NASL CEO Aaron Davidson Interviewed by Canadian Soccer News
NASL CEO Aaron Davidson
Last week, IMS friend Ben Rycroft of Canadian Soccer News interviewed North American Soccer League’s CEO Aaron Davidson. Davidson is very candid in this audio interview and speaks openly for the first time since the NASL was provisionally sanctioned to run Division II soccer in the United States.
If you are remotely interested in the NASL or what has happened between the NASL and USL over the last three years, this is a must-hear interview at It’s Called Football.
Here are just a few quotes and points from that interview.
On if he was surprised that the USL decided to move back to 3rd division [USL PRO], clearing the way for the NASL in Division II:
“We probably have to go 8 to 10 years back where there have been movements and you can speak to a lot of the teams that have come and gone from USL who have been cheering us on from the sidelines. They had lost money over the course of the last ten years and were willing to stick it out in the structure that USL had. We finally had a critical mass of teams that had a similar vision the last 3 or 4 years and we were finally able to tilt the balance and spill the water if you will, culminating last weekend.”
“As far as being surprised, I wasn’t surprised at all. Look, they didn’t get to where they are without a fight and they did something very special in the mid 80′s after the old NASL died. I’ve said this consistently… They’ve played a very critical role in the development of the game here in the 80′s through the 90′s.
“They should have realized at some point how much money, at least the teams in USL-1, were spending and that the teams really didn’t have control of their own destiny. We didn’t feel like we owned or controlled where the league was going. At that point they should have figured out a way to restructure it. But I think out of greed or other reasons they were never willing to do so. It went all the way to the end… all the way to the last meeting we had with USSF with them [USL] August 8th, when USSF handed down the Division II standards. We went over our plan and USL even to that point were claiming they were going to field a second division league, which frankly is a shame. If they had just recognized where they were and done what was right for the game, what’s good for the game, they would have simply admitted that they were going 3rd division. Everyone saw the writing on the wall. It took a lot of questioning for them to admit it.
“Look, you’ve got to love fighters in the world, but it reaches a time when cooperation and peace will achieve a lot more, especially in the game of soccer in North America.
Regarding cooperation and relationships between MLS and NASL:
“Its in everyone’s best interest to finally get second division structured the right way. It’s not good for MLS to have chaos below. [MLS Commissioner Don] Garber has often referred to second division soccer as disorganized and that doesn’t help anyone. If they are trying to continue to build a methodical growth plan in MLS, it doesn’t help to have a group under you that’s shooting everywhere.”
“The commissioner is the commissioner. He has to guide and direct the owners and be the mediator and consensus builder and that’s why Don Garber has done so great. But at the end of the day you have owners around the table ultimately deciding where they want to take their league. That’s the difference between what we are building with NASL versus where we came from in USL. We didn’t hire our commissioner and he didn’t support us. And we didn’t really own the league because we just owned our teams. Now we can actually talk owners to owners between NASL and MLS. Before you didn’t know who you were speaking to at NASL. You have to speak to the team owners and you have to talk to their real empowered representative or commissioner. USL didn’t really have one. The commissioner was the guy who founded them and he had very different interests than the team owners. He had an interest in selling teams. Here our relationship is going to be one-to-one, owner-to-owner, commissioner-to-commissioner between NASL and MLS.”
“There’s been a benefit in this process [sanctioning] in that the dialog between us, MLS, the CSA and the USSF is better than ever before.”
In regard to the new USSF Division II standards:
“Quite frankly we have to aim for higher standards. Those are not very high standards. If you think that our teams’ budgets are on average a couple million dollars a year and our losses are usually over seven figures you have to think that someone with $20 million can absorb those hits for a couple of years. As budgets go up I don’t think $20 million in net worth is a lofty standard by any stretch of the imagination. We have to go for higher standards.”
Other points made:
• The NASL is still moving forward, looking at future teams in Canada even though the CSA has put a temporary moratorium on expansion into American leagues.
• Montreal and Vancouver will remain a member of the NASL even after each team moves to MLS.
• Minnesota will be a league-owned team.
• A press conference will be held this Wednesday announcing Atlanta and the following Tuesday for Minnesota.
• The NASL would someday like to have a 20-team league in accordance to FIFA standards.
• The NASL is working on adding a team for 2013 that is yet to be finished and who will have investors from Canada. That team should be announced by the end of 2010.
There are lots and lots of other interesting comments in here from Aaron Davidson. I highly recommend listening to Ben Rycroft‘s excellent interview with the Chief Executive Officer of the NASL.
