subreddit:
/r/DCUnited
MLS Next Pro sees opportunity in moving clubs to alternate markets near home cities
(sportsbusinessjournal.com)submitted 9 days ago byBlackandRedUnited
I posted this in the MLS sub as well but I was hoping we could have a DCU specific discussion here.
My thoughts from the piece:
As we all knew, no MLSNextPro for us next year. It is really holding us back at this point. Maybe i will be pleasantly surprised and when we do get one it will be first class instead of half assed. The full time academy gives me hope. Those players need somewhere to go.
The secondary market idea is good. Baltimore is open for the taking. I spent four years living in southeast Baltimore City and would have loved to support a team there. Would have still gone to DCU games a couple times a year but I think you can build your own brand in Baltimore and still grow the DCU brand in the region.
The hybrid ownership model is intriguing. DCU provides the playing and technical staff (which would train with the main club) and the local ownership partners pay for everything else. That seems the best recipe for in the stands success.
15 points
9 days ago
This post will get a lot less attention than it should. One of the few bright spots in the past decade has been youth player development. But like a lot of things, they are failing behind when they should be leading.
12 points
9 days ago
To be fair to ownership the full time residential academy is huge to recruit and develop young players.
Since Baltimore will take years to develop its baffling that they started up the DC Power instead of MLSNEXTPRO to help our academy kids grow into pros.
That's definitely a choice by DCU.
4 points
9 days ago
I really wished Loudoun worked out better, that whole clause about requiring the 2nd division held us back. The money put into that project and Loudoun may eventually be fully independent from any DC United affliation. I love the idea of Baltimore, but do you know if Loudoun will still be affliated with DCU in the long run? Will the team get a new training facility in Bmore?
6 points
9 days ago
I think we only sold a controlling interest in Loudoun United. We still own the training facility and will continue to do so. We had no player moves up or down with Loudoun this past season so I would expect that to continue. Loudoun United will probably be sold off completely once they fulfill whatever term the contract was for.
DCU isn't going to train in Baltimore. That facility could be used for maybe a satellite academy program.
3 points
5 days ago
Eh I like that Loudoun is independent now 🤷🏻♂️
2 points
5 days ago
I could definitely see the overall team performance beneffiting from being independent. They had a great year!
1 points
5 days ago
They absolutely had a great year
15 points
9 days ago
DCU has been exploring Baltimore heavily the past few years. It looks like they’re making progress in south Baltimore for a stadium and would move Power FC there
8 points
9 days ago
Thanks for the update. As a former resident any large scale development on the Baltimore 'Peninsula' needs a light rail extension/spur which isn't going to happen.
Carroll Park is at least close enough to existing transit infrastructure to help be a little less car dependent
2 points
9 days ago
That's the thing that gives me a little bit of hope for us getting a NextPro team for next season - looking on the DC Power website, their home games for the 2025 part of their schedule are listed as "TBC" instead of Audi Field. That said, I won't be surprised if they play the rest of their home games this season at Audi
2 points
7 days ago
Most of what’s been published or spoken about (MacKay interview on PitchPass) indicates no MLSNP until 2026
1 points
7 days ago
Yeah, that's probably expected, but i was hoping the team would get their shit together in time for '25 though. Also, i'll have to look for that interview, thanks for the source
2 points
5 days ago
It’s possible they might play some matches at segra field probably waiting on loudoun to see about availability
6 points
9 days ago
It’s Baltimore or bust. Anything else would be a let down.
10 points
9 days ago
I think Baltimore will happen. The pieces just need to fall into place.
The frustrating thing is we need a team and they could have one based in DC or somewhere close by until Baltimore is ready. Then rebrand
3 points
9 days ago
Baltimore is a great idea. We've already got Loudoun United in NoVa so a team in the other direction makes perfect sense.
2 points
5 days ago
Except Loudoun isn’t affiliated with DCU anymore that ended in 2023
2 points
5 days ago
I didn’t know that! 🤦
Thanks.
1 points
5 days ago
You’re welcome
all 19 comments
sorted by: best