Another week, another round of USL expansion news. In the wake of Brooklyn FC opting to skip League One and join the Championship, it was announced that Roswell, Georgia (an Atlanta suburb) and Buffalo, New York had entered into agreements to join the league.
What’s notable about the Roswell and Buffalo moves is the lack of an obvious majority investor in either case. In Georgia, the press release boasted of a “Letter of Intent” between the Championship and the city to explore a stadium project, one that would be anchored by a first-division USL Super League women’s club first and foremost. In Buffalo, former Union Omaha executive and FC Buffalo player Peter Marlette will spearhead the effort, but he’s the brains of the operation and not the pocketbook.
Pursuing useful markets is one thing, and clubs in both an affluent suburb of one of America’s biggest cities and a historically supportive region of New York could be successful. Still, the changes in the expansion model are something to keep an eye on.
Beyond the off-the-field news, it was a jam packed week featuring 20 different clubs in action. What stood out in week four? Let’s dig in.