Editors note 6:30 a.m. 11/29/10: Aaron Davidson has left a statement in the comments of this post.
Comments are closed.
This makes me wonder..I guess the USSF doesn’t care that the Brasilians and Canadians are supported this league with there money. Traffic must have plenty because their team has the worst attendance in the country. From fans in South Florida we say “se perdre”!
I guess they also don’t care about Minnesota being a ‘league owned team’. Can’t decide if I’m disappointed in the USSF or not. But I suppose at this point, it might be worth it to let the NASL see if they can manage what the USL didn’t. Let them give it a go for a couple years and see if they can make it work. I don’t see how they can with attendances of only a couple thousand, but I guess we’ll see.
So Traffic finally got what they want. Three Teams they own in Miami, Minnesota and Atlanta so they can try and sell American players abroad. They even have a player “menu” which is available on their Traffic website. This is all Traffic is interested in, they do not care about attendance or marketing and that’s fine.
http://www.kenn.com/the_blog/?p=3673
Brian and Ben,
Thanks to each of you and all of the committed soccer media in the US and Canada for the critical work you do covering the game in this region. We will always welcome the cosntructive criticism…as well as the compliments when deserved. I have often internally referred to sanctioning as the beginning, not the end of our mission, as the starting line, not the finish line. And that is what it is. We all recognize that a lot of (even more) hard work is yet ahead of us, but the work ahead of us should be more enjoyable and productive because we will be building our teams and our league. Imagine what we will accomplish now if that we can channel all of our energy, passion and investment into building our teams and league rather than fighting for what was objectively right (those who invest should be those who lead, govern and control) but unjustifiably, unreasonably and unfairly resisted for years. To all the skeptics out there, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Our modern-day mission to establish a team-owned and governed league took over four years and even more if you consider all of the teams which tried to do so over the years including Montreal which withdrew from the USL in 1999 due to disagreements with the league. So now that we have been sanctioned, we appreciate even moreso where we came from and the effort it will take to continue to elevate second division for the good our our teams, markets, fans, the media, MLS and yes…even USL. Soccer in North America won’t achieve its potential until we all respect each other and work together.
In closing, to those who wonder how we can make the NASL or our teams (including Miami FC – soon to be Strikers) successful when our attendance has been so low, please understand that we were playing in what was for all intents and purposes an anonymous league. One can only expect/achieve support when one has credibity and fields a quality product. Without a well-positioned league (and obviously a quality product), whether first or second division, we simply haven’t had the necessarily credibility and relevance to draw more fans…especially in former MLS markets and/or markets which expect first-rate product at the league and team levels. Montreal, Portland and Rochester were founded pre-MLS or prior to MLS stabilizing itself. This allowed for them to build their teams and markets independently of the league in which they played. Puerto Rico has positioned itself in large part thanks a great product on the field highlighted by playing and succeeding in CONCACAF Champions League. And Montreal and Vancouver have further solidified themselves by playing in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship and in the case of Montreal advancing to the quarterfinals and nearly the semifinals of Champions League. So while we have a lot of work to do, we are excited and committed to doing it. And although this statement may sound overly simple, it’s very meaningful and representative of what we have been through, where we are and where we are going. When you own something, you invest more love and resources into making it the best it can be. Now that we own our league and teams, we are inherently more committed to building and growing both. Again, to put it in very simple terms and at a very basic but fundamental level. Our owners and teams now proudly promote and wear our league name (e.g., something as simple as pins) when we didn’t really have any natual reason to do so before when we played in someone else’s league. That may sound too basic to some, but that is really where it all starts – from the heart.
Look forward to more healthy dialogue and constructuve debate as we look to collectivly grow soccer in North America.
All the best,
Aaron
@Aaron- in front of the microphone you run at the mouth like a drunk at a kakaoke bar.
This is such BS. Your doing the same thing that NASL did before. Put on a good face and make everything look rosy when it stinks below the surface! for me IN CLOSING to quote you “In closing, to those who wonder how we can make the NASL or our teams (including Miami FC – soon to be Strikers) successful when our attendance has been so low,” your reply is you were playing in an “anonymous league”..please after YEARS you as the man in charge of Miami couldn’t get more than 200 people at a game. What business school or ad company told you that people would come out to watch you shave your head. Don’t blame the league. Could it be Traffic doesn’t choose to spend money on marketing? as they just want to showcase or let some of their players graze. More people come to watch our Haitian teams play in south Florida. Blues of Miami, Strikers of South florida..its all the same. I predict a strike out!
