Just over a month ago – when the USL announced its intention to create a new Men’s Division One league – President and Chief Soccer Officer Paul McDonough reiterated the organization’s long-term intent to institute promotion and relegation.  

“We’ve always stated our ambition to get there, but it’s a little bit more complicated in this ecosystem,” McDonough told The Guardian’s Alex Abnos. “If the opportunity arises for us to do it, then we’ll do it.”

As it turned out, that opportunity came far more quickly than most might have anticipated.

This week’s announcement that a supermajority of owners in the USL Championship and USL League One – more specifically, 90 percent of the 42 current and future members of the two leagues, per McDonough’s follow-up with The Guardian – had voted to implement a promotion and relegation system served as a landmark moment for the organization.

And there were plenty among the league’s ownership who were vocal in their support for the implementation.

“Phoenix Rising is built on competition and ambition, and we fully support the introduction of promotion and relegation in USL,” said Phoenix Rising President Bobby Dulle. “This system enhances the fan experience, raises the stakes for every match, and provides clubs with a clear pathway for growth.”

“Switchbacks FC are delighted that our league has voted to pursue a system of promotion and relegation,” said Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC President Brad Estes. “This move will be a key differentiator in the market, bringing more meaning to every regular season match to the end.”

“This is a transformative moment for American soccer, and we’re thrilled to be at the forefront,” said South Georgia Tormenta FC Owner and President Darin Van Tassell. “The USL’s decision opens new horizons for clubs like ours, proving that with dedication and performance, even teams from smaller markets can reach the pinnacle of the sport.”

• NEXT STEPS: As McDonough acknowledged, there are more bridges to be crossed before promotion and relegation is implemented. The details of how the system is enacted across the three tiers and what protections should be in place for clubs to enable long-term success are still being discussed. Those would need to be approved by the Board of Governors.

• WHEELS IN MOTION: At the same time, this first step was an important and necessary one to move ahead with the plan. Given the broad support it was met with, the platform is now in place to take the USL into a new space in the American sporting landscape. 

• HE SAID IT: “After the Division One announcement, we met with the board in Atlanta, and the conversation came back around to promotion and relegation, and there was a strong desire to intensify the conversations,” said McDonough. “We got to a stage where we had a board call on Monday, and the decision was to go ahead and push forward with voting with both leagues yesterday.”

What’s clear after this week’s news is that the United Soccer League – and the sport of soccer in the United States overall – is going to look vastly different sooner rather than later.

• READ MORE: The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio spoke with the Charleston Battery’s Rob Salvatore and Rhode Island FC’s Brett Johnson on their support for the decision.

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This is an excerpt from The Rondo, the USL Championship's twice weekly free newsletter. Sign up to have it delivered to your inbox at www.uslchampionship.com/newsletter.