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Report: Celtic exploring possibility of NASL franchise

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As the league continues to expand, the NASL is reportedly in discussions with one of Europe’s most historic clubs.

BBC reported Sunday that Scottish powerhouse Celtic is assessing the possibility of creating an expansion club in the NASL. Initial talks have reportedly already occurred between club representatives and the league.

When asked for comment, an NASL spokesman told SBI that the league could not comment on the expansion reports.

The reported expansion effort would be the latest move by Celtic in an effort to develop a more global brand. Celtic has regularly featured in the U.S. for preseason friendly matches, while the club has also made similar inquests regarding expansion into Asia.

In the club’s illustrious history, Celtic has claimed 46 titles, good for second most in Scottish league history. In addition, the club has claimed 36 Scottish Cups as well as the 1966-67 European Cup.

The reports serve as just the latest expansion effort linked with the NASL, who will field two new teams, Miami FC and Puerto Rico FC, in 2016.

What do you think of the reports? What would you expect from Celtic if the club’s NASL expansion comes to fruition?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. The SPL are a C class league in Europe with one B class side…Celtic….NASL is a viable investment as the MLS is ridiculously over priced and clubs like Celtic are used to running their own affairs instead of being controlled by an illegal SES of the MLS…lower operating costs, great place for academies, reserve squads…new revenue sources….clubs like MUFC and MCFC have ruined the pro game with their absurd spending and huge debts putting the games affordability beyond the average fan who is not corporate…quality wise, NASL is equal to the MLS minus its overpriced aged DP’s…watch other B and C class clubs from Europe and South America looks more to NASL where they will be independent of the Garber biased semite control of MLS

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  2. This is why the NASL is so intriguing, it doesn’t have the barriers to entry like MLS. With low start up cost I think we will see more teams like this one. It can be used as a developmental league much easier for elite European teams as they won’t have to worry about MLS rules and bureaucracy. I could see a player owned team too, if Messi or CR07 come to the USA why play for an MLS team when they could start and own an NASL team.

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  3. Celtic hold a convention in the US every year with it being in Las Vegas every second year. They have one of the worlds largest supporters bases and took 80,000 fans to the final in Seville in Spain. They have a large following in the US and if based in the right city it would be good for the club and fans. I am based in Australia where we also have a large number of fans and would love it to happen here.

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    • Which, by the way, I’d love to attend some year. Any idea how to get dialed in to this event? There’s a Los Angeles Celtic Supporter club, but when I ask those guys, they all kind of shrug their shoulders. A link would be great.

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  4. Bad idea in my opinion. Has this really worked anywhere else? Just like Chivas USA, there is only one Chivas – and it is in Mexico. Celtic is a team in Scotland…and should stay there.

    Having the Celtic name used in a league that may not even exist in two years is not a viable strategy. Don’t do it!

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  5. Bad idea. They get more from this exposure to US markets than the American game will benefit. Celtic USA? No thank you…

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  6. As a Celtic supporter I would like to see this happen, I would prefer it to be a MLS team but a US presence would be great, More chance the see the parent club play here in the off season and to see players develop here before they head to Glasgow

    The one thing I am wary of is any potential financial drain on the mother ship as we already need to invest more heavily in the team to compete in Europe.

    If they can find a local, well funded partner to carry the bulk of the expense it could be great.

    Could they buy a piece of Red Bull and rename the team?

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    • New England would be the perfect partnership for Celtic. Two legitimate super teams would make the NASL far more attractive .

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    • in this situation the Scottish team could eventually become the “second team”

      Celtic is a big club but that league is going nowhere, if USSF-MLS-NASL-USL ever figure their league pyramid out….

      hope its Boston or Chicago!

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  7. Celtic may not be in a cash rich league, may not get the television revenues like other leagues and may be missing the challenge of their oldest rivals but to say cash-strapped and living on last glories is simply false.

    Over 39,000 season ticket holders, multiple million in the bank and on track to post another profit this season…not exactly cash strapped. In addition, their largest share holder is one of the richest people in Ireland.

    Sounds like your simply on the wind up of Cosmos fans.

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    • +1. I’m not sure what “past glories” sloleftarm is referring to? Scottish League Cup and Scot Prem championship in 2015? Is May 2015 too far in the distant past for Celtic to lean on? Sheesh.

      Celtic is still one of the top 50 clubs on the planet in terms of finances, and has an estimated 9 to 10 MILLION supporters worldwide, including an estimated one million plus in North America. Pretty sure the buy in fee to the NASL – which is about to lose two teams to the MLS – is something they might be able to risk. And yes, let’s hope they become the first NASL team in the west. I’d become an NASL follower instantly, and I’m pretty sure I could find a few mates…

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    • Exactly. Rob loves to bash all things American but whatever negative things you can say about MLS go for NASL but even more so.

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      • This is such a ridiculous post.

        The NASL has free angency and MLS doesnt.

        The NASL is a player’s league they get to negotiate with any team.

        MLS teams retains the rights of any player forcing them to negotiate with the one team, which is just wrong.

        Theres nothing that the NASL deserves even more so then MLS because they have completely different policies

  8. If this happens it’ll require quite a climbdown from the Cosmos fans who have hated on NYCFC as a “minor league” club all season. However, while NYCFC is owned by one of the biggest and richest teams in Europe, this NASL team will be owned by a cash-strapped club living mostly on past glories – kind of appropriate for a league whose flagship team is Cosmos.

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    • Your Cosmos hate doesn’t really make any sense this time. Why should Cosmos supporters have to all of the sudden be hit with some humility over a club that isn’t theirs? A club that they’d have no link to other than playing in the same league?

      That would be like saying that LA Galaxy fans should have to be humbled over playing in a league that featured the Big Apple 5 letter club or Chivas USA.

      That would be silly. I’m not apologizing for DC United playing in MLS just because those clubs are/have been in the same league. It’s like choosing your siblings. It’s beyond your control…

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      • Sure it makes sense. Cosmos fans are always going on about MLS rules and structure including that foreign clubs have had MLS “farm teams.” Now NASL could be about to welcome just such a club into its ranks.

    • I’ve never understood why you hate the NASL so much or anyone else for thatt matter. It’s like your mad that they even exist and that they have ambitions.

      Why cant you be happy about the fact that American soccer benefits from the NASL. They promote the game and bring it to areas that otherwise wouldnt be able to enjoy the beautiful game at a higher level.

      One day the nxt big American soccer star might be from Ft. lauderdale or San Antonio and they might of never been if not for their local team.

      You should really take a step back and reevaluate your positions and the same goes for everyone else who’s for instinct is to hate on the NASL

      Celtic moving a franchise here would be insane and Im really excited for this!

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      • Slow is the resident xenophobic old fart that comes here to yell at kids to get off his lawn.He so out there he’s kind of growing on me.

  9. Makes logical sense for a club like Celtic. With NASL declared goal of moving into the west then it’s possible they could be looking there. Although Celtics bigger support tends to be Boston/Chicago and Orlando but they have MLS.

    Will be interesting to see where they end up.

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