“Minnesota will be a league owned team”
Hmmmm, interesting and I will leave it at that until I learn more about the situation… Oh ok I will add one joke though, does that mean they will be called the NASL Stars. HA!
Traffic owns 3 teams. As Davidson’s own interview suggested, each D2 team will lose around $1,000,000 a season. So now Traffic will lose, at a minimum, $3,000,000 a year (probably more because Atlanta is a startup team again).
Now Traffic has to fund the front office. That will be at least another $1,000,000.
So, Traffic alone will lose about $4,000,000 in 2011. Now let’s add up the other 5 teams. With the exception of Montreal (makes money, which is why it is going to MLS) and Puerto Rico (which is subsidized by the Puerto Rico government), the other 3 teams will also lose $1,000,000 (or $3,000,000 in total) for 2011 ( Edmonton lost over $500,000 just producing exhibition games this year).
So, for 2011 , NASL is projecting losses of $7,000,000. Traffic will be losing $4,000,000 of this by itself.
As Davidson said, Rome was not built in a day, but Rome made money from day one in its conquests.
Davidson said that USL was an anonymous league. Not by my book. Most of the soccer world knows very well who USL is and respects USL at its various league levels. Yes it needed to make some changes in its pro league format, and from what I am seeing, is doing so in a manner that makes good business sense.
Soccer, much like real estate is governed on the fundamentals of “location, location, location”. Each of these NASL teams has to run their individual businesses to reach its local market. With the exception of Montreal, none of the other teams have done that. Miami is the worst offender. So now we are to believe that Miami’s attendance will go up just because its parent company controls NASL?
Either Davidson is married to a senior officer’s daughter from Traffic Brazil, or he has some very nasty and erotic photographs locked up in a very secure safe. This employee of Traffic, with no real skin (no risk individually) in the game, purports to understand the risks of running a soccer business here in the US? At least Tom Fath of Edmonton and Selby Wellman of Carolina make decisions based upon how it affects their pocketbook. Davidson has none of these traits.
Money is a lot like drugs. As long as Traffic continues to be the pusher, the users will be around to take the drug. Once Traffic realizes that the first bit of free samples did not bring about the return for more drug sales, it will slow the pipeline down.
As it is, for the next three years, Traffic will bleed about $12,000,000. Chump change for three player contracts, I grant you, but that does little to benefit US soccer.
If USSF has decided to go along with this, maybe it is because Davidson delivered $100,000 in contributions to USSF towards the World Cup bid just prior to the USSF vote. Granted, there is nothing technically illegal with this, but if the USSF was a US governmental regulatory body, this would stink to high heaven.
I don’t want to hear that NASL met the standards. Not with three teams on Traffic’s payroll. And I don’t want to hear how Lamar Hunt did the same for the fledgling MLS. We had no D1 in the US when Mr. Hunt came along. He operated from a blank slate. Traffic is no Lamar Hunt, and Traffic does not share the same vision.
And further, out of the 8 teams, only 5 are US based, making this league 62.5% US based, which does not meet the new standard.
We can argue that USSF must give NASL a chance all we want. Apparently they are.
One thing about Traffic, it does not bleed red. It bleeds one heck of a lot of green, however. Money must grow on trees down in Brazil. I may need to move there and buy a farm.
Maybe Davidson and I can be neighbors down there, as he know not how to make monies any other way.
Mr. Davidson-
Thanks for your comment. I wish you and the rest of the league the best of luck. I can’t wait to see the Stars come down and visit the Rowdies, Strikers and Atlanta. All within a quick drive of central Florida.
Thanks for your comment, Mr. Davidson. I appreciate a lot that have already made yourself available for interviews, and your comment here is greatly appreciated–even if not everyone who reads this blog agrees with your or takes you at your word. This kind of approachability is something that’s been lacking in lower level soccer for many years.
I hope that you continue to listen to the fans and address us directly. Best of luck with the many challenges and opportunities which are now before you and the owners.
@Aaron – There are more people silently (on the internet) cheering for the NASL to succeed than the vocal negativity from those who apparently would rather have no division II UNLESS it is modeled in their image. (Yes that is a biblical reference.)
With regards to NASL, Ive never seen so many people look a gift horse in the mouth!
Tell you what, if American soccer completely falls apart, I promise to meet back here for all of the whiners/complainers to tell me that they told me so…and it can be a stage for all of the negativity and wise insight/witty replys. Should be fun!
