No NPSL SW conference this year

[pcrow]

I am surprised this hasn't been posted. But I have been told, by someone who has been right about everything they have told me before (mostly about indoor, which they are more involved in), that there will be no NPSL sw conference this year. El Paso/Crimson/CO Springs/'Pumitas already pulled out. Now San Diego all but pulled out, and the Predators definately did. Leaves Asylum/Arizona, which can't make a go of it all alone, not that they could do that well with the travel the NPSL was forcing them to do.

Honestly, from the person I spoke with, it all goes back to putting San Diego back into the sw conference, as opposed to a Pacific conference. The NorCal teams didn't want them, and that decision started the chain that put the SW conference out.

[Deveron]

I am surprised this hasn't been posted. But I have been told, by someone who has been right about everything they have told me before (mostly about indoor, which they are more involved in), that there will be no NPSL sw conference this year. El Paso/Crimson/CO Springs/'Pumitas already pulled out. Now San Diego all but pulled out, and the Predators definately did. Leaves Asylum/Arizona, which can't make a go of it all alone, not that they could do that well with the travel the NPSL was forcing them to do.

Honestly, from the person I spoke with, it all goes back to putting San Diego back into the sw conference, as opposed to a Pacific conference. The NorCal teams didn't want them, and that decision started the chain that put the SW conference out.

I agree that San Diego should have been in the NW Conference all along. If that was the case, maybe we still would have had the Rush (who were planning on joining according to their website: http://leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=ppstars) in the SW.

As far as El Paso, from what I have heard they would have been in the SW this year if it wasn't for their Mexican Pro team getting promoted and eating up all their resources for this season.

So you might say it is a little of both: Mismanagement and bad timing that is causing this down fall...

[jeffconn]

The Asylum announced a wholesale schedule rewrite. Their season now starts with a friendly against the Predators on May 31, instead of starting on May 9, as is posted on the NPSL website.
http://www.asylumsoccer.com/men.htm

[president_nater]

So...
Is the SW being dissolved, or is it continuing with the three teams left standing?
It looks from the Asylum's site that they plan on soldiering on with the three teams left (SD, Asylum, and AZ)?
A three team conference is pretty lame though...eight game season.
Here's to hoping some teams can rejoin and/or things can be reshuffled to have a "Pacific" conference for next season...

[Deveron]

So...
Is the SW being dissolved, or is it continuing with the three teams left standing?
It looks from the Asylum's site that they plan on soldiering on with the three teams left (SD, Asylum, and AZ)?
A three team conference is pretty lame though...eight game season.
Here's to hoping some teams can rejoin and/or things can be reshuffled to have a "Pacific" conference for next season...

It looks like they are going to try to get through this.

Of course, so were the Predators...but one can speculate that having only 3 weekends for home games is very hard to get a following for an inaugural club (any club for that matter). Having back to back games on a weekend, you can expect to get half the attendance distributed between both games, yet you still have to pay full rent for both dates - do the math. So, for now they will be playing exhibition matches (such as the one at Asylum FC), and tournaments.

As for the teams in the SW, at this point they look to be doing only 2 weekend home dates for the remaining 3 clubs - worse yet. And if Pcrow is right, and SD United pull out - I would say the SW is done.

[keem-o-sabi]

I honestly don't know anything so I can't comment, when I opened this up this morning, it was the first I had heard or saw of anything.

[president_nater]

If San Diego pulled out, would the Predators want back in?
Seems like one of the main causes for the mess is the financial ramifications of SD being a geographical outlier in the conference.
(Although that would still only make a 3-team conference...)

Sad, but true...SD really doesn't fit in well geographically in any of the conferences.

[keem-o-sabi]

I still think that the Cali teams should all be together. It's what 8 hours from SD to where the cluster of teams are? We travel pretty much the same distance every away match where we are, we travel 13 hours for our trips as well as another trip of 7 and another trip of 6 (we double up the 13 hour trip and the 7 hour trip so we can get the games in).

[Deveron]

I still think that the Cali teams should all be together. It's what 8 hours from SD to where the cluster of teams are? We travel pretty much the same distance every away match where we are, we travel 13 hours for our trips as well as another trip of 7 and another trip of 6 (we double up the 13 hour trip and the 7 hour trip so we can get the games in).

Where Stadium to Stadium the Predators would have traveled the following distance one way:


To SD United (1725 Hillsdale Road El Cajon, CA 92019) -> 1,086 mi – about 15 hours 51 mins

To AZ Sahuaros (3300 West Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ) -> 902 mi – about 12 hours 41 mins

To Indios USA* (6675 South Desert Blvd. El Paso, TX 79932) -> 698 mi – about 9 hours 49 mins

To Asylum FC (301 Menaul Blvd.Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107) -> 442 mi – about 6 hours 21 mins
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*On Hiatus for 2008

[keem-o-sabi]

I agree it's way too much for you guys in the SW travel wise. That's why i'm starting to help out with the league in getting new teams in. Just developing all the packages now so hopefully can start in earnest in the next couple weeks.

[SoccerPrime]

Whats the plan then? To focus on say San Diego and try to cluster teams closer? Where would that be? Oceanside, Carlsbad...Palm Springs, Yuma???

[Epikoinos]

so the new asylum schedule has four games against san diego. are we thinking they're still in?

[pcrow]

i guess...i've heard they are in big trouble. hopefully they will be alright.

[Deveron]

i guess...i've heard they are in big trouble. hopefully they will be alright.

Is that because they spent all their money on the WPSL franchise?

[Deveron]

Assuming SD United remains in the league despite previous rumors posted in this thread, I have used the posted Asylum & Sahuaros schedules to extrapolate the following master schedules for the 3 remaining teams:

Date....Asylum FC..........SD United..........AZ Sahuaros
May 23.........................@ Sahuaros...........vs United
May 24.........................@ Sahuaros...........vs United
May 30........................vs Sahuaros............@ United
May 31........................vs Sahuaros............@ United
June 6....@ Sahuaros................................vs Asylum
June 7....@ Sahuaros................................vs Asylum
June 27..vs United.............@ Asylum......................
June 28..vs United.............@ Asylum......................
July 4....@ United............vs Asylum......................
July 5....@ United............vs Asylum......................
July 11..vs Sahuaros.................................@ Asylum
July 12..vs Sahuaros.................................@ Asylum

Please correct me if I am wrong.

[Epikoinos]

I got an email back from San Diego GM that said they were playing. Of course, the schedule he sent me had Colorado on it, so ...

[Deveron]

I got an email back from San Diego GM that said they were playing. Of course, the schedule he sent me had Colorado on it, so ...

How many games - a seasons worth?

It's possible the Predators are playing them in San Diego as an exhibition, just like they are doing for the Asylum.

I'll check back with the owners and see if you like.

[keem-o-sabi]

Alb Phx San

30-May bye at San vs Phx
31-May bye at San vs Phx

6-Jun at Phx vs Alb Bye
7-Jun at Phx vs Alb Bye

13-Jun Bye vs San at Phx
14-Jun Bye vs San at Phx

20-Jun Bye Bye Bye
21-Jun Bye Bye Bye

27-Jun vs San Bye at Alb
28-Jun vs San Bye at Alb

4-Jul at San Bye vs Alb
5-Jul at San Bye vs Alb

11-Jul vs Phx at Alb Bye
12-Jul vs Phx at Alb Bye

19-Jul
20-Jul Div. Champ Div. Champ Div. Champ

This just in from the Conference Commish, so this is the official schedule for the SW