp; Next year will be interesting to see how they do head to head versus the Mets and Yankees.

Looking closer at MLS and MLB cities

Looking closer at MLS and MLB cities - World Soccer Talk

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USL PRO Goes Coastal with New LA Franchise

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Looking closer at MLS and MLB cities