Hartford Athletic Target First-Tier in New USL Pyramid
A statement from chairman Bruce Mandell highlighted the club's aspirations, as the USL adopts promotion and relegation
In a statement from chairman Bruce Mandell on Wednesday, Hartford Athletic welcomed the adoption of promotion and relegation by the USL, saying it “aligns perfectly with Hartfords's vision for the game,” and calling it an “opportunity to take the next step.”
The league made the historic move of adopting pro/rel late on Tuesday night, with a plan to introduce a three-tiered system including the USL Championship, USL League One, and a new first-tier USL Division One that will sit at the top of the pyramid. While the exact vote tally was not made public, it's understood that Hartford was one of the clubs to vote in favor of the plan.
Additional details of the plan — including how many teams will compete in each tier, how promotion and relegation will work, and a precise timeliness for implementation — have not been determined. Hartford appears to be targeting the new Divison One, as Mandell's statement highlighted the “aspirational” nature of the club, and specifically emphasized a belief that the club could expand Trinity Health Stadium to 15,000 seats, a key requirement for a club to participate in a first-tier league under current USSF standards.
The Blazing Musket will have continuing coverage of this story as it develops.