The New York Cosmos are back – and they’re dropping the “New York” from their crest.
It’s a club that once filled Giants Stadium with nearly 78,000 fans – 50 years ago, when they were the story in American soccer and weren’t based out of Paterson, New Jersey.
Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, and even Haji Wright have worn Cosmos colors. But how influential is the past for a brand most recently associated with a frivolous Rocco Commisso lawsuit against U.S. Soccer?
The Cosmos are a club of contradictions and oversold promises, often blamed as the Icarus that steered multiple leagues too close to the sun. Fair or not, that reputation is real – and that’s why a stated commitment to community on the part of the League One revival is so crucial.
New Jersey native Giuseppe Rossi is involved in the effort. Erik Stover, the architect of Red Bulls Arena and a key figure for the NASL 2.0-era Cosmos at their best-run, is taking charge of the project. Commisso’s say has been deeply diminished. That’s all good news, and it ought to build trust in the club.
Clearly, there’s work to be done. The USL didn’t write up the branding announcement, nor did League One promote the news on social media. That’s not full “red flag” territory, but it’s indicative of caution on all sides.
If nothing else, the name “Cosmos” is sure to draw media attention, but don’t let it distract from the action on the field elsewhere in the USL this week. The Championship was in prime form across Week 19, chock full of decisive results that shook up the table. Who came off strongest, and how’d they impress? Let’s dig in.
1. Charleston Battery
Trending: No change
Result: 2-1 win at New Mexico
Only one team in the USL holds a greater share of possession than Charleston, and that club – New Mexico United – was on the docket for the Battery this weekend. Charleston had their fair share of opportunities in Albuquerque, but it was Ben Pirmann’s pragmatism that stood out on the road and made victory possible.
