By RYAN TOLMICH
NEW YORK —While a majority of recent headlines of late have discussed the impending expansion of MLS, the North American Soccer League has quietly gone about their business across the American soccer landscape, until recently.
In a one week span, the league has seen the introductions of international legends Raul (as a player) and Ronaldo (as a part-owner), bringing new eyes to a league just four years into its modern history. With the influx of international talent and 17 current international players already on the books, talk within the NASL has turned toward taking the next step: expansion.
“We have three or four situations that are getting pretty close right now,” NASL commissioner Bill Peterson said Monday following a press conference announcing the arrival of Raul. “We try not to talk about them until they’re done, but yes, I would expect one or two teams on the west coast to be announced soon. We’re close and we have some others that, I feel, are very close.
“Maybe over the next four to six weeks we get everything done and announced, but here’s the real answer, there’s a lot of interest. People are understanding what we’re doing, on the field and off the field. The business model is working well, so finding people that are interested in owning a team is not the problem right now; it’s getting the right cities and the right owners and putting it all together properly.”
With the end goal being an 18 to 20 team league, Peterson says that the league will play its spring season with 11 franchises before possibly moving up to 12 by the fall.
However, much has been made of teams potentially looking to exit the NASL marketplace. With Minnesota and San Antonio both vying for a spot in MLS, Peterson insists that he is happy with its current crop of owners, as the league understands the instict to explore ach and every viable option.
“There are situations that arise, and are going to continue to arise over the next decade because it’s still the early days of professional soccer in this country and it’s the first time there are choices,” Peterson said. “People are evaluating what their choices are and they’re going to make the decisions that are best for them and their city and where they feel can be successful. We’re very confident about the model. We have a lot if interest in what we’re doing, so if somebody feels they’ll be better off somewhere else, that’s fine.
“I think it’s too early to tell where all of this is going. Sometimes some people are just exploring things that cause a lot of noise. We’re going to go through ownership changes. We already have.
“We sold Fort Lauderdale this year. We sold Tampa Bay back in January, so any time you’re only four years old, you’re going to see new investors coming in and you’re going to see new ownership groups coming in. It’s all just part of the start up cycle.”
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What do you think of the NASL’s approach to expansion? Do you like their chances on the West Coast? Do you think the NASL can hold on to franchises in San Antonio or Minnesota?
Share your thoughts below.
The only way relegation and promotion will ever occur between MLS and NASL is if MLS purchases the NASL and it clubs and I hope this never happens. The mode ML developed I designed to ensure owners profit target are met regardless of overall league losses an the control they an over players contracts, transfer and loans, their ridiculously low salary cap and without a doubt the WORST officiating in pro football…..The USL pro is being turned into the MLS reserve division for several reasons..to eliminate cities the NASL can open new or pre-existing franchise and to create a monopoly to control the overall North American football market, expand the MLS influence on scouting and signing potential players and to greatly increase their revenues, secure ridiculous high new expansion fees and new markets in both leagues. MLS shown they plan to eliminate NASL to such a degree as to eliminate it s its only competition.
The USA and Canada have populations a investments large enough to have 2 division 1 leagues ..healthy competition is good for the game and will keep each league somewhat honest…s let the battle begin so MLS either shows its true agenda or commit to air and ethical competition…keeping in mind the predominantly jewish owned MLS appear dead set on everything but fairplay
Actually, “Quit Whining,” I go see both the Red Bulls and Cosmos. I think its good for NASL to make a splash. A strong independent league, seen even as a 2nd division, is good for the game.
I support both leagues.
I just used you as an example because you have posted negatively on the Cosmos. Now, I see its Cosmos-centric dislike and not NASL-centric. Fair enough.
That’s what I’m talking about. Smithy has made the effort to see both the pro clubs currently playing in his area. I guess that I’m not alone, huh?
(Not that I was every worried about needing company or anything…)
We want nasl in Hartford!!! We need more soccer in New England. Eventhough, I hate Robert kraft, it would be cool if MLS and nasl joined together like mlb and minor league baseball.
Revolution- mls / Hartford – nasl
NYCFC/ red bulls- mls / cosmos – nasl
Keep the geography as close together as possible. It would bring support to both leagues.
If not, revs move to boston, so we can get a mls team in Hartford. The rent has 40,000 capacity, bench seating, and natural grass and it’s a stadium that is used like 11 times all year.
