While attendance in the USL tends to crest during the summer months, it’s worth noting that League One’s average is down 7% compared to 2025. Among returning clubs, the drop is even larger. Stalwarts like Spokane and Omaha have seen their per-game attendance slide by 20% or more. Meanwhile, the 2026 expansion class has been a mixed bag. Boise’s average of 7,208 is one of the highest in the entire USL, but other new organizations like Corpus Christi and New York have been laggards.
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There are lessons across the League One landscape. Greenville’s new stadium has already led to increases. Clubs like Knoxville that’ve invested in their front office staff continue to rise. Shining stars like Portland are knocking their marketing out of the park and growing their crowds because of it. Their best practices should provide an example for the rest of the division.
What about the action on the pitch? The extended Week 15 shook up the League One table, muddying an already complicated playoff picture. To sort through it all, I’m taking a look at all 17 teams in the league. Let’s dig in.
Poor-tland Hearts of Pine
If you want to understand what’s gone wrong for Portland in 2026, their absolute lack of offensive consistency is the place to start. Entering Week 15, Hearts ranked last in USL League One with just 0.87 xG per match. Portland remains close to the playoff cut line by virtue of outperforming their expected return by a full 3.5 goals, but rubber has to hit the road sooner rather than later.
