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This story broke yesterday with the USL Team Owners Association formally filing to be recognized as a USSF approved 2nd Division. It appears that the dust is settling now that the USL and the TOA have parted. What is unclear is how many other cities which have not yet joined the breakaway league are interested in jumping ship.
Audio from the Vancouver Whitecaps’s Bob Lenarduzzi:
The owners of six soccer clubs, including the Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact, announced Tuesday that they plan to leave the USL-1 and form their own breakaway league.
The new league will begin play in April 2010, the Whitecaps confirmed.
The other USL teams are the Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Miami FC and the Minnesota Thunder. Also involved in the new league is St. Louis Soccer United, a soccer investment and development group dedicated to bringing a pro soccer team to the city of St. Louis.
The six USL team owners, collectively known as the Team Owners Association (TOA), submitted an application on Monday to the United States Soccer Federation for sanctioning of the new league. A similar application for sanctioning will be submitted to the Canadian Soccer Association shortly. The TOA would first need permission and sanctioning before it could form its own league
Asked by CBCSports.ca if the Whitecaps would consider a return to USL next year, Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi said, “Our focus is on seeing the application through to its conclusion, and that’s all we’re really thinking about right now.”
Joey Saputo, president of the reigning USL champion Montreal Impact, was elected chairman of the board of governors of the new league, which does not have a name.
“This is not your typical new league,” Saputo said in a news release. “Most of our teams have existed for years. We have united some of the best owners, teams and markets around a new vision for a professional soccer league in North America.
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Does anyone else think that this is a mess?
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JUST STOP FUCKIN AROUND THE BUSH, IT HAS TO BE MLS-2 OR ITS GOING TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE MLS, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. I THINK MLS SHOULD REBRAND TOO, SINCE RIGHT NOW ITS GROWING AND GAINING FANS. THE USL HAS TO OPEN UP AND REBRAND AND CONNECT WITH MLS-1 IN ORDER TO SURVIVE, RIGHT NOW SOCCER IS GROWING IN USA, JUST WAIT UNTIL THE WORLD CUP COMES 2018 0R 2022. THE NEW LEAGUE WILL BE BETTER AND CONNECTED WITH MLS-1, ITS SO OBVIOUS AND THE USL TEAMS ARE GONNA HAVE TO JUMP TO MLS-1 OR THE NEW LEAGUE. BY MLS REBRANDING, IT SHOULD REBRAND AFTER 18 TEAMS ARE IN THE LEAGUE OR 20 TEAMS, GO FOR NPL=NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE OR UPL=UNITED PREMIER LEAGUE OR NAPS=NORTH AMERICA PREMIER SOCCER OR NAP=NORTH AMERICA PREMIER LEAGUE, IT WOULD REALLY HELP THE MLS. AND I WOULD NOT DOUBT THE NEW LEAGUE PICKS A NICE NAME, SINGLE TABLE, FIFA SCHEDULE, AND ADD MORE SOCCER FLAVOR TO THE LEAGUE
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It is now interesting to see what the Portland management will do.
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BY THE WAY, IF MLS GETS SERIOUS, IT COULD ACTUALLY BECOME A 30 TEAM LEAGUE. 15 TEAMS EAST AND WEST BUT THE EAST HAS MORE MARKETS. THE WEST DOES NOT AND EAST HAS A BUFFET OF CITIES TO PICK FROM. BUT I THINK THE MLS WILL GO FOR 24 TEAMS, 12 AND 12. THEN THE SECOND DIVISION CAN HAVE 15 OR 12. LATER ILL WRITE DOWN THE CITIES
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But if MLS could have as many as thirty teams, why will it have expanded to another country at all?
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I would love to see it connected to the mls. As to the 30 team mls, fifa is not going to allow that large of a league, maybe 24 since the Coca-cola leagues have that over here, but 30? Never happen. *ohh now I’ve done it let the proverbial shit storm begin…(pulls out umbrella)*
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@VIC10. ur the john brown of soccer. i respect that. but u got some probs in ur comments. first of all FIFA only allows a maximum of 24 in a league. even if FIFA allowed 30 it would be too much cost involved, too many games it will be a mess. second rebranding a league that is already becoming successful is like stepping in a mine field. Rebranding is not just changing the name, its re developing the structure, re organizing everything from scratch. its like taking apart the Empire State Building and re building it into something new. some team oweners will like it, some may revolt. this in effect will tear apart a already growing successful league. EVEN changing just the name will create some controversy. i personally would like the MLS to not be a single entety party and a direct connection between USL and MLS and a elimination of the SALARY CAP but its just not fesible. at least now. when MLS teams become profitablle (ALL TEAMS) then you’ll see some re structuring but ull just have to wait john brown
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I personally am sad that Montreal, Vancouver, Carolina are leaving USL. They have gave soo much to a league that is trying hard to be a good league and USL is a strong league with history and i hate haveing to make ANOTHER new league but think of it as the EPL. they started in ‘94 for roughly the same reason. but i wish New York FC and Tampa Rowdies SC would join the TOA. but i think the TOA is doing a good job because unlike the USL, they want to be a european modled second division and not compete with MLS as the premier league in NOrth America. hopefully Charleston, Rochester, New York, Tampa and Puerto rico would join then id be happy. I also heard that Gainesville, Florida is applying for admission to the USL. hmmm, MLSR?
