NASL and MLS closer to working partnership

[Opie]

Hopefully development finally takes off. Interesting to see what it will entail. Minor league affiliation? Reserve squads? I guess it always made sense since Vancouver and Montreal still have some say in the NASL. And teams like the Cosmos(either the club or selling the name) and San Antonio will be in MLS within the next 3-10 years.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/10/18/throw-mls-nasl-closer-working-partnership

There were rumours MLS was going to announce a working relationship with the USL. But now it has swung back to the NASL. mlssoccer.com is controlled by MLS. So them covering the NASL now probably tells us something will be announced soon.

Might be Downs's last act as commissioner. Or maybe he was getting in the way and his leaving allowed NASL and MLS to work things out?

[finchster]

Hopefully development finally takes off. Interesting to see what it will entail. Minor league affiliation? Reserve squads? I guess it always made sense since Vancouver and Montreal still have some say in the NASL. And teams like the Cosmos(either the club or selling the name) and San Antonio will be in MLS within the next 3-10 years.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/10/18/throw-mls-nasl-closer-working-partnership

There were rumours MLS was going to announce a working relationship with the USL. But now it has swung back to the NASL. mlssoccer.com is controlled by MLS. So them covering the NASL now probably tells us something will be announced soon.

Might be Downs's last act as commissioner. Or maybe he was getting in the way and his leaving allowed NASL and MLS to work things out?

The ideal situation is for MLS clubs to affiliate with NASL clubs, but not owning or controlling NASL clubs. Development is best served with as many independent clubs as possible, not with one league having a monopoly. The purpose of affiliation should be loaning young players that are too good for youth leagues but not ready for the MLS.

How I envision this working is; an MLS team signs four players from their academy, then they assign these four players to their NASL affiliate. The MLS club benefits by the young players gaining valuable experience in a professional set up and the NASL club benefits by getting good players they don’t have to pay for. Gaining these types of players should raise the level of the second division and make it a more attractive product to watch. Canadian’s and Americans have the mentality that it’s better to watch possible future stars than to watch professionals of a lower level, second division soccer might become more credible with potential ‘future stars’ in it.

What I wouldn’t want is MLS teams owning another NASL team for the sole purpose of their reserves. This is ok in Europe, but I think that here in North America people aren’t be interested in seeing professional castaways, also it would ruin the image of division two as inferior.

Keep the reserve league for roster players to keep fit, have the NASL affiliation for young players to develop.

[DigzTFC]

The ideal situation is for MLS clubs to affiliate with NASL clubs, but not owning or controlling NASL clubs. Development is best served with as many independent clubs as possible, not with one league having a monopoly. The purpose of affiliation should be loaning young players that are too good for youth leagues but not ready for the MLS.

How I envision this working is; an MLS team signs four players from their academy, then they assign these four players to their NASL affiliate. The MLS club benefits by the young players gaining valuable experience in a professional set up and the NASL club benefits by getting good players they don’t have to pay for. Gaining these types of players should raise the level of the second division and make it a more attractive product to watch. Canadian’s and Americans have the mentality that it’s better to watch possible future stars than to watch professionals of a lower level, second division soccer might become more credible with potential ‘future stars’ in it.

What I wouldn’t want is MLS teams owning another NASL team for the sole purpose of their reserves. This is ok in Europe, but I think that here in North America people aren’t be interested in seeing professional castaways, also it would ruin the image of division two as inferior.

Keep the reserve league for roster players to keep fit, have the NASL affiliation for young players to develop.

I like this idea. However, if each team in MLS have up to four academy players associated with 8 NASL clubs it couldn't become an entire league for academy players so there would have to be a balancing act in the first few years. I wonder if an agreement could be laid out where loaned players come off the books for MLS teams but they still pay the salary. This would really encourage NASL teams to buy into the player loan concept.

[finchster]

I like this idea. However, if each team in MLS have up to four academy players associated with 8 NASL clubs it couldn't become an entire league for academy players so there would have to be a balancing act in the first few years. I wonder if an agreement could be laid out where loaned players come off the books for MLS teams but they still pay the salary. This would really encourage NASL teams to buy into the player loan concept.

Well obviously I haven't put alot of thought into it , but idealy there would be more division two clubs in the future to make it work.

[Footscray]

Agree that any formal controlling affiliation basically turning the NASL into AAA baseball or the AHL would destroy the league IMO. I think people's desire to watch minor league anything is pretty low, let alone soccer in North America.

Formal ties and loose affiliation would be fine but fans of the NASL teams still need to feel like they're supporting their clubs and not some other city's.

Looking forward to Ottawa getting in on the V's cup soon either way. Hope somebody with cash who supports soccer in Calgary grows a set and they step up soon too, that city belongs in the NASL as well IMO.

[alberta white]

Agree that any formal controlling affiliation basically turning the NASL into AAA baseball or the AHL would destroy the league IMO. I think people's desire to watch minor league anything is pretty low, let alone soccer in North America.

Formal ties and loose affiliation would be fine but fans of the NASL teams still need to feel like they're supporting their clubs and not some other city's.

Looking forward to Ottawa getting in on the V's cup soon either way. Hope somebody with cash who supports soccer in Calgary grows a set and they step up soon too, that city belongs in the NASL as well IMO.

Thing with the NASL clubs is that they are essentially Bottom Up clubs as oppose to the MLS top down versions. They might be small but their fan bases are fevent in their support.

For Example, I have listened and read extracts of local Podcast and Media in the Panhandle. We also get visitors on the Eddies forum from the Cosmos Boroughboys and the crocketters.

I would be suprised, If a NEW organisation Set up a NEW MLS side in Florida, that fans of Orlando, Fort Lauderdale Strikers or The Tampa Bay Rowdies, would readily jump ship. Furthermore Should one of these three Become an MLS side the other two would not necessarily desert their team Just because, for Example the Rowdies webt MLS.

In the case of Edmonton, we had the Aviators as a comerically centric outfit, "Imposed" upon the Soccer Public and It apparently seriously CRASHED AND BURNED! ( those who know Strobe_Z will no doubt already know this) .

FC Edmonton , ego, the Eddies have been "founded" locally. The Owners are genuine locals putting in their own money, and the Locals are slowly coming around. Hey were even getting generally positive Media coverage over a new stadium . That is, when compared to Katz's attempts to hold the Citys' feet to the fire over $450Million; we only want about $15-20million for a Public "Sports for all" one.

Also, the Scorpions are owned by a local Philanthropist (seriously that how the media refer to him) rather than a business man. Their new stadium is comming out of his own Pocket.

Sadly the mote in the eye of NASL are the Stars. Probable double Champions but as of yet no Owner. If they had a local at the Helm it would certainly help the Leagues USP.