In the meantime, Ive got a great idea! Lets focus on supporting soccer! After all, people are spending their millions on it for our enjoyment. The least we can do it give it a chance.
@Mr. Davidson – Thanks for taking the time to give us a vision of the NASL’s goals. We appreciate the work the league is doing to give D2 soccer in this country a chance. Go Strikers!
@Grant Stephens – I agree with your comments. Supporting D1 – D4 soccer all over the country should now be the goal of all American soccer fans. Considering the 11th hour self-relegation of Austin and Rochester, and the ownership issues in St. Louis, the NASL has put in place the best foundation it can at this point in time. Soccer fans are the ones who will ultimately decide whether or not NASL, USL, and MLS are or are not successful. We need to come out in force in 2011 and make it a year where the sport grows in this country on EVERY level.
@Everyone whining about Traffic’s business model – Too often we as Americans want to impose our beliefs and ideals on the rest of the world. It’s a very liberal attitude, and it’s a big part of the reason why if we weren’t the ones holding the big stick, a lot of people and nations would be more open about loathing us. In a lot of ways we ARE the greatest nation on the planet, but that doesn’t mean we are the best at EVERYTHING.
Traffic is not an American company. Running their organization with more of a dollars and sense bottom line then a “touchy feely” let’s make American soccer fans love us attitude is perfectly fine. You think Traffic is putting up all of this cash to make D2 work is a short term investment for them? Obviously they hope at some point other ownership groups arise and can take over in Atlanta and Minnesota.
But in the meantime, they are SAVING D2 soccer in this country. Lord knows the USL did nothing to do so, and in fact, have done all they can to drag it under instead. And guess what? A thriving and competitive D2 league HELPS their business model of developing players. What are we all after for D2 soccer? A healthy and thriving league…..gee whiz, funny how those things actually mesh……
The USL lovers are always going to throw rocks at the NASL, and that’s fine. But if you actually stopped and thought logically for hald a second about the big picture, you might realize it’s ridiculous and counter-productive to the growth of the sport in our country (and Canada).
I’m just copying this from an older thread from earlier today, but as this is the more current thread I though it would be appropiate.
“I understand the Traffic concerns, but maybe it would be best for us to put this in perspective. I’ve read comments of them “owning the league” and “controlling the league”. Just how many players will they be “parking” in the NASL? Since I acknowledge that many of you have a greater insight into Traffic than I do, how many did they “park” at Miami in 2010? I looked at this year’s roster and see 15 of the 28 players listed with previous MSL or USL experience (teams not controlled by Traffic) so those players did not seem to fall under the young, foreign description. If it’s less than half on the team that they outright own, not sure if it would be more/less on a team that they are investing in. So tops…..how many are we looking at? Roughly 160-180 players in the NASL (8 teams x 20-24 players) so just trying to determine the big picture impact.”
In order for soccer to get better in the US, we all need the NASL to succeed. I am looking forward to a fun and entertaining season in 2011, and I plan to strongly support the Stars!
@Tom – I’m not sure if all the details are known at this point regarding the specifics of the Silverbacks’ and Stars’ ownership situations. I think there are supposed to be upcoming press announcements to provide more details. But there are a couple of things to keep in mind here.
Number 1 is, the USSF reviewed the application thoroughly I’m sure. They didn’t take the time and effort to come up with the new D2 standards only to have NASL submit a bid, give it a cursory glance, and then say, eh, ok, go for it.
Number 2, a lot of people are ASSUMING that Traffic is CONTROLLING Atlanta and Minnesota. Actually the entire league is helping to support Minnesota from what I’ve read. Atlanta has some sort of deal worked out with Traffic to fund their operation, but how do we know that includes any sort of control whatsoever? Maybe all Traffic is doing is giving Jerkunica cash to run a team the league needs in order to get sanctioning. Perhaps there is something else invloved, something as simple as putting a couple Traffic owned prospects on their roster. Who knows? Unless the team comes out with the specifics of the deal (they might never do so), or if BQ gets some info he’s confident enough about to post here, it’s all just random, slanted speculation on our parts.
@Strikers Return – that’s kind of the point I was working around to. I’ve read comments about Traffic “owning the league” and “controlling the league” and no doubt with their investment comes influence. However, how many players can they “park” (or are even worth parking) in the NASL – if that’s their sole ulterior motive? In order to justify their investment (IMO) it would have to be A LOT of players.
