Matches played 435 Start date 2016 Goals scored 1,140 | Champion New York Red Bulls II | |
 | ||
Biggest home win STL 7–1 TUL(June 11)RGV 6–0 SEA(August 13) Similar 2016 Lamar Hunt US, 2015 Lamar Hunt US, 2016 PDL season, 2017 Major League Soccer se, 2016–17 CONCACAF Champio | ||
The 2016 USL season is 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.
Contents
- Other venues
- Relationships with MLS clubs
- Competition Format
- League table
- Playoffs
- USL Championship
- Attendance
- References
On August 6, 2015, the league announced that the season will consist of 30 games rather than 28 games played from 2013–2015. This will be 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. Six franchises have been 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 are on hiatus for the 2016 season, due to stadium availability issues, but plan to return in 2017 pending construction of a new, soccer-specific stadium.
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.
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
Playoffs
The team with the best record across both conferences will earn the 2016 USL Regular Season Title. The top eight teams in each conference will then advance to the 2016 USL Playoffs, which will see a single-elimination bracket crown two conference champions. The two conference champions will advance to the 2016 USL Championship.
The playoffs will take place over the course of four weeks. The fixed seed format concludes with the USL Championship, which will be held at the venue of the conference champion with the best regular season record.
USL Championship
Championship Game MVP: Brandon Allen (NYRB)
Attendance
The following table shows average home attendances, ranked from highest to lowest.
† One New York Red Bulls II home game was moved to Millersville, Pennsylvania because of a scheduling conflict.
Sources: kenn.com and USL