Yes! And USL Pro in Manchester, NH and Providence
Healthy lower divisions are just as important to the long term success of soccer in the US and of the USMNT as is a healthy MLS. The more opportunities for people to see professional soccer the better and the more opportunities for young players to play professional soccer the better. It is just a shame that USSF seems so incompetent and weak and has not forced the lower divisions into some sort of sensible arrangement before now. It would also help if MLS would learn to play well with others. If the lower divisions offer chances for young players to develop, MLS will be one of those who benefits, but you would never know from the way they behave.
Give me an example of the mis-behavior. I am genuinely curious.
I like the NASL as well as MLS, but I have to admit that I really love how the NASL gets under the skin of soccer fans in the US, particularly fans of MLS. It’s just good fun to see “Quit Whining About Soccer in the US” blow a gasket sometimes.
Yeah, there’s a renegade aspect to NASL that I also find appealing. NASL is the foil to MLS’ slow-growth, tight-budget strategy. I tend to believe MLS has the better business model, but I’d love to be proven wrong by NASL.
I have no idea what you are talking about. I LOVE NASL. The Indy 11, I am from there, are my favorites, because their fans are so great.
The reverse is what is true. The fake NASL “fans” hate MLS. They absolutely hate MLS.
ps. they are not really the fans they just want to whine about the direction the money making league is going. Smith, you one of them ?
I covered the Silverbacks/Rapids U.S. Open Cup game this summer. Wynalda and Mastroeni got ejected, along with a gaggle of players, and the renegades from Atlanta played eight against 10 for the final 25 minutes and still won 2-1. After the game, Wynalda said they routinely trained seven-v-11 (for fitness and organization, not because he planned on plenty of red cards every game). They played smart and scrappy, like Cinderella with a rash.
I took this from: http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1929.html
It just makes me nervous with NASL ad MLS working against each other.
The Soccer War
The Soccer War was a momentous event in the annals of US Soccer History, one which not only served as a decisive battle for power between the United States Football Association and the American Soccer League, but also led to the end of the first golden era of American Soccer. The dispute centered over the objections of the American Soccer League to the playing of US Open Cup (National Challenge Cup) games during the league season. The League claimed this disrupted the schedule and caused confusion among its fans, as well as creating an arduous playing schedule for the players. Although the immediate issue was participation of ASL teams in the Open Cup, the real underlying struggle was centered around who would be the controlling organization of soccer in the United States.
The League and the association had come to loggerheads before, when the ASL pulled its teams from the Cup in 1924-25, an action which led to its suspension by the USF. There was also lingering resentment over the fracas that ensued over the ASL’s signing in 1927 of a number of European players by offering them more lucrative contracts than their European counterparts were able to afford. This nearly led to the suspension of the USFA by FIFA, but the Association was able to forestall expulsion by agreeing to a number of sanctions and limitations. A number of ASL teams chafed under the new limitations and sought to free themselves from USFA control.
This time however, when the League refused to allow its teams to enter the Cup competition, three teams, Bethlehem Steel, Newark Skeeters and the New York Giants defied the league and entered anyway. This led to their suspension by the League and they were also fined $1,000 each. The teams then appealed to the USFA who gave a stern warning to Bill Cunningham, ASL president. When he took no action, the ASL was suspended by the USFA.
The ASL, unfazed, began the 1928-29 season as an outlaw league, minus the three suspended teams. The USFA then played a major role in the formation of the new Eastern Soccer League, which took in the three renegade ASL teams and several teams from the Southern New York Soccer Association. The New Bedford Whalers of the ASL joined the league for a time as well. This action led to two rival leagues competing in the 1928-28 season, and also caused a rift between the SNYSA and the USFA, with the SNYSA allying itself with the ASL. Both the ASL and SNYSA applied for FIFA membership but were turned down. This led to a grim and contentious season with financial losses mounting on all sides.
Very interesting, thanks for posting.
Makes you wonder what could’ve been in American soccer had the USFA and ASL worked together and grown. In some alternative reality, the US could be a five-sport nation, or even better, a true soccer-first country, where everyone has a team to call their own. What could’ve been…
Thanks.
JGB. I don’t know that they really are working against each other. It would be one thing if NASL was on par money wise and that would mean being on TV. THEN it would be a competition (for eyeballs )
As it is overlap in NY and not much else really means if NASL wins, MLS probably does too.
