Hooligan Soccer
·5 March 2025
USL Championship Preview – East Part 1
USL Championship Preview – East Part 1 | OneFootball
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Below we’re covering six teams from the USL Eastern Conference, moving geographically from south to north.
Miami FC
- Founded: 2015
- Home Field: Pitbull Stadium (20,000 capacity)
- 2024 Season: 3W – 2D – 29L. Finished 12th in the Eastern Conference; 24th overall. With only 11 points, Miami not only ‘won’ the Wooden Spoon, but also set a new record for poor performance with the lowest win tally – ever.
- Notable Figures: I mean no disrespect, but there are none. Forward Frank Lopez, responsible for 38% of the 2024 goals, left on a free transfer in January.
- Offseason Moves: With seven managers in five years, new gaffer Gastón Maddoni best not get too comfortable. The franchise also parted ways with 12 players, bringing in 13 ones. Basically, this is a reboot, which is good news because Miami FC could literally not get any worse.
- First Match: Host Detroit City FC on March 8th at 4pm ET.
Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Founded: 2008. The current Rowdies are a phoenix club of a team that played in the NASL from 1975-1993.
- Home Field: Al Lang Stadium (7,500 capacity)
- 2024 Season: 14W – 8D – 11L. Finished 6th in the Eastern Conference; 9th overall. The Rowdies shocked Detroit City FC, winning 3 – 1 in PKs after a 1 – 1 draw, then lost to Charleston Battery 2 – 1 in the semi-finals.
- Notable Figures: Manuel Arteaga and Cal Jennings shared the top scorer crown in 2024, with 20 goals apiece.
- Offseason Moves: Nine players departed; nine players arrived. Jennings departed on a free transfer to Charleston, a blow to their attack.
- First Match: Visit Las Vegas Lights on March 8th.
Birmingham Legion
- Founded: 2017
- Home Field: Protective Stadium (47,000 capacity). It also serves as the home of the NCAA UAB Blazers and USFL Birmingham Stallions (both American football).
- 2024 Season: 13W – 6D – 15L. Finished 9th in the Eastern Conference; 14th overall. Did not qualify for postseason, though they had more points than the West Conf. 7th and 8th places teams.
- Notable Figures: USMNT and Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards became an investor in 2024.
- Offseason Moves: In 2024 Birmingham’s conversion rate was a lowly 12.5%. The club made big moves to address their front line, bringing on four new faces: Ronaldo Damus and Danny Trejo (USL-C veterans) as well as Sebastian Tregarthen and Lucca Dourado (both are college students making their professional debuts). We’ll see if this gamble pays off.
- First Match: They will host Loudoun United on March 8th at 7pm CT.
Charleston Battery
- Founded: 1993. They are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer club in the United States.
- Home Field: Patriots Point Soccer Complex (5,000 capacity)
- 2024 Season: 18W – 10D – 6L. Finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference; 2nd overall. They had a strong run in the postseason, defeating the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Tampa Bay Rowdies before being upset by debutante Rhode Island FC 2 – 1 in the Conference Final.
- Notable Figures: 2024’s Golden Boot winner Nick Markanich departed the club for Spain’s CD Castellón in January.
- Offseason Moves: The club made two big moves to shore up their attack. First, they signed Honduran international and seasoned USL vet Douglas Martínez. Second, they also nabbed Cal Jennings from Tampa. Smart business.
- First Match: Will host USL Player’s Shield Winner Louisville City FC on March 8th at 7:30pm ET.
North Carolina FC
- Founded: 2006 (as the Carolina RailHawks). They moved up from the third tier USL League 1 three years ago.
- Home Field: WakeMed Soccer Park (10,000 capacity)
- 2024 Season: Finished 8th in the Eastern Conference; 13th overall. Snuck into the final playoff spot below Pittsburgh on goal differential. Lost in the quarterfinals to Louisville City FC 3 – 2.
- Notable Figures: 2024’s top scorer Oalex Anderson (13 goals; 3 assists) returns.
- Offseason Moves: It was a fairly quiet winter for NCFC. Six of their players signed extensions to stay through 2026, giving them a core to build around. They pulled in two experienced defenders (France’s Patrick Burner and Trinidad’s Triston Hodge) to shore up the defense, and League 1 Player of the Year finalist Pedro Dolabella to provide punch in the attack.
- First Match: Hosting the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on March 8th at 4pm ET.
Louisville City FC
- Founded: 2014. They are one of the most successful USL teams ever, having finished first or second in their conference a record eight times.
- Home Field: Lynn Family Stadium (15,300 capacity)
- 2024 Season: Finished 1st in the Eastern Conference; 1st overall. Winner of the Player’s Shield.
- Notable Figures: Team captain Kyle Adams is a New Zealand international who recently signed a multi-year deal to stay in the purple for the foreseeable future.
- Offseason Moves: Losing 21 year old midfielder Elijah Wynder to LA Galaxy is a blow, though the $400K transfer fee will cushion it. Elijah played in 37 games last season, scoring six times. They have kept their impressive defensive line intact, signing most players to multi-year deals.
- First Match: Travel to take on Charleston Battery on March 8th at 7:30pm ET.
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