North American Soccer League (2010)
Encyclopedia
The North American Soccer League (NASL) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States
, Canada
, and Puerto Rico
which began league play on April 9, 2011. It has been provisionally sanctioned as the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer
in the hierarchy for the 2011 season. It also fills this role in Canada
and Puerto Rico.
The league was founded in late 2009 after multiple teams broke away from the United Soccer Leagues
organization following the sale of USL to NuRock Soccer Holdings earlier that year. The official name of the league was announced on November 23, 2009.
The inaugural season was expected to begin play in April 2010, but the United States Soccer Federation
refused to sanction the new league.
In January 2010, the USSF elected to operate an interim USSF Division 2 Professional League
for the 2010 season, comprising twelve teams from both the NASL and USL-1.
Following NASL's annual general meeting
, the league announced its formal application to the USSF for Division 2 sanctioning in the United States on November 11, 2010 and was provisionally approved by the USSF on November 21, 2010. NASL began regular league play April 9, 2011 with eight members comprising former clubs from the USL First Division
, the USL Second Division
, plus expansion franchises, with plans in place for at least two additional clubs by 2013. The provisional sanctioning was revoked by the USSF in January due to the collapse of two of the ownership groups involved with NASL and serious questions about several others. On February 12, 2011 the USSF again granted provisional sanctioning for the 2011 season for Division 2 play.
agreed to sell their 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.
After the purchase, several prominent TOA members began to voice their concerns about the state of the league in general, its management structure and ownership model, the leadership of USL president Francisco Marcos, and about the sale of the league to NuRock, which the TOA felt was counter-productive and detrimental to the development of the league. Within several weeks, a number of TOA member clubs threatened to break away from USL and start their own league; this threat became official on November 10, 2009, when six USL-1 clubs along with St. Louis applied for approval to create a new North American Division 2 league. On November 20, 2009, one team from both USL-1 and USL-2 announced their intentions to join the new league., taking the membership of the new league to nine teams.
The official name of the league was announced on November 23, 2009. 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". Prior to the announcement of the league's name, it had been unofficially referred to in the media as the "TOA League", after the USL Team Owners Association (TOA) members who founded the league.
Following the controversial 2010 season which saw neither the USL First Division
or the NASL receive Division 2 sanctioning from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF)
(resulting in the temporary USSF Division 2 Pro League), the league consolidated its member franchises to meet the new Division 2 standards set out by the USSF. The NASL submitted its formal application for Division 2 sanctioning to the USSF on November 11, 2010 and was provisionally approved by the Federation November 21, 2010.
The U.S. Soccer Board of Directors provisionally sanctioned the North American Soccer League (NASL) to operate a Division 2 men’s outdoor professional soccer league in the United States on February 12, 2011.
The first official NASL season began April 9, 2011.
The Carolina RailHawks
, Miami FC
, Minnesota Thunder
, Montreal Impact
and Vancouver Whitecaps all played in the USL First Division
in 2009, and comprise the set of TOA teams that initiated the original breakaway from the USL. The Rochester Rhinos, also formerly of the USL First Division, were not part of the initial breakaway, but joined the league on November 30, 2009. FC Tampa Bay were scheduled to be a 2010 USL-1 expansion franchise, but switched to the NASL shortly after the league was officially formed. Crystal Palace Baltimore played in the USL Second Division
in 2009, and joined the NASL at the same time as Tampa. The Atlanta Silverbacks
last played competitively in USL-1 in 2008, and spent 2009 on hiatus from the league prior to joining the NASL. St. Louis Soccer United is the parent company of AC St. Louis
, and was part of the initial TOA group that formed the league.
FC Edmonton
began play during the inaugural league match, defeating the Ft Lauderdale Strikers 2-1, after the Vancouver Whitecaps moved to Major League Soccer. Also, the Minnesota Thunder ceased operations due to financial problems, and were replaced by a team owned by the National Sports Center
in the Twin Cities suburb of Blaine, Minnesota
known as the NSC Minnesota Stars
.
