First Official Press Statement from RailHawks Regarding NASL AGM

Website to be revealed this week in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention.

Jan. 11, 2010 – The North American Soccer League (NASL) held its inaugural annual general meeting in Ft. Lauderdale last Thursday through Saturday. Representatives of the 11 member teams attended the meeting and made several key decisions following the announcement by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) on Thursday that teams from the NASL would play in a league administered by the USSF in the 2010 season.

The NASL’s teams confirmed that they will work with the USSF and representatives of the three teams from the United Soccer Leagues which will be playing in the combined 2010 USSF Second Division League to finalize the schedule for the season as soon as possible.

The members also unanimously approved a partnership with MRX, a leading full-service event and technology company in Canada, to build an online network for the NASL and its member teams. The league’s website will launch later this week in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention being held from Jan. 13-17 in Philadelphia, at which the NASL will have a booth.

Other decisions taken by the members included: (i) the establishment of several working committees of the Board of Governors, including the Executive, Finance, Expansion, Marketing, Broadcast and Competition Committees; (ii) the submission to the USSF of recommendations regarding competition-related matters for the 2010 season; and (iii) league executive staffing hires which will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We are truly excited about the NASL’s first ever AGM. It was a productive weekend where we laid the groundwork to ensure the league’s success and sustainability for years to come,” said RailHawks President Brian Wellman.  “Having the owners make decisions on the business side of the NASL will quickly advance the league and teams in terms of exposure, commercial viability and quality of play, all of which the fans deserve.”

ABOUT THE NASL

The North American Soccer League (NASL) was established in November 2009 and is currently comprised of the following nine teams: Carolina RailHawks, Crystal Palace Baltimore, Miami FC, Montreal Impact, Rochester Rhinos, AC St. Louis, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Vancouver Whitecaps and a team in Minnesota whose name is still to be determined.  In 2011, these teams will be joined by teams in Atlanta and certain other cities to be named later.  The NASL and its member teams are committed to building on their long tradition of providing a high level of soccer to fans across the United States and Canada in 2010 and beyond.