Comments on: Sorting Out the Teams of USL and NASL http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/17/sorting-out-the-teams-of-usl-and-nasl/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:33:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: T http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/17/sorting-out-the-teams-of-usl-and-nasl/#comment-3953 T Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:50:00 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12826#comment-3953 I am down here in Austin. Any word on what Aztex will do? Is Phil leaning 1 way or another? I know you put "Satisfied with USL", but what does that mean? Any details? I am down here in Austin. Any word on what Aztex will do? Is Phil leaning 1 way or another? I know you put “Satisfied with USL”, but what does that mean? Any details?

]]> By: JD http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/17/sorting-out-the-teams-of-usl-and-nasl/#comment-3899 JD Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:52:23 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12826#comment-3899 What would be great to see is a legitimate peace between all parties, I really think the USL has good standard from the Super Y, W-league and PDL. I would be, in my oponion, in ffavor of US Soccer that The NASL becomes the "pro branch" of the USL. Thus making the NASL teams the Div 2 Soccer league. Allowing for even the USL 2 branch to move in with the NASL. However I think certain teams that want a "semi-pro" that are now in the USL-2 should move down to the PDL and do like the other PDL teams that pay players, and save costs. Super Y/US Academy/ODP---WLeague/PDL/WPSL---NASL---MLS /WPS ( If WPS lasts past 3 years ) What would be great to see is a legitimate peace between all parties, I really think the USL has good standard from the Super Y, W-league and PDL. I would be, in my oponion, in ffavor of US Soccer that The NASL becomes the “pro branch” of the USL. Thus making the NASL teams the Div 2 Soccer league. Allowing for even the USL 2 branch to move in with the NASL. However I think certain teams that want a “semi-pro” that are now in the USL-2 should move down to the PDL and do like the other PDL teams that pay players, and save costs.
Super Y/US Academy/ODP—WLeague/PDL/WPSL—NASL—MLS /WPS ( If WPS lasts past 3 years )

]]> By: Ken Jamieson http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/17/sorting-out-the-teams-of-usl-and-nasl/#comment-3894 Ken Jamieson Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:52:22 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12826#comment-3894 Quick correction to your story, the oldest Div-2 club is Vancouver. The Whitecaps, who began play in the old CSL in 1987 (as the Vancouver 86ers) and have played continuously at the Div 2 level with the CSL, APSL, A-League, USL and, hopefully in 2010, NASL. Even the Monteal Impact, founded in 1993 in the wake of the CSL Montreal Supra, pre-date the Rochester Rhinos by 3 years. The correct quote should be that the Rhinos are now the oldest Div-2 team in the United States. Quick correction to your story, the oldest Div-2 club is Vancouver. The Whitecaps, who began play in the old CSL in 1987 (as the Vancouver 86ers) and have played continuously at the Div 2 level with the CSL, APSL, A-League, USL and, hopefully in 2010, NASL. Even the Monteal Impact, founded in 1993 in the wake of the CSL Montreal Supra, pre-date the Rochester Rhinos by 3 years.
The correct quote should be that the Rhinos are now the oldest Div-2 team in the United States.

]]> By: Hough http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/17/sorting-out-the-teams-of-usl-and-nasl/#comment-3774 Hough Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:41:41 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12826#comment-3774 Just make MLS 2 as a minor league for MLS Just make MLS 2 as a minor league for MLS

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/17/sorting-out-the-teams-of-usl-and-nasl/#comment-3747 Brian Quarstad Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:14:33 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12826#comment-3747 thomask, stepping up to USL-2 from PDL is a huge jump for most teams. Non-paid to paid, greater league costs and most of all increased transportation costs. I would say there are very few PDL teams that would make the transition effectively. While the Des Moines Menace may have numbers, they are stuck in the middle of the country - who do they play and who is going to pay for the transportation costs to the east or west cost for every game? Kitsap Pumas are one of the teams that do come to mind however. They already pay their players (no college players - ncaa eligibility). The step up from PDL to USL-2 is big, but the step up from USL-2 to USL-1 is even larger. You have to have way more talented teams, a deep roster for all the travel and all the 2-game road trips in 3-days. As I have pointed out many at time, in order to make a profit you would most likely be needing to own your own stadium and be pulling in 7 to 10 thousand people a game. Travel costs alone for one away game in USL-1 will take suck up gate receipts of 2 games with 5,000 people. So in short, unless one of those teams has an owner with very, very deep pockets, almost none of those teams are truly ready. With that said, there will always be someone who tries. I do believe that the regionalized leagues, much like we have in the PDL is closer to the answer, but not a reality yet until the soccer infrastructure grows. thomask, stepping up to USL-2 from PDL is a huge jump for most teams. Non-paid to paid, greater league costs and most of all increased transportation costs. I would say there are very few PDL teams that would make the transition effectively. While the Des Moines Menace may have numbers, they are stuck in the middle of the country – who do they play and who is going to pay for the transportation costs to the east or west cost for every game? Kitsap Pumas are one of the teams that do come to mind however. They already pay their players (no college players – ncaa eligibility).