On October 4, 2010, NASL announced that San Antonio, Texas was awarded the 12th franchise. The team, will be mostly owned by former real estate developer Gordon Hartman and will play at the South Texas Area Regional Soccer Complex (STAR Complex), which is located in north central San Antonio, adjacent to Morgan's Wonderland
. Named the San Antonio Scorpions FC, the team will begin competition during the 2012 season.
As of October 25, 2010, the Rochester Rhinos had switched league allegiance again, returning to USL to join the new USL Pro
League for 2011.
Following the conclusion of the 2010 NASL Annual general meeting
, the league announced its formal bid to the USSF for Division 2 sanctioning with the required minimum eight teams, including the NSC Minnesota Stars
and the revived Atlanta Silverbacks
. With provisional approval for the league to begin play in 2011, eight clubs were officially confirmed to launch the inaugural season: Atlanta Silverbacks
, Carolina RailHawks
, FC Edmonton
, Miami FC (since renamed Fort Lauderdale Strikers
), Montreal Impact
, NSC Minnesota Stars
, Puerto Rico Islanders
& FC Tampa Bay.
The league had left open the possibility of adding additional franchises prior to the inaugural season, including the return of AC St. Louis
, while expansion has been planned for San Antonio, Texas in 2012. Crystal Palace Baltimore stated intentions to join the league for the 2012 season under a new name and structure, following a re-branding and re-organization of the club in 2011.
NASL has yet to announce whether Baltimore will officially return to the league.
On June 20, 2011, NASL officially announced that Ottawa
, Ontario
has been granted an expansion franchise. The team will begin play in either 2013 or 2014, pending the refurbishment of Frank Clair Stadium
.
Wellman is the American co-owner of the Carolina RailHawks
. Saputo is Canadian businessman and sports executive, currently chairman of Montreal Impact
.
The NASL disagreed with the USL assessment, and the USL did not file suit against the new league as a whole. The USL sued three of the constituent teams (Crystal Palace Baltimore, Tampa Bay, and Rochester) for breach of contract, claiming that the teams had committed to playing in USL in 2010.
In January 2010, after announcing that it would not sanction either the NASL or the USL First Division for 2010, the USSF announced that it would be running a second-tier league in 2010, putting the NASL on hold for at least a year. The USSF Division 2 Professional League
included teams from both the NASL and USL-1.
Controversy continued to surround both the NASL and the USL through the 2010 temporary USSF D-2 Pro League season and in the lead up a 2011 compromise on Tier 2 and Tier 3 soccer in the United States, as the leagues have fought for the loyalty of various clubs. Most recently, USL's Puerto Rico Islanders
joined NASL, while a founding member of the NASL, the Rochester Rhinos, returned to the USL in October.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
which began league play on April 9, 2011. It has been provisionally sanctioned as the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
in the hierarchy for the 2011 season. It also fills this role in Canada
Canadian soccer pyramid
The Canadian soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in Canada. The governing body of soccer in the country is the Canadian Soccer Association , which oversees the system and domestic cups but does not operate any of its component leagues...
and Puerto Rico.
The league was founded in late 2009 after multiple teams broke away from the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
organization following the sale of USL to NuRock Soccer Holdings earlier that year. The official name of the league was announced on November 23, 2009.
The inaugural season was expected to begin play in April 2010, but the United States Soccer Federation
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
refused to sanction the new league.
In January 2010, the USSF elected to operate an interim USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
for the 2010 season, comprising twelve teams from both the NASL and USL-1.
Following NASL's annual general meeting
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
, the league announced its formal application to the USSF for Division 2 sanctioning in the United States on November 11, 2010 and was provisionally approved by the USSF on November 21, 2010. NASL began regular league play April 9, 2011 with eight members comprising former clubs from the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
, the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
, plus expansion franchises, with plans in place for at least two additional clubs by 2013. The provisional sanctioning was revoked by the USSF in January due to the collapse of two of the ownership groups involved with NASL and serious questions about several others. On February 12, 2011 the USSF again granted provisional sanctioning for the 2011 season for Division 2 play.
