ECNL to see the same fate as OPL

[Unregistered]

GDA will feature Players like this whose future college coaches want them playing at the highest level during the HS Years.

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/the91...er/#more-41963

Yep, GDA will have about 3 of those players. The rest will play HS ball and get recruited via ECNL showcases - to very good D1 schools too.

[Unregistered]

As a former club board member I can assure you this is a boon for those clubs that offer both the GDA and ECNL. Don't kid yourself - this is a good business decision. Not only does it elevate the overall stature of the club in it's market it has the real potential to increase paid membership. ($)
Promoting and adding outside players to the GDA plus promoting and adding new members to the ECNL squads will increase revenue.
A well run club is always looking for ways to increase it's paid membership. Mission accomplished for these clubs.
For those that say the ECNL is going away - why would any club cut that revenue stream?
They won't. They'll pitch the GDA for those it appeals to and similarly do the same with their ECNL offering.

Or you can be a poorly run club like the Thorns Academy and just increase your OYSA league fees, state cup fees, and ODP/RTC fees to put even more money on the Timbers bottom line without actually having to provide a good product.

[Unregistered]

It's so much better to play for Portland ECNL teams, you know, the teams who have combined for a -200 GD over the past two years. Where winning isn't the goal, losing by less than 3 is the goal.

Yeah, much better to play for the Thorns Academy and LOSE at the Beaverton Cup.