Rethinking Division-2 Pro Soccer in North America – Part 4
This is the fourth of a 4-part article looking at the future of Division-2 soccer in North America. Click here for part-1. Part-2. Part-3.
Sanctioning of the League – Where do we go from here?
As reported earlier in this series, US Soccer has called a meeting for August 9th. At that meeting the federation will lay out a standard in which teams involved with D-2 will need to comply. The organizations that bid for sanctioning of the league will also need to comply and enforce US Soccer’s new standards.
USSF President Sunil Gulati has said the federation does not want to be in the business of running a league. With the standards in place, they hope that someone will step forward who has the teams, infrastructure, financial backing and the plans to run Division-2. In that regard it only made sense for USSF to release these standards before allowing bids for sanctioning the league. Perhaps part of the bid will be an explanation on how these organizations will uphold these new standards set by US Soccer.
But who will make this bid? Of course the forerunners will be the usual suspects, the North American Soccer League (NASL) and the United Soccer Leagues (USL).
First, let’s look at what we know about the NASL and the USL:
USL
Currently they have the: Austin Aztex (solid team but rumored to be on the fence for future affiliation and want what’s best for their team), Puerto Rico Islanders (solid USL team) and the Portland Timbers (leaving for MLS in 2011).
USL has recently announced Orlando and Antigua for 2010 as new teams but many have questioned Antigua with the great distance to many D-2 teams. There could be further expansion plans for a Caribbean division. The USL had previously announced FC New York will play in 2010 which was revised to 2011. There are possible ownership groups in Phoenix, San Antonio and San Diego. The Michigan Bucks of the USL-PDL are rumored to be moving up to D2 as well. When USL was asked for a time table on when these teams would join their league, they chose not to respond.
NASL
Currently the NASL has 9 teams affiliated with the organization but some of those teams seem unstable at best: AC St. Louis (have had major financial issue and future is cloudy), Carolina RailHawks (solid team but lag in attendance numbers and are now looking for investors), Crystal Palace Baltimore (major financial issues and may not withstand the new USSF D2 standards), Miami FC Blues (solid team backed by Traffic Sports US but poor marketing and dismal attendance), Montreal Impact (leaving for MLS in 2012), Rochester Rhinos (most solid team of all D2 teams that are not moving to MLS), NSC Minnesota Stars (good organization but have to improve marketing and attendance to survive), Tampa Bay Rowdies (first year has been very solid both on and off the field), Vancouver Whitecaps (leaving for MLS in 2011).
The NASL claim to have two teams, Atlanta who were to originally join the league in 2010 but were pushed back to 2011 and Edmonton FC ready to join the league in 2011. Edmonton is already playing exhibition games this season but there seems to be very little activity with Atlanta. The NASL like the USL is working with ownership groups in San Antonio but are making realistic dates and do not expect them to enter into the picture until 2012. They are looking at San Diego, Phoenix, Ottawa and Hamilton for 2013.
US Soccer will want 8 teams for the league–a FIFA minimum standard. They will need the league to be financially stable with the ability to not only run the league but market the league and expand wisely. One course of action by either NASL or the USL would be to continue to add teams slowly and carefully to make sure the league supports those teams. Ideas such as the MLS model that Rochester owner Rob Clark suggested with a centralized office might be just one of the many things the sanctioning league may consider.
Yet another option would be to regionalize divisions which seems to be the option of choice for many currently involved with the league. It would reduce travel costs, build rivalries and help divisions to market within their own ranks. If this is to be done, either D-2 teams will have to step down to D-3 or a good many D-3 or even PDL teams would need to step up and many new D-2 teams would need to be added. If this idea were to work it would seem to make the most sense for the sanctioning league to work on one market at a time. Rushing it will mean disaster and we will have teams in the revolving door of D-2 once again.
Bruce McGuire of duNord Futbol blog supplied IMS with a list of 64 cities that he feels could be potentially minor league soccer cities. Gerry Wiittmann of AC St. Louis Fanatic created a list broken down by regions or divisions with D-2 and D-3 teams listed along with potential teams. Dave Clark of Sounders at Heart has put together a Google map of MLS teams which he believes could host an MLS Reserve Team along with current and potential NASL and USL-1 teams. Click here for the lists.
