Notable professional teams include The Hawaiians, which played at the World Football League in 1974 and 1975; the Hawaii Islanders, a Triple-A minor league baseball team that played at the Pacific Coast League from 1961 to 1987; and Team Hawaii, a North American Soccer League team that played in 1977. The North American teams from Major League Soccer and Liga MX qualify through their national leagues or other national tournaments, while the Caribbean team qualifies through the Caribbean Club Championship; the remaining six teams qualify through the CONCACAF League. [30] However, after announcing that it would not sanction either the NASL or the USL First Division for 2010,[31] U.S. Soccer announced in January 2010 that it would run a temporary USSF Division 2 Professional League for the 2010 season that included 12 teams from both the NASL and USL-1, putting the NASL on hold for at least a year. [18], The split-season model had several intended benefits for NASL. Similar to other American sports leagues (and unlike many European soccer leagues), NASL did not have automatic promotion or relegation for its member clubs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968–84) The league was named for, but had no connection to, the original North American Soccer League. The board oversaw the league rules and regulations, and governed the expansion and commercial strategy of the league. 1979 North American Soccer League Standings 1979 North American Soccer League League Leaders. [60] The Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division joined NASL on November 30, 2009, but the Rhinos joined the new USL Pro and have played there since 2011. It is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as the Division II league in the American league system. [9] NASL teams occupied stadiums that were generally smaller than those of Major League Soccer. The sponsorship arrangement with Valero involved stadium branding and sponsorship of all corner kicks at home games. [106], Some NASL teams participated in rivalry matches. United Soccer League Originally founded in 1986, the United Soccer League has become one of the most sophisticated soccer organizations in North America over the past decade. [49], Following its 2017 season, the NASL announced it would move to the "international calendar", playing from August through June. [125][126] Miami FC made a further deal with Gol TV to televise all games not carried by other providers. [119], NASL began a relationship with ESPN3 beginning with Soccer Bowl 2013. FC Edmonton was not involved in the lawsuit, having "found out about the lawsuit over the telephone";[45] and North Carolina FC did not support the lawsuit. In 2014, both the Carolina RailHawks and the Atlanta Silverbacks reached the Open Cup quarterfinals. [68], The league continued with eight teams in 2012, losing one team and adding one team, with the Montreal Impact joining Major League Soccer and the San Antonio Scorpions joining NASL as an expansion side. [27] According to the official press release, the NASL name is intended to "pay respect to the players, coaches and leaders who were pioneers for men's professional soccer in North America, many of whom remain involved and committed to the growth of the game in various capacities throughout the U.S. and Canada". Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports. Each club was a shareholder in the league, with one vote each on issues such as rule changes and contracts. Soccer was first professionalized in 1894, but leagues suffered greatly from lack of sustainability and seldom lasted more than a decade. This article is about the former Division II soccer league. [20] It replaced the regular season champion trophy that was awarded by the league itself in 2011 and 2012. FC Edmonton was an expansion team that was founded in 2010 and joined the Canadian Premier League in 2019 after suspending operations in late 2017. FC Tampa Bay had been scheduled to be a 2010 USL-1 expansion franchise, but switched to the NASL shortly after NASL was officially formed. The San Antonio Scorpions were able to land numerous sponsorship arrangements with the opening of Toyota Field including an innovative sponsorship by CST brands Valero Corner Stores. [120][121] Starting in 2015, ESPN3 began airing over 100 league matches in 75 countries. [citation needed].   Club moved to other league, With provisional approval from U.S. Soccer to begin play as a Division 2 league in 2011, eight clubs were officially confirmed to launch the inaugural season: Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, FC Edmonton, Fort Lauderdale Strikers (formerly Miami FC), Montreal Impact, NSC Minnesota Stars, Puerto Rico Islanders and FC Tampa Bay.