Comments on: Team Owners Association Announce Move to Go Forward with New League

By: Soccer Boy

Soccer Boy — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:43:23 +0000

I just wish we can get out on the pitch and play soccer. This is beginning to sound like youth soccer and all the bickering people do. I think if we would spend all of our time and energy on the soccer pitch and not bickering about things, we would have a soccer program the world would want to follow. Shame on the USL.

By: Cesar

Cesar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:18:01 +0000

I wonder what Fox sports will do, do they keep the contract with USL1 or they go with the teams?

also help me on my math,

USL1 would be left with 6 teams and 2 more for expancion (tampa and NY)

TOA would have the 5 rebel teams, plus san luis and Atlanta, and maybe tampa and new york?

it looks like the expancion teams hold the cards!

By: CoconutMonkey

CoconutMonkey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:41:21 +0000

He said they’re looking for a name for the league! This guy is hoping for something along the lines of MLS2. Any other suggestions?

The Rebel League?
the NEW NASL?
The American Almost Premier League?

By: ERic

ERic — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:08:31 +0000

“However, my inside info tells me there is concern with FIFA so they want to have 8 because of that. ” Interesting. Looks like there’s going to be some pressure on Tampa.

Unless there’s some other team somewhere else. I wonder if they’ve talked to folks in Orlando.

By: Brian Quarstad

Brian Quarstad — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:58:51 +0000

Yup, been saying the same thing to folks for a few weeks now. WPS started with 7 knowing they would have more this coming year. However, my inside info tells me there is concern with FIFA so they want to have 8 because of that.

I would also agree with your last paragraph although I will tell you that that have done a lot of work behind the scenes for quite a while now and they are actually pretty dog gone organized and have some good financial backing should it actually happen. I think some of the TOA are gung-ho and others have one foot in each camp. Then there’s the Thunder…

By: leper

leper — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:52:33 +0000

I don’t see any reason to worry about the magic number of 8. That’s a requirement that can be waived by the USSF and has been waived before. The old A-League (pre-MLS and pre-merger into USL) had less than 8 teams, and so did the WPS womens’ league this year, which is sanctioned under those same USSF requirements.

I’m doubtful this new league will ever get off the ground for any number of reasons, but the question of the USSF failing to sanction the league is pretty far down that list.

By: Chris, too

Chris, too — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:21:02 +0000

Until there’s 8 committed, financially sound teams (the minimum required by the USSF), there is no league, so this press release is still just a lot of hot air, IMO, ’cause the USSF can shoot it down w/o any antitrust issues.

By: Ole

Ole — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:36:23 +0000

Brian – thanks for your hard work in keeping this story alive and available to all of us who appreciate the game. While I’m a regular subscriber the minute this story went live I had several folks from my neck of the woods holler’ at me to ensure I was aware of it. St Louis is looking forward to participating with, and beating, the Thunder!

By: Zach Walker

Zach Walker — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:29:47 +0000

I am so confused by all of this…

By: Fuggle

Fuggle — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:28:02 +0000

While this is (potentially) good news, I have to agree with Jon that at best, it sure looks from here like an upward tick deep in negative territory. But it does represent progress, I suppose.