2017 might look the same with Minnesota and potentially Ottawa leaving, while Chicago, San Francisco Bay Area and potentially Las Vegas join.
The San Antonio franchise is still active as far was we know. The league has not announced what will happen with it. Pretty clear it is not playing in San Antonio but it may yet move somewhere else.
Ottawa likely will not leave in 2017. The rumoured Canadian league has yet to be formally announced and does not even have a start date yet. I have seen an optimistic 2017 start date thrown around out there, but thats not by anyone involved with CSA or anyone of importance/relevance on the issue.
CSA president made comments that confirmed they are working on this league that Rollins has been talking about: http://www.wakingthered.com/2015/11...t-team-canadian-league-soccer-csl-development
The Scorpions are now gone from the NASL website. They had a two sentences about them and Atlanta in this article about the schedule for 2016. NASL UNVEILS FULL 2016 SEASON SCHEDULE "As a trio of new clubs – Miami FC, Puerto Rico FC, and Rayo OKC - begin NASL play in 2016, two clubs will not participate. The Atlanta Silverbacks and San Antonio Scorpions will not compete in 2016."
NASL releases 2016 schedule, RailHawks to host Minnesota United in opener News & Observer Sources: NASL to introduce Under Armour as official match ball partner Empire Of Soccer NASL's Peterson on Chicago expansion, Puerto Rico FC, League ... Empire Of Soccer Six MLS clubs to take part in new Tampa Bay preseason tournament MLSsoccer.com Billy Forbes finds a new home, joins Rayo OKC Twice A Cosmo Minnesota United FC re-signs two big-name defenders THE BEAUTIFUL GAME:Ottawa Fury FC makes some majo FC Edmonton signs European defender Edmonton Journal Ex-Hearts & Hibs defender Adam Eckersley joins NASL side FC ... Deadline News NASL Commissioner Opens Up About Loss of Scorpions, Silverbacks
The league has been discussed by everyone form the CSA Prez to media, former players, etc etc Whether it happens in 2017 or not, the league has been in the works for a while.
I used to think it was all from the same blogger too. I recently heard a local radio interview with the president of FC London, Dino Rossi, and he mentioned the league several times as 'the level above us' and "in between MLS and League 1" it kind of surprised me because the radio hosts didn't really catch on that such a thing does not yet exist. The point of it though is he sees the move to L1O as part of the process to bring the structure in place for a full pyramid. Thats what he was expressing whilst the hosts were obliviously disregarding and focusing on asking him questions about what the difference between PDL and L10 is in quality. So while most of the noise comes from D.Rollins some others are leaking it without meaning it. Yet the start date has not been announced and because of that it might not get off the ground in time/if ever. Regardless it is not imminent by any means until its officially announced.
I agree with everything you've said. I also think L1 Ontario is a good pyramid base. I'm encouraged by the league so far, in it's infancy. Young players need to be given opportunities and if they succeed, be able to move up to a higher level. A truly foreign concept to Canadian soccer in the last twenty years.
Out of contract FC Edmonton 19 year old super hyped Hanson Boakai is apparently on trial with Hadjuk Split in Croatia. There is rumoured to be a hang up on training compensation to his former club. It was reported in December that TFC were close to signing him, but he really wanted to give Europe a try. I hope FC Edmonton can get some training compensation for him. Unlike U.S soccer, the CSA does not block training compensation fees. I hope Split signs as him, as his talent level is off the charts, and it would be a good place to develop.
Canadian pro soccer league to call Hamilton home #hamont #ticats #soccer https://t.co/kjwhWbgXZp pic.twitter.com/8MifIshv9t— Hamilton Spectator (@TheSpec) February 3, 2016
Nope. They went their own way. It will be interesting to see if Ottawa flips over immediately or if they wait and see for a season or two
Hamilton NASL is dead. I also wonder what Edmonton will do, especially since their owner is one of the silent majority owners of the NASL now.
Ottawa is supposed to jump on board to the new C League as soon as its ready. FC Edmonton has no intention of joining. As a former season ticket holder of the Eddies (I moved away), I love Tom Fath, but I don't see the club surviving past this season. Im amazed that he's held on as long as he has with his huge losses. It makes no sense to fly to Puerto Rico when you could bus your team to Calgary and have all of your expenses in Canadian dollars instead of American. Not to mention the rumoured TV deal with TSN.
I get that, but I seem to remember Fath owning a majority of the B shares which have an interest in the expansion fees iirc. He may not have sustained big losses overall, and may be holding out for the next expansion rush to 20 by the NASL. Fath and Katz are on pretty good terms so something could foreseeably be worked out. It would be a shame to watch the eddies go down as a matyr to the soccer wars.
Not really sure it's right to assume Ottawa will jump ship. They may do but it's certainly not a definite.
The reporter who has been at the forefront of this story has said Ottawa is going to the CanPL. I would count on them being gone by 2018 at the latest.
Seems legit if TSN already has a TV contract lined up for these teams. Getting a cut of that money when currently you have little or none is a huge factor in that decision if its true.