Hartford/Elm City Thread | Page 17 | The Boneyard

Hartford/Elm City Thread

It was amazing Elm City even managed to make the playoffs after starting the season so poorly.
 
PorgCT said:
THE KICKOFF: NPSL will start its pro division with Founders Cup next August and at 11 least teams, including Cosmos - Front Row Soccer

Interesting that over the course of the last year HCFC went from being in NASL v3.0 to not even being considered for a new "pro" league featuring what's left of the NASL. Worth noting their social media has been radio silent since the end of the season.

Is anyone home?
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Doesn’t seem like it. Semi-Pro/Minor League soccer is a money pit.

NPSL Pro seems like a waste. Why wouldn’t they just merge with NISA or vice versa. The lower leagues are too fragmented. This is where the USSF should step and incentivize consolidation. But they won’t because they are picking USL Championship, League One and League Two as the winners.
 
Umm...who are these teams and how do they get a chance to play in the US Open Cup??

 
UCFBfan said:
Umm...who are these teams and how do they get a chance to play in the US Open Cup??

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It’s for all clubs in the US down to the lowest level. These are like the earliest possible rounds.
 
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HCFC seems alive enough to be charging aspiring players a $45 tryout fee.

Anyone heard from Elm City Express?
 
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PorgCT said:
That seems like a dumb move. Wonder if HA will sign/poach any HCFC players?
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Why is it dumb? You get a game ticket, a try out shirt and two training sessions. I don’t think these tryouts are totally about actually finding players.
 
Welp! Elm City is folding, basically.....

 
UCFBfan said:
Welp! Elm City is folding, basically.....

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Screen shot from Twitter...

Elm City.jpg
 
Two years is about the median survival period for a 3rd division or lower team. There's a small number of clubs that have lasted a long time, but the rest come and go in a few years. Most measure their attendance in the hundreds and, unless they have a wealthy owner that just wants a team for his own entertainment or ego, the cash flow is negative from day one. Now that the MLS development clubs seem to be moving to the USL third division (primarily a money saving move as well) maybe that will create a little stability, but unless they improve at creating a player pipeline (for MLS or transfer) I'm not even sure they'll want to keep flushing away the money.

Of course, the question/challenge for Hartford is anticipating the survival prospects of USL second division (AKA USL Championship).
 
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kibblesnbits said:
Two years is about the median survival period for a 3rd division or lower team. There's a small number of clubs that have lasted a long time, but the rest come and go in a few years. Most measure their attendance in the hundreds and, unless they have a wealthy owner that just wants a team for his own entertainment or ego, the cash flow is negative from day one. Now that the MLS development clubs seem to be moving to the USL third division (primarily a money saving move as well) maybe that will create a little stability, but unless they improve at creating a player pipeline (for MLS or transfer) I'm not even sure they'll want to keep flushing away the money.

Of course, the question/challenge for Hartford is anticipating the survival prospects of USL second division (AKA USL Championship).
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The odds of HA making it past 5 seasons are low. There is no money in lower division soccer. And since clubs don’t get solidarity payments there isn’t much incentive to invest heavily in player development.
 
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NPSL's Miami United FC draws record crowd of 11,173 fans for Penarol friendly

NPSL Team in Miami drew 11k to a Friendly with Penarol.

NPSL is launching a “Pro” Division in the fall. Such is the absurd wastefulness of lower division soccer in the US. We already have NISA which has the same philosophy as NPSL.

In Virginia Beach there is a NPSL Team and a USL PDL team sharing a stadium. Like those two teams couldn’t figure out how to merge and do something better?
 
May I ask a question of the board? I'm assuming it's true but I want to confirm. Is the league Hartford Athletic is in, the 2nd best soccer league in the US?
 
ZooCougar said:
NPSL's Miami United FC draws record crowd of 11,173 fans for Penarol friendly

NPSL Team in Miami drew 11k to a Friendly with Penarol.

