USL announces conference alignment for 2017 season

The USL today announced its structure for the 2017 season, which will feature 30 teams playing an expanded 32-game schedule as the league continues in a two-conference alignment.

The Swope Park Rangers land in the Western Conference for the second consecutive season, with expansion side Reno 1868 FC the sole newcomers in the West. Cross-state rivals Saint Louis FC are the only team to move conferences, joining the East - where the side played in their inaugural season in 2015 before switching to the West last year. League newcomers Ottawa Fury FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies will play in the Eastern Conference as each conference will contain 15 teams.

“Building momentum off our U.S. Soccer Division 2 designation last week, USL aims to become one of the most globally recognized second division professional soccer leagues in the world and our expansive national footprint for this season will showcase teams in 21 of the top 50 U.S. media markets,” USL President Jake Edwards said. “The 2017 USL Season will feature a total of 495 games in 19 states with a focus on enhanced competition, and strong regional rivalries in both Eastern and Western Conferences.”

The 2017 USL regular season schedule will see teams play a 32 matches contested over 30 weeks, with the regular season starting March 24-26 and concluding the weekend of October 13-15. Teams will play two games (one home, one away) against each conference rival. The remaining four games will be played against regional foes. Teams will not face each other more than three times during the 2017 regular season.

The top eight teams in each conference will qualify for postseason play that will include Conference Quarterfinals (Oct. 20-22), Semifinals (Oct. 27-29) and Final (Nov. 3-5). The 2017 USL Cup Final will be played the weekend of November 10-12. The full 2017 USL schedule will be released soon.

See below for conference alignment.