TAMPA, Fla. – Those that tuned into the New York Red Bulls II’s victory in the 2016 USL Cup Final against the Swope Park Rangers saw a crowning moment in the club’s double-winning season as Brandon Allen recorded only the second hat trick in USL Cup Final history.

What the viewers likely didn’t know was that it also marked a historic first for the USL as well. The game was the first produced by USL Productions, as the on-air crew of Michael Watts, Kate Markgraf and Heather Mitts fronted the broadcast on ESPNU and SiriusXM FC from Red Bull Arena.

For USL Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Tom Veit, the event was an ideal launching point for the new production initiative, and offered the league’s current and potential partners a preview of what the 2017 USL season is set to bring.

“The production was very well received so we thought it was a good start, and now our partners have seen what we can do and the quality of the league we’re finding a great interest for our product,” Veit said recently. “With the full launch of USL Productions next year, we’re going to have so much content and so many ways to reach the public, we’re all very excited.”