NPSL is launching a “Pro” Division in the fall. Such is the absurd wastefulness of lower division soccer in the US. We already have NISA which has the same philosophy as NPSL.

In Virginia Beach there is a NPSL Team and a USL PDL team sharing a stadium. Like those two teams couldn’t figure out how to merge and do something better?
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What percentage of the crowd was cheering for the visitors?

Waquoit said:
May I ask a question of the board? I'm assuming it's true but I want to confirm. Is the league Hartford Athletic is in, the 2nd best soccer league in the US?
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The USSF says it is and who are we to question their wisdom?
 
Waquoit said:
May I ask a question of the board? I'm assuming it's true but I want to confirm. Is the league Hartford Athletic is in, the 2nd best soccer league in the US?
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Yes
 
Waquoit said:
May I ask a question of the board? I'm assuming it's true but I want to confirm. Is the league Hartford Athletic is in, the 2nd best soccer league in the US?
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Yes and maybe 15% of the players make a living wage.
 
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ZooCougar said:
Yes and maybe 15% of the players make a living wage.
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Out of curiosity, do you think the wage part would increase if USL teams were minor league teams, ala baseball.

I can't imagine Yard Goat players make a decent earning, outside the top prospects who sign deals when drafted. Yet the teams survive.

Would a minor league system like this allow the MLS teams to invest more money into second tier soccer??

I just feel like there is such a huge untapped market that is showing itself in these USL clubs. The fact that they have a life span of 5 years is absurd and a shame. These are markets that could really be profitable if the product is good. Look at the Rock Cats/Yard Goats. There was and is interest because it's a fun time, and you get to see some future major league players.
 
Minor-league basketball & hockey players get paid very solid wages, even the ones who don't ever have a shot of making it in the NBA/NHL.

Minor-league baseball is a product of two things- more players and parent clubs that are way, way cheaper with cash.
 
UCFBfan said:
Out of curiosity, do you think the wage part would increase if USL teams were minor league teams, ala baseball.

I can't imagine Yard Goat players make a decent earning, outside the top prospects who sign deals when drafted. Yet the teams survive.

Would a minor league system like this allow the MLS teams to invest more money into second tier soccer??

I just feel like there is such a huge untapped market that is showing itself in these USL clubs. The fact that they have a life span of 5 years is absurd and a shame. These are markets that could really be profitable if the product is good. Look at the Rock Cats/Yard Goats. There was and is interest because it's a fun time, and you get to see some future major league players.
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That’s what the USL has basically become. With 2-3 MLS teams moving down to USL Division 3.

Keep in mind that the league minimum in MLS is still 50k. So I shudder to think what USL players make.
 
Waquoit said:
May I ask a question of the board? I'm assuming it's true but I want to confirm. Is the league Hartford Athletic is in, the 2nd best soccer league in the US?
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zls44 said:
Minor-league basketball & hockey players get paid very solid wages, even the ones who don't ever have a shot of making it in the NBA/NHL.

Minor-league baseball is a product of two things- more players and parent clubs that are way, way cheaper with cash.
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Unless you mean Kentucky, minor league basketball players in the United States have traditionally earned very little. Typical G-League salaries are about $30K. The NBA has proposed providing a couple of $100K slots on teams to act as a professional alternative to one-and-done (i.e. Kentucky and Duke). Let's see if that gets adopted. As for hockey, AHL: salaries are not terrible, but lower levels don't provide a living wage.
 
Was just doing a little research on a boring Sunday.

Hartford doesn’t play at home until May. Way to come out of the gates - assume it’s to finish stadium.

The difference between USL and say the Eastern League is that almost every major league player goes through AA and... the USL just won’t have anyone who makes an impact in the sport.
 
whaler11 said:
Was just doing a little research on a boring Sunday.

Hartford doesn’t play at home until May. Way to come out of the gates - assume it’s to finish stadium.
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It is. And having driven by the site a few times, that seems optimistic.
 
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