USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Media Advisory

August 1, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


[image: Inline image 1] *August 1, 2016*

*USL Expanding 2017 Regular Season Schedule to 32 Games* *Schedule format for the Rochester Rhinos 2017 season announced*

*TAMPA, Fla.*- Following the annual USL Board of Governors mid-year meetings, held last Thursday in San Jose in conjunction with the 2016 MLS All-Star Game, the United Soccer League today released the composition of its 2017 competition structure.

The USL Board of Governors approved a 32-game schedule that will begin the weekend of March 24-26 contested in a span of not more than 30 weeks. The competition structure is developed through the League's Off-Field Competition Committee before a final recommendation is presented to the BOG's for voting.

The 32-game schedule will allow each team to play its conference opponents at least twice, one home and one away, with regional rivalries rounding out the schedule. Teams will not play an opponent more than three times in 2017.

The 2016 USL season consists of 30 games played in 27 weeks.

The 2017 playoff format will mirror 2016 with the top eight teams in each conference qualifying for the postseason.

"After evaluating a number of proposals the League and its Competition Committee agreed on several changes that we felt would deliver value to our clubs through the extra home match," said Jake Edwards, USL President. "Also, lengthening the season gives us greater flexibility to create a more balanced schedule with less midweek matches. We will continue to build our national footprint with a focus on regional rivalries and a roadmap to a three-conference alignment in the very near future."

The meetings also afforded the League the opportunity to provide clubs with a number of updates in key areas including USL Productions, USL Digital Network, expansion, commercial activity and technical initiatives. **Release courtesy of the USL* -- *About the Rochester Rhinos*

The Rochester Rhinos, the most successful soccer club in the United States and Canada outside of Major League Soccer, were founded in 1996 and currently compete in the USL, the top tier of the United Soccer League. The Rhinos have appeared in nine finals and won five championships including the 1999 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, three A-League Championships (1998, 2000, 2001) and the 2015 USL Championship. In 2013, the New England Revolution became the official MLS affiliate of the Rochester Rhinos. All home matches are played in western New York's premier outdoor sport's facility, Rhinos Stadium, located in downtown Rochester. For group and season tickets visit our website www.rhinossoccer.com or call the Rochester Rhinos Ticket Department at (585) 454-KICK (5425) or via email at tickets@rhinossoccer.com

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August 1, 2016

USL Expanding 2017 Regular Season Schedule to 32 Games

Schedule format for the Rochester Rhinos 2017 season announced

TAMPA, Fla. - Following the annual USL Board of Governors mid-year meetings, held last Thursday in San Jose in conjunction with the 2016 MLS All-Star Game, the United Soccer League today released the composition of its 2017 competition structure.

The USL Board of Governors approved a 32-game schedule that will begin the weekend of March 24-26 contested in a span of not more than 30 weeks. The competition structure is developed through the League's Off-Field Competition Committee before a final recommendation is presented to the BOG's for voting.

The 32-game schedule will allow each team to play its conference opponents at least twice, one home and one away, with regional rivalries rounding out the schedule. Teams will not play an opponent more than three times in 2017.

The 2016 USL season consists of 30 games played in 27 weeks .

The 2017 playoff format will mirror 2016 with the top eight teams in each conference qualifying for the postseason.

"After evaluating a number of proposals the League and its Competition Committee agreed on several changes that we felt would deliver value to our clubs through the extra home match," said Jake Edwards, USL President. "Also, lengthening the season gives us greater flexibility to create a more balanced schedule with less midweek matches. We will continue to build our national footprint with a focus on regional rivalries and a roadmap to a three-conference alignment in the very near future."

The meetings also afforded the League the opportunity to provide clubs with a number of updates in key areas including USL Productions, USL Digital Network, expansion, commercial activity and technical initiatives.

*Release courtesy of the USL

-- About the Rochester Rhinos

The Rochester Rhinos, the most successful soccer club in the United States and Canada outside of Major League Soccer, were founded in 1996 and currently compete in the USL, the top tier of the United Soccer League. The Rhinos have appeared in nine finals and won five championships including the 1999 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, three A-League Championships (1998, 2000, 2001) and the 2015 USL Championship. In 2013, the New England Revolution became the official MLS affiliate of the Rochester Rhinos. All home matches are played in western New York's premier outdoor sport's facility, Rhinos Stadium, located in downtown Rochester. For group and season tickets visit our website www.rhinossoccer.com or call the Rochester Rhinos Ticket Department at (585) 454-KICK (5425) or via email at tickets@rhinossoccer.com

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 1, 2016


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