The USL certainly have the experience and organization behind them. Under new ownership of NuRock Soccer Holdings, they have been bulking up their organization, adding PR and media people amongst others. They ran USL-1 for many years and have the infrastructure and personnel to get the job done. USL remains a franchise system and moving into 2011 will only have two established teams.
The NASL have the bulk of the teams and because of that would seem to be a forerunner. But with the financial troubles of Jeff Cooper’s AC St. Louis who was acting commissioner for the organization, the NASL took a big hit. Andrew Nestor, owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Aaron Davidson President of Miami FC and Vice President of Traffic Sports US have taken over the leadership roles of the organization. There still is no infrastructure in place except for a PR position and the NASL has become very quiet since the incident and are said to be questioning how they want to assemble a bid.
There is one positive wrinkle in all of this. The NASL is said to be interested in working with Major League Soccer to establish a relationship with them to run the league. MLS’s involvement may be the best of all possibilities. It would only make sense to have the first division of soccer involved with running the second division of soccer. Could this be the MLS-2 that many have been desiring?
When Gulati was questioned last January about MLS’s involvement with D-2 he stated: “We’ve had discussions with MLS, some of the teams and some of the leadership of the groups we’ve been talking about had their own independent discussions prior to all these processes starting with MLS. They talked about working together and potentially partnering, having MLS handle some of the functions and developmental relationships. There was a longstanding relationship early on between MLS and the USL on player development and players moving up and down. All of that is possible, and we certainly encourage everyone to try and do things in an efficient way financially. If there is an economy to be had, or a player development scheme that makes sense, then terrific. We’ve already seen some of that integration happen where you’ve got teams for example that play in the U.S. Development Academy that have affiliations either indirectly or are owned by a second division team, or an MLS team, or are sponsored by those teams. As we continue to develop this model and look for further stability, you’re going to see natural synergies come into place that make sense financially to try and get everyone on sound footing both on and off the field.”
Another factor to consider is the new MLS collective bargaining agreement signed before the start of this years season that says:
RESERVE DIVISION: MLS and the Players Union will establish a joint committee to study the re-launch of a Reserve Division. In the event the rosters are expanded, the salary for those players will be a minimum of $31,250 with additional annual increases.
While that salary figure seems ridiculously high if players are to be playing for teams in D-2 where many players’ top pay is far less, the door is open to many possibilities for relationships with existing teams to act as reserve teams for MLS. One thing MLS complained about before dumping the reserve league was restrictive costs for travel, a familiar cry to many involved with Division-2 soccer. Regionalized divisions with existing teams seems to be in the realm of possibility.
Aztex CEO Djorn Buchholz says he would like nothing better than for Major League Soccer to be affiliated with the league and would love to see the Austin Aztex’s logo next to an MLS-2 logo. But whatever direction the league goes he thinks they need to have a better relationship with MLS. One that allows the 1st division teams in the US and Canada to develop 5 or 6 players at the division 2 level.
Bruce McGuire writes du Nord Futbol blog and has followed both Division-2 and MLS closely for years. McGuire is a realist and warns us. “If people think MLS will stick a lot of money into this they are mistaken,” says a cautious McGuire. He explains there are very few if any MLS teams making a profit and that soccer in the US is still a losing proposition at this point and time. “If MLS is going to kick money into this it’s not going to be very much. They may do a partnership to work together but as far as investing money it’s probably not going to be a whole lot.”
At the current time Division-2 does not seem to be as much of a developmental league as USL-PDL and USL-2, which MLS already is involved with. At one time MLS had a relationship with USL-1 but it seemed there was too much give on the USL teams’ end and too much take on the MLS end, said McGuire. He remembers those days and says there would need to be changes in the rules to keep that from happening again. “The most important thing is that players are not shuffled back and forth, in and out,” said McGuire. “I think it needs to be as simple as possible.”
McGuire suggests MLS could help D-2 soccer by sharing marketing departments. He said instead of marketing to 16-MLS markets you could have another 12-30. “You could find other sponsors that perhaps can’t afford to advertise at the MLS level but could get into those thirty D-2 markets for a lot less,” said McGuire. He also suggests MLS could expand on the new sales center that has been set up in Minnesota to train young talent to sell tickets. He says some of those trainees could go to D-2 teams or perhaps go to D-2 teams before they move onto MLS teams. He says he could also see the same sort of scenario with a marketing center or a PR center.