[19]. Spanish top-flight side Rayo Vallecano have launched an American franchise, Rayo Oklahoma City, who will play in the North American Soccer League, in the first such move by a … [74][75] The Indy Eleven played at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis but planned to complete their own stadium. Don't miss any of the action! Formed from merger of National Professional Soccer League and United Soccer Association. [73], The NASL added two teams for the 2014 season: the Ottawa Fury FC and Indy Eleven of Indianapolis. [78][79][80][81][82], In July 2013, the NASL awarded two new expansion franchises to begin play in 2015: Jacksonville Armada FC and Oklahoma City FC. Wilt had been the first president and general manager of Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire. The Ottawa Fury moved from the USL Premier Development League following the refurbishment of TD Place Stadium. The league, commissioned by Bill Peterson, consists of 13 teams. [41] Both Traffic and Davidson himself were implicated in the 2015 FIFA corruption case, and both would eventually plead guilty to racketeering, conspiracy, and wire-fraud conspiracy. The spring and fall champions, along with the two teams with best combined spring/fall records met in a four-team single-elimination tournament known as The Championship. On March 25, 2015, it was announced that founding team Minnesota would become a Major League Soccer expansion side in 2017. Pelé joined the New York Cosmos in 1975. Located in Miami, Florida, the team is owned by international entrepreneur Riccardo Silva and former Italian international Paolo Maldini. However, U.S. Soccer denied the league Division II status for 2018, as the NASL did not meet the sanctioning criteria, and the NASL appealed the ruling. [17] The NASL Spring Season and Fall Season champions would each host a semi-final. Qualification for the North American group stage will be determined by domestic league and cup competitions, with one spot for the winner of the Leagues Cup between Major League Soccer … The number one seed was awarded to whichever of the Spring or Fall champions posts the better combined regular season record. By using this Site, you agree to the. The playoffs consisted of the top six clubs, with the first and second-ranked teams receiving a bye until the semi-final round. Hawaii-Wikipedia A virtual museum of sports logos, uniforms and historical items. [16], The NASL began playing a split-season format in 2013. NASL's U.S. based teams played in the U.S. Open Cup, the winner of which provides one of the four US representatives in the CONCACAF Champions League. [42], In September 2015, NASL sent a letter to US Soccer president, Sunil Gulati, accusing US Soccer of antitrust violations should they adopt the proposed criteria for a sanctioned Division I soccer league. NASL teams also play in the aforementioned international friendlies during the league's summer break.[22]. [88] However, the priority remained to add more teams in the West, Midwest and Prairies, with an eye on placing teams in the 25 largest metropolitan areas without professional soccer teams in order to tap into greater media exposure and sponsor interest. [43], In September 2017, it was reported that after having granted provisional Division II status to both the NASL and the MLS-backed United Soccer League in 2016, that US Soccer had voted to no longer pursue granting permanent Division II status to the NASL. [122], The New York Cosmos began a partnership with One World Sports that expanded into a league-wide deal in 2015; the network's head Seamus O'Brien was also a chairman of the Cosmos.[123]. O'Brien reportedly regretted his action when he realized how much money such a league-wide deal would have brought to the NASL as a whole.[115]. The Vancouver Whitecaps won the 1979 NASL championship. [97][98], In February 2016, it was announced that the San Francisco Deltas would join the NASL in 2017. They wanted to go the adidas/MLS route in an attempt to create ancillary revenue streams for all teams and strengthen the NASL FO. Some NASL teams were able to attract shirt sponsors over the past several seasons. The club's founders include professional soccer players Demba Ba, Eden Hazard, Yohan Cabaye and Moussa Sow. But lots of folks pulling in different directions. Home of the National Women's Soccer League, get all the info you need right here: Advanced stats, game replays, player info, game schedules and much more. [86], In 2014, the NASL indicated its vision to grow to 18 to 20 teams by 2018.   