NASL and USL Gets Slap on Wrist by USSF – Competition of 2nd Division Leagues is Good for the Soccer Supporter
US Soccer has asked the North American Soccer League (NASL) and United Soccer League (USL) to tone down the promoting of their own organizations.
On January 7th of this year, the USSF made a decision with the USL and NASL to end the deadlock for control of 2nd division soccer by US Soccer sanctioning the league itself. While most of us were ready to move on with the business of playing soccer for the 2010 season, there has been little doubt that the planning for sanctioning in 2011 has already begun by both parties. While this is good for soccer fans with added coverage and information, there have been issues.
Neil Buethe, Senior Media Relations Director for U.S. Soccer, told IMS that they have asked both the USL and the NASL to tone down the self promotion. Buethe admitted to the situation and doesn’t want the issue any more confusing than it already is. “We had concerns over the way things were being presented,” stated Buethe. The US Soccer spokesperson said he wants to make sure everyone understands that neither the USL nor the NASL is the sanctioned league this year.
Buethe went on to say that he knows the situation is made even more confusing by the fact that both organizations have “League” in their name. He said to make matters more confusing, USL is in a sense a league because they operate a division III league (USL-2).
According the those close to the situation, several NASL press releases from individual teams went out that may have misrepresented the organization’s status. Buethe confirmed that but did not want to go on record as to which teams or who those teams were affiliated with. He stated that US Soccer is prohibiting teams to mention their affiliation unless it references the conference they are in and they may not use affiliated logos either.
The NASL has been very proactive promoting itself by hiring long-time soccer analyst and writer, Kartik Krishnaiyer as the PR spokesperson for the organization. Krishnaiyer has been working with all the affiliated teams coordinating press release and getting those releases posted on the NASL’s website which he admits is still not in its full functionality.
While the NASL have not publicly admitted they are working towards being sanctioned for 2nd division soccer in 2011, it’s no secret that the organization is going to pull out all the stops to do so.
Krishnaiyer told IMS on Friday that the whole situation is confusing and that USSF had requested that the NASL drop all references to the NASL in their press releases for teams not in the NASL Conference. “Rochester, Minnesota and Tampa Bay are playing this season in the USL Conference,” said Krishnaiyer. “The other six NASL teams are only allowed to reference their participation in the NASL Conference for 2010.”
For Minnesota, the language on the old NASL press releases read this way:
About the North American Soccer League (NASL):
The North American Soccer League (NASL) was established in November 2009 and is comprised of the following active teams: Carolina RailHawks, Crystal Palace Baltimore, Miami FC, NSC Minnesota Stars, Montreal Impact, Rochester Rhinos, AC St. Louis, FC Tampa Bay Rowdies and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. For the 2010 season, the NASL’s nine teams, together with three teams (Austin Aztex, Portland Timbers and Puerto Rico Islanders) from the United Soccer Leagues, will play in a second division league established and administered by the United States Soccer Federation. In 2011, the NASL will be joined by teams in Atlanta and Edmonton. 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.
The new verbiage reads:
About the league:
NSC Minnesota will play in the twelve-team United States Soccer Federation (USSF)-sanctioned division-2 professional league. The league will consist of two six-team conferences – the USL Conference and the NASL Conference. The USL Conference will include teams from Austin (Tex.), Minnesota, Portland (Ore.), Puerto Rico, Rochester (N.Y.) and Tampa Bay. The NASL Conference will consist of teams from Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Montreal, St. Louis and Vancouver.
…and the NASL logo is gone that was required previously.
There’s no doubt the whole situation is confusing and seems a bit petty. But consideration has to be given to US Soccer who want the two organizations’ teams taking the battle onto the field this summer and not to the internet this spring.
This situation has actually been an advantage to the 2nd division soccer fan in the US. There has been a noticed improvement in communication from the NASL and USL since USSF decided to sanction the league themselves.
NASL hired their PR guy in Krishnaiyer and its member teams have been pumping their sites with news articles and press releases.
It’s still unclear whether the USL is even interested in sanctioning the league in 2011 and they’ve been very quiet in talking about the situation. However, the league website has upped it a notch with more articles, a new blog called Free Kicks that has entries by league executives and insiders who give us insights into the running of the organization. The USL have also hired a director of communications in Jay Preble, a longtime sports communications professional.
Supporters of Division II soccer in the US can look forward to a summer of unprecedented coverage of their league. But let’s be clear! That’s the USSF Division-2 Professional League.
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Neil Buethe, Senior Media Relations Director for U.S. Soccer confirmed on Friday the Division-2 teams will not wear the USSF D-2 Pro League badge on their uniform this season. Buethe said they gave the teams the choice and being that it’s a one-off, they decided against it.
