by Allison Andrews, USLFans.com reporter
The day started with a joint First Division, Second Division, PDL, W-League meeting, mostly an exchange of ideas on how to bring fans into the stands, and improving the gameday experience as teams shared their ideas. Afterwards I attended an Open Forum, which was something that began last year, with most of the questions (at least in this session) being Y-League issues, but it was a nice forum for Francisco Marcos and Tim Holt, as well as the other league directors, to be able to interact directly with their teams' questions as there was no set agenda and they could talk about whatever was on their minds. After starting out with the room only 1/3 full, it ended up filling the room to standing before it was done, and actually ran ½ hour past its planned end time, so this is clearly one of the more popular ideas of the AGM.
Signed kits of all of the 2006 USL League Champions
Giving futsal a try
Steve Bell introduces Francisco Marcos as he tapes
the pregame for the Fox Soccer Channel broadcast
Kendall SC and Red Bull New York lineups for the U17 feature match
Steve Bell takes his spot at the touchline to broadcast the match
First half action from the feature match
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After another afternoon of various seminars, the focus of the evening was the USL 20th Anniversary event, held at the Ed Radice Sports Complex northwest of downtown Tampa, in conjunction with the Super Y-League North American Finals. The facility's nine field were all lit up and busy on this chilly Florida night, clustered around the USL Players Village, where the youth players, parents, and AGM participants all interacted playing video soccer, showing their futsal skills, trying a little street soccer, and also getting a chance to meet Alan Shearer, who stopped by for an autograph session.
The feature match of the night was a U17 match up between Kendall SC and the New York Red Bulls, which was recorded for Fox Soccer Channel and will be televised on December 5. Watch for your friendly AGM reporter's nice one-handed catch of a high shot that rebounded off the top of the VIP tent at the right end of the screen, early in the first half.
Tomorrow: Scheduling Day