Club moved to MLS ", In response to U.S. Soccer's action, the NASL filed suit against U.S. Soccer on September 19, 2017. The North American Soccer League (NASL) was a professional men's soccer based in the United States. History of the defunct North American Soccer League that operated from 1968 until 1984, … If you have NASL photos you would like to share please send them to me at gorogues@gmail.com. [69] The league played its 2013 spring season with seven teams, as the Puerto Rico Islanders suspended operations with uncertainty regarding a government subsidy. The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States.Sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are not linked by the system of promotion and relegation typical in soccer elsewhere. [35][36], David Downs was named league commissioner effective April 4, 2011. In 2015 Jacksonville Armada FC made the competition three-way, and the expansion Miami FC made it a four-club competition in 2016. [23] The league's Canadian teams, FC Edmonton and Ottawa Fury FC, participated in the Canadian Championship. [22], From the beginning of the league, Brazilian-based sports company Traffic Sports Marketing was heavily involved in its operations. [44] The decision to pursue the lawsuit was not unanimous among NASL clubs. The official name of the league was announced on November 23, 2009. 1975 was the first year the league used the term Soccer Bowl for their championship game. The number three and number four seeds were awarded to the next two clubs with the best overall records from both seasons combined. An NASL team in Oklahoma City was eventually announced for a 2016 launch when Spanish club Rayo Vallecano launched Rayo OKC in November 2015. [108], The league reached a deal with Seiko to serve as the official timekeeper of the NASL starting with the 2014 season. [51][52][53], On February 27, 2018, the league announced that the 2018 season had been canceled in the wake of the court ruling. [37] Bill Peterson, formerly the Senior VP of AEG Sports and managing director of the Home Depot Center from 2000–2006, replaced Downs as commissioner. The North American Soccer League is a non-profit association comprised of twenty-four member clubs.1 The North American Soccer League Players Association, a labor organization, petitioned the NRLB for a representation election among all NASL players. On August 27, 2009, multi-national sports company Nike agreed to sell its stake in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) to Rob Hoskins and Alec Papadakis of Atlanta-based NuRock Soccer Holdings, instead of to the USL Team Owner's Association (TOA), a group comprising the owners of several USL First Division clubs and St. Louis Soccer United. The average and total attendances are listed below. Early days. [7] At that time, the New York Cosmos, Miami FC and Jacksonville Armada, chose to participate in the National Premier Soccer League for the 2018 season while the NASL's future was being determined. Seattle Sounders (USA): $260 million. The NASL was provisionally approved by U.S. Soccer on November 21, 2010. Welcome to the Official Facebook page of the North American Soccer League (NASL). [2] The winner of the final claimed the Soccer Bowl trophy. The decision also jeopardizes the thousands of jobs created by the NASL and its member clubs. The USL issued several press releases questioning the legality of the teams choosing to break away, suggesting that it considered litigation to protect its interests and those of the USL-1 teams from any breach of contract. [40], In July 2013, NASL teams took advantage of the break afforded by the new split-season schedule to host several international friendlies, including several matches against Mexican, Brazilian, and Guatemalan teams, while the NY Cosmos traveled to London to play lower division English teams. In May 2015, the NASL announced that the twelfth team in the league would be Miami FC. The league comprises 26 teams—23 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada and constitutes one of … Similar to Liga MX, Central, and South American leagues, the schedule consisted of two competitions, Spring and Fall, with the winner of the Spring season earning the right to host the Fall champion in a one-game playoff, the Soccer Bowl. [21], NASL teams also occasionally play in international competitions, most notably in the CONCACAF Champions League. [50] The announcement was met with skepticism, with commentators pointing out the difficulty in playing a winter schedule in northern markets such as New York or Indiana. At the time of their announcement, it had been reported that the Fury were losing approximately $2 million per year during their time in the NASL. The NASL was owned and operated by its member teams through the board of governors. Game films. [28] The USL claimed that the NASL and the TOA ownership group was "interfering with USL-1 team owners that are contractually obligated to participate in the 2010 season" and "made several misleading statements in a variety of press releases to taint the reputation of USL and its long history of developing the sport of soccer. The Vancouver Whitecaps did not play in NASL in 2011 because the Vancouver Whitecaps FC joined MLS in 2011. On December 22, 2015, it was announced that the City of San Antonio and Bexar County had purchased Toyota Field and S.T.A.R. During its seven seasons of play from 2011 to 2017, it was sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as a Division II league in the United States soccer league system, under Major League Soccer (MLS) and alongside United Soccer League (formerly USL Pro). NASL did not have a salary cap. The champion of Division II NASL was not promoted to Division I Major League Soccer, and the team finishing last in NASL was not relegated. Clubs will retain their seeding throughout the postseason. [70] The New York Cosmos restored the league to eight teams when it joined for the fall 2013 season, playing its home games at Hofstra University's James M. Shuart Stadium. This is a companion to my Memphis Rogues blog. Our Terms and Conditions of Use have changed. [38] NASL began regular league play in April 2011 with eight members comprising former clubs from the USL First Division, the USL Second Division, plus expansion sides. [103] The club intends to build a soccer complex somewhere in San Diego's North County and will play its games at the University of San Diego in the meantime. [64][65][66][67], On October 25, 2016, the Tampa Bay Rowdies announced that they would be moving to the United Soccer League for the 2017 season. This became the first gambling related sponsorship within the league something common with clubs in other countries. [4] The Puerto Rico Islanders played in the USL in the 2010 season. [33][19] The provisional sanctioning was briefly revoked by U.S. Soccer in January 2011 due to the collapse of two of the ownership groups involved with NASL and serious questions about several others[34] but was reinstated before the 2011 season. Following the cancellation of the 2018 season, the team announced on February 28, 2018, that it would explore professional league options for 2019. Within several weeks, a number of TOA member clubs threatened to break away from USL and start their own league. A majority of the items on the blog are from my own collection. Information about professional soccer leagues affiliated with U.S. Soccer. Visit ESPN to view the 2017 North American Soccer League Table. There were occasional opportunities, however, for successful teams in Divisions II and III that meet specific criteria (most critically, financial) to join MLS as an expansion team, as the Montreal Impact did following the 2011 season and Orlando City SC in the 2015 season from the USL Pro. Prospective team owners read the NADSL Teams page. Jacksonville Armada FC to play Baseball Grounds", "NASL Commissioner talks about Canada's long-term plans, expansion and league format", "Floods could delay Calgary NASL franchise by one season; Winnipeg investor making inquiries", "NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson discusses league expansion, playoffs, MLS, paid match streaming and other topics in advance of 2014 regular season kickoff", "Detroit City targeting move to the NASL or USL", "TURF WAR BREWING? This lawsuit is an attack under 1 of the Sherman Act by the North American Soccer League and most of its member teams ("NASL") on the cross- ownership rule imposed by the National Football League ("NFL") on the owners of its member teams. NASL questions MLS expansion plans", "Peterson reveals details on NASL expansion, takes shot at MLS's plans", "Scorpions Soccer Club Thanks Fans for Supporting Soccer for a Cause", "NASL looking to expand in Chicago - new ownership group has expressed interest", "NASL San Francisco Group Unveils Name: San Francisco Deltas", "In one season, S.F. [71][72], NASL's expansion into New York marked the first time the league expanded into a city where an MLS team was already present, marking the beginning of a shift in NASL expansion strategy, with NASL later considering expanding into other large markets with MLS teams, such as the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC, and Los Angeles. 1. Traffic was an early investor in four of the league's clubs, and the president of its American subsidiary, Aaron Davidson, also served as the chairman of the NASL's board of governors. Seamus unilaterally opposed (and apparently regretted his decision weeks later after he saw what it could have meant for the league). All Today's North American Soccer League News View Archives: Month January February March April May June July August September October November … [91] In addition, Peterson criticized the MLS expansion plans in cities with existing NASL teams (Miami, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and San Antonio), suggesting a turf war and increased competition between the two leagues.[92][93]. NASL by Season. [2], The Spring Season ran from early April until July 4, and following a one-month break, the Fall season ran from early August until early November. North American Soccer League Logo on Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. For example, the NY Cosmos landed Emirates Airlines as a jersey sponsor,[14] FC Edmonton signed Sears Financial as a jersey sponsor,[15] and the North Carolina FC had Blue Cross as their jersey sponsor. The later NASL was founded in 2009, and began play in 2011 with eight teams, following a 2010 season that saw NASL and USL teams play in a combined temporary Division II league. Two rival leagues started in 1967, the FIFA-Sponsored United Soccer Association and the renegade National Professional Soccer League. Beyond shirt sponsorship and kit production, teams have had varying success in establishing sponsorship packages with local and national brands. 1967 ... January 15, 2021 - Additional North American Soccer League goalkeeper data has been added, courtesy of Steve Holroyd. [51] Others characterized it as a desperation move, suggesting the change had more to do with the NASL not being able to field enough teams to play its regular spring schedule and that the league had not worked through the "logistical nightmare" of such a schedule change. [99] Despite a championship season, the Deltas folded at the end of 2017.[100]. 2.   Club moved to USL This tournament consists of the Canadian Soccer Association's professional clubs, the winner representing Canada in the CONCACAF Champions League. We will continue to explore all professional league options for 2019 and beyond. Get up to date stats and information on teams in the USA North American Soccer League 2017 Season. Soccer Search. [90] Also, the owners of Detroit City FC expressed a desire to join the NASL or USL if additional investors could be found. NASL stated that it "does not believe that the federation acted in the best interest of the sport. In 2014 the postseason was altered again with the introduction of The Championship: The NASL Spring Season and Fall Season champions were joined in the semi-finals of The Championship by the two clubs with the next best overall records from both seasons combined. Major League Soccer ... North American Soccer League Professional League. [39] Peterson left the NASL in January 2017 and was replaced by Rishi Sehgal as Interim Commissioner. Order based on major honors (championships). The team began play in 2016. [127] In addition to the national deals, many clubs had local broadcast deals. [116] Toyota's sponsorship of the Scorpions was tied into several other sponsorship programs involving the team and team ownership. In October 2016, the Ottawa Fury FC announced that they would be moving to the USL for the 2017 season. By using this Site, you agree to the, Our Privacy Policy has changed. The bottom four competed in a knockout round before advancing to the semi-finals. Comprised of three leagues as it enters 2019, the USL is set to bring high-level competition to more than 100 markets across the United States and Canada in the coming years. Visit ESPN to view the 2017 North American Soccer League Table. NASL took issue with three proposed changes: increasing the minimum stadium size to 15,000, increasing the minimum number of teams to 16, and changing the minimum population required in 75% of the teams from a population of 1 million to 2 million. [7] In November 2018, two of the four remaining NASL clubs announced that they would launch a new professional league in 2019 associated with the National Premier Soccer League[8] and the NASL effectively became defunct. [18] Secondly, NASL teams could use this break to generate additional revenue by hosting international friendlies or going on tour. Starting in 2010 when the Tampa Bay Rowdies returned, the Florida Derby was revived with the creation of the Coastal Cup with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. [61][62] AC St. Louis, part of the initial TOA group that formed NASL, closed in late 2010 after only one season due to financial difficulties. While there was no promotion and relegation with other leagues, former commissioner Bill Peterson repeatedly stated that the league had an interest in introducing promotion and relegation to the pyramid.[3]. The NADSL is a national and international developmental academy for the purpose of training soccer players, not a competitive or professional league, and is not associated with, or regulated by, any national or international federations. The ownership group announced that the NASL Chicago club would not be called the Chicago Sting, but works were in progress to secure short-term and long-term stadium options. [112], The NASL decided early on to seek a league-wide uniform contract, similar to that employed by all high-level American sports leagues, including Major League Soccer, the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB. Fans all over rout for their favorite teams from April to November, with a … Clearly they had MLS ready owners. It is headquartered in New York City. [57][58], Club folded A court ruling could save the team", "Court denies NASL's appeal for injunction", "NORTH AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE ANNOUNCES MOVE TO INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR", "NASL adopts international calendar, cancels spring season", "NASL's Fall-Spring calendar announcement hiding the league's struggles", "The NASL's International Calendar Problem", "NASL cancels complete 2018 season after court ruling", "Edmonton expected to join new Canadian soccer league", "FC Edmonton officially joins Canadian Premier League", "1904 FC Ownership Group Issues Official Statement on Tuesday", "USL Denies Expansion Application for San Diego Pro Soccer Team 1904 FC", "USL Adds North Carolina FC for the 2018 Season", "Crystal Palace Baltimore to Sit Out 2011 Season | North American Soccer League", "NASL Continues to Build on Strong Foundation", "AC St. Louis Closes its Doors for Good | IMS Soccer News", "Atlanta Silverbacks set to play in 2015", "NASL Suspends Operation of Atlanta Silverbacks", "Atlanta Silverbacks of NASL halt operations - ESPN FC", "Tampa Bay Rowdies Announce Move To United Soccer League", "Islanders won't play in NASL spring session", "New York Cosmos Return to Roots at Hofstra University", "Interview: NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson talks expansion (NASL and MLS), U.S. Open Cup, and other soccer league issues | Triangle Offense", "BOTTJER ON OTTAWA: NASL'S CAPITAL GAINS", "Indy officially lands 12th North American Soccer League Franchise", "Bob Farren steps down as head of Loudoun Hounds, VIP Entertainment", "NASL: Amid delays, Virginia Cavalry's parent company brings back former CEO", "UPDATE: NASL's Va. Cavalry FC respond to SoccerWire.com", "Virginia Cavalry won't play until 2016, says NASL commish Bill Peterson", "Jacksonville awarded NASL team to begin play in 2015", "Jacksonville soccer team to be called the Jacksonville Armada FC", "Soccer fans! ... Arsenal's reality is they are 'a mid-table team' Commissioner David Downs", "Summer of International Friendlies in Store For NASL Clubs | North American Soccer League", "Atlanta Silverbacks 1, Chicago Fire 3 - US Open Cup Quarterfinals Match Recap", "Teams Split From USL-1; To Form New League in 2010", "Palace Join New Professional Soccer League", "New Men's Second Division Professional Soccer League Announces Name: North American Soccer League", "USL statement regarding Tampa, Baltimore", "It's not MLS, but St. Louis gets an outdoor men's pro soccer team", "Whitecaps 2010 soccer season in jeopardy", "US Soccer Federation To Oversee Combined NASL/USL League", "NASL Concludes AGM and Finalizes USSF Application", "NASL Taking Proactive Stance on Schedule Announcement", "NASL Provisionally Sanctioned by USSF for 2011", "NASL Provisionally Sanctioned as Division 2 Professional League for 2011", "David Downs to Leave NASL Commissioner Position at End of 2012 Season | IMS Soccer News", "North American Soccer League Names David Downs as Commissioner | IMS Soccer News", "Bill Peterson Named Commissioner of the North American Soccer League | North American Soccer League", "From Raúl to ruin: the rise and fall of the NASL, once MLS's challenger", "NASL accuses U.S. Soccer and MLS of violating antitrust laws", "The NASL's decision to litigate was not unanimous", "@NorthCarolinaFC not issuing statement. Atlanta Chiefs (12-18) - Roster | Statistics The North American Soccer League operated as a group of independent club owners as opposed to the single-entity structure of Major League Soccer. The league had expressed its affinity to the earlier league, in fact inviting participation from their AGM Phil Woosnam, who wrote them a kind letter wishing their success in the new league. Currently over … [94] In June 2015, professional basketball player Carmelo Anthony, announced that his new club Puerto Rico FC would join the league. If the same club won both seasons, the clubs with the second, third and fourth best overall records from both seasons combined qualified for The Championship. The North American Soccer League has escalated its legal battle against the U.S. Soccer Federation, filing a lawsuit against its board of directors.