This fiction is awesome, Gritty! As a closet MLS fan, I am very happy to see this project. With my excitement, I'll happily give some thoughts on everything. 

The APL logo is on par for a top tier league in football, like England's lion for the Premier league or Russia's bear for the RPL. That eagle looks mean and could be on the front of a jersey for most sports.

I think the "Star Cup" could have a better name, but I'd be hard pressed to give one on the spot. Is this tournament the equivalent to an FA cup, or is the concept completely based on 'MLS is BACK'? Not being played every year.

Atlanta Arsenal: What a silly name and visual brand mix. I thought I would see peach pits flying out of cannons! Jokes aside, the logo is all class. The peach needs to be used for Atlanta, and the most appropriate sport for it is soccer. Atlanta United got it wrong, but I am happy you carry some good thought. The actual peach resembles the Mastercard logo in the slightest bit to me, but I think my eyes are playing tricks. The shield is great and the colors mix well. Could see them with peach/green hoops and a clash that shows off that vibrant light green. Only change I would suggest is to tie "Arsenal" in with the peach imagery. Maybe some crossed swords behind the peach in a Virginia Cavs style? Idk just spit balling. 
 
Indianapolis Machine: What a mouthful! I am with you, cutting it at Indy is just fine. I like the idea of an engine block “I”, and I think you pulled it off. The minor detailing of the logo brings it all together. The bricks, state outline and bolts take up space that really needed to be filled, and all serve a purpose. I can see this team wearing only the “I” and pistons as their badge for their kits like some teams tend to do. My only worry for the team is the checkered part of the state. Applying that to any merch would be such a headache, and may end up too busy.
 
Minneapolis 10000s: I like the approach, but something feels wrong with the name. Maybe “Ten Thousand FC” or something along those lines? Besides that, this identity is gold. I like the simplicity of the moose head, and the colors are so odd, but work very well when balanced correctly. Is it the Philadelphia Union crest? Yes. Did you make it your own? I’d say so. Jerseys might be difficult for these guys, so I’ll leave that to your genius. Of course, I have to end with the biggest change I’d suggest, so I want to ask about the line going through the inner shield. Is there a reason the green goes all the way to the purple? I think it would look better if it matched the background.
 
Gateway Athletic: I’ll always say that Gatekeepers is a great name for a team. The simple identity screams “St. Louis” so I would say it does its job. 10/10 on this one, I wouldn’t even know what to change. 
 
Phoenix City FC: You had to do it to me? Oh well, I’ll take the name. The colors are what standout the most here (No bias owning the KC Scarecrows or anything). I think that darker red/orange is much stronger than the lighter one being used on the name, but that doesn’t really matter. The shield is perfect because Arizona loves their flag more than anyone could love a flag. A change I’d make is dropping the yellow. The star could be changed to red and a thin orange outline would separate it enough. Or maybe not now that I am realizing that look weird on the bottom half. I’d buy season tickets for this team. 
 
Three Rivers FC: Classic Pittsburgh. Love the name and colors, of course. The crest is done well and I like the use of the bridge. The “P” is odd, but it reads so no big issues. I think “Trolls” is such an awesome and unique name, I wish it was used in the logo somewhere. 
 
 
Lastly, how deep is this league? If it is large enough, have you ever thought of doing an FM project? I’d follow the hell out of this league’s history played through FM if you gave it a story. I’d also play the hell out of this league on FM.
 

Indianapolis is always a mouthful. It's inevitable with that many syllables. I feel "Indiana Machine" flows better, but I don't know if Indiana carries the same weight regarding Machines compared to Indianapolis.

However, if you want to go more abstract, Indianapolis is known as the Circle City. So maybe the way to go is "Circle City Machine"?

On to Group B...

Founded in 2012, after years of campaigning professional soccer finally came to the nation's capital.  A vanguard is the center strength of a military formation.  The Vanguard have seen a great amount of success over recent years.  They claimed two APL Titles in 2016 and 2019. Last season Washington finished in 4th place and won the playoffs.  

Big Foot FC was founded in 1995 and was one of the APL's original clubs. This Seattle's club's name - worthy of the 90s, references the Sasquatch - the mysterious Apex Predator that roams the Pacific Northwest.  People wonder whether Big Foot is real, but they are real in soccer.  Overall, the Big Foot have not been very successful.  Last year, they finished 13th overall.  I am still working on the Sasquatch, he is a placeholder for now.  

In 2009, during a wave of APL expansion - Bayern Milwaukee stormed onto the scene.  Taking their team name to reference Milwaukee's Bavarian/German heritage.  Last season the 'Black Bears' finished towards the bottom of the league and did not qualify for the playoffs.  

Perhaps one of my favorite teams.  Along with Big Foot, Cleveland was one of the league's original teams.  I always found it ridiculous that it was Real Salt Lake.  So I figured Cleveland took that another step.  Real Cleveland is also known as 'The Rockers' and their rabid fans are known as the 'Roadies'.  The Rockers won it all in 2001 and 2003. But last year they finished 15th and didn't make the playoffs.  

Time to reveal Group C.  Fitting that this group has a few cities of Revolutionary importance.  

The Philadelphia Strikers employ a blue and gold color scheme.  Blue and yellow is my favorite athletic sports color combo.  Philly's flag is blue and gold and I have always thought that those colors were missing on the Philadelphia landscape.  The name the Strikers has a dual meaning...Strikers referring to the offensive position in soccer as well as a lightning strike referring to Ben Franklin's famous Kite Flight.  The Strikers have had moderate success in their 10 year existence.  Last year they didn't make the playoffs.

One of the APL's most successful clubs.  They went to the first four APL Finals - winning three of them.  They also have the honor of being the first team to ever win the APL Cup.  The Baltimore Ramparts name is a reference to Fort McHenry - the fort that held strong against the British Forces in the War of 1812.  It was this event that led to the National Anthem's composition - The Star Spangled Banner.  I of course had to work a crab on to the crest.  As a former Baltimore resident I would definitely have cheered for the Ramparts.


In 2005, Charlotte Athletic brought a professional team to the Carolinas.  North Carolina's flag features Red, White and Blue.  I wanted to substitute Carolina Blue (i think the only crayola color inspired by a university) in for royal blue.  I think that with a cool slate color makes for a solid identity.  The 'Crowns' have had a good amount of success in recent years - going to the APL Cup Final 3 of the last 5 years.  They won it all in 2017 and lost last season's final to Washington.  

Finally, we leave the mid-atlantic and head to the Pacific.  In Los Angeles, we have AC Sol.  AC Sol has been around since the beginning of the APL.  They have consistently been a strong team in the league BUT have never won the APL Cup.  They have lost in the finals 5 times, including three years in a row from 05-07.  

Darknes wrote:

I'm REAL curious to see what you come up with Boston if there is a team for them.

Stay tuned for Group E.  I hope you like Boston's installment.  I tried to take a different approach with them.