Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 10:33     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I understand why ECNL would want Tophat. But why would Tophat want ECNL? They are thriving in GA and and have tons of visibility. USYNT and P4 placements are consistent and in line with top clubs in the nation. And the club is very profitable. A switch to ECNL would have significant uncertainty.


I can think of a couple of reasons. From a club perspective, they want to compete against better teams. You literally have to go back two seasons ago to find conference winner in that area that was NOT TH. In any age group. Their teams are great, but would still likely benefit from playing stronger competition. From a parent perspective, they probably also want better competition, but it is extremely frustrating to travel so far to play teams that aren’t really competitive when you can have more competition in your area if you had a different badge.


this. last year, GA redid the southeast conference they dropped a local team AFC to Aspire and Wake FC was moved to another GA conference. They brought in a new terrible Florida club Space Coast and an average club Pinecrest (Miami Area) which was added the year before to a temporary conference they had created then year before which now doesn't exist. That added a 3rd weekend trip down to Florida. Tophat blocked the move unless they worked it out where they didn't have to make a third trip to Florida. So several teams in Florida are not playing a full 16 game schedule and are missing out on 2 games cause Tophat refused to make another trip.

Would the extra trip/game have made a difference? The answer is no.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 10:31     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
FYI the ECNL hats have been saying that TH is changing from GA to ECNL every spring for the last 5 years.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 10:31     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I understand why ECNL would want Tophat. But why would Tophat want ECNL? They are thriving in GA and and have tons of visibility. USYNT and P4 placements are consistent and in line with top clubs in the nation. And the club is very profitable. A switch to ECNL would have significant uncertainty.


I can think of a couple of reasons. From a club perspective, they want to compete against better teams. You literally have to go back two seasons ago to find conference winner in that area that was NOT TH. In any age group. Their teams are great, but would still likely benefit from playing stronger competition. From a parent perspective, they probably also want better competition, but it is extremely frustrating to travel so far to play teams that aren’t really competitive when you can have more competition in your area if you had a different badge.


this. last year, GA redid the southeast conference they dropped a local team AFC to Aspire and Wake FC was moved to another GA conference. They brought in a new terrible Florida club Space Coast and an average club Pinecrest (Miami Area) which was added the year before to a temporary conference they had created then year before which now doesn't exist. That added a 3rd weekend trip down to Florida. Tophat blocked the move unless they worked it out where they didn't have to make a third trip to Florida. So several teams in Florida are not playing a full 16 game schedule and are missing out on 2 games cause Tophat refused to make another trip.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 10:28     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I understand why ECNL would want Tophat. But why would Tophat want ECNL? They are thriving in GA and and have tons of visibility. USYNT and P4 placements are consistent and in line with top clubs in the nation. And the club is very profitable. A switch to ECNL would have significant uncertainty.


I can think of a couple of reasons. From a club perspective, they want to compete against better teams. You literally have to go back two seasons ago to find conference winner in that area that was NOT TH. In any age group. Their teams are great, but would still likely benefit from playing stronger competition. From a parent perspective, they probably also want better competition, but it is extremely frustrating to travel so far to play teams that aren’t really competitive when you can have more competition in your area if you had a different badge.


Would TH be in ENCL Southeast? Would that conference give them anymore competition over their current GA conference? Playoffs yes, actual league play not sure.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 10:27     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H1KU1d4z2/


What does this signal


Hard to know, maybe they are fielding a USL women’s team?


Probably moving into GA


Aren't they already GA?


Hardly a splash if they’re moving to ECNL.


Very doubtful that the would be. ECNL just demoted Classics Elite in that city to give Lonestar their way back in. Doesn’t make sense to award a new club.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 10:18     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:I understand why ECNL would want Tophat. But why would Tophat want ECNL? They are thriving in GA and and have tons of visibility. USYNT and P4 placements are consistent and in line with top clubs in the nation. And the club is very profitable. A switch to ECNL would have significant uncertainty.


