It is not new news that every single MLS club has to also have an affiliation or field a USL Pro team by 2015. Teams have already developed affiliations and relationships with some USL sides while others are jockeying to develop their own team in the third tier. One of the things that has become extremely important in this decision is where to establish this partnership. Several teams are going the route of developing their own USL team and placing them very close to home. I understand this decision of wanting the affiliated team being close to the first team and having a close eye on the developing talent, but I personally believe that choosing to field a team very geographically close is a lost/wasted opportunity.
In history, there is a term 'spheres of influence' that refers to areas or other countries that larger/more powerful countries tend to have control or presence in, whether it be military, financially, or ideologically. America in the late 1800's/early 1900's claimed the entire western hemisphere, essentially, as a sphere of influence. We had recently done away with Spain, planting ourselves in Puerto Rico, Cuba and Guam. We also ended up loaning money out to several South American countries to keep them afloat as well. America had made its presence known. Another way to look at it is through colonization. Africa became a continent that was divided up by several European nations and mapped out their own spheres of influence that were vast.
They really went crazy in Africa.
Now, I am not necessarily saying that teams should brutally take over and purge other markets, but that they should be wise in their choice of market(s) to affiliate themselves with and try to cut out their own 'spheres of influence' in the American Soccer-scape. To a certain extent, this map has already been cut out for us:
via cdn3.vox-cdn.com
Some teams have already taken advantage of their homegrown territories; SKC with OKC, DC with Richmond, Columbus and Dayton, Quakes and Sacramento, Philly and Harrisburg, NE and Rochester, and LA and LA2; but some teams can go so much further to expand their presence and truly create a 'sphere of influence.'
Chivas TBD: won't bother right now until their future is determined.
Colorado: Signed with the Charlotte Independence for a couple years but could have gone with Colorado Springs to solidify their sphere in Colorado and make it easy for their homegrowns.
Columbus: Almost immediately partnered with Dayton which works well for them geographically but they could stretch this out with another affiliation, like Pittsburgh, down the line.
Dallas: Talk of both Texas teams fielding their own teams; could easily team up with the newly reemerging Aztex and create a hold on North Texas.
D.C.: Partnered with the Richmond Kickers, seems like a great partnership for D.C. Extends there presence more into Virginia and it is only a few hours from D.C.
Houston: This one is a little tougher, could go to Beaumont, Galveston, or even the Aztex considering I don't think San Antonio want to leave the NASL or give up MLS hopes.
KC: Have done a good job (as much as it pains me to say) signing on with OKC, which is in their 3 state territory. Could later think about linking into Omaha area, or St. Louis.
LA: Already have had great success with LA2. Could have expanded into San Diego, but that is tough with Mexico right there.
Montreal: Have decided to field another team in Montreal. Probably Should have thought about going to Quebec City considering they have an entire Canadian province to themselves.
NE: Made a decent choice with Rochester; it expands their reach into northern NY and they have plenty of other small cities to look into as well (Providence, Hartford, etc.)
NYRB (Also NYCFC): Talk of fielding their own team, hopefully not in NY, but could look into NJ, Hartford, or even Albany. One could go North and one could go South.
Philly: Have had a great start with Harrisburg, which is just a couple hours away so it works very well. Could look to expand into Pittsburgh as well.
Portland: Shares Sacramento with San Jose this year, but are looking to field their own team too. Should be looking at Salem, Eugene, or even Boise out west.
RSL: Have detailed plans to field another team in Salt Lake. Their territory expands down into Arizona, and I feel they should (and could later) affiliate with Arizona United.
San Jose: Currently splitting Sacramento with Portland, this partnership can solidify all of North Cali for them but should have their eyes on others with Sacramento's aspirations.
Seattle: Talks have them running a team out of Tukwila, but I would rather them look at Tacoma, Olympia, or (probably the best one) Spokane. Spokane would create a swath across the entire state.
Toronto: There has been talk of them fielding a team next year as well. Some rumors have it they are looking at Hamilton. They could go further west and look at Winnipeg, plus they could affiliate with Ottawa in the NASL too.
Vancouver: They have reported they want to have a team in New Westminster, BC. It may be too close to Vancouver and could have looked into Calgary for a possible team.
While I gave a brief analysis of every team, I wanted to take a little more time with the Fire, since this is a Fire forum. There is the well known fact that St. Louis is fielding a USL Pro team in 2015 which would be a great team for the Fire to affiliate themselves with. That would give the Fire a 'sphere' of Illinois, but could create some friction considering they would be encroaching on SKC Homegrown territory. One other partnership that the Fire could also take part in, to expand their presence and grow talent, is the recent activity they have had with Indy Eleven. The Fire involved in a menage a trois with St. Louis FC and Indy Eleven would only mean great things for our young talent, homegrowns, and expansion of our academy. These moves would create a great and expansive 'sphere of influence' for the Fire.
Overall, this could mean huge things for the American soccer landscape, the future of the USMNT, and the development and expansion of professional soccer in America and Canada.
(Of course these views are just my own. I would love to hear what others think and whether they agree or disagree.)