In writing the conclusion to this 4-part story, I talked to many individuals to get their thoughts on how they see D-2 progressing into the future. Some are directly involved with the league. Others I spoke with were not directly involved but have followed the league for years. My goal was to attempt to lay out the strategies an organization might take to win sanctioning for the D-2 professional soccer league for 2011. It quickly became obvious that the possibilities of how an organization might structure their league are endless and the current task at hand is more than overwhelming.
Sunil Gulati and US Soccer have clearly stated the running of the league is not their business and it’s not something they want be involved with. However, as one person who is significantly involved with soccer in the US recently told IMS, “This is truly a big moment for US Soccer and a chance to shape the development of the sport in this country for years to come.”
USSF could give the league to the NASL, USL, MLS or some other entity that makes a bid. Or they could take another route.
In the US we’ve had to form different models of soccer from top to bottom since we are a latecomer to the sport and because of the myriad of choices of sport in this country. We have been affected in growing the sport by the massiveness of North America. Perhaps Division-2 also needs another model. Something different then we are currently doing. Perhaps US Soccer needs to convene a think tank of individuals who would create a new model. That model could be league run by a group of owners with a vested interest. Or perhaps a non-profit organization with no direct ties to the clubs but for the betterment of soccer in the US. It could be MLS or MLS with the owners of the teams involved. The scenarios and possibilities are endless.
Perhaps its time to step back and see what other successful minor sports leagues in the US have done right. Perhaps if we are truly interested in player development it’s time to consider how to get MLS involved with D-2 and D-2 involved with D-3, PDL, NPSL or USASA teams. Perhaps its time to see the Development Academy teams involved as well. Perhaps its time to create a master plan that D-2 could play a significant part of and hopefully eventually prosper from. There is money in player development and that most likely is the future for many D-2 teams. In the early years the league was definitely about development. Many players graduated from D-2 to play in MLS, the US National Team and some to Europe. Presently the league seems to be more of an entertainment league then a developmental league. Perhaps it can be both.
Perhaps in the near future D-2 teams will draw more fans that will see the up and coming US, Canadian and international stars of the future. They could also see former MLS stars in their own home town who now lead their D-2 teams and help guide the young rookie who’s got great future potential. They could also watch the journeyman D-2 player who holds the team together and may be a fan favorite.
With the correct leadership and planning the future of Division-2 soccer in North America could be both helpful in building a nation of professional soccer players and potentially profitable for the teams owners. The future could be bright, but who will lead the way?
Comments are closed.
FWIW-
Miami FC has announced that they are changing their name in 2011 to Strikers. I havyet to see an announcement if they are scrapping Miami for Ft. Lauderdale. Not that it matters as they need more than a name change to get crowds.
It is great to see the lists of cities provided as there are definitely cities that can support soccer, but if you don’t have investors it is a non-starter. Therefore, I think the solution of this mess is for Shep Messing’s mustache to figure it out.
Rookie-
Don’t try to get me involved in this mess. I am far to perfect to get bogged down with this crap. If you want this problem solved you should talk to Marcel Balboa’s hair.
I would like to see some partnership with MLS, which in my opinion would be a step toward promotion/relegation–which in turn I think most people agree would be a good thing for American soccer.
Most people wouldn’t care about pro/rel one way or the other, some fans might agree, but all owners (who have the only votes that count) would disagree.
I think both USL and NASL want a partnership with MLS, as both side realize MSL has reserve team needs that are too expensive for MLS to handle individually.
Having said that, Traffic, a large Brazil based media company, owns FC Miami. From what I understand Traffic has also funded NASL and has certain controlling rights as part of that funding. Traffic also competed against SUM (MLS’ marketing arm) over the marketing rights of the Mexican National team recently.
I wonder if MLS would really be interested in working with a known competitor of its own interests? That could hurt NASL in this effort.
I would disagree that Rochester is D-2′s most solid team. Rochester is rich in heritage and an absolute icon in D-2, however. Hopefully it can take that heritage and blossom.
