http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/201...tawa-fury-tampa-bay-rowdies-usl-bill-peterson NASL has decided to stop considering going after US Soccer for Anti-trust. That was they smartest thing they ever done. Now they need to focus on keeping the league afloat. They should be more worried about USL gaining division 2 status then themselves trying to gain division 1 status.
They could get the court filing fees waived under the (archaic and rudely named, but apt) "pauper's petition."
By the time such a case is heard and a ruling comes out NASL might not even exist. And people want US soccer to go to Pro/rel....
It wouldn't surprise me if NASL gets dropped to division 3 (of they continue to exist) and USL becomes division 2
My hunch which I just floated on the NASL board: The USSF forces a shotgun wedding between the USL and NASL in 2017. (Don't know how they handling sanctioning. Might just call the conglomerated league D-II as they did in 2010.) Both exist, but not independently. Then in 2018, the NASL fades into oblivion as everything comes under the USL banner.
From what it sounds like on NASL Reddit, Miami FC and the Cosmos are going to go down with the ship while everyone else jumps ship or folds.
They can be like the Globetrotters and the Washington Generals. Except they'll both be the Washington Generals!
MLS = MLB USL = Stable affiliated minor leagues NASL = Unstable independent leagues that go under within 5 years Getting pretty damn close to reality now.
But the Generals are/were awesome and entertaining in their own right. Nothing wrong with the exhibition circuit. Here are two fine exhibitions that took place within 2 weeks of each other.
Once again, mere words cannot express my joy and happiness over leaving the NASL a year earlier than originally scheduled.
There was never a suit filed. Kessler wrote a letter saying more or less that they reserve the right to sue if you update standards that hadn't even been put to a vote.
I would be very, very surprised if they did that. They only did it in 2010 because neither league was able to get their act together enough to have a season by themselves. It doesn't make sense to force the USL who seem to be doing quite well, to take on a bunch of teams that they don't want because another league is having issues. While I don't think the USL would sue, that actually be reasonable grounds for a lawsuit against the USSF.
The instability of 2nd division is one of many issues as to why pro/rel will never happen the other is lack of MLS level support and infrastructure . Basically all 3 division clubs (excluding the MLS reserve teams) need MLS size stadiums.
so what are the useful asset teams in NASL? Carolina – seems like they'd fit well enough in USL Edmonton – likely asset stripping victim Fort Lauderdale – likely dead Indy – great USL candidate on paper Jacksonville – attendance has tanked in year 2, but they seem attractive enough for USL Miami – don't seem particularly likely to jump to USL Minnesota off to MLS Cosmos – who knows Ottawa – likely already to USL Puerto Rico – not particularly attractive. low attendance, financial issues on island, likely asset stripping victim Rayo – dying if not dead San Francisco – a bit unknown but intriguing Tampa Bay – likely already to USL So of the 13 potential NASL clubs for next year, one is already off to MLS. Two are on their death bed. Two are reportedly ready for USL already. Of the remaining eight, two seem like they'd be disinterested in USL, four seem like worthy candidates on paper, and two seem like the type of club you let die, right or wrong.
I doubt that it is a coincidence that Peterson has changed his tack when reportedly NASL's request for DI sanctioning is to be addressed by the USSF this week. Apparently USL's request for DII sanctioning is also on the agenda for that meeting. Sounds like that will be a fun meeting.