Match Week 8: Republic FC makes splash in debut with enviable attendance number

What was the biggest news in American soccer last week? Was it Clint Dempsey's continued goalapalooza? D.C. United's surprise place in the standings?

No! It was 20,231 showing up for the Sacramento Republic's first home game. This is significant not only because it puts the fantastically named Republic FC on the map and makes the MLS expansion committee take notice, but also because it is one more example that soccer in the United States has truly arrived.

If the hypothetical promotion and relegation system detailed on this website were instituted, Republic FC would not only be celebrating attendance numbers, it would be making a serious run to land a spot in the playoffs to be promoted to MLS 1.

As they talk in Sacramento about how to get in MLS, imagine how exciting it would be if there was an easier way than $100 million and a downtown soccer stadium (unless you are Atlanta).

Standings adjusted for all competitions and weighted by talent level for NASL and USL teams placed in the first division.

MLS 1

First Division West

16   Seattle Sounders

16   FC Dallas

14   Real Salt Lake

14   Sporting Kansas City

11   Colorado Rapids

11   LA Galaxy

10   Vancouver Whitecaps

8   Houston Dynamo

7   San Jose Earthquakes

6   Chivas USA

6   Chicago Fire

5   Portland Timbers  

3   San Antonio Scorpions

First Division East

12   Columbus Crew

11   D.C. United

11   New England Revolution

11   New York Red Bulls

9   Toronto FC

8   Philadelphia Union

7   Orlando City

6   Montreal Impact

3   New York Cosmos

3   Rochester Rhinos

-    New York City FC (2015)

-    Miami (2016)

-    Atlanta (2017)

MLS 2

Second Division West

14   LA Galaxy II

9   Minnesota United

7   Sacramento Republic

7   Dayton Dutch Lions

6   Oklahoma City Energy

6   Orange County Blues

4   Arizona United

3   Atlanta Silverbacks

2   Indy Eleven

1   FC Edmonton

-    Colorado Springs Switchbacks (2015)

-    Tulsa Roughnecks (2015)

-    Oklahoma City (2015)

Second Division East

8   Richmond Kickers

6   Fort Lauderdale Strikers

6   Charlotte Eagles

4   Carolina RailHawks

4   Wilmington Hammerheads

4   Harrisburg City Islanders

4   Charleston Battery

3   Ottawa Fury

3   Pittsburgh Riverhounds

2   Tampa Bay Rowdies

-    Puerto Rico Islanders (2014 fall)

-    Virginia Cavalry (2015)

-    Jacksonville Armada (2015)

If the Playoffs Started Today...

MLS Cup

(1W) Seattle Sounders vs. (4E) New York Red Bulls

(2W) FC Dallas vs. (3E) New England Revolution

(3W) Real Salt Lake vs. (2E) D.C. United

(4W) Sporting Kansas City vs. (1E) Columbus Crew

Relegation Playoff

(LW) San Antonio Scorpions vs. (LE) Rochester Rhinos

Promotion Bowl

(1W) LA Galaxy II vs. (4E) Carolina RailHawks

(2W) Minnesota United vs. (3E) Charlotte Eagles

(3W) Sacramento Republic vs. (2E) Fort Laud. Strikers

(4W) Dayton Dutch Lions vs. (1E) Richmond Kickers

Match Week 7: Does LA Galaxy II have unfair advantage with one-day loans from Galaxy?

How much longer until other USL clubs begin to complain about all the loans -- such as Robbie Rogers and Jack McBean -- that LA Galaxy II is getting? These "one-day" loans don't exactly seem fair to the rest of the teams. The result: LA Galaxy II is dominating the competition in MLS 2 and is headed to a hypothetical promotion.

Standings adjusted for all competitions and weighted by talent level for NASL and USL teams placed in the first division.

MLS 1

First Division West

16   FC Dallas

14   Sporting Kansas City

13   Seattle Sounders

13   Real Salt Lake

11   Colorado Rapids

11   LA Galaxy

9   Vancouver Whitecaps

7   Houston Dynamo

6   Chivas USA

6   Chicago Fire

4   Portland Timbers  

4   San Jose Earthquakes

2   San Antonio Scorpions

First Division East

11   Columbus Crew

9   Toronto FC

8   D.C. United

8   New England Revolution

8   Philadelphia Union

7   New York Red Bulls

4   Orlando City

3   Montreal Impact

3   New York Cosmos

1   Rochester Rhinos

-    New York City FC (2015)

-    Miami (2016)

-    Atlanta (2017)

MLS 2

Second Division West

10   LA Galaxy II

7   Dayton Dutch Lions

7   Sacramento Republic

6   Minnesota United

6   Oklahoma City Energy

3   Arizona United

3   Orange County Blues

2   Indy Eleven

1   FC Edmonton

0   Atlanta Silverbacks

-    Colorado Springs Switchbacks (2015)

-    Tulsa Roughnecks (2015)

-    Oklahoma City (2015)

Second Division East

5   Richmond Kickers

4   Carolina RailHawks

4   Wilmington Hammerheads

3   Fort Lauderdale Strikers

3   Charlotte Eagles

3   Charleston Battery

2   Tampa Bay Rowdies

2   Pittsburgh Riverhounds

1   Harrisburg City Islanders

0   Ottawa Fury

-    Puerto Rico Islanders (2014 fall)

-    Virginia Cavalry (2015)

-    Jacksonville Armada (2015)

If the Playoffs Started Today...

MLS Cup

(1W) FC Dallas vs. (4E) New England Revolution

(2W) Sporting Kansas City vs. (3E) D.C. United

(3W) Seattle Sounders vs. (2E) Toronto FC

(4W) Real Salt Lake vs. (1E) Columbus Crew

Relegation Playoff

(LW) San Antonio Scorpions vs. (LE) Rochester Rhinos

Promotion Bowl

(1W) LA Galaxy II vs. (4E) Fort Lauderdale Strikers

(2W) Dayton Dutch Lions vs. (3E) Wilmington Hammerheads

(3W) Sacramento Republic vs. (2E) Carolina RailHawks

(4W) Minnesota United vs. (1E) Richmond Kickers