Interesting comments Bart. Question, who would you see as D-2s’ most solid team if not Rochester? Remember, I was referring to teams not going to MLS and to me, attendance weights heavily into the equation. Look forward to your answer.
From an attendance perspective, Rochester is by far the most “solid” D-2 team not going to MLS. My definition of solid would be more than just an attendance score. If you add in financial depth to attendance, then my hat would probably got to Tampa, albeit a first year team, they are getting the fans and the owners appear, from their investment banking backgrounds, to have the ability to raise funds as needed.
Austin also has deep pockets financially, but don’t have the other elements you raise to call them solid.
The Carolina Railhawks at one point could have been called solid financially, but with the recent Cary, NC news articles stating that majority owner Selby Wellman is not only looking for a financial partner to infuse $1,000,000 into the team, but is also willing to dilute his holdings to a minority stake, that would raise serious questions as to their commitment/ability for next year and beyond. This also has serious repercussions for NASL, as they were a founder of NASL, and this further tears NASL away from having 8 teams in 2011.
So, all things considered, my argument would be that the goal of all D-2 teams would be to have a venue like Rochester with a history like Rochester but with an owner like Austin or Tampa.
If you find those cities that can produce that, you should have a healthy team for the future, but this is just my opinion.
I also think Tampa and Austin have done a marvelous job. However, Austin does need to get their attendance up. Austin is averaging 3500 right now. I have heard from some folks down there that they won’t go to games because they play on a American football field at a high school stadium (turf), albeit a nice high school stadium. Without building a SSS, there is really no other options down there from what I understand.
That’s odd Bart because it was reported in 2008 and again in 2009 that the Rochester group has a net worth of well over 100 million dollars. Not sure how that compares to the others but that seems pretty large to me.
What I don’t quite understand with all the talk of expansion and realignment is the (seeming) USL enthusiasm to further expand into the Caribbean. Granted there are some talented players from the region, but I just don’t see it being worth D-2′s attention given everything else going on. The cost of travel down there and potential visa problems for some players going back/forth would put that pretty low on my priority list if I was in charge. My hometown Aztex can’t even seem to go back and forth to Canada without Home Office and State Department intervention…
Bart-
I am liking what I am seeing from Tampa Bay. However, I once heard that a guy named Bernie Madoff was a good investor. Let’s not rally around the world of investment banking as what we deem to be a solid foundation.
To reiterate, I am loving what I am seeing from the Tampa organization. In fact, they just went out and hired new sales people to add to their staff. They are expanding while others are hoping to hold on or get mysterious investors.
“I have heard from some folks down there that they won’t go to games because they play on a American football field at a high school stadium (turf), albeit a nice high school stadium. Without building a SSS, there is really no other options down there from what I understand.”
Things like this make me spitting mad.
It’s beyond frustrating that these people can’t do the simple equation “If you don’t go to the games, the money people will never spend the money to build a stadium.” Or the simple equation “If you don’t go to the games, there won’t be a team.”
This is one of the many issues that keeps D2 soccer hamstrung. It’s the chicken and the egg. How can you convince people to come to the games if you don’t have a stadium? How do you convince investors to build a stadium if there’s insufficient attendance?
MLS has managed to get past that equation. By building stadiums anyway. But it’s taken 15 years to get to that point, and investors with billions in their pockets. My bet is that it will take another 10-15 years for D2 soccer to reach that level.
So, what do we do in the mean time?
McGuire is right that MLS, if they do involve themselves, won’t put in much money. Things are doing good… but they’re about to start opening their pockets a little more for some bigger name players, and player salaries went up. They’re just studying reviving the reserve league, and that decision won’t happen before next season.
The other chicken/egg issue is regionalization. What’s killing the D2 teams is travel. Until there’s enough teams in the D2, travel will keep killing teams. But we can’t get enough teams in D2 because they keep getting killed.
There’s only a couple ways around this vicious cycle (as you pointed out):
1. Suddenly add a lot of teams
2. Two methods, which I really don’t see a difference between — moving up or moving down — combining D2, USL2 and top level PDL teams.
If MLS jumped in with local reserve teams, that would certainly do the trick (add a lot of teams), as shown by that nice map in the list of teams link. But then there’d be the issue of “where is MLS going to find all the players to stock a reserve team?”