The step up from PDL to USL-2 is big, but the step up from USL-2 to USL-1 is even larger. You have to have way more talented teams, a deep roster for all the travel and all the 2-game road trips in 3-days.

As I have pointed out many at time, in order to make a profit you would most likely be needing to own your own stadium and be pulling in 7 to 10 thousand people a game. Travel costs alone for one away game in USL-1 will take suck up gate receipts of 2 games with 5,000 people.

So in short, unless one of those teams has an owner with very, very deep pockets, almost none of those teams are truly ready. With that said, there will always be someone who tries. I do believe that the regionalized leagues, much like we have in the PDL is closer to the answer, but not a reality yet until the soccer infrastructure grows.

]]> By: thomask http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/17/sorting-out-the-teams-of-usl-and-nasl/#comment-3746 thomask Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:42:53 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12826#comment-3746 I'm interested in which other teams have the potential and interest to step up. Judging by the attendance statistics alone there are a number of PDL organisations (eg Des Moines) could handle the transition and be a welcome addition to pro-soccer. Any chance of deeper analysis? I’m interested in which other teams have the potential and interest to step up.

Judging by the attendance statistics alone there are a number of PDL organisations (eg Des Moines) could handle the transition and be a welcome addition to pro-soccer.

Any chance of deeper analysis?

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/17/sorting-out-the-teams-of-usl-and-nasl/#comment-3743 Brian Quarstad Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:26:53 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12826#comment-3743 Grrrrowl. Thanks George. Nice to hear from you. Grrrrowl. Thanks George. Nice to hear from you.

]]> By: George H http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/17/sorting-out-the-teams-of-usl-and-nasl/#comment-3742 George H Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:24:12 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12826#comment-3742 Brian, great job in doggedly tracking this story. You're like a dog with a bone;) Brian, great job in doggedly tracking this story. You’re like a dog with a bone;)

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/17/sorting-out-the-teams-of-usl-and-nasl/#comment-3741 Brian Quarstad Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:09:32 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12826#comment-3741 Atlanta has told the powers that be that they will not be ready for this season but still hope to field a team in 2011. PB, thanks and ERic, I agree with you, "This is what I would call a young professional sport." At least in Canada and the US Atlanta has told the powers that be that they will not be ready for this season but still hope to field a team in 2011.

PB, thanks and ERic, I agree with you, “This is what I would call a young professional sport.”

At least in Canada and the US

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/17/sorting-out-the-teams-of-usl-and-nasl/#comment-3740 Brian Quarstad Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:07:24 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12826#comment-3740 Someone from Montreal. You may be correct on the first account. After looking into it again, it looks like Rochester started in 96 in the A league that then went to the USISL. As you state, Vancouver was in the APSL that changed it's name to the A-League in 95. On the second count, most of the teams with the TOA now were at some point affiliated with that organization way back in the summer of 08. But it was the three mentioned, Miami FC, Carolina Railhawks and the MN Thunder who were the ones who really stepped forward and drew the line in the sand. The others followed suite later. Perhaps you could make a point of Atlanta being the first team as they literally dropped out due to frustration. I did an interview (which you can find on this site) back in March of this year with Aaron Davidson where he talks about the Team Owners Association. This was before the statement that was made where all the teams you mentioned were members. Someone from Montreal. You may be correct on the first account. After looking into it again, it looks like Rochester started in 96 in the A league that then went to the USISL. As you state, Vancouver was in the APSL that changed it’s name to the A-League in 95.

On the second count, most of the teams with the TOA now were at some point affiliated with that organization way back in the summer of 08. But it was the three mentioned, Miami FC, Carolina Railhawks and the MN Thunder who were the ones who really stepped forward and drew the line in the sand. The others followed suite later. Perhaps you could make a point of Atlanta being the first team as they literally dropped out due to frustration. I did an interview (which you can find on this site) back in March of this year with Aaron Davidson where he talks about the Team Owners Association. This was before the statement that was made where all the teams you mentioned were members.

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