@Tom – I have to believe at this point it isn’t Traffic’s intent to just park their players all over the league. I mean, would they need Jerkunica as a “puppet” if that was their only intent? I listened to the Davidson interview. From what he says, and in some cases doesn’t say as well, it seems like both Traffic and the league itself just came up with a plan that allows them to get off the ground in 2011. Considering the Rhinos and Aztex bailing to D3, and the St. Louis ownership situation falling apart, it was all they could do to ensure the survival of the league and to meet the standards of USSF for 2011.
When you’re an organization just getting off the ground, you need to have long term goals (Davidson discusses expansion and an 18 – 20 team league at some point in the future), but in the beginning you need to be focsued on the short term and laying a foundation that gives you a chance to achieve stability, and work toward those long term goals. With San Antonio replacing Montreal in 2012, an expansion franchise (has to be Ottawa) slated for 2013, and a deal in place for the financial backing of Atlanta and Minnesota in the short term, they have in essence given themselves a three year shot at building a stable core group of teams for the league to grow from.
How this relates to your original question I think, is just the survivability of the league itself. I’m guessing Holt and Papadakis will ensure Traffic never gets any of its players into USL Pro, so Traffic has every reason to invest heavily in D2 to sustain a North American presence. A healthy NASL = good business for Traffic, so I don’t think they need anymore incentive then that to do whatever they can to keep the league running over the first three years, at the minimum.
I’m very interested to see how the Whitecaps and Impact ownership groups, who by all accounts are fiercely loyal to NASL still, can help forge whatever relationship is going to emerge between NASL and MLS. I think there is no doubt at this point that is something NASL is working towards. What will it look like? How will it work? I think there are a lot of possibilities for NASL, but we fans are what will make the difference in the end. We need strong attendance for our teams in 2011, and let’s see what NASL can do with its chance!
@Strikers Return: With all due respect, I appreciate the point that you are making about models being different. Great point.
It was a strong one that could stand on it’s own merit without the social commentary. The part about the “imposition of American values, big stick and loathing, etc”… I found that part to be just a bit over the top. You are obviously a very reflective guy (absolutely no sarcasm intended) and I enjoy your comments but might I politely suggest that some people being critical of Traffic probably doesn’t have jack to do with the imposition of American values???
A lot of us have been critical of the USL. I know that I have been. I don’t think that reflected any sort of cutural superiority complex. It reflects the fact that we are sports fans and while the number isn’t a big one, we actually care about lower division soccer and have a different opinion about some of the moves that Marcos, Holt and company made and that NuRock and Papadakis have made since taking over ownership.
I’m still rolling my eyes at the USL. I don’t think that makes me any sort of cultural warrior because I don’t think that some of the moves make any sort of sense. Seriously, Bro. I just think that some of the moves are–and I know that this is not diplomatic or respectful–DUMB.
It’s got nothing to do with American cultural imperialism.
The USL did a lot of great things. They also got a lot of things wrong. I respect what Traffic is doing. I recently had the chance to shake Mr. Davidson’s hand after the USSF D2 championship in Cary, NC. He was in a hurry and the conversation was really short. He was gracious and one can quickly see that he is a really charismatic and bright guy.
Having said that, the NASL are not above being questioned. Had they not been sanctioned, USLPRO would have become the defacto second division. I don’t see where Traffic “saved” second division soccer. There would have been a second division, it just wouldn’t look like one that we have seen for about ten years or so. I’m glad that Traffic managed to step in and that they put their necks out and pulled out a was of ca$h. They went head to head with the USL and for the time being, they came out on top.
My logic and your are different. That’s cool. It’s all good.
I’ll continue to question Traffic and the NASL. Kartik “the propogandist” Krishnayer will continue to being overly zealous in his censuring of the comments on nasl.com (hey, on usl.com, if you someone league affiliated out about a post they don’t just erase or not approve the post–they will leave it or actually respond). If “whining” means not questioning of the NASL or Traffic and not bowing down to the two headed statue at the Miami altar then I am definitely a “whiner”. I can dig it. I qill continue to question things that amuse me or just plain don’t make sense to me.
Some of us just have a different idea about how we show our interest or voice our concerns. You might find it “counterproductive” and/or “ridiculous”.
The NASL is the new big dog in town. I support an NASL club (Puerto Rico); I did last year as well (Baltimore season ticket holder). I’ll still follow USL but not to the same degree as before.
