While April proved to be one of the busiest months for USL Division III since the league formally launched a year ago, league executives are excited for what’s to come in May and beyond.

While in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the National Association of Sports Commissions Symposium, an annual meeting of hundreds of sport tourism professionals and industry partners, league executives held meetings with more than 90 different sports commissions in addition to attending numerous networking opportunities.

“After visiting markets in West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan, Ohio and Florida, we were able to make important progress with city and tourism representatives from across the country while in Minneapolis last week,” USL Division III Senior Vice President Steven Short told USLD3.com. “We’re excited for the major announcements set to come in the months ahead, which includes more expansion teams, the league’s official brand and our sanctioning application.”

Before attending the NASC Symposium, Short and USL Division III Vice President of Business Development Josh Keller visited eight different markets – Charleston (West Virginia), Roanoke/Salem (Virginia), Greensboro (North Carolina), Winston-Salem (North Carolina), Hickory (North Carolina), Lansing (Michigan), Toledo (Ohio) and Daytona Beach (Florida). They met with potential ownership in many of the markets, as well as city officials and local business leaders to discuss the potential for professional soccer.

USL Division III has revealed three founding members – South Georgia Tormenta FC, FC Tucson and Greenville Pro Soccer – ahead of its inaugural season in 2019. Additional team announcements, as well as official league branding and structure, are expected in the upcoming weeks and months.