On Tuesday night, Sports Illustrated reported on chatter that the Union might close its United Soccer League team, Bethlehem Steel, and create an affiliation with the independent Rochester (N.Y.) Rhinos. The report surfaced as many MLS teams contemplate folding owned-and-operated minor league teams to comply with new USL operating standards, especially regarding stadium sizes.
But it doesn’t seem that Bethlehem Steel is going anywhere. A source told the Inquirer and Daily News that the Union plan to keep Steel in place next year. Steel’s supporters club, the East End Army, posted a statement that someone in Steel’s front office had told the fan group that “next season the club will remain in Bethlehem.