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  • News in Brief: Lowe Heads to Tampa, MLS TV Broadcast Schedule, the Loons Have a Coaching Staff and More

    Kaleb Olson

    January 17, 2017
    News
    News in Brief: Lowe Heads to Tampa, MLS TV Broadcast Schedule, the Loons Have a Coaching Staff and More

    MLS unveils TV broadcast schedule for 2017 season

    MLS games will be shown on three different broadcast channels in the USA: Fox Sports 1, ESPN, and Univision. In Canada, TSN will be broadcasting in English, while TVN will be broadcasting in French. A total of 86 games will be nationally broadcast in the States.

    Minnesota matches will be broadcast on national television eight times throughout the upcoming season. The Loons will be on FS1 three times and on the ESPN family of networks five times. No word yet on what local channel will carry games this season.

    Fox Sports
    All times Central

    Friday, March 3, 8:30 p.m. at Portland Timbers
    Sunday, May 7, 12:30 p.m.vs. Sporting Kansas City
    Sunday, Aug. 20, 9:00 p.m. at Seattle Sounders

    ESPN

    Sunday, March 12, 4:00 p.m. vs. Atlanta United
    Sunday, May 21, 4:00 p.m. at Los Angeles Galaxy
    Saturday, June 3, 4:00 p.m. at Sporting Kansas City
    Saturday, July 22, 3:00 p.m. vs. New York Red Bulls
    Sunday, Aug. 13, 5:00 p.m. at Atlanta United

    Defender Damion Lowe will join the Tampa Bay Rowdies

    Former Minnesota United FC defender Damion Lowe was announced as a signing for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Lowe spent last year on loan with Minnesota from the Seattle Sounders. The 23 year-old was a first-choice center back last year for the Loons and started 25 of the 27 games he appeared in. He earned his first international cap for Jamaica last October against Guyana. Good luck to him as he joins Tampa Bay.

    Minnesota United FC announces new coaches

    Dream Team #MNUFC | #SuperDraft pic.twitter.com/YaxF8yGcOM

    — Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) January 13, 2017

    The picture above was tweeted out just before the MLS Superdraft on Friday. It featured three coaches that had not been announced by the team at the time. Today Star Tribune confirmed the other three. Ian Fuller is the lone holdover from last season, having joined the Loons from Orlando during the 2016 campaign. Marius Rovde joins as the goal keeping coach from Vancouver. Mark Watson left Orlando when Adrian Heath left last July and will join Inchy in Minnesota.

    Former NASL players sign with FC Cincinnati

    Read more about new #FCCincy ✍️s @DarylFordyce and @Bahnes_17.

    RELEASE: https://t.co/aLatHHW6FV pic.twitter.com/GEIN2qyfNI

    — FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) January 16, 2017

    Daryl Fordyce and Matt Bahner — seen above doing their best impressions of the main character light-side and dark-side options from Knights of the Old Republic — formerly of FC Edmonton and Jacksonville Armada respectively, have signed with USL side FC Cincinnati. With both the NASL and USL receiving Division II status from the USSF, the USL could gain an advantage by pulling more players from NASL. Fordyce and Bahner will have to get used to playing in front of large crowds as FC Cincinnati averaged over 17,000, much more than Edmonton or Jacksonville managed to pull.

    Loretta Lynch says FIFA investigation will continue

    From AP:

    “The first trial is scheduled for October, and the investigation continues,” [Lynch] added.

    The American case alleges bribery, fraud, money laundering, and racketeering, including in the award of hosting rights for FIFA’s showpiece World Cup and broadcasting rights for the tournament’s qualifying matches and other international competitions.”

    The scandal brought down ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter in October 2015. Two high-ranking CONCACAF members also plead guilty. Former CONCACAF president, Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands, is currently awaiting trial in Atlanta. Chuck Blazer also plead guilty; Blazer was CONCACAF’s number 2 official from 1990-2011. It will be interesting to see how these trials play out and if it will affect CONCACAF further.

