Scholes Leads USL Top-Flight Expansion
- * Tony Scholes has been appointed to oversee the establishment of the USL's new top-flight Division One league.
- * Structure: It will be the top tier of the USL pyramid, above the USL Championship, League One, League Two, and USL Youth.
- * Individual Owner: At least a 35% stake in the team and a net worth of at least $40 million.
Here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text:
Key Appointment:
* Tony Scholes has been appointed to oversee the establishment of the USL’s new top-flight Division One league. He will start after completing his current role with the Premier League (by May 24,2026).
* He previously held the role of chief executive at Stoke City for 17 years.
USL Division One League Details:
* Structure: It will be the top tier of the USL pyramid, above the USL Championship, League One, League Two, and USL Youth.
* Promotion/Relegation: The USL aims to implement promotion and relegation between its tiers, unlike MLS which is a closed league.
* Requirements (per US Soccer):
* At least 12 teams.
* Teams must be located across Eastern, Central, and Pacific time zones.
* At least 75% of teams must be in markets with a population of at least 1 million.
* Venues must be enclosed with a minimum seating capacity of 15,000.
* the league must demonstrate financial viability.
financial Requirements for Owners:
* Individual Owner: At least a 35% stake in the team and a net worth of at least $40 million.
* Group of Owners: Combined net worth of at least $70 million.
USL vs. MLS Model:
* USL: Club owners operate teams as autonomous businesses.
* MLS: Uses a single-entity model where team owners are also league partners.
Key People Involved:
* Alec Papadakis: USL chief executive.
* Paul McDonough: USL president, who has a prior relationship with Tony Scholes.
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