Rumor floating around in Atlanta, may be the ASB relocating or the team returning with restructured ownership.
this is a thread in the Puerto Rican Islanders forum, not the make up an expansion rumor that makes no sense forum. can't say, but wouldn't be posting it if it wasn't credible. ASB will have season tickets on sale by the end of next week or they are done in Atlanta. There are two things at play. PRI ownership may have funding in place to return and the ASB may be relocated. ASB will only relocated to PR. Otherwise they are back next year. PRI will possibly return as a 12th team or as a relocated ASB squad. All depends on the next few weeks and what happens. My money is on PRI returning as the 12th team but only by the Fall season.
IMHO, it would take a strange set of circumstances to bring the Silverbacks to PR. If they fear MLS putting an expansion team in Atlanta, ASB might move, but I think they will stay in the continental U.S. Unfortunately, I don't think PRI will field a team in 2014. The economy in Puerto Rico is struggling. With so much of the team's prior funding coming from the government, I can't see that money source being available, leaving a big hole in their budget. Investors may be hard to find. It is a shame. The Islanders were a great club and they have a lasting legacy of quality football. Their updated stadium was a great place to play. I just don't see their rebirth in the cards. Hopefully, I am wrong.
It's official: the Atlanta Silverbacks will NOT be moving to Puerto Rico. All this was officially confirmed today by NASL commissioner Bill Peterson in an interview in a radio podcast. It appear that a new group of investors are presently trying to prop-up the Puerto Rico Islanders. There's a strong possibility that the team could be back by late 2014 or early 2015. Keep your fingers cross. The interview starts at the 33 minute. http://www.teamradio.ca/podcast/whitecaps_daily/WFCDaily_November_12_2013~.mp3
Has anyone considered starting a formal grass roots organization, similar to that NASL San Francisco group, to increase potential owner awareness of fan support for an Islanders return?
Their Facebook page is still open, but nothing has been posted since last August. For those of us who continue to support the Islanders, I think this is one more indication that the team will not be returning any time soon.