ray Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 The NASL announced it will play the spring 2013 season with 7 teams as the Islanders have elected to sit out while they reorganize operations. The NY Cosmos are expected to join for the fall season. I suppose the Islanders could potentially return then as well. Islanders to Reorganize operations in 2013 Not that surprising, I guess. Puerto Rico had the 2nd worst attendance last year. Probably will never be a strong franchise going forward if they survive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Bob Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 The Islanders' attendance was low last year because they spent most of the season playing out of their practice ground due to stadium renovations. They've historically been one of the very best-attended second division teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmonte Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Very, very unfortunate. You know, the NASL is one of the very few North American leagues that goes outside of continental US/Canada, so I, for one, LOVED the "international" feel (yes I know it's basically american) of having Puerto Rico. If it was more economically feasible, I was also a big fan of the idea of Mexico City getting an NBA team at the time they were discussing it a decade back as well. I still would be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcalibre Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 Very, very unfortunate. You know, the NASL is one of the very few North American leagues that goes outside of continental US/Canada, so I, for one, LOVED the "international" feel (yes I know it's basically american) of having Puerto Rico. If it was more economically feasible, I was also a big fan of the idea of Mexico City getting an NBA team at the time they were discussing it a decade back as well. I still would be. Especially with PRI allowed to play in the Caribbean club tournament. Similarly, I always like seeing Wellington Phoenix, FC Vaduz, San Marino Calcio, etc. Would love to see a foreign team (probably London, England) in the NBA, NFL or NHL as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue and White Army Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 "Reorganize" is code for "the PR government subsidizes the club; but with a different government recently elected, we are unsure whether that subsidy will continue." It's amazing how quickly the club's fortunes have sunk. Less than four years ago, the Islanders were in the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals - as a second-division club. Are US Soccer's new standards (rules) for division-two soccer, introduced back in 2010, to blame? They stipulate that every club must have a principal owner who controls at least 35% of the club, and who has a net worth of at least $20 million. As a result, PRI went from several owners to just one primary owner (the rest sold their shares to him), as well as subsidies/ownership from the government. They have tanked rapidly since then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto7 Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 I'm not sure what to make of this. On one hand you want teams with their financial house in order to participate, but on the other hand it is great to have a team from the Caribbean in the league. With the Cosmos only joining in the fall, this is getting a little silly. Only 7 teams? Yikes. Does anyone see an NASL -USL Pro merger in the horizon? It would make a lot of sense especially since USL Pro is negotiating with MLS to be their reserve league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alberta white Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Well, there is some scuttlebut that the split season was partly organised to allow these two to commence in the second half of the year so that the could complete a full home and away schedule. But some of the PRI talk has to do with finding a Principle who can take on the club as a going concern. Under the NASL charter, community lead clubs are not allowed. As for USL pro team up again with NASL, well that would only happen if someone found a Hellmouth somewhere in the middle of the Alaskan Tundra. Besides USL- getting cosy with MLS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 I'm not sure what to make of this. On one hand you want teams with their financial house in order to participate, but on the other hand it is great to have a team from the Caribbean in the league. With the Cosmos only joining in the fall, this is getting a little silly. Only 7 teams? Yikes. Does anyone see an NASL -USL Pro merger in the horizon? It would make a lot of sense especially since USL Pro is negotiating with MLS to be their reserve league. I doubt we'll see a NASL/USL merger anytime soon. They are bitter rivals and the USL has no interest in trying to meet the USSF Division 2 requirements which the NASL is trying to follow. Whether their pro league limps along or is buoyed by the MLS, the USL is well positioned to survive long term with their other leagues (PDL, youth) so they won't see a need to work with anyone they don't want to. I suppose the bigger question is will the NASL make it? I hope so, but if their league doesn't work, they're done and the teams would be left to figure out what to do next. I am quite sure the USL would be willing to take on any NASL clubs that decided to leave or would be left if that league collapsed. But that seems like the only way a merger would happen. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedinathan Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Going in the way back machine to bump this thread... Latest rumor on twitter is that a NEW (not the Islanders) PR club will be announced today. Headed by Carmelo Anthony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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