The ‘merging D2 and USL2′ would seem like a more likely path, but you’d have to convince owners that are used to a national footprint that playing Des Moines doesn’t matter to their fans (see Rochester owner).
I don’t think either of those things will happen next year. I think we’re far more likely to end up with a smaller D2 next year, but who knows will be doing it.
BQ, Fantastic series! I’ll have to come back to comment on a few things as I’m still digesting the entire series in whole, but I wanted to thank you first for the effort in examining a very complex yet critically important topic for the future of soccer here in the US.
maybe it’s time for Nike Soccer to carry the ball and bid for the rights to manage a Div 2 league as a partner of the MLS network…
I already have the advertising campaign figured out….
“Underwrite the Future”…
Brian I urge you to look deeper into PR Islanders they are defenitly a team that is hanging on by a thread, it’s not a solid team at all. With real attendance below the 1k mark, a FO that has no marketing ability and owners that ignore the fans call for change on and off the field.
I was probably not clear but what I meant was they are solidly in USL’s corner. I have heard of issues as well.
I had somehow completely missed this website. Interesting list of cities there. I’ve heard bits and pieces about some of this, mostly just Phoenix. The website and announcement sure feel low-rent, but they’re claiming USSF D2. If they really can bring in 6 teams, then whoever successfully woos them (NASL or USL) will have enough numbers to meet the USSF requirements. It’s still up in the air whether they’d meet the other requirements, of course.
duality72, did I hear you right,”most people wouldn’t care about pro/rel one way or the other?”
You explain it to the American “fan” and they don’t get it right away. You give them an explaination and things get exciting. Teams stop playing for the good draft pick–like what the T-Wolves have done for the last decade. Things get interesting at the end–one match changes everyting. People actually come to the match!
What a great series of articles. Too bad that you couldn’t get it printed in a few newspapers.
A lot to digest and think about.
As much as I’m against a person or party owning a league, I hope the USL and the NASL can come to some meeting of the minds. It seems to be, at least at this point in time, to be disasterous and silly for the 2 leagues to go their separate ways.
I had always hoped to see MLS involved in some way in lower division soccer and maybe their involvement will bring some stability to the Div 2 situation.
Once again, I really enjoyed the series and appreciate the work you put into it.
One of the recurring themes in all of this debate is the travel expenses that could be mediated with the formation of regions. I’m not sure where I stand on this issue, but I will say this, the NPSL has made it work. Yes, it is very regionalized, but they also don’t have nearly the revenue streams of these NASL/USL teams. I understand that the players also are not paid, but I also know that they have done a fantastic job of keeping travel expenses low. These teams travel all over, especially when it comes to the national tournament, and they make it happen despite little or no revenue. The league has grown in numbers of teams every year since it’s inception, so they must be doing something right. Obviously the NPSL doesn’t draw the number of fans as USL teams, but I can’t help but wonder how they would do in a market where they are the only game in town. Does anybody know this? I just think that if a “professional” league was run in this manner, you would attract more talent because top players could hold jobs to supplement their income while still being able to continue with their development. I firmly believe that if the NASL/USL was run as the only game in town while limiting games to the weekends and practices to the evenings, not only would you see an increase in the level of play on the field, but you would also see operating budgets drop dramatically, allowing teams to be financially solvent. Some of the best quality soccer I have ever been witness to in this country was when the Thunder was an amateur team playing other amateur teams. I don’t understand why giving a league the “professional” label helps development in the slightest. It drives away top players who cannot afford to live on an $5000 contract while also raising the operating costs and, ultimately, setting teams up for failure. We are not Europe, and we need to stop trying to emulate them in a country that is yet to fully embrace the sport. Making the NASL/USL league an amateur league will not drive our top players away. It may drive away an extemely small percentage of players who will seek to be paid abroad, but it will also allow for players that we simply are not currently seeing, to continue their development and hold a full time job. I cannot tell you how many players I know who have attempted to play abroad, only to wind up back here in 1 -2 years. It’s not like there are an unlimited number of opportunities out there. The ones who are talented enough to be playing in the MLS or a foreign pro league will get noticed and provided that opportunity. The Menace are a perfect example. You don’t have to have the “professional” tag to field a quality team and draw fans. Can you imagine if the NASL/USL went completely amateur? Do we really believe that we would all of a sudden have lower quality soccer? I don’t think so, and I believe, we would see growth like we have never seen before. When, and if, soccer gains enough of a fan base in this country to support “minor league” teams, then we can slowly ease into it. Right now, it simply can’t. There is no other way to explain a 75% failure rate. None. The fans, and thus the revenue, are simply not there. It’s as simple as that.