Competition format
NASL league play debuted on April 9, 2011 with 8 teams playing a 28 game regular season schedule, with 14 home and 14 away games, playing each opponent four times. The NASL’s playoff format consisted of the top six teams, with the first two teams receiving a bye until the semi-final round and the remaining four teams playing in a single-game playoff to advance to the semi-finals. The semi-finals and the finals each consisted of a two-game home and home aggregate goal system.History
On August 27, 2009, multi-national sports company NikeNike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
agreed to sell their stake in the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
(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
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
clubs and St. Louis Soccer United.
After the purchase, several prominent TOA members began to voice their concerns about the state of the league in general, its management structure and ownership model, the leadership of USL president Francisco Marcos, and about the sale of the league to NuRock, which the TOA felt was counter-productive and detrimental to the development of the league. Within several weeks, a number of TOA member clubs threatened to break away from USL and start their own league; this threat became official on November 10, 2009, when six USL-1 clubs along with St. Louis applied for approval to create a new North American Division 2 league. On November 20, 2009, one team from both USL-1 and USL-2 announced their intentions to join the new league., taking the membership of the new league to nine teams.
The official name of the league was announced on November 23, 2009. 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". Prior to the announcement of the league's name, it had been unofficially referred to in the media as the "TOA League", after the USL Team Owners Association (TOA) members who founded the league.
Following the controversial 2010 season which saw neither the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
or the NASL receive Division 2 sanctioning from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF)
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
(resulting in the temporary USSF Division 2 Pro League), the league consolidated its member franchises to meet the new Division 2 standards set out by the USSF. The NASL submitted its formal application for Division 2 sanctioning to the USSF on November 11, 2010 and was provisionally approved by the Federation November 21, 2010.
The U.S. Soccer Board of Directors provisionally sanctioned the North American Soccer League (NASL) to operate a Division 2 men’s outdoor professional soccer league in the United States on February 12, 2011.
The first official NASL season began April 9, 2011.
Championships
| Season | NASL Championship Series | Regular Season |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 2011 North American Soccer League season The 2011 North American Soccer League season is the 44th season of second division soccer in the United States and the inaugural season of the newly-revived North American Soccer League.... |
Minnesota Stars NSC Minnesota Stars The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid... |
Carolina RailHawks Carolina RailHawks FC Carolina RailHawks FC is an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.... |
Teams
The following teams had intended to take part in the inaugural season of the new NASL in 2010 before the USSF refused to sanction the new league.The Carolina RailHawks
Carolina RailHawks FC
Carolina RailHawks FC is an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
, Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
, Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
and Vancouver Whitecaps all played in the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
in 2009, and comprise the set of TOA teams that initiated the original breakaway from the USL. The Rochester Rhinos, also formerly of the USL First Division, were not part of the initial breakaway, but joined the league on November 30, 2009. FC Tampa Bay were scheduled to be a 2010 USL-1 expansion franchise, but switched to the NASL shortly after the league was officially formed. Crystal Palace Baltimore played in the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
in 2009, and joined the NASL at the same time as Tampa. The Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
last played competitively in USL-1 in 2008, and spent 2009 on hiatus from the league prior to joining the NASL. St. Louis Soccer United is the parent company of AC St. Louis
AC St. Louis
Athletic Club of St. Louis, commonly referred to as AC St. Louis, was an American professional soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in December 2009, the team played its first and only season the next year in the NASL Conference of the temporary USSF D2 Pro League, the...
, and was part of the initial TOA group that formed the league.
FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
began play during the inaugural league match, defeating the Ft Lauderdale Strikers 2-1, after the Vancouver Whitecaps moved to Major League Soccer. Also, the Minnesota Thunder ceased operations due to financial problems, and were replaced by a team owned by the National Sports Center
National Sports Center
The National Sports Center is a 600-acre multi-sport complex located in Blaine, Minnesota, United States, that includes a soccer stadium, over 50 full-sized soccer fields, a golf course, a velodrome, a meeting and convention facility, and an eight-sheet ice rink, the Schwan Super Rink, which is...
in the Twin Cities suburb of Blaine, Minnesota
Blaine, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,942 people, 15,898 households, and 12,177 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,330 people per square mile . There are 16,169 housing units at an average density of 477.6 per square mile...