If you are worried, this one is probably more current and relevant….and the end result was some of the biggest growth of the game we will ever see in the US during the 70s and early 80s.
http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1968.html
Thanks “Quit Whining About Soccer in the US”. You are probably right, NASL is still early to the game. I just like to mention early American soccer when I can. Still, it would behoove those leading to consider our past and build a more encompassing structure at all levels.
It may take a while to fully bare its fruit but the soccer pyramid is certainly on the upswing in the US. Obviously, MLS rules the roost but USL-Pro and NASL are so vital to the continued development of the game. It’s exciting to see such strides all the professional leagues are making. I wish it was more uniform between the leagues but in due time maybe that will happen. I could envision USL-Pro and NASL joining forces and MLS remaining on its own —- similar to the Premier League and the Football League (Champions, League One, League Two). The designation would remain the same — MLS (top division), NASL (2nd division), and USL-Pro (3rd division) representing 66 total professional clubs. That would be 24, 18, and 24 professional clubs respectively. Pipe dream — maybe — but one can dream, right?????
I hope they succeed and build a strong league to force MLS to up their game. This is good for everyone (well maybe not some owners) and it could force both leagues (all leagues in the US, actually) to seriously consider better alignment and a stronger overall structure. Competition is always a good thing.
I hope this isn’t just Commish speak and that their is really a growth model somewhere in there. This will be interesting to watch.
We know The Don wants to have a monopoly on everything, including people’s personal opinions, but more competition for MLS is great for fans and the development (and improvement) of the league(s).
Please provide proof that The Don ( glad you embrace that name too ) as done anything to monopolize personal opinions and everything else. I have seen zero of this.
Please educate, I am always open minded, but this seems like drivel.
Don got butt hurt when JK didnt praise MLS and encourage Young prospects to join his league.
He told JK “Hey Stop that!! OK?!??”
Do you live under a rock or just intentionally abstinent to reality?
big country(s) and the more the better when it comes to options in US/Canadian Soccer.
plenty of cities for NASL to expand into, even if Minnesota and San Antonio move up, 18-20 is very realistic.
I think it would make sense to create regional leagues to minimize travel (across time zones) and to contain costs.
+1, but there would be hurdles to get over. Salaries and proper stadiums are a couple that come to mind.
I agree. It sounds like LA is about to announce its own NASL team, but I have a bad feeling about its future if the team has to fly to the East Coast for every away game. NASL and USL should really subdivide into regional conferences, and sooner rather than later. I want to see these leagues succeed. Minimizing travel is a smart way to save money and edge towards profitability.
Good for them. I really hope they succeed. It’s about time US Soccer jump on board and realize they represent all of US Soccer, not just the special needs of MLS. The United States needs growth, and unfortunately MLS offers very little real growth. Besides some lip service to creating academies and possibly a million or two added to the salary cap, MLS is all about doing things as cheaply as possible to ensure guys like Robert Kraft get as much return as possible.
There are sooooo many inaccuracies in this post, it’s amazing. MLS is not the entire answer but I am sure they play a larger part in this “growth” you made mention of – more so than any other player in the pyramid right now.
Yes, US Soccer needs to get it’s house in order, and they are doing that in a tough landscape with different leagues. But you may want to research and revisit the rest of what you had to say there.
Ok so what was wrong? That MLS may or may not increase its salary cap a bit? Or that they claim to be spending like crazy on academies but many still charge a fee? Or that they are closing arguably their best academy in Chivas instead of keeping it open for LAFC?
I don’t consider growth to be using tax payer money for stadiums or signing a “homegrown” player to only cut him a year or two later. I consider growth to be increasing quality on the field (good luck with that while paying a minimum wage less than what most in the premier league make in a week), increasing talent for USMNT, increased television numbers, etc.
And NASL is paying their players more? Also, why should the fringe players in MLS get paid more? As you clearly stated, this isn’t the EPL.
Either way, I don’t care if NASL has 11 or 20 teams. I still won’t follow it–my hometown team is playing in MLS and as long as there is no relegation/promotion I simply have no interest in allocating my time and money to an arguably inferior product.
With regards to HGPs, do you suggest MLS teams should be required to keep them on the roster if the players cannot handle the competition or simply don’t get past the talent stage?
Thanks for explaining the biggest problem with MLS fans. You don’t care about anyone who doesn’t have a 1st division team or doesn’t like the way MLS runs because you have an MLS team and no relegation. Who cares that the league is anti-competitive with a bunch of scrubs and few stars as long as you have a team.