I can think of a couple of reasons. From a club perspective, they want to compete against better teams. You literally have to go back two seasons ago to find conference winner in that area that was NOT TH. In any age group. Their teams are great, but would still likely benefit from playing stronger competition. From a parent perspective, they probably also want better competition, but it is extremely frustrating to travel so far to play teams that aren’t really competitive when you can have more competition in your area if you had a different badge.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 10:04     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
I understand why ECNL would want Tophat. But why would Tophat want ECNL? They are thriving in GA and and have tons of visibility. USYNT and P4 placements are consistent and in line with top clubs in the nation. And the club is very profitable. A switch to ECNL would have significant uncertainty.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 10:03     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:As earlier posters said this was just a marketing plot to steal GAs thunder before their spring showcase. Not the first time they have done this type of stunt.


Makes sense. Just like they’ve been doing with the RL is better than GA script.


I truly don’t understand why ECNL and its PAYING clubs and families are so fixated on GA. The chest beating of representing a league that is costing each player at least $10k annually needs to be studied.

To try to sell the idea that RL is trending up and is comparable to GA is a huge reach and desperate on ECNL’s behalf.


Agree. The "look at me and how I'm better than him!" posts are tacky and reek of desperation. If you're good, just share your accomplishments. No need to try and compare. Numbers must be dwindling or they must be getting a lot of questions of "why should we stay RL if we can go GA?" And the answers ECNL has to offer are not good, so they come up with stats that are intentionally misleading. But I think (hope) the paying consumer is smarter than that. The good news is all of this is we have choices, but maybe too many.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 09:52     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:As earlier posters said this was just a marketing plot to steal GAs thunder before their spring showcase. Not the first time they have done this type of stunt.


Makes sense. Just like they’ve been doing with the RL is better than GA script.


I truly don’t understand why ECNL and its PAYING clubs and families are so fixated on GA. The chest beating of representing a league that is costing each player at least $10k annually needs to be studied.

To try to sell the idea that RL is trending up and is comparable to GA is a huge reach and desperate on ECNL’s behalf.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 09:45     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Does FL United moving to ECNL make sense?
south Florida is over saturated
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 09:24     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H1KU1d4z2/


What does this signal


Hard to know, maybe they are fielding a USL women’s team?


Probably moving into GA


Aren't they already GA?


Hardly a splash if they’re moving to ECNL.


exactly and another reason everyone rolls their eyes at this type of behavior from ECNL people ... if they went from ECNL to GA it would be "big deal, you can have them. they are not encl quality" but if they go from GA to ECNL "the league is over. we got another big one!"

For a league that clearer has the high end talent on the big clubs, they sure worry about GA


The ones who have been celebrated as big fish overall in the last several years are Nationals and maybe Colorado Rush. SSS is a good add, but not an earth shaking one.

Not sure where that claim is from. Teams moving from GA to ECNL RL raises an eye brow, just like if someone moved from ECNL to Aspire would as well.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 09:14     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anyone else think these are legit?
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 09:14     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H1KU1d4z2/


What does this signal


Hard to know, maybe they are fielding a USL women’s team?


Probably moving into GA


Aren't they already GA?


Hardly a splash if they’re moving to ECNL.


exactly and another reason everyone rolls their eyes at this type of behavior from ECNL people ... if they went from ECNL to GA it would be "big deal, you can have them. they are not encl quality" but if they go from GA to ECNL "the league is over. we got another big one!"

For a league that clearer has the high end talent on the big clubs, they sure worry about GA
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 08:18     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:

From last year

“No one said for this year, but I have heard the same.. done deal.

Florida United is very close with Ft Lauderdale United in USL Championship, go check their socials for what they are doing with their youth.

Tophat didn't join the migration to MLS Next boys for a reason, it's okay to be upset, but it’s real.”
from when
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2026 08:08     Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H1KU1d4z2/


What does this signal


Hard to know, maybe they are fielding a USL women’s team?


Probably moving into GA


Aren't they already GA?


Hardly a splash if they’re moving to ECNL.