known as the NSC Minnesota Stars
NSC Minnesota Stars
The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
On October 4, 2010, NASL announced that San Antonio, Texas was awarded the 12th franchise. The team, will be mostly owned by former real estate developer Gordon Hartman and will play at the South Texas Area Regional Soccer Complex (STAR Complex), which is located in north central San Antonio, adjacent to Morgan's Wonderland
Morgan's Wonderland
Morgan's Wonderland is the world's first ultra accessible family fun park for special needs children in San Antonio, Texas. The park, which opened in 2010, was developed by Gordon Hartman, a former real estate developer from San Antonio...
. Named the San Antonio Scorpions FC, the team will begin competition during the 2012 season.
As of October 25, 2010, the Rochester Rhinos had switched league allegiance again, returning to USL to join the new USL Pro
USL Pro
The USL Professional Division, commonly known as USL Pro , is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011....
League for 2011.
Following the conclusion of the 2010 NASL Annual general meeting
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
, the league announced its formal bid to the USSF for Division 2 sanctioning with the required minimum eight teams, including the NSC Minnesota Stars
NSC Minnesota Stars
The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
and the revived Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
. With provisional approval for the league to begin play in 2011, eight clubs were officially confirmed to launch the inaugural season: Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
, Carolina RailHawks
Carolina RailHawks FC
Carolina RailHawks FC is an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
, FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
, Miami FC (since renamed Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Fort Lauderdale Strikers was an American soccer team, a descendant of the Washington Darts, Miami Gatos, and Miami Toros, that played in Fort Lauderdale, Florida....
), Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
, NSC Minnesota Stars
NSC Minnesota Stars
The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
& FC Tampa Bay.
The league had left open the possibility of adding additional franchises prior to the inaugural season, including the return of AC St. Louis
AC St. Louis
Athletic Club of St. Louis, commonly referred to as AC St. Louis, was an American professional soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in December 2009, the team played its first and only season the next year in the NASL Conference of the temporary USSF D2 Pro League, the...
, while expansion has been planned for San Antonio, Texas in 2012. Crystal Palace Baltimore stated intentions to join the league for the 2012 season under a new name and structure, following a re-branding and re-organization of the club in 2011.
NASL has yet to announce whether Baltimore will officially return to the league.
On June 20, 2011, NASL officially announced that Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
has been granted an expansion franchise. The team will begin play in either 2013 or 2014, pending the refurbishment of Frank Clair Stadium
Frank Clair Stadium
Frank Clair Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Lansdowne Park, on the southern edge of The Glebe neighbourhood, where Bank Street crosses the Rideau Canal.-Tenants:...
.
2012 Teams
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | Joined | Color | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Silverbacks Atlanta Silverbacks Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership... |
Atlanta, GA Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... |
Atlanta Silverbacks Park RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium Atlanta Silverbacks Park, is a soccer complex located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, which is the home of the Atlanta Silverbacks soccer club, which includes the Atlanta Silverbacks of the North American Soccer League, the Atlanta Silverbacks Women of the W-League and the Atlanta Silverbacks... |
1995 | 2011 | Red, Black, White |  Alex Pineda ChacónAlex Pineda Chacón Alex Pineda Chacón is a former footballer who is currently the head coach of Atlanta Silverbacks in the North American Soccer League.-Club career:... |
| Carolina RailHawks Carolina RailHawks FC Carolina RailHawks FC is an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.... |
Cary Cary, North Carolina Cary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham... , NC North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte... |
WakeMed Soccer Park | 2006 | 2010 | Orange, Blue, White | Vacant |
| FC Edmonton FC Edmonton FC Edmonton is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.... |
Edmonton Edmonton Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census... , AB Alberta Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces... |
Foote Field Foote Field Foote Field is a multi-purpose sports facility on the University of Alberta campus in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, built as a legacy facility for the 2001 World Championships in Athletics... |
2010 | 2011 | Blue, White |  Harry SinkgravenHarry Sinkgraven Harm "Harry" Sinkgraven is a Dutch association football coach and former professional player.He currently manages Canadian soccer team FC Edmonton.-Playing career:... |