Wow. Some us MLS fans actually follow second and third and fourth division clubs as well…
I really enjoy MLS but I enjoy the NASL and USLPRO also.
Just curious — if you’re not interested in the NASL, why are you reading and commenting on this piece?
You need to pay closer attention to your considerations – as cherry picked as they may be.
I am not trying to say MLS is the answer but they are doing the things that you consider – maybe not to your liking – but they are doing them nonetheless.
Taxpayer stadiums? Uh, OK.
MLS is building academies, should they have started much sooner? Yes. But there is ample evidence that this is indeed happening.
Cut homegrown players? MLS is the only league in the world to do this, when things don’t pan out, huh? Well that’s news to me. I noticed how you’ve left out the success stories in your considerations though.
The quality on the field has increased and has been for the past few years. It ain’t Europe, yes, but there are more teams in MLS that I enjoy watching now than ever before. You can catch many a decent game nowadays.
Look, Mark, you clearly want the league to succeed as do I, and you have high standards – I can appreciate that. But wiping out all the gains made because they do not meet your standards just seems uncool to me, and inaccurate.
I’m not sure what kind of an instant, magic wand solution you are looking for here, but they’re operating in the real world not your Ps3. All of this growth you speak of requires………… $$$$$$$investment. Not in the form of gifts, but in the form of a sustainable long term business model. It then requires a bit of patience in waiting for these investments to take root and bear fruit. MLS hasn’t paid lip service to the idea of academies, they’ve acted on the idea and begun implementing their plan. They need to do much more but do continue to up the ante by now forming developmental teams in USL. That’s a big deal. Am I altogether satisfied? No way, but if I take a step back and look at where the league, its image, infrastructure/stadiums/development, quality of play… even influence on the NT is now compared to 5 years ago? Significant progress. Lets hope it continues.
MLS offers very little growth…LOL. You should really proofread before hitting send.
I hope the NASL continues to be able to sustain itself. It is far more healthy and beneficial for US soccer to have a growing soccer pyramid. For example, Minnesota has produced a senior USMNT player and an U-18 player recently.
It would be more beneficial to US Soccer if there was cooperation between MLS and NASL instead of competition. In a general sports public with limited soccer opportunities on major networks, US Soccer should want to showcase the best players/teams/games possible. As much improvement as there has been in the talent in MLS, there is not enough talent to have decent second string players on even the better teams. If NASL starts draining talent from MLS, then both leagues will have watered down teams.
If, however, NASL would agree to join USL Pro or be a legit second MLS division alone, and affiliate with MLS teams, then the most talented 18-22 yr olds would have a great place to learn how to be a pro player. And the second division could grow into a solid exciting league in its own right.
So I am to believe that US soccer would be better if one of its leagues decides to only be a minor league ?
That is rediculous.
It is the main reason I think relegation is just dumb. Why do you tell your fan base, all of its players and owners: You can not win the league. Keep trying though and maybe some year you can try. First you can try to get your fans back from being Man United fans.
NASL should be the best they can be and they shouldn’t call themselves minor league or second division to anyone including Real Madrid. When my Sounders were in the USL, they went to the quarterfinals of the LH USOC. Their goal should not have been, try to get to a different league..
I will never get the notion of keeping out all but 20 teams. Crazy. Especially in the real and competitive leagues that the US has.
Although I agree that cooperation is good between the two i disagree with the idea that the 2nd division should be affiliates of 1st division teams – this should be in 3rd and lower divisions like it is now. US Soccer has termed NASL as 2nd division and that is good.
I do think NASL is ran better than MLS and if I were an MLS owner I would fear that NASL teams will start taking the bigger names. Soccer is a growing sport and it’s not surprising that that could happen solely because there are more than 20 large cities in the United States – take San Antonio – it is in the 7th largest city in the United States with a heavily influenced Latin market. Minneapolis is in a top media market – it would make sense for them to thrive. You take other larger cities still out there that have 0-2 pro sports teams and its an easy fit for NASL – Vegas, Sacramento, Memphis, Nashville to name a few.
This all extends from the Relegation/Promotion idea that will need to come into play.
That U-18 player is from a different Minnesota team (Thunder)
These NASL guys have balls. If only our Federation had some similar vision and courage they could unleash a torrent of investment and competition in the game.