And I’ll reserve my right to question the suspicious and/or the silly…
Maximum respect to Mr. Aaron Davidson.
Maybe with his excellent example, he can influence his Minister of Information to be a bit more open to opposing opinions. The censureship in the comment section of nasl.com has gone from laughable to the annoying.
If the USL brass can actually make the time to respond to criticism posted on their blog comment section then the least that the NASL can do is leave it up controversial opinions (that aren’t even really that controversial).
Better to be the center of debate than to be ignored…
@Aaron: Not sure if you’re still checking this comments section or not, but I’m curious as to what NASL thinks of the CSA’s new moratorium of sanctioning professional clubs in participating in American-owned leagues. Has the NASL made a statement yet regarding the decision? Has the NASL spoken to either Dominic Maestracci or Victor Montagliani regarding this decision?
Jeff, if you listen to the actual audio this topic is addressed. As I stated in the article, it’s highly recommended. Lots of information in there.
@yankiboy – Your point about the over the topness of my introspective on the criticism of Traffic’s business practices is well made. Over the last year or so, I’ve read so many posts on so many blogs and boards that simply trash Traffic without giving much in the way of a logical argument. Don’t get me wrong, even for a second, about how grateful and proud I am to have been born in our great country. I’ve just also seen over the years the way Europeans look down their noses at us when it comes to soccer, and I’ve listened to their reasons why they feel justified in doing so. But really, all in all it was just meant as a tangent point. Traffic’s business model is their business, as long as it’s not illegal, and they’re not doing anything to damage the growth of the game in our country, any of us debating it is just fanboy (as Kenn T. would call us LOL) ramblings.
All that said, those of us who are pro soccer fans in South Florida are always going to be the harshest critics of Traffic, and honestly, we’re the ones who really matter the most, because we are their primary customers. What I would just say to those who are blindly bashing Traffic and the NASL, let’s see what happens over the next 1 – 3 years when they finally have the opportunity to run the show their way. Davidson’s points about teams not spending money on things like extensive advertising in a league where they had zero control is logical. Haters would probably say it’s just a convenient excuse at this point, but hey, I’m certainly not naive enough to think that a little of both couldn’t be the truth. But let’s see what they do now that they are in the position they say they wanted to be all along – at the controls, full speed ahead Scotty.
Before the CSA moratorium a Quebec group was going to invest in the Minnesota team but then couldn’t due to the moratorium, so that’s when and why Traffic stepped in to support the Minnesota team.
I’m curious about the addition of Edmonton to the NASL, because it will increase travel expenses, and unaffordable travel expenses are a big reason why Rochester left the NASL and why St. Louis collapsed financially during this past season.
USL has runs it’s course, they never wanted to grow, they were content with being minor league forever. Most NASL owners want their teams to grow, maybe someday having their teams in MLS. USL is structured as a Mcdonald’s franchise in rich neighboorhoods, they tend to lose money because of more upscale franchises (panera bread, starbucks, tijuana flats, etc..)but in poor neighborhoods Mc’Donalds is king.
I would like to see more NASL cooperation directly with the CSA. Perhaps, they can come to an agreement for a distinct Canadian Division/Conference or something that would create a Canadian identity to the group of Canadian clubs. Then hopefully the USSF would relax the requirement of 75% US-based teams, thus allowing unencumbered expansion into Canada. In all reality, going North of the 49th parallel is the most natural source of growth for D2 football.
@Strikers Return: I feel you. One thing about Traffic–that organization dumped a lot of ca$h into advertising Miami FC at CONCACAF events and by bringing in big names. Ftom a distance I wondered if they were spending “too much”.
I am highly skeptical about the move to “Strikers” but maybe it will work. Time will tell.
@fotbalist – I have floated that exact idea for discussion in a few places, but never gotten much response. Canada seems like a bigger hotbed of potential D2 franchises right now then the US does. Dividing the NASL into an American Conference and a Canadian Conference makes a whole lot of sense to me. Puerto Rico could stay with the US teams, and there seems to be a lot of potential for Canadian teams right now. Ottawa, Hamilton, Victoria, and then there is Davidson’s comments about the Whitecaps and Impact definitely being interested in fielding teams in NASL as well.
If NASL is going to survive as a “continental” league, I think Canadian expansion could be a big key. USSF, CSA, NASL, and even MLS to some degree would have to come together and hash out a plan that made sense for everyone for it to work though. The 75% US rule is a huge hurdle right off the bat, as is whatever is behind the CSA moratorium. The MLS reserve league kind of throws a curve at it as well to some degree.
I envision something like a partnership between USSF, CSA, and NASL to run a D2 league that benefits the development of players for both countries. The CSA could oversee the Canadian teams, USSF the American teams, and NASL could run the operation. It’s pretty big thinking compared to the humble beginnings of the league right now, but I think it’s an idea that has merit.
@yankiboy – I don’t know that anyone around South Florida would accuse Traffic of spending too much on advertising. From what I can tell, the single biggest problem Miami FC had in trying to draw fans was a complete lack of advertising. There is one guy who has a soccer column in the Sun-Sentinel on Sundays, Rusnak, and that is pretty much the only place you ever saw anything about the team. The team just didn’t do ANYTHING to market their product locally, and 99% of the tri-county residents had no clue a D2 pro team even existed in their area.
What Traffic has now is an opportunity to change that. The D2 standards pretty much force teams to have a marketing department and a marketing plan if I understand correctly. They also have an ace in the hole if you will, with the Strikers. Nothing at all to be skeptical about with the rebrand – IF – HUGE IF – they do it right. It HAS to be Ft. Lauderdale Strikers. Period. No room for any debate. Anything other then that, and you’re already losing a lot from your marketing potential.
The guy that owns the ftlauderdalestrikers.com and fortlauderdalestrikers.com domains reported just yesterday on another forum that he has received a check from Miami FC to purchase them, and now is just waiting for them to initiate the transfer. Obviously you have to reserve a little skepticism for anything posted on a forum or blog by a fan, but as long as he’s not lying, I think that is a pretty good indication of what direction the team has decided to go with the rebrand.
The Ft. Lauderdale Strikers name and image is absolutely still relevant in South Florida to soccer fans, and even just sports fans. Although there is a lot of transplant population, you still have a large portion of the area now that are people like me who grew up here, and have very fond memories of going to Lockhart in the late 70′s and early 80′s to watch Hudson, Cubillas, Mueller, Von Bevren, and so on. As we sit here today and look back on the history of pro soccer in South Florida, only one team, at any level, has truly been successful both on the field and in the stands, and that’s the Strikers. I firmly believe it is THE best chance pro soccer has of sustainability in this market.
Traffic has their chance now to see if they can continue the legacy.
They need to ADVERTISE the return of the Strikers in the NASL, a little in Dade, and HEAVILY in Broward and Palm Beach, starting now, and building as we near next April. Radio, newspaper, and billboards are a MUST. TV is expensive, so I don’t know if Traffic will go that route, but I think it has great potential if they place the ads right, say during Dolphins coverage, or the local news.
@Strikers Return: Thanks for the 411 on the advertising. So basically, Traffic bought high profile field signage at CONCACAF international events and then never marketed the team locally (I realize that is an oversimplification). Interesting approach.
Are they going to be the Miami Strikers or Ft. Lauderdale Srikers?
Thanks!
@yankiboy – Your point really isn’t an oversimplification at all. They just did not advertise at all locally, that’s the facts. Besides what I mentioned above, there are a number of sports talk stations in South Florida. The demographics of listeners I’m guessing would be the kind of fan, besides the hard core soccer fans, they would be looking to draw in. Get Coach Shore on a show. Get an old Striker or two to become involved and get them on a show. (Talking a 10 minute interview here.)
Rumor I heard a month or so ago was that the Traffic brass preferred a more “European style” name, like Strikers FC or Strikers 11. But they were saying they were going to take to heart the input of the fans as well, which everywhere I’ve heard an opinion on the matter, it’s been near unanimous as you’d expect – gotta be Ft. Lauderdale Strikers. At this point I think they need to get as much visibility as they can for the league, and Ft. Lauderdale Strikers is the best thing they’ve got right now for recognizability outside of the NASL name itself.
I have no inside info whatsoever, but I’d also be willing to bet that it won’t be too terribly long before FC Tampa Bay works out some kind of deal to either buy the Rowdies name outright, or at least get an agreement in place allowing them to use it. Rowdies vs. Strikers needs to be huge for the NASL, especially in this first season.
Good thing the Whitecaps are going to MLS. The arguing between the USL and NASL is getting to the point of being foolish. Neither league has any stability. I think the best solution is for D2 teams to affiliate themselves with theil local MLS team, such as Reading United and Harrisburg City Islanders joining with the Union and have D2 under MLS control.
So Minnesota, one of the absolute worst-drawing teams in the league last year, gets rescued by the NASL but St. Louis, one of the best draws outside of the teams that are leaving NASL, is on our own. How is that fair?