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I have nothing against the USL, i’m not a team owner, but since the good organizations are leaving I hope USL dies soon to make all the place for the new (and let’s hope only) division II league
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There is a giant problem that nobody is talking about. How much money do you think is in 2nd-5th division soccer, total? $100m combined? Nike, USSF, and a handful of other parties involved are solvent and lawyered up. Suppose MLS or USL or MLS2 or anyone gets sued or sues anyone? There are some millionaire/billionaire owners out there but it wouldn’t take much to bankrupt or dissolve or otherwise damage soccer in a way that sets it back decades. When Inter Milan destroyed the Italian league Juventus had to spend a season in Serie B or Italy would have been disqualified from Euro 08. If USSF doesn’t figure this out, will USA be disqualified from the world cup? That is a serious question so if you are ten and just want to mention the sounders and use a bunch of !!!!!! don’t answer it.
Also a 20 team MLS, 20 team MLS2, and a 20 team MLS3 makes more sense than two 30 team leagues, not that FIFA would allow it.
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I thought Tampa was involved with the TOA at one point? Although it would be odd to have Tampa in this new league when USL is headquartered in Tampa. I just hope they all get their act together soon, so our sport is not further hurt in this country.
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Vic10. You never fail to amaze me with you’re ridiculous points. Of all the dumb shit you said, I will only address one point. There is NO SUCH THING AS THE FIFA CALENDAR!!!!!
The so-called “international calendar” is only the Western European calendar. Scandanavia, Russia, Mexico, and many other countries play an alternate calendar, and yet are still a part of FIFA. So, please stop talking out your ass.
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I don’t this breakaway league will do much of anything considering the teams involved. Vancouver is definitely leaving for MLS after 2010 with Montreal likely to follow. That’ll drop them down to 4 teams. Of those 4, Atlanta, Miami, and Minnesota have all been reported to be on very shaky financial ground. Atlanta sat out an entire season. And DuNord is reporting that Minnesota may be done without new ownership. Any other franchises they add before 2010 have very little time to get started (and from scratch). That doesn’t seem like a great situation to start a breakaway league with.
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Wrong Sean. The Whitecaps want a second division feeder team for MLS. Whether that team is in Victoria or Edmonton, they’ll have a second division squad. The same goes for Montreal…which will likely have a team in Quebec City. I can also tell you, that WHEN the approval is given for the league, other USL owners will kicking themselves for not joining sooner. The TOA has smart, deep pocketed owners, with marketing skills and corporate connections. The USL is run by used car salesmen.
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well but the east has a buffet of cities to pick from and the west, not much but good enough…..and if the league changes name, change league name by fans deciding the name…….trust me the fans would speak out
So in the west you can add 2 or even 3 out of these: you can add Las Vegas, San Diego, Phoenix, Edmonton, Oklahoma, Albuquerque, El Paso TX, San Antonio, or Austin
Vancouver
Portland
Seattle
San Jose
L.A. Galaxy
L.A. Chivas
Colorado
Salt Lake
Dallas
Houston
So in the east you can add 2 or 3 out of these:Miami, Tampa Bay,St.louis, Atlanta, A city in Tenesse, A city in South Carolina and North Carolina, Birmingham Alabama, or Ottawa
Kansas City
Columbus
TFC
MOntreal
Chicago
New England
New York
D.C.
Philly
and if you add St.louis it makes 10 on each conference
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I’d like to see the CSA stand-up and say that there can only be one Division Two in Canada. Approve TOA’s league and only allow CDN D2 teams in this league, or only allow them in USL1. It’s in our best interest to only have one D2.
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Portland must be licking their lips since now they just might win something. Watch as powerhouse Vancouver and Montreal bail so they can slip in and steal one in their last year. Surely not!
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Sorry didn’t read all the comments but FIFA can be strong armed and if MLS could expand to 30 or 32 teams in the future with 15 or 16 teams in each conference then the teams would only play teams in their conference home and away until the championship. FIFA would call it two leagues one governing body just like MLB used to be (technically still is) and everyone would be happy.
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I just hope they consider San Francisco for a team in the new league. MLS and the Earthquakes have never understood that San Jose might as well be on Mars as far as fans up here in San Francisco are concerned. I think a franchise here would do great since there are lots of Euro transplants here who just don’t feel MLS is worth an hour each way for a match. Plus the teams is not ours. This city needs a team.
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