At this point, the USSF can't sanction the NASL as anything. I mean, the league is so FUBAR that any sanctioning would badly damage the credibility of said sanction. Third? Second? Doesn't matter. Six broke-ass teams a day's drive, at best, apart from each other, no public credibility, no pot to piss in basically. That's not a league that can credibly be sanctioned. I want a strong pyramid. I want teams striving to improve and challenge other teams in other leagues. But this, this ain't it. This is a shit-show and it needs to end. US Soccer needs to tell the teams that want to carry on to join USL and tell USL their sanctioning depends on letting them in. Then in a couple of years we can see about tiers and USL-1 and 2 and hopefully create actual third and fourth divisions, maybe even with - gasp! - pro/rel strictly within the USL. Why third and fourth? Because I think MLS is gonna get so big we're gonna have an MLS 1 and 2, also with pro/rel - just within the 2 MLS leagues - and those will be the top 2 divisions. But that's all for the future. For right now, US Soccer needs to end this charade right now. NASL took a shot. It was, all things considered, a pretty good try. Out of this we got Indy, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay and San Antonio and a couple of MLS teams. It wasn't totally without merit. But it didn't work. It's over and it's time to stop with the pussy-footing around. The teams that want to keep playing go to USL. The ones that don't, thanks for trying. The market, and reality, have spoken. Now US Soccer needs to.
Wow, they fell fast didn't they. I said it yesterday, but this reminds me even more of the California Victory and Deportivo Alaves.
Not seeing a difference. Lingerie Football League 2010 Legends Football League 2013 Honestly can't believe this is still a thing.
They're not currently in a relegation spot, but it doesn't matter. That fact they're dependent on the other club alone shows the 2018 season = likely vaporware... very few teams can take a year off and come back and succeed. The ones that do can make an impact on the sport, however
But but but they have a new vaporware team in Atlanta... Ownership group interested in #NASL and #NWSL franchises in Atlanta https://t.co/M9eUKC0gl7— Andy Warner (@thesoccerdad1) December 6, 2016
Do we know that Indy isn't going to go? There was that one tweet, but that could have just been a negotiating stance to get a better deal, particularly since the tween implied that part of the reason for not going was the bad deal that the USL offered.
To be fair, Tampa was going to be in USL Pro before the whole TOA split into NASL/USL. So, it is full circle for Tampa...
Just saw a report on Twitter stating everyone except Rayo OKC, Cosmos, Edmonton and Ft Lauderdale were still talking to USL. Which would mean Indy for all their bluster are not completely stupid and see which way the wind is blowing. Just hope their owner can live within USL format and we don't end up with a 2010 situation in a few years all over again.
Yeah, but those teams are "just talking", it will be interesting to see who comes out of this alive. What are the odds that Puerto Rico comes to USL, or Miami FC.. with the soon to be mls team in Miami.
I don't think the vaporware Beckham MLS Miami team necessarily precludes Miami FC from coming into USL at least for now. It may be an issue in the future however but no reason to cross that bridge until necessary.
Yeah at this point I wouldn't put it past Miami FC being promoted to MLS before Beckham gets his team up and running.
Yes and Yes...the AFL is trying to go forward with teams owned by and sharing facilities with NHL and NBA organizations.
Or depending on Miami FC's success, maybe MLS brokers a merger and they become a true United. Because it sure doesn't look like Beckham (and Co.) is making much headway on his own.
Well, we know Mr. Silva has the money and the global TV connections. And they're actually fairly successful (much more so than many here thought they would be). The credit for that should probably go to the CEO Sean Flynn. He knows the market (he came from working for the Marlins) and knows soccer (he worked in the USL front office).
Last I checked Beckham's group is waiting for the city to approve a lot in Miami, but then again, Miami FC was trying to work with the Stephen Ross (Miami Dolphins) to use their stadium.. They worked together on international games that they hosted at the Hard Rock stadium. Miami FC did do an amazing job cross-marketing the games with other events or special guests that were important to the So Fla community. He's definitely making a strong push. But with this NASL deal, it will be very interesting how it works out. Maybe they will move Beckham to a different area to make room for Silva in Miami?
You'd imagine Silva should have requested a Deloitte study on the NASL.. If we had a strong case for the importance of the league, the league would have some leverage. I think that the USL has too many teams with varying levels of skills to be a true D2. And what really destroyed the NASL (apart from poor ownership) was the teams leaving. If you don't lose 3 teams, and you add Atlanta.. We wouldn't be having this end of league talk.
Problem is, it's easy to blame the 3 teams that left for USL and MLS. But reality is NASL would have still been on track to lose 2, possibly 3, this off season in NYC, Rayo OKC and likely the Strikers due to financial woes. And having the other 3 teams still in the fold wouldn't have really changed that.
Perhaps, just perhaps, Beckham takes his right to an expansion slot and fences it to Miami FC for a large share of the team?
It wouldn't be the worst idea provided Miami FC isn't a paper tiger like the Cosmos group ended up being (and I've no reason to think they aren't on the level).
PSG tried that route. Becks and friends want someone to invest a lot of money, but leave control of the team to his group. Tough sell, IMO
Miami FC did a lot of ticket giveaways and promotions. They spent a lot of money to get some crowds to their games. Sometimes that works to get your brand out there. Sometimes the crowds only get use to the promotions and don't bother with the team otherwise. Sometimes they stop coming out all together. Historically, attendance goes down your second year. And will those crowds show up without the promotions? They also have no stadium plan either and will likely call FIU their home as long as they are alive. Miami FC at Stephen Ross would have been a huge joke. A stadium is the whole key to Miami and I don't see Silva doing anything more than Beckham. Especially if Miami FC begins to do the Cosmos crumble every year in the USL.
I know Empire of Soccer had reported the release of all Cosmos players from their contracts...I just hadn't seen this article confirming it posted anywhere. Saying Goodbye - Bigapplesoccer.com Quotes from players like Jimmy Maurer about being released..."We, as players, saw signs a good while ago, but it never hits you like when you get the official notice," wrote Maurer