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So USSF seems to be doing NOTHING to promote the D2 league yet they are bitching about the two respective leagues promoting their own brands?
Me thinks US Soccer needs to stick to the competitive aspects and let these guys duke it out in the marketplace unless they are willing to step up and provide the marketing support necessary to keep D2 in the public conscience.
USSF does not even has this minor item under control.
Buethe is correct, USL IS a League, where NASL at this point is nothing more than a group of team owners.
USL has a right to promote itself in all of its leagues from Division III down to Super Y. That is what it does for a living.
NASL teamowners need to be promoting their individual teams so fans will get in the seats. USL teamowners need to do the same.
So what is USSF doing to promote this season? They took on the responsibility, they need to step up to the plate. USSF is calling this a “one-off” season, where is this good for the game? Sounds like a lot more confusion and this is not good for the fans in the US
“USSF is calling this a “one-off” season, where is this good for the game?”
Actually, the implication is that it’s a one-off. USSF has said their concern was 2010, because their concern WAS 2010. There was no point in worrying about 2011 if they couldn’t get the nonsense together for 2010.
It’s fans that can see that, in all likelihood, the USSF-2 is a one-off, but they’re the ones calling it that, not USSF. For all we know, the whole thing could collapse like a flan in a cupboard between now and November, so even worrying about 2011 is pointless.
Why should US Soccer care? It’s only a one-year season. And I agree, the self-promotion we are seeing out of USL and NASL is a lot more information I can get out of Division 2 soccer than from US Soccer’s own official website. I think it is becoming common knowledge that USSF have taken on a task that they seem to be ill-prepared for, or maybe just don’t care.
They can’t even properly promote the Open Cup. Those people are pathetic.
USSF is right IMO in telling both of them to concentrate more on this season before looking to far ahead. Both sides are still wasting time and energy posturing for the media (LOL…).
USL 1 failed three months ago, they just haven’t figured it out yet. The captain insists on going down with his severely listing ship.
NASL will be able to concentrate all their energy on just their one product, while USL will have to juggle many priorities spread out across the many leagues they operate.
Specialization is always more appealing to the passionate fan.
I have to agree with KT for the most part. Also, I was speaking of the badge on the shoulder when I said one-off and those were my words not his exact words. I don’t record the conversation and took notes but that was toward the end of the conversation and a last minute question that I had heard rumored. The point being, this is a one time thing and they have made that clear. In other words, its a one-off.
NASL has every right to promote itself in 2010 as a way of branding their new league in preparation for 2011. I was told by an NASL executive that as part of the settlement USSF would not interfere with any off the field business plans, i.e. branding as one example. Branding the new league is just one method of marketing which also helps identify expansion teams. Seems like USSF is not adhering to the agreement.
I heard from an inside source close to the negotiations that the USSF is afraid of lake monsters.
While USSF makes a good point about concentrating on what happens on the field in 2010, they have to be fair as business managers as well. USSF were very clear that they only want to be part of this arrangement for he 2010 season. Organizing and promoting a new (or existing) league takes a LOT of time and sustained effort. I agree with ‘Jane’ this seems like USSF interference with branding. This interference helps the USL. However, I really don’t think anyone can stop NASL anymore. They are very determined and neither USL or USSF will stop them. Don’t be surprised if you see at least 4 or 5 more teams come on board in 2011 & 2012. Watch for news from Calgary and Ottawa.
USSF should get their hand slapped! Competition is good. What we need is more competition. Maybe we can all take a road trip to Chicago, stand outside the USSF HQ, hold hands and sing Kum By Ya.
Lots of well deserved finger pointing going around.
It’s true that US Soccer hasn’t done jack in terms of getting the word out. And fair enough that the NASL/USL want to promote their brand, but I don’t see any effort being put into promoting Division2 on their end either.
It seems like all the parties have on foot out the door already. The USSF seems like it wants to wash its hands of this mess as soon as possible. On top of that, the NASL and USL are only willing to make investments that help THEIR OWN teams and don’t want to risk benefiting the other side inadvertently.
I think this shows a lack of leadership by USSF. An intervening organization that had any idea what they were doing would have put something in place to continue to work toward resolution. This would have included possibly gagging both sides to make sure the focus was on a common solution, versus self promotion. I think BQ has outlined previously that USSF must approve/give the 2nd division designation to one of the organizations for 2011. I’m not sure USL and NASL will be able to work things out. I’d like to see this go to court and show that FIFA/USSF must allow 2 competitive 2nd divisions. Or that a US equivalent of FIFA also has the power to govern the game in the US and the FIFA can not take retaliation toward clubs or players (maybe the most likely scenario?)