With the return of the Seattle Sounders to defend their USL First Division Championship and the absence of the California Victory, who may return in 2009 under new ownership, 11 teams will be vying for the 2008 USL First Division Championship and Commissioner’s Cup.
The 2008 USL D1 Regular Season will kick-off no earlier than April 11th and the final match date will be September 21st, making the season two weeks longer than in 2007.
The 11 teams will be making USL D1 history in 2008 when they play a 30-game schedule for the first time in league history. Each club will play each opponent three times during the regular season. The top seven teams will advance to the playoff tournament, with the Commissioner’s Cup winner (regular season champion) receiving a bye into the semi-finals.
The first round will involve the #2 - #7 seeds competing in two-leg aggregate score series with the three winners advancing to semi-finals with #1 seed pitted against the lowest remaining seed.
“The fact that we will be playing a balanced schedule is excellent news,” said Montreal Impact head coach Nick De Santis. “Also, the new playoff format will reward a team that finishes in first place by granting a bye into the semi-finals, which is positive.”
Further details on the 2008 USL D1 Playoff and Championship will be released in conjunction with the League schedule projected for January 2008.