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010... , FL Florida Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... |
Lockhart Stadium Lockhart Stadium Lockhart Stadium is a stadium located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. It is currently used by Fort Lauderdale High School, Stranahan High School, Northeast High School and Dillard High School for home high school football games, and previously served as the home of the Florida Atlantic... |
2006 | 2010 | Yellow, Red, Black |  Daryl ShoreDaryl Shore Daryl Shore is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper who is currently head coach of Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the second division North American Soccer League.-Player:... |
| NSC Minnesota Stars NSC Minnesota Stars The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid... |
Blaine Blaine, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 44,942 people, 15,898 households, and 12,177 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,330 people per square mile . There are 16,169 housing units at an average density of 477.6 per square mile... , MN Minnesota Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state... |
National Sports Center National Sports Center The National Sports Center is a 600-acre multi-sport complex located in Blaine, Minnesota, United States, that includes a soccer stadium, over 50 full-sized soccer fields, a golf course, a velodrome, a meeting and convention facility, and an eight-sheet ice rink, the Schwan Super Rink, which is... |
2010 | 2010 | Blue, Gold | Manny Lagos Manny Lagos Manuel "Manny" Lagos is a former American soccer midfielder who last played for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, and is the current Head Coach of NSC Minnesota Stars... |
| Puerto Rico Islanders Puerto Rico Islanders Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.... |
Bayamón Bayamón, Puerto Rico Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo... , PR Puerto Rico Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an... |
Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium The Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium is a 12,500 seat stadium at Route 2 and Route 5, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The stadium has easy access with one metro station on premises.-Early life:... |
2003 | 2011 | Orange, White, Sky Blue |  Colin Clarke |
| San Antonio Scorpions | San Antonio, TX Texas Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... |
Heroes Stadium Heroes Stadium Heroes Stadium is an 11,000-seat, open style football stadium in San Antonio, Texas. It opened in 2009, built on the site of the abandoned Longhorn Quarry. $27.5 million of funding was provided by a 2007 school district bond. A video board system measuring was installed in 2010... |
2010 | 2012 | Red, Black. Gold | United States Tim Hankinson Tim Hankinson Tim Hankinson is a well-traveled American soccer coach who is currently head coach of NASL side San Antonio Scorpions in San Antonio, Texas.- Player :... |
| FC Tampa Bay | St. Petersburg St. Petersburg, Florida St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St... , FL Florida Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... |
Progress Energy Park Progress Energy Park Progress Energy Park is a 7,227 seat baseball stadium located on the downtown waterfront of St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. It is named in honor of Al Lang, a former mayor of St. Petersburg who helped to bring professional baseball to the city... |
2008 | 2010 | Green, Gold |  Ricky HillRicky Hill Ricky Hill is a former English footballer and the current head coach for Tampa Bay in the second division North American Soccer League.He was born in Paddington.-Playing career:... |
Expansion teams
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | Joining | Colors | Head Coach | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa Ottawa NASL team The Ottawa NASL team is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2011, the team is expected to make its debut in the North American Soccer League in 2013.... |
Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario... , ON Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
Frank Clair Stadium Frank Clair Stadium Frank Clair Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Lansdowne Park, on the southern edge of The Glebe neighbourhood, where Bank Street crosses the Rideau Canal.-Tenants:... |
2011 | 2013/2014 | TBA | TBA |
Former teams
- Montreal ImpactMontreal ImpactMontreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
- A team with the same name and ownership will enter MLSMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
in 2012.
Staff
The following individuals were named as members of the NASL's front office in a press release on November 10, 2009.- Selby Wellman - President
- Joey SaputoJoey SaputoJoseph "Joey" Saputo is a Canadian businessman and sports executive.Joey Saputo is the son of the founder and head of Saputo, a dairy products company which also markets a range of other items, such as spaghetti sauce. Saputo's other holdings include the largest dairy company in Canada, Vachon...
- Chairman of the Board of Governors - David Downs - Commissioner
Wellman is the American co-owner of the