Crystal Palace Baltimore to join new pro soccer league for 2010 season!

[Attila the Hon]

http://www.crystalpalaceusa.com/home/378338.html

Crystal Palace Baltimore disclosed yesterday that they, along with the new Tampa Bay Rowdies, will join a recently-formed professional soccer league which will begin play in April 2010. The new circuit, whose formation was announced on TU. 11/10, will be owned and controlled by the member franchises. Its official name will be released next week. Already in the mix are the new St. Louis Soccer United and six defectors from USL-1; the Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, league champion L'Impact de Montreal and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

http://www.impactmontreal.com/images...2011.10.09.pdf

Hints of a new league came to light when Nike announced in late August that the United Soccer Leagues (USL) were up for sale. They had assumed ownership when they purchased Umbro in 2007. Team owners were already disenchanted at the circuit's inability to promote itself.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/sp...goal.html?_r=1

By late October franchises were beginning to sever ties with the USL.

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_b...ns-likely.html

With the United Soccer Leagues now owned by NuRock Soccer Holdings, USL-1 team owners convened at Nike headquarters on W. 11/4 to chart its new course. CPB representatives were present at the meeting. Note that one business enterprise owns & operates the USL, not the franchise owners.

http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/home/380021.html

The USL issued statements in response to the new league...

http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/home/381192.html

...and to the departures of CPB and the Rowdies.

http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/home/383511.html

In the latter case, the USL claims that a breach of contract is involved. CPB was expected to be a member of USL-1.

The new circuit has already applied with the United States Soccer Federation to be sanctioned as a new Division II men's outdoor professional league. They have also done the same with the Canadian Soccer Association to become a new Division I league north of the border. For the time being, the franchise heads will collectively go by the Team Owners Association name.

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_b...2010.html#more

Log on to this thread for further updates as they come.

[Attila the Hon]

The North American Soccer League!

http://www.crystalpalaceusa.com/home/383920.html

[BMore Football]

Let see how that league will match up againt the MLS. It will be gone after the season is over.

[Bill Swaggerty]

Originally Posted by BMore Football

Let see how that league will match up againt the MLS. It will be gone after the season is over.

They aren't trying to match up with MLS. It's a minor league, akin to the USL First Division, which is where most of the other teams were previously.

[Attila the Hon]

Originally Posted by BMore Football

Let see how that league will match up againt the MLS. It will be gone after the season is over.

The new North American Soccer League will strictly be a second division competitor to the United Soccer Leagues First Division. One of its goals is to build a strong relationship with Major League Soccer, something the USL either failed or refused to do. This is extremely important because, in the future, promotion/relegation is going to become a reality. The USL also didn't do a good job promoting itself.

PLEASE read the links in the opening entry of this thread!

[sonofboh]

im not a big soccer fan, but i would go for the possibility of hooliganism. any news on that soccer stadium in pigtown?

and LOL at the atlanta silverbacks!

[Eastside Terp]

Originally Posted by Bill Swaggerty

They aren't trying to match up with MLS. It's a minor league, akin to the USL First Division, which is where most of the other teams were previously.

so it's a minor league to a minor league (MLS) .......