WHY!!! why merge when you can buy sorry but USL stock has gone down with it having just D3 teams. I be surprise if the NASL will the around next year with the trouble they’re having with their teams . MSL has taken the top three teams in D2. I said to myself last winter if MSL held on through this tuff spot they be in the driver seat. Not that I’m wishing and ill for these two leagues but the hand writing it on the wall. If these teams do survive they will play as feeder league no more and the three good team left could easily be MLS team including Minnesota which had a fan base that rivaled Sounder before it got piss away. Time to think about this for real if they did partner up with the ULS the MLS would be giving control of the player to the USL cause of MSL structure noway the MSL they are going to dot that give control the player contract to the USL. they would want to control even the farm league contracts too.
I sorry I said merge I ment partnership a merge would be a good thing . This hold thing is sad how every your look at it.
MLS2 (with no pro/rel – just combined admin and marketing) sounds the best way to go. Doubt MLS is interested though,
Brian-Again, great reporting. I think you’ve covered this from a variety of perspectives and brought all of the important issues to light.
1) I think most, if not all of the teams in question will work to affiliate themselves with the group that receives the sanction for 2011 and beyond. The NASL formed out of a hope to seize control during a time of extreme instability, which was created in no small part by the TOA. With things going so terribly sideways we are left with a year of limbo that has let all of these questions rise to the surface. Once USSF sorts out what the future of D2 looks like, my guess is you will see many of these same teams work to get in compliance and move forward, regardless of who is in charge.
2) Pro/Rel = Not going to happen. At least not anytime soon, the financial disparities between teams at the MLS and D2 level are too great, the MLS owners aren’t likely to support anything resembling this. I thought this issue had been put to bed.
3) A move toward developmental/reserve league should be the direction IMO. Even if MLS clubs are paying the salaries for a few top players on each D2 roster, that reduces the financial burden on the lower level teams and aids development of young players, which should be a primary goal.
4) If teams can be found and supported then a regional schedule would aid in solving many problems facing D2/D3 teams currently. But it isn’t going to be a cure-all. Brian did a great job pointing out the issues on the business side, which should not be ignored. If MLS involvement helps straighten this out, then lets make it happen, but I’m not sure that it would.
I have no answers to offer, but I’m as interested as anyone to see what the future holds.
Sheridon:
The Rochester “Group” consists of Rob Clark, with his father footing the financial bill. Rob Clark is in the soccer business by default only. His father, Harold Clark Jr., owns a regional bank called Adirondack Bank here in upper New York.
While Dad is of means, Rob Clark is in no way worth $100,000,000. He is more of the “silver spoon” in his mouth type of guy. Being part of the family, Rob Clark is on the Board of Directors for Adirondack Bank, but that does not give him access to the vault.
From a financial backing standpoint, Rochester is probably one of the weakest teams in D-2. They make it up through their heritage and being a longstanding icon in D-2 soccer. I would guess the Rochester trademark and goodwill value is one of the largest in the league.
When I look at the map provided on the other posting I shudder when I see the locations of Edmonton, Puerto Rico and Antigua. Maybe those teams need to take part in leagues that are in their country (Canada) or region (CCU). Having a US based league with those clubs is not in the best interest of developing the game.
Puerto Rico, like it or not, is part of the United States and as such enjoys the majority of the same rights mainland based US citizens do.
Puerto Rico is a US based team. Hawaii would be as well.
Bart,
Okay…..what you just posted makes no sense -his dad apparently pays for the team, has tons of money but the ownership is broke- but keep on keeping with the Rhinos owner sucks thing……
Sheridon,
What does not make sense? I said Tom Clark, Rob Clark’s father, is of means, I did not say he has a net worth of over $100,000,000, which is what you stated you thought the team owner’s net worth was. It would be very difficult for Mr. Clark to have a net worth of $100,000,000, Adirondack Bank’s deposits are less than $500,000,000, which makes it a small regional bank.
