The 2016 USL season was the sixth season of the United Soccer League and the twenty-second season of USSF sanctioned Division III play organized by the United Soccer Leagues.
On August 6, 2015, the league announced that the season would consist of 30 games rather than 28 games played from 2013–2015. This was the first increase in the number of games since the league went from 24 games per season in 2012 to 28 games in 2013.
The league expanded from 24 to 29 teams in 2016.Mayor Cranley stating that USL "now with 29 teams" Six franchises were officially announced by the league: Swope Park Rangers, Orlando City B, Rio Grande Valley FC, FC Cincinnati, Bethlehem Steel FC, and San Antonio FC. The Austin Aztex were on hiatus for the 2016 season, due to stadium availability issues, but planned to return in 2017 pending construction of a new, soccer-specific stadium.
Teams Team Location Stadium Capacity Manager Kit Sponsor MLS Affiliate/Partnership Arizona United SC Peoria, Arizona Peoria Sports Complex Frank Yallop Food City Bethlehem Steel FCBethlehem, PennsylvaniaGoodman Stadium Brendan BurkeLehigh Valley Health NetworkPhiladelphia Union Charleston Battery Charleston, South Carolina MUSC Health Stadium Michael Anhaeuser Teamphoria!Atlanta United FC Charlotte Independence Charlotte, North Carolina Ramblewood Soccer Complex Mike Jeffries OrthoCarolina Colorado Rapids Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Colorado Springs, Colorado Switchbacks Stadium Steve TrittschuhPenrose-St. Francis Health Services FC Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio Nippert Stadium John Harkes Toyota FC Montreal Montreal Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard Philippe Eullaffroy Montreal Impact Harrisburg City Islanders Harrisburg, Pennsylvania FNB Field Bill Becher Capital Blue Cross LA Galaxy II Carson, California StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium Curt Onalfo Herbalife LA Galaxy Louisville City FC Louisville, Kentucky Louisville Slugger Field James O'Connor Humana New York Red Bulls II Harrison, New Jersey Red Bull Arena John Wolyniec Red Bull New York Red Bulls Oklahoma City Energy FC Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Taft Stadium Jimmy Nielsen First Fidelity BankFC Dallas Orange County Blues FC Irvine, California Anteater Stadium Barry Venison Orlando City B Melbourne, Florida Titan Soccer Complex Anthony Pulis Orlando Health Orlando City SC Pittsburgh Riverhounds Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Highmark Stadium Dave BrandtAllegheny Health Network Columbus Crew SC Portland Timbers 2 Portland, Oregon Merlo Field Andrew Gregor Alaska Airlines Portland Timbers Real Monarchs SLC Sandy, Utah Rio Tinto Stadium Freddy Juarez LifeVantage Real Salt Lake Richmond Kickers Richmond, Virginia City Stadium Leigh Cowlishaw Woodfin Home Comfort Systems D.C. United Rio Grande Valley FC Toros Edinburg, Texas H-E-B Park Wilmer Cabrera Houston Dynamo Rochester Rhinos Rochester, New York Sahlen's Stadium Bob Lilley New England Revolution Saint Louis FC Fenton, Missouri Soccer Park Tim Leonard (interim) Electrical Connection, NECA/IBEW Local 1 Chicago Fire Sacramento Republic FC Sacramento, California Bonney Field Paul Buckle UC Davis Children's Hospital San Jose Earthquakes San Antonio FC San Antonio, Texas Toyota Field Darren Powell Toyota Seattle Sounders FC 2 Tukwila, Washington Starfire Sports Complex Ezra Hendrickson Xbox Seattle Sounders FC Swope Park Rangers Kansas City, Missouri Swope Soccer Village Marc Dos Santos Ivy Funds Sporting Kansas City Toronto FC II Vaughan, Ontario Ontario Soccer Centre Jason Bent Toronto FC Tulsa Roughnecks FC Tulsa, Oklahoma ONEOK Field David Irving Oculto Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 Vancouver, British Columbia Thunderbird Stadium Alan Koch Bell Canada Vancouver Whitecaps FC Wilmington Hammerheads FC Wilmington, North Carolina Legion Stadium Mark Briggs New Hanover Regional Medical Center New York City FC
Other venues The Real Monarchs played three home games at other sites while Rio Tinto Stadium was being resurfaced: Aces Ballpark in Reno, Nevada, Clyde Field at Utah Valley University and Ute Soccer Field at The University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros played their first three games at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Soccer Complex while their stadium was being completed.
The September 7 game between New York Red Bulls II and Harrisburg City Islanders was played at Pucillo Field at Millersville University in Millersville, Pennsylvania.
Relationships with MLS clubs There are 11 USL teams owned and operated by MLS clubs and 9 USL-MLS affiliations among the 29 USL clubs.
The two relationship types are treated the same by Major League Soccer.
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyIncoming managerDate of appointmentPittsburgh Riverhounds Mark SteffensReleasedMay 21, 2016 Dave BrandtMay 22, 2016 Saint Louis FC Dale SchillyReleasedAugust 15, 2016 Tim Leonard (interim)August 15, 2016 Orange County Blues Oliver Wyss Promoted to Front OfficeAugust 19, 2016 Barry VenisonAugust 19, 2016
Player transfers
Competition format The season started on March 25 and ended on September 25. The top eight finishers in each conference qualify for the playoffs.
League table Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Results table