The matches have been fun, but I still have my doubts regarding expansion into USL Championship or even the need to have the tournament next year with a possible 20 team league.
Looking forward to the expansion of this cup to USLC. I hope the league works to incentivize this tournament with a substantial prize for the cup winner and something for clubs who advance deep. That will keep the cup a priority for participating clubs.
The Jagermeister Cup has always seemed like a way for the USL to get pro/rel to work. The USL is on pace to get close to 50 teams. If you want pro/rel then you need 3 leagues. That leaves leagues of 15-17 teams. All the leagues being single table (home/away) would reduce the season from 34 games taking money out of owner's pockets. By adding the cup competition they can keep gameday money flowing to owners while reducing the regular season. The owners get more matches with higher stakes and presumably more game day revenue. Another issue of pro/rel is travel. The regionalized cup matches help reduce that especially if all teams across the USL are involved. The tournament also preserves regional rivalries when teams get promoted or relegated.
I also think there is a way for the Jagermeister cup to involve foreign teams either through foreign leagues in the region or through teams owned by USL ownership groups.
One would think US Soccer would launch a women's cup immediately, as the revenue opportunities from sponsorships and broadcasting could be substantial! If US Soccer refuses to do it, USL "could" with its USL SuperLeague and USL W teams, and maybe invite some guest women's teams from Mexico or Europe to join in the said USL-sponsored Women's Cup??
The matches have been fun, but I still have my doubts regarding expansion into USL Championship or even the need to have the tournament next year with a possible 20 team league.
unless they make the qualifying for the Jaegermeister Cup based off of merit to have a champions league kind of competition for USL.
You know I could actually get behind that
you could get rid of the playoffs with USL League having a single table and have the teams also qualify for the cup.
League One*
Looking forward to the expansion of this cup to USLC. I hope the league works to incentivize this tournament with a substantial prize for the cup winner and something for clubs who advance deep. That will keep the cup a priority for participating clubs.
The Jagermeister Cup has always seemed like a way for the USL to get pro/rel to work. The USL is on pace to get close to 50 teams. If you want pro/rel then you need 3 leagues. That leaves leagues of 15-17 teams. All the leagues being single table (home/away) would reduce the season from 34 games taking money out of owner's pockets. By adding the cup competition they can keep gameday money flowing to owners while reducing the regular season. The owners get more matches with higher stakes and presumably more game day revenue. Another issue of pro/rel is travel. The regionalized cup matches help reduce that especially if all teams across the USL are involved. The tournament also preserves regional rivalries when teams get promoted or relegated.
I also think there is a way for the Jagermeister cup to involve foreign teams either through foreign leagues in the region or through teams owned by USL ownership groups.
This cup--and this USL season-- have reminded me a lot of the A-League (in all the best ways). All we need now is a genuinely heated rivalry or two.
One would think US Soccer would launch a women's cup immediately, as the revenue opportunities from sponsorships and broadcasting could be substantial! If US Soccer refuses to do it, USL "could" with its USL SuperLeague and USL W teams, and maybe invite some guest women's teams from Mexico or Europe to join in the said USL-sponsored Women's Cup??