The NASL appears to be losing another cornerstone franchise to their lower league competition.
According to Soc Takes, Indy Eleven finalized their decision to bolt the struggling third division league for the United Soccer League for this upcoming season. They will reportedly play their home matches at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
The USL is reportedly expected to announce the decision next week, along with the schedule for the 2018 season.
Indy joins North Carolina FC as teams to defect from the NASL to the USL this winter. The Ottawa Fury and Tampa Bay Rowdies made the switch a year ago.
This latest news leaves the NASL with only six teams. Three of last year’s eight competitors have either left the league or ceased operations. In addition to the two teams leaving for the USL, FC Edmonton ceased operations in November and league champions San Francisco Deltas closed shop after only one season of play.
Only the New York Cosmos, Jacksonville Armada, Miami FC, and Puerto Rico FC remain from last season. California United and San Diego 1904 FC are slated to join as expansion teams in 2018.
The USL, meanwhile, has added six clubs for their upcoming campaign. NCFC and Indy Eleven join a list of four expansion teams. Fresno FC, Las Vegas Lights FC, Nashville SC, and an Atlanta United operated MLS-2 side will also come on this year, bringing their total up to 34 teams.
Indy was created as a Peter Wilt project. He is no longer there, and with the NASL . . . well imploding, this is a good move for what I think is a sound second tier club.
They talking is they will play in Lucas Oil Stadium. Lucas Oil gets 8 regular season Colts games (and 2 pre-season games – and no post season games since Manning left), a few high school and college gridiron games, and a music concert once in a while. i would think Indy Sports Corp would love to have another tenant
sorry for the poor grammar – thought I deleted a sentence, but I apparently did not.
Smart move Indy.
R.I.P. NASL
Glad Indy Eleven jumped ship instead of going down with the Titanic that’s otherwise known as the NASL.
Goodbye, NASL.