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In Depth: USL's Expansion for 2016 and 2017

By usl admin, 01/07/16, 4:00PM EST

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The USL has expanded to 31 clubs, with the most recent announcement including the addition of San Antonio for 2016. Six teams are joining league action in 2016, and Reno takes the field starting in 2017.

Here is a team-by-team look at the newcomers, along with pertinent information about these organizations (in order of when they officially joined the USL):


RIO GRANDE VALLEY FC TOROS

  • Joined: Officially announced as the USL’s 25th franchise on July 15, 2015
  • First USL season: 2016
  • About: The South Texas region of the Rio Grande Valley is headed by owner Alonzo Cantu of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League. RGVFC has formed a partnership with Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo. RGVFC unveiled its team name, Toros, on Nov. 11 after conducting a public vote.
  • Venue: Stadium being constructed in Edinburg, Texas
  • Head coach: Wilmer Cabrera

Official site and social handles:

FC CINCINNATI

  • Joined: Officially announced as the USL’s 26th franchise on Aug. 12, 2015
  • First USL season: 2016
  • About: FC Cincinnati was named the second expansion side to join in 2016. The club is led by Carl Lindner III, a former owner of the Cincinnati Reds and co-president and director of American Financial Group. Former Cincinnati Bengals executive Jeff Berding is the club’s president and general manager.
  • Venue: Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati
  • Head coach: John Harkes

Official site and social handles:

BETHLEHEM STEEL FC

  • Joined: Officially announced as the USL’s 27th franchise on Aug. 19, 2015
  • First USL season: 2016
  • About: The Lehigh Valley, a historic soccer market in the U.S., will welcome a franchise owned and operated by Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union. The region is best known for the days of the Bethlehem Steel, which won five U.S. Open Cups. The Union had a longtime partnership with the USL’s Harrisburg City Islanders from 2010-15. The team name and logo were announced on Oct. 27, 2015.
  • Venue: Goodman Stadium at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.
  • Head coach: Brendan Burke

Official site and social handles:

RENO (official name to be announced)

  • Joined: Officially announced as the USL’s 28th franchise on Sept. 16, 2015
  • First USL season: 2017
  • About: The Reno, Nevada-based franchise is owned by Herb Simon, the managing partner of the Reno Aces of the Pacific Coast League as well as the owner of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers.
  • Venue: Aces Ballpark in Reno, Nev.
  • Head Coach: TBA

Official site and social handles:

ORLANDO CITY B

  • Joined: Officially announced as the USL’s 29th franchise on Oct. 15, 2015
  • First USL season: 2016
  • About: Orlando City B becomes the USL’s 10th Major League Soccer-owned and operated club. Orlando City SC was a member of the USL from 2011-14 (winning the USL Championship in 2011 and 2013) before joining MLS in 2015. Orlando City SC had an affiliation with Louisville City FC during its expansion 2015 season.
  • Venue: Titan Soccer Complex at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Fla.
  • Head Coach: Anthony Pulis

Official site and social handles:

SWOPE PARK RANGERS KC

  • Joined: Officially announced as the USL’s 30th franchise on Oct. 22, 2015
  • First USL season: 2016
  • About: Swope Park Rangers KC becomes the USL’s 11th Major League Soccer-owned and operated club, headed by MLS’s Sporting Kansas City. SKC has enjoyed affiliation agreements for the past three USL seasons with Orlando City SC (2013-14) and OKC Energy FC (2014-15).
  • Venue: Championship Field at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Mo.
  • Head Coach: Marc Dos Santos

Official site and social handles:

USL SAN ANTONIO (official name to be announced)

  • Joined: Officially announced as the USL’s 31st franchise on Jan. 7, 2016
  • First USL season: 2016
  • About: Spurs Sports & Entertainment will own and operate the club. Led by Chairman and CEO Peter Holt, the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs are acknowledged as one of the finest organizations in North American sports. Since Holt’s addition to the organizations ownership group, Spurs Sports & Entertainment has expanded to include teams in the WNBA, the NBA D-League and the American Hockey League.
  • Venue: Toyota Field
  • Head Coach: Darren Powell

Official site and social handles: