Barracuda FC to Join USL First Division

[jasonm]

TAMPA, FL - United Soccer Leagues continues the expansion of its top professional league today with the announcement that Barracuda FC of Antigua and Barbuda will join the USL First Division for the 2011 season. The announcement was made during a news conference in St. John's, Antigua featuring USL CEO Alec Papadakis, USL Senior Director of International Development Francisco Marcos and Barracuda FC Chairman Gordon Derrick.

"This is yet another positive step forward in the growth of the USL First Division for 2011," Papadakis said. "Coupled with our announcement of Orlando as a 2011 expansion team, the addition of Barracuda FC continues USL's positive momentum with more news to come.

"What makes this even more exciting is the overall effect on the region that USL expansion in the Caribbean will have," Papadakis continued. "Not only does it increase the profile of soccer throughout the region, but the addition of Barracuda FC creates a natural geographic rival for the Puerto Rico Islanders, one of USL's most exciting and accomplished teams, as well as opening the door for other Caribbean clubs to join the USL First Division.

"We also look forward to working with Gordon Derrick and Bryan Hamilton, Barracuda FC's Technical Director, to develop soccer opportunities for all ages on this beautiful island, not only at the professional level, but for the boys and girls youth and developmental players as well."

Currently a professional association team, Barracuda FC plays at a 12,000-seat stadium in St. John's, Antigua. The USL First Division season runs from April through October, and in addition to league play, Barracuda FC intends to compete in premier international tournaments and exhibitions such as the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship and the CONCACAF Champions League. As was previously the case with USL teams Puerto Rico Islanders and Bermuda Hogges, the participation of Antigua Barracuda FC in the USL First Division will be subject to the formal approval of both federations (Antigua & Barbuda Football Association and United States Soccer Federation), as well as the Confederation and FIFA.

Antigua Barracuda Football Club was established in 2008 with the main purpose of raising the bar of club management and creating a professional team that would provide an avenue for talented footballers in Antigua and Barbuda and the Eastern Caribbean. Barracuda FC's business philosophy is providing first-class family entertainment for all age groups throughout Antigua & Barbuda and the neighboring Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, including The U.S./British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Maarten/St. Martin and Montserrat.

Barracuda FC players have been recruited locally, with most coming from the senior and U-21 National Teams. Regional trials will be held in the Leeward and Windward Islands for the 2011 season to identify the best players from throughout the region and developing the talent within the club. It is expected that Barracuda FC will eventually be comprised of 70 percent Antiguan players and 30 percent regional players, though international players will be not ruled out.

"I am extremely excited about the prospect of Antigua and Barbuda's Barracuda FC joining the USL First Division for 2011," Derrick said. "This is a historic event in the history of football in Antigua and Barbuda and our entry into USL in 2011 will be the catalyst for the quantum leap in development of the sport in our country. We are also excited about bringing our Antiguan flair to the sport and displaying it throughout the cities participating in this most prestigious league.

"We promise a most rewarding experience when the fans of our opponents come to support their teams here in Antigua, and for that matter they may not want to return to their homes. After all, Antigua and Barbuda is the last stop before Heaven."

[Lord Bob]

Wow. That one came out of nowhere.

[alberta white]

Wow. That one came out of nowhere.

To reverse a famouse phrase from a seminal Spielburgh movie....

You shout shark you have a panic on the Fourth of July,

You shout Barracuda and every one says HUH?

After three... BA-RA-COO-COO-DADA!

[nolando]

You have to wonder how a team made up of 70% Antiguans would be able to compete when there are only 85,000 of them to draw from. And then worry about the crowds and the travel costs in a league where decent soccer markets without population or major money problems drop like flies.

Seems fanciful, but who knows?

[bettermirror]

So USL/NASL is adding Barracuda, Orlando, Atlanta, FC Edmonton?

Losing ST. Louis, Vancouver, Montreal, Portland?

Miss any off top of my head?

Sounds like Ottawa is imminent to join, Victoria planning carefully, Calgary in discussions. Any other American cities interested? Maybe New York? What about Toronto Lynx moving up again?

I think adding Barracuda is great for the region - and it'll give SOME of the young Canucks some blooding in the Caribbean environment.

[Mr.Impact]

[alberta white]

They just HAVE to run out to that song!..Please.

Can't wait to see ROCK LOBSTER UNITED join the PDL.

[KAS]

You have to wonder how a team made up of 70% Antiguans would be able to compete when there are only 85,000 of them to draw from. And then worry about the crowds and the travel costs in a league where decent soccer markets without population or major money problems drop like flies.

Seems fanciful, but who knows?

Even by the extremely low standards of D2 team owners and league executives, this is exceptionally idiotic.

Seriously, you can practically taste the stupid!

[KAS]

So USL/NASL is adding Barracuda, Orlando, Atlanta, FC Edmonton?

Losing ST. Louis, Vancouver, Montreal, Portland?

Miss any off top of my head?

Sounds like Ottawa is imminent to join, Victoria planning carefully, Calgary in discussions. Any other American cities interested? Maybe New York? What about Toronto Lynx moving up again?

I think adding Barracuda is great for the region - and it'll give SOME of the young Canucks some blooding in the Caribbean environment.

An important thing to consider is that USSF D2 is just a shotgun marriage of USL and the breakaway TOA group that became NASL, with Sunil Gulati holding the shotgun. Although the financial problems with some of the clubs may force the two sides to stay together, it is officially only supposed to be for this year before they go their seperate ways.

If they do seperate, then Edmonton and Barracuda would not face each other. This would be a good thing, as the travel costs for these two small market teams would destroy them. If they do stay together, then replacing St Louis, Vancouver, Montreal and Portland with Edmonton, Orlando, Atlanta and Barracuda as you suggest would make an already weak league that much weaker. You are replacing large and (except St Louis) established markets for markets that are generally smaller (Atlanta is huge - but crap), are not established, and encompass an even larger geographical area - which will result in larger travel costs.

It would be better for the D2 level if it did split into USL and NASL. The Canadian teams (current and projected) and Northern US teams like Rochester could all jump into NASL, while the USL can play in Florida and the Caribbean. The two leagues would have different styles of play do to their different climates and player pools, so they would be unique and able to attract different fans. At the same time, the travel costs would be more manageable.

[Time_for_2014]

Well...the more we play the better it is.

[alberta white]

They just HAVE to run out to that song!..Please.

Can't wait to see ROCK LOBSTER UNITED join the PDL.

Hey, the 'Lobs could sign "Billy the Fish" to play in goal...

What youve not read Viz?

Oh Okay i'll shut up now and get me coat.

[Jason]

I think the USL used to look anywhere in North America for willing groups to join their league. Now with the success of the Puerto Rico Islanders, they have extended their reach into the Carribean. I have a hard time imagining that enough revenue can be generated by this club to make it work. Unless they have a deep pocketed owner who doesn't care about the money or else some support from the national FA, I can't see it working.

Jason

[Grizzly]

In Montreal we knew about this for quite a while but thought they were going to join NASL not USL. You can be sure this is being done with fiancial support from the Antigua and Barbuda government and that the team won't expect to make a profit on its own. It may well be worth it from the point of developing sport in that country and also getting the name of the country better known, ie. good tourism advertising. The drawback is for other teams in the league if they have to pay additional travel costs to play there. On the other hand it shouldn't always be assumed that it costs more money to travel to such places. With the mass tourism in the Carribean, sometimes airfare and hotels can be quite cheap despite the greater distance.