Share
The Average Fan: A Hartford Athletic Podcast
2026 Season Opener Is (Maybe) Here
In this episode of The Average Fan Podcast, Sam Lattof and Oliver Scholes analyze the upcoming USL Championship season, focusing on the labor negotiations, team strategies, and key players to watch. They also discuss the new jerseys, and the potential impact of a strike on the season start.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Current State of USL Championship
02:47 CBA Negotiations: Sticking Points and Reactions
05:45 Health Insurance and Player Welfare Concerns
09:00 Hartford Athletic's Roster Changes and New Signings
11:53 Sporting Jax: New Team Dynamics and Coaching
14:56 Game Preview: Hartford vs Sporting Jacks
28:17 Birmingham Legion's Challenges and Changes
34:29 Hartford's New Kit and Fan Reactions
36:43 U.S. Open Cup Expectations
39:03 CT United's Promising Start
More episodes
View all episodes
1. Hello Hartford
51:11||Ep. 1In this episode of The Average Fan Podcast, hosts Sam Lattof and Oliver Scholes delve into the world of Hartford Athletic. Oliver discusses his history with the club, the vibrant soccer community in Hartford, and the team's outlook for the upcoming season. Additionally, Oliver updates fans on who arrived and departed over the offseason, the coaching philosophy of Brendan Burke and the launch of the women's team.The Average Fan Podcast is produced by and partnered with The Blazing MusketChapters00:00 Introduction to the Average Fan Podcast02:15 Oliver's Journey with Hartford Athletic05:11 The Soccer Community in Hartford11:29 Vibes for the Upcoming Season15:00 Offseason Moves and Key Signings22:23 Impact of Player Departures26:13 Key Players to Watch This Season30:49 Brendan Burke's Coaching Philosophy39:24 Outlook on USOC and USL Cup43:24 The Launch of the Women's Team