The USL season began last weekend, adding the USL Championship and League One games to the U.S. professional soccer landscape. But the return of these leagues and MLS clubs playing in NFL stadiums brought back an all-too-familiar memory: too many soccer games are ruined by the lines of the football. The distracting nature isn't just bad for the sport; Watching these leagues is a big hurdle because of how the games are played on TV.
A soccer field has simple lines: two end lines, two touchlines, a halfway line with a circle, and a penalty box. In comparison, American football has cross-field lines every five yards, hash marks, center field logos, and end zones usually with large letters or pictures.
American football and soccer are in stark contrast.
However, League One teams in the United States often play on these fields in venues shared with American football teams. For example, the Greenville Triumph defeated Spokane Velocity 3-1 at Paladin Stadium. Paladin Stadium is traditionally the home of his NCAA Division I FCS football team, the Furman Paladins, and uses turf, likely due to its lower cost. The challenges facing the Greenville Triumphs are common to USL League 1 teams. Lawn is cheap and a traditional venue organizer will have one grass field for every tenant. That's why Greenville's win over Spokane Velocity had an issue with the American football line across the field.
Clubs and competitions claim they can save money by sharing the field with college-level football teams. That's true. Facility costs are a big battle facing USL. That's why many teams, including top teams, often play at baseball stadiums and college football stadiums.
American football lines on the soccer field spoil the quality of the product
However, saving money on the field impacts the fan experience. Often these lines are so distracting that fans have a hard time understanding what's actually going on. For example, a soccer field is wider than an American football field. Therefore, the soccer sideline extends out of bounds. Because American football is the primary sport in most stadiums, these out-of-bounds lines are wide and white. In other words, it pops out on the screen. In comparison, soccer field lines are thin and yellow, lagging behind American football.
This reduces the USL Championship and League 1 achievements. The play on the field was of high quality and the games in both divisions showed the ability of the players. Still, having American football play on a field with lines gives the sport a varsity field. This kind of thing happens in high school soccer, and I don't think it's common in American professional leagues.
The difference between people who don't play American football
Not all teams use American football venues to play USL Championship or League 1 games. For example, Detroit City FC has one of the best atmospheres in American soccer. Despite having a smaller capacity than many American football venues, Keyworth Stadium looks soccer-specific when fans watch it on TV. This may add to the look and professional feel of Detroit City.
Photo: Imago
