I'd be surprised if an indoor team playing out of Syracuse, Utica, or Albany (three proposed I-League sites) could draw a thousand a game. I think it would be best for indoor leagues to play at the break between outdoor play, as the indoor game did play a role in crushing the outdoor game in the mid-80s. Still, if there's any opportunities for advanced play in the Mohawk Valley (especially with a sustainable owner-operator model), I'm all for it!
ARENA SOCCER ASSOCIATION 2035 CLEVELAND AVE. N.W. CANTON, OHIO, 44709 PHONE: 330-455-4625 FAX: 330-497-6904 Arena Soccer Association Announces Startup CANTON, Ohio – Steve M. Paxos announced today the formation of an exciting new venture in American sports entertainment – the Arena Soccer Association. Years in the planning, the ASA will be bringing action packed, affordable sports entertainment to arenas throughout North America. A proven management team has installed a fiscally responsible business plan that ensures stability and growth in an ever-competitive professional sports scene. “Arena soccer experienced great success in the 1980s and 90s,” said Paxos, president of the new league. “Sports fans loved it – but corporate mistakes stunted its growth. We believe that by applying the ASA’s basic business principles, arena soccer will flourish once again.” Born in the fun-filled 1970s, arena soccer made a giant splash with a sports-crazed public craving nonstop action at affordable prices. It attracted families who couldn’t shell out half a week’s income to attend a sporting event. It enticed college students seeking a hip “date night” that didn’t break the bank. By the early 1980s, fans were packing many arenas to see the wild sport that was dubbed “human pinball”. Paxos formed the Canton Invaders as part of the new American Indoor Soccer Association in 1984 – then served as league commissioner from 1988 until 2000. The league became the National Professional Soccer League in 1990 and the foresight and guidance provided by Paxos’ management team made it America’s longest-running professional indoor soccer league. The ASA is tapping into that experience. Two key members of the NPSL’s executive team will serve in similar roles in the ASA. Chuck Murr is vice president of media relations and Sally Rodgers is director of business and accounting. Other executives with decades of sport management knowledge will soon be joining the ASA. They will bring the expertise that helped transform the NPSL from four struggling clubs into an enterprising 15-team league across the United States and Canada. The NPSL enjoyed continuity with expansion, packed arenas, and nationally televised games on ESPN. “Arena soccer is America’s version of the world’s most popular sport,” Paxos said. “The most exciting aspects of soccer are scoring goals – and great goalkeeper saves. An arena field approximately onefifth the size of a World Cup pitch means roughly five times the scoring chances. There are infinitely more skillful and athletic opportunities throughout the course of a game.” The ASA is meeting with ownership groups across America and Canada that have expressed interest in being part of the league’s inaugural season in 2011. Original teams will be based in mid-America, with plans of coast-to-coast play and innovative ideas regarding television. “There’s no limit to the extent of expansion,” Paxos said. “The only criteria for ownership is to stick with the plan, support fellow owners, and let the sport sell itself.” For further information e-mail: chuck@arenasoccer.net
Although the phrase "an Americanized version of soccer" makes my skin crawl, this is a good way of going about the process but shares need to be backed up with a say. If supporters have a sense of ownership, it's more likely to succeed. Too bad they won't play in Amsterdam or Utica.
yeah, Buffalo FC should have gobbled him up already, no??? As far as the MVU players, I actually do have a roster around here somewhere, but I never even introduced myself to the team never mind attempting to keep track of them after the one exhibition season that we had.
http://twitpic.com/4kfeaf and for the story... http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/sections/youth2.php?article_id=26975
TOP 25 for MLS exapansion: 25. FC Barceloneonta (@WeberKing) 24. Real Fargoza (@churchofsoccer) 23. Sao Palo Alto (@robertjonas) 22. Cheyenne-derlecht (@SoccerByIves) 21. FC Lokomotiv Chattanooga (@cdbarker) 20. Zenit St. Petersburg (FL) (@kevinmccauley) 19. Crewe Alexandria (VA) (@theBAtheory) 18. Bayonne Leverkusen (@qrysdonnell) 17. BSC Young Boise (@churchofsoccer, again!) 16. Aston Wasilla (@BeyondThePitch) 15. Tupelo-komotiv (@SoccerByIves) 14. Toms River Plate (@chriscann0n) 13. Racine Santander (@yankeeyiddos) 12. Savannahthinaikos (@zantetsuken76) 11. Boca Raton Juniors (@thebstardsback) 10. Moose Jawventus (@viperRBNY) 9. Dayton Orient (@AbuZilif) 8. Minneapolis-St. Pauli (@runofplay) 7. Niagara Grampus Eight (@napoliblogger) 6. Oklahoma City Sounders (@Dev151) - easily the most cruel of the bunch 5. Kansaslautern (@jc_verbatim) 4. Galatallahassee (@WeberKing) 3. Aspen Villa (@HDsnob) 2. West Bromwich Albany (@MFUSA) 1. Newell’s Old Boise (@jayhipps)
As a follow up to that NY Times article about Bob Rich and his sponsorship of Bedlington Terriers FC, the club is making a US tour and will play friendlies against Erie and Buffalo of the NPSL. This has to be the most random level of European club to come to America, they are in the 9th division according to that NY Times piece. http://btfc.ninjapowered.co.uk/newsitem.asp?itemid=335
all for charity...a great time was had by all! http://totalfootblog.com/2011/06/29/the-scores-cup-nets-nearly-50000-for-america-scores-ny/
Congrats to the LongIsland RoughRiders who won the USL PDL East championship yesterday 3-2. They went up 2 goals early, Jersey (Newark Ironbound) Express dominated play for the 15 minutes either side of the half and they eventually tied the game midway through the 2nd half. However, Long Island scored the game winner in the 85th minute. Well played by both teams. Rough guess on the attendance at maybe 400 or so.
National perspective: The entire 64-club USL PDL lists its 2011 match average as 546 fans, an increase of nearly 7% over last year’s 512. This is the highest average since such stats have been kept, dating back to the year 2000.
I'm not one for prayer...but this is awful. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/09/07/world/europe/AP-EU-Russia-Crash.html?_r=1&ref=sports