Were representatives from AC at the AGM. I saw a blog (Miami Supporter) saying they were, but has anyone else heard this?
our pals @ mlsr got this email http://www.mls-rumors.net/11790/2010/11/report-nasl-annual-general-meeting-in-miami-has-10-teams/ and IMS has this http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2010/11/10/north-american-soccer-league-submits-bid-with-eight-teams/
In speaking with the AC STL front office, they said no one represented the team in Miami at the league meetings.
http://www.nasl.com/article/nasl-concludes-successful-agm-and-finalizes-ussf-application AC STL is not on the list. Atlanta and MN made the cut.
http://www.nasl.com/article/nasl-concludes-successful-agm-and-finalizes-ussf-application "The North American Soccer League (“NASL”) recently concluded its 2010 Annual General Meeting held in Miami, Florida on November 7th and 8th. The meeting was highlighted by the approval of two additional teams for the 2011 season - the NSC Minnesota Stars and the Atlanta Silverbacks - and their inclusion in the application to the United States Soccer Federation for sanctioning as a Division II league. The completed application, which was originally submitted with six teams on September 28, 2010, was submitted to the Federation immediately following the conclusion of the meeting. The application also includes San Antonio (which will commence play in 2012) and an additional team to be announced (which will commence play in 2013). The NASL is looking forward to favorable consideration of the application by the Board of Directors of the USSF at its meeting on November 21 in Toronto, Canada. “This is an exciting time for the NASL as it nears the finish line in its two year quest for second division sanctioning from the USSF. We were encouraged by fans to return second division soccer to Atlanta after a two season hiatus and are thrilled that over twenty years of continuous professional play in Minnesota will continue in 2011 and beyond ” said Aaron Davidson CEO of the NASL. Club owners and general managers will continue working on developing the schedule for the 2011 season over the coming weeks. The NASL plans to release the opening weekend schedule of games later this month."
All is not lost for AC St. Louis fans. I'm optimistic that St. Louis will field a team in the NASL for the 2011 season if the club is sold to a new owner or ownership group.
AC St.Louis Press Release: http://floodplainfooty.wordpress.co...s-release-regarding-nasl-bid-for-sanctioning/
I don't see any reason to think St. Louis wouldn't be allowed to play in the upcoming season should they get their affairs in order in time. They just seem to be left off the bid for now. however, not even being repped at the meeting doesn't seem very positive. Just weird that Atlanta comes out of left field, but no one can seem to get a promising market and already existing team back on it's feet.
I'd imagine Cooper burned his bridges with NASL with how he handled the sale of AC St. Louis to the Vaids and the cluster that erupted when the Vaids walked away from the team. That being said, as Bend_it said, if/when the team gets a new owner, I'm sure they'll find themselves in NASL.
I'm don't like what I'm hearing. If additional investors or new owners have been found, we would have been in that NASL application. I'm not even sure that the NASL even wants us anymore. We're pretty much stuck in this region by ourselves. It doesn't look too good gals and pals.
After talking to a few guys "in the know" over the weekend, apparently the sale of AC STL is almost complete to Ryan Woods.....BUT the word on Woods is that he's basically a "Con Artist" and is NOT good for St. Louis soccer. He's had a number of financial deals break down recently, so no one is really sure what kind of money he has. This should be real interesting to see how it all pans out.
Unfortunately, anybody with money who would be "good for St. Louis soccer" is still sitting on the sidelines. Guess we'll have to go with the guy trying to keep a team here, whatever else his motives/background may be.
no, they can't actually. St.Louis Lions (PDL team) own the rights to any promotion within USL. And you can't say that Ryan Woods is corrupt or whatever, the guy is a business man who has his hands in many deals. The crooked charges hold no merit, unless you have proof. Plus, the guy sat with us at one of the AC St.Louis games and seemed like a good guy, despite his wearing of a German National Team jersey. If you want to know more, look up St.Louis Business Journal and search his name.
I'm not sure what you're saying, but AC STL will not be let into USL as long as the STL Lions are around. AC's pretty much NASL or bust at this point and its pretty much down to Cooper and Woods to make that happen. I still think they will find a way to make it happen for 2011, but I could be wrong. Going forward, the NASL has several hurdles and the recent Canada ruling is one of them. Hopefully the economy will improve and so will the desire to support lower level soccer. Not just in St. Louis, but across the country.
They could in case the 2 clubs merge and AC St Louis (what a ugly name anyway) play in USL Pro while St Louis Lions stay in PDL providing them with best players after a couple of years
I can pretty much guarantee that no merger between the two groups will ever take place. St. Louis soccer politics is an ugly business.
everything can happen, it's America baby! so let's hope one of the two folds so the other can survive
I'm not sure whether you're talking about fans or rich people supporting soccer, but I suspect that for fans, an improving economy wouldn't necessarily be a good thing. Minor league soccer might be what economists call an inferior good, where demand goes up as income goes down, which is why walmart does well in recessions. In a better economy, they might switch to more expensive forms of entertainment.
I was talking about Rich People investing in teams, but your point is interesting. I never thought of it like that from a consumer standpoint.