    Puerto Rico not entered in Carribean Football Union (CFU)

    PRFC is not entered in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship (the islands’ version of a champions league). Historically, Puerto Rican teams could enter even if they played in American rather than Caribbean leagues. It looks like the club is appealing to the Puerto Rican Federation to step up and get both the CFU and CONCACAF to allow them to participate.

    Given that the CFU let in both Police of Montserrat and Flames United of Sint Maarten, despite neither team even playing in a local competition last year, it seems odd that Puerto Rico FC wouldn’t be allowed into the tournament. CFU hasn’t accepted Puerto Rican teams since 2014 when the national league champions, Bayamón, played in the CFU Club Championship.

    Puerto Rico FC surprised by CONCACAF’s announcement regarding #CFU’s 2017 Club Championship. #CFUClubChampionship https://t.co/KYncZygZOg

    — Puerto Rico FC (@PRFootballClub) January 16, 2017

    Additional research courtesy of FiftyFive.One contributor Ben Mack.

    NASL year in review

    The video above offers an in-depth look at the 2016 season for the NASL. No word if there will be a video from the USSF meetings.

    News bits

    • Des Moines Menace alumni Jalen Brown was taken by New York City Football Club with the 38th pick in the MLS SuperDraft.
    • Two former PDL players are on trial with Tampa Bay, including Des Moines Menace ‘keeper Nico Campbell.
    • Jackson Yueill took some time to give an interview on San Jose’s periscope channel.
    • Looking for the ultimate sports weekend? The Star Tribune has some tips.
    • Phil Baki of USSF Reform explores what’s next for amateur leagues after the USSF DII decision.
    • Dax McCarty has moved to the Chicago Fire from NY Red Bulls for $400,000 in General Allocation Money.
    • Matthew Syed of The Times started an article about soccer fandom in a pretty brazen way.

    https://twitter.com/aaronstol/status/820962287964061696

    Today in awesome!

    More Loons fans have received some pretty awesome tattoos, per Chris Lidholm:

    https://twitter.com/chrislidholm/status/821036000151474176

     

    Des Moines Menace, FC Cincinnati, FIFA, jackson yueill, Minnesota United FC, MLS, NASL, Puerto Rico FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies
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    3 responses to “News in Brief: Lowe Heads to Tampa, MLS TV Broadcast Schedule, the Loons Have a Coaching Staff and More”

    1. John Herman Avatar
      John Herman
      January 17, 2017

      So Jonathon Spector might be heading to MLS? I like him for the Loons. Two reasons to temper expectations though. First, he’s not on the allocation list, so we don’t have that advantage (although getting him but staying at the top of the list would be a win!). Second, news comes from his current club, so I doubt we’ve had much if any contact with him. It doesn’t fit the Loons MO, and there’s no need for a public announcement like this if the mutual interest is strong enough. That smells to me like an agent soliciting bids and prepared to fight for a high salary, which seems like a stronger deterrent for United than for some other clubs.

      Not that any of that precludes him from joining. It would just be a departure from our understated approach to recruiting and bargain-hunting, and I’m guessing that United isn’t interested in a bidding war. But on the other hand, he also fits the pattern of picking really solid guys that would meet a clear need, as well as bringing in some more experience so we’re not relying too much on young or unproven guys.

      He strikes me as a great addition: shores up a soft spot on defense, brings veteran experience with years of strong play still in the tank, adds versatility which Heath seems to prize, and is to my understanding a good locker room presence. I guess we’ll see if something materializes.

      Reply
      1. Dave Laidig Avatar
        Dave Laidig
        January 17, 2017

        I like the idea of adding Spector too. Even at a higher than avg wage, I think he brings good value to the Loons. As far as bidding war goes, MLS rules are byzantine in an effort to prevent bidding wars between MLS clubs (not that it doesn’t happen sometimes, especially when a player has non-US options). I hope the Loons at least check into the availability.

        Reply
        1. John Herman Avatar
          John Herman
          January 17, 2017

          Yup. I have loved the roster moves so far but I really hope we can surround our center backs with some bigger pieces, at least 1-2 of which I would imagine must be stay-at-home types since only Demidov currently fills that role.

          Reply

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