The conversation involved which D-2 team was “solid”. With absolutely no disrespect to the Rochester team, its legend or its place in history, the point is that the Rhino’s are not the most solid team financially, compare to other D-2 teams. However, the Rhinos have other benefits that I am sure the other D-2 teams would die to have, such as a soccer specific stadium, a great following with a higher attendance than most of the other teams, and marketplace that accepts them as a big deal. That is one heck of a platform to build on.
A Caribean superleague (likely as a region of the 2nd division of USSF) would be good for everyone. There just aren’t enough people, and not enough money to have each island with a dozen teams.
As for Edmonton joining the CSL, that would be even worse for them and the CSL (a PDL level organization) as the travel would be even more prohibitive. The CSL is basically a Toronto league.
BQ – great series. Loved following it. It does seem silly to concentrate on the Caribean but it might just be that a league for the islands would work very well.
Edmonton FC to the CSL, is probably a good idea. I realize that many people look down on the CSL, and even compare it to the PDL. It’s actually a semi-pro league that does very well in its markets. The leadership is good and serious. the CSL is very much like USL 2, and it’s only a matter of time before the CSL will be the preferred option to the USL.
Wow. So much to talk about. And with so many directions to go, the possibilities are pretty much endless. I’m not even sure which ideas I can suggest. I suppose it all comes down to your vision of where you’d like to see the division 2 go (however idealist or practical it may be). Either way, I can’t imagine any kind of long term stability in the lower divisions until MLS becomes more involved.
USL needs to remain the D2 division as the NASL creation from the TOA break away was a disaster. As well it looks as if the USL is about to announce the I-League for indoor soccer tomorrow. The I-League could provide another potential revenue stream for franchises. Ultimately the USL needs to Pro1, Pro2 & PDL with certain conditions to qualify for participation at each level. Hopefully the USL will have learned their lesson from the experience of the past year and take care of their franchises.
USSF does not have to be involved. It may be better if USSF is not involved. I wrote an article about this subject. http://thekartikreport.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/fifa-ussf-block-goals-u-s-pro-soccer-cant-score-with-sports-fans/
Sorry but I think that argument is a non-starter. It was discussed at length last winter by Kartik and I when we were covering the issue and the principles involved were not interested nor were the players. There is far too much to risk in doing so.
Brian,
Thanks for all of the insight you have given to the topic of Div. 2 pro Soccer in the U.S. Undoubtedly, you and Kartik, and now mainly you, are the only ones who have done real investigating on the topic.
But, for you to say that the topic is over, is careless, in my opinion. I don’t believe you all ever really addressed this topic.
The topic I bring up is having a pro Soccer league that does not ask for sanctioning from USSF or FIFA.
Where are the other major sports getting their sanctioning? Who sanctions Australian Rules Football?
Sanctioning, the in-depth role of USSF and FIFA, as they relate to sports fans in the U.S. has never been profoundly discussed.
I must disagree with your analysis that this topic is dead or that this topic was already discussed. My belief is that many readers and the majority of attendees to the games have no idea that these governing bodies are deciding how their teams are playing games.
To Americanizing Soccer:
True. Outside of soccer, I wouldn’t be able to tell you what role other “federations” play in their respective sports.
But, without offering any arguments as to why sanctioning is necessary, what would be the purpose of specifically NOT pursuing sanctioning? Is joining/playing in a USSF sanctioned league overly restrictive? Is there something you would like to see done that the USSF probably wouldn’t approve of? Or is it simply to have the flexibility of being independent?
Coconut Monkey,
Thanks for the dialogue. I will start with ‘What is the purpose of trying to get sanctioned?’ Sanctioning does not seem to be something that fans follow closely. Why are these games being played. It’s all about the fans. It’s starts there. Frankly, I believe that pro Soccer in the U.S. can gain a better foothold with U.S. sports fans by thinking fan friendly first. I want more from my Soccer experience live in person and on the tube. I am attaching some quotes from Roger Goodell, from this year. http://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2010/3/22/1386000/annual-meeting-transcript-nfl Look at the what he says, he always references what will be best for the fans. U.S. pro Soccer needs to learn from the NFL about marketing how the game is played for the entertainment of the fans.