Fansided

All USL PRO Games to be Streamed for Free in 2014

By Aaron Rench

May 28, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando City SC forward Dom Dwyer (9) attempts to dribble around Colorado Rapids defender Marvell Wynne (22) during the second half at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Orlando City defeated Colorado 3-1. (Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports)
May 28, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando City SC forward Dom Dwyer (9) attempts to dribble around Colorado Rapids defender Marvell Wynne (22) during the second half at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Orlando City defeated Colorado 3-1. (Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports) /
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Do you ever have those days when you’re so bored out of your mind that you just think to yourself, “I wish I could watch soccer, but it’s a weekday, I have no money, and all I have is this simple connection to YouTube. What am I going to do?” Well, my friend, you’re in luck.

Every single match of the 2014 USL PRO season will be available for free through YouTube, and not just replays, I’m talking full, 90-minute matches, including the playoffs, live-streaming straight to your face. We live in the future.

The news came Friday, when USL PRO announced that they were joining the world’s largest video-sharing site. It will allow fans from around the world to watch the action as soon as it happens.

Fans of MLS soccer benefit in two ways: They can keep an eye on Orlando City SC, who will be joining MLS in 2015, and they can track the progression of players who were loaned to the USL PRO teams. For instance, the Houston Dynamo can loan their players to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds until the player(s) are ready to be play at the top level of American soccer, and Dynamo fans can now see how that player is doing at no extra cost. Last season, Dom Dywer of Sporting Kansas City was loaned to Orlando City where he led the Lions in goals before being called back up to help SKC win the MLS Cup. Not all the USL PRO teams are directly affiliated with a MLS team, 4 of the 13 teams don’t have partnerships.

Two new clubs are being added to the league in 2014, Oklahoma Energy (partnering with SKC) and Sacramento Republic FC (Portland Timbers).

YouTube provides USL PRO with several options to reach new fans. During the games, fans will be able to respond to each other though the constantly updating comments section. The games will of course have DVR capabilities and will be featured in HD quality.