Southsidered, a lot of things in life are not fair. This is not one of them.
MN has had a 21 year history with an average draw during that those years (before the Stars) of aprox. 3,300.
You are entering into the conversation with the 1-year history that you have with your team. MN has had a long history with many years of making playoffs and early years of being one the top teams in the league.
I do appreciate your passion and also sympathize with you if the St. Louis deal cannot get finalized.
not to mention that NASL probably doesnt want to deal with Cooper.
BQ: You’ve been telling my buddies in St. Louis for quite some time now that the AC STL deal was basically a done deal. Why is it not complete? I have yet to see AC STL mentioned in any recent NASL news release. My friends also tell me you have the inside scoop on everything concerning the NASL.
So when should we expect to hear an answer on AC St. Louis?
Brian,
Holy generalizations! If that was true then why did I publish this: insidemnsoccer.com/2010/11/23/ac-st-louis-players-told-team-is-done/
I have shared a few vague off the record details with several people down in St. Louis that I trusted. Only one of those would be a friend of yours.
I don’t think I have ever or would ever characterize that situation as “a done deal.” There have been closing dates set that have not been completed for many reasons. But the more time that passed the more the odds grew longer.
“I have yet to see AC STL mentioned in any recent NASL news release.”
And unless the St. Louis situation changes I don’t think you will see any.
Brian, I can almost feel the anger in your writing. I’m sure everyone is very frustrated down there. I would love for things to work out for all the soccer supporters in St. Louis and the whole situation down there really sucks. I’m truly sorry for that. For now all I can say is we should all know more about the situation by Friday.
To bad we dont have the Vaids brothers phone number and Email address. I would say give it to Brian so he vent his anger at the right people. It really sucks whats going on in St. Louis but until The Vaids stop holding that team hostage their is no hope for AC St. Louis. I kinda feel like it is like the Situation with the Chiefs in the movie Slap Shot. The Owner in that movie would have rather have the team fold then sell the team because its was more profitable. I hope that is not the case.
Dan, I think the situation is more complicated than that. I think it’s pretty simple for Jeff Cooper at the moment but it’s not just the Vaids but all the things that need to come together perfectly for Ryan Woods to make this happen. Lots of contingencies.
BQ: I just know you told someone that you felt pretty good about Cooper and Ryan Woods. I’ve said all along that Cooper was a fraud and so is Woods. If Woods is involved, it will be one year and out for him as well.
At this point and time, I’d rather see Tony Glavins move his St. Louis Lions to USL Pro and play at Soccer Park instead of AC STL return.
I’m not going to get into a pissing match with you here Brian, but as I already stated, there have been different phases of this sale and I think you may be paraphrasing something I told someone else who eventually trickled down to you. I’m just glad you had more insight than I did or most of us did.
I’m a big Tony Glavin supporter as well.
@St. Louis Brian: I’m pretty sure that at some point in the very distant past, my wife probably told some that she “felt pretty good” about me.
Situations are fluid and things change, Bro. What was true last week might not be sucha sure thing this week.
No disrespect, Playah. Just sayin’…
@yankiboy: But apparently some folks were lead to believe otherwise on Cooper on Woods.
@Brian – You’re getting ridiculous and childish with this stuff. BQ does an EXCELLENT job of gathering and reporting info on soccer, particularly D2 soccer. What’s true this week, could change next week. It doesn’t mean it’s BQ’s fault.
I think we were all optimistic about Woods’ involvement in St. Louis. Even those of us who are not in St. Louis or cheer for AC St. Louis. We want a league that is stable and can grow, so we want franchises that are stable and can grow. It’s not BQ’s fault that the Woods deal hasn’t worked out, or might not work out, so spare him your complaining.
He’s provided us with a place to not only stay up to date on pro soccer thanks to his hard work, but also to swap opinions and vent our frustrations. Austin fans weren’t berating BQ for Rawlins slipping out in the night to Orlando like he did. Actually, BQ helped force Rawlins to show is true colors just before he left thanks to posting his article, which Rawlins made a response to, which we all came to find out after the fact was pretty much just a sham. Great reporting by BQ, it wasn’t his fault Rawlins was a liar about not having made a decision yet when in reality things were already on their way to Orlando.
Ok, sorry for the rambling folks, but I’ve come to appreciate the work BQ does here immensely, and someone trying to give him a hard time in such a childish manner is just annoying.