Richmond, VA – (Friday, December 7, 2007) – United Soccer Leagues recently announced the details for the 2008 USL Premier Development League (PDL) and USL W-League seasons. The Richmond Kickers Future (PDL) will continue to compete in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, with the season opening April 26th and concluding July 20th. Meanwhile the Richmond Kickers Destiny (W-League) will be aligned with the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, once again, with the W-League campaign beginning May 2nd and closing July 20th.
In 2008, the PDL will consist of 67 teams, playing in 10 divisions that comprise four conferences: Central, Eastern, Southern and Western. The Richmond Kickers Future will play a 16-game schedule, with games based primarily upon their division alignment. Joining the Future in the Mid-Atlantic Division are Fredericksburg Gunners, Hampton Roads Piranhas, Northern Virginia Royals, Reading Rage and Virginia Legacy.
In the PDL Eastern Conference, the three division champions and the top-seeded second-place club (wild card) advance to the conference championship tournament, to be held July 25th-27th. The number one seed will play the lowest seeded non-divisional opponent in the conference tournament semifinals. The winner of the conference championship advances to the PDL Semifinals, August 1st-2nd. The PDL Championship will be determined Saturday, August 9th. All playoff hosts are determined via a bid process.
The W-League will feature 41 teams in 2008 with the addition of 10 clubs, divided into three conferences: Central, Eastern and Western. The Richmond Kickers Destiny will play a 14-game schedule, alongside Atlantic Division opponents Atlanta Silverbacks, Bradenton Athletics, Carolina Dynamo, Carolina RailHawks, Charlotte Lady Eagles, Hampton Roads Piranhas, Tampa (TBA) and West Virginia (TBA).
The W-League Eastern Conference playoffs open with a Divisional Round between the second and third-place teams in the Northeast Conference hosted by the higher seed. The winner of the Divisional Round will advance to the conference tournament, to be held July 25th-27th, with the regular season Northern Division champion and the top two teams from the Atlantic Division. The top seeds will play the lower seeds from the opposite division in the conference semifinals. The conference champion will advance to the W-League Championship Tournament, to be held August 1st-3rd. The regular season conference champion has the first right to host the conference tournament if they met the pre-established hosting requirements. The W-League Championship host is determined via a bid process with the host team receiving a bye to the W-League Semifinals on August 1st.
