Just wanted to post this here: Full release from @naslofficial: pic.twitter.com/8WTSoAy1m9— Atlanta Silverbacks (@ATLSVBpark) January 12, 2016 Looks like NASL got no buyers for the franchise, so there will be no Atlanta NASL going forward, and certainly no NASL team moving from Atlanta elsewhere as an alternative. Personally, I think it's a slap in the face to the ATL. The Silverbacks have had a dedicated fan base for years, long before Terminus Legion. Now they are being forced to sit aside for a year.
But it was always going to be a uphill battle with AUFC coming in unless some partnership got worked out, which there is no indication they tried. I just think NASL should stay away from cities with a USL or MLS team already there or coming in.
Why would ATLUTD care about keeping the Silverbacks around? Its cheaper and less hassle to just start ATLUTD2 whenever and wherever they want it.
Is it cheaper for sure? I do imagine it is less hassle and they can change more things about it easier if they start from scratch.
My question was posted before Charleston was announced. I thought Charleston was already affiliated with another MLS team. 2nd, I realize Silverbacks were NASL, not MLS favorite USL. I guess ATL MLS now has a competitor out of the way, if you could even call them that. Just thought shuffling players would be closer and you had a team structure as well, one less thing to pay for to set up. At this point, maybe NASL should have transferred the franchise to another city if they had a buyer/ownership ground interested somewhere else.
Thats just because they dont even have a roster for MLS players yet. I expect them to have a USL team of their own by 2017 or so.
Interesting article from AJC Silverbacks aren't done as a soccer franchise "Boris Jerkunica, who owns the Silverbacks name, said he and partners John Latham and John Hardin are considering starting a men’s team in the United Soccer League or continuing the team that is in National Premier Soccer League. Its roster is currently composed of reserves players on the Silverbacks team (the reserves would be dropped from the NPSL team’s name). There are also ongoing discussions about starting a women’s team in the Women’s Premier Soccer League."
Well Charleston's previous affiliation ended last year, they wanted an affiliate who was geographically closer. In my opinion, I think that AUFC did not want to pay to support a secondary club this early. All indications is that AUFC will have a 2nd team, but not for a few seasons. They seemingly want to make sire it is a good idea financially over making an affiliate like Charleston. I would've thought the NASL would move the SIlverbacks, but I think it is just so close to the start of the season, that the process would be really rushed. Very interesting indeed, I hope they do stay up. Honestly, the USL is probably a better fit for them anyways.
This was inevitable. I hope they field a NPSL team. I'm assuming they make most of their money off the various leagues and activities at the park anyway. Maybe they can lease it out in a few years to the eventual AUFC2 USL team.