What an embarrassment for the league and American soccer. I want so badly for the Energy Drink concept/franchise to go under. ::spit::
Hell yeah. Good to have those two in the league. Can't help but think there must be some restructuring going on in the near future, NASL can't survive like this in the long term.
"Statement from NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson on the announcements made by the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury FC earlier today: As a league in North America, the NASL operates in an environment where owners are free to take their clubs wherever they choose. All we can do is acknowledge that reality and move forward with our business, which is exactly what we’re doing right now. We have never had a stronger and more unified group of owners who are committed to the league’s model, its structure, and its long-term vision. With a half-dozen serious expansion discussions in progress, the league looks forward to adding new owners who share in the Board’s vision. We have ambitious plans for growth, and we’re proud that the flexibility of the NASL model remains an extremely attractive proposition for investors seeking to become part of an authentic, competitive soccer league. While we don’t want to take anything away from what is sure to be another exciting postseason, we’re focused on ensuring that, in 2017, the NASL is one of the most competitive soccer leagues around." I don't know if this means "committed owners" or "owners that should be committed."
Now that the league schedule has stabilized and there are no crazy road trips with back-to-backs or two games in three days, USL is cutting the allowed number of substitutions from five to the international standard of three. I kind of like five - a chance to see more young talent and they get the opportunity to develop. However, three makes sense for a league with division two aspirations and puts pressure on the manager to get his subs right.
Arizona United rebranded as Phoenix Rising. Cool crest. Don't know what their stadium situation is, though. Last year's anemic attendance was blamed on their location.
I was snooping around the Indy 11 board which led me to the twittersphere to pick up the latest NASL rumors. Cosmos in $$ crisis Rayo OKC not represented @ BOG meeting Rumored to be talking to USL about jumping leagues: SF (2 sources) Puerto Rico Carolina (2 sources) Jax (2 sources) Indy XI
More players just hit the available talent pool. Rayo OKC just released its entire roster from their contracts.
Having read through the NASL threads, here's what I think will happen... 1) Armada and Indy XI will join USL for the '17 season. Both meet the "regional" format that USL has been moving toward. The I-4 Derby (TB, ORL, JAX) will kick ass. 2) SF will try to make a go of it in USL for the '18 season, and then fail (possibly mid-season) 3) Cosmos are toast (good riddance). 4) Rayo and Strikers are already toast, nothing's gonna change that. 5) Carolina will go hat-in-hand to MLS and will (hopefully) be told to get in the back of the line. Look for Railhawks to go dark for the 2017 season and reappear in USL in 2018. 6) Miami FC will still believe it has a shot at making NASL work.
OC Blues Partner with LAFC Even though LAFC doesn't take the field until 2018, player loans may begin next season. I think Minnesota United is the only MLS club that has not announced an affiliation or a B squad.
Here's your first detailed report that Jacksonville Armada has given NASL notice that they are leaving the league. Whether they enter USL in 2017 or 2018 is a matter of speculation. http://www.empireofsoccer.com/sources-jacksonville-armada-leave-nasl-target-usl-move-56140/
Interesting, I wonder how long this will take to shake out since USSF is clearly kicking the can down the road.
Here's what my crystal ball says. Now USL offers a competing D2 market for prospective NASL expansion franchises in SD, Detroit, Atlanta, Hartford and wherever else, but at lower operating costs. USL picks off some of these franchises, hampering NASL's ability to continue to progress toward meeting D2 requirements. Eventually, NASL franchises agree to sell out to USL, which buys the NASL name and works out a financial arrangement for the remaining healthy NASL franchises to move to NASL/USL. The new NASL is essentially an expanded USL under USL leadership with the NASL name. Any surviving, smaller NASL franchise, along with the likes of Wilmington, Harrisburg, and the 2's continue in the D3 version of USL. A few PDL clubs, like Fresno, move up to D3. USSF crafts the D2 requirements to fit this scenario. Still no lower division pro/rel because of the 2's and the USSF manipulation of the standards to just get past the sanctioning mess.
OC Blues rebrands as Orange County SC: The old logo looks like a '70's design from beachside souvenir stand, but the new logo is void of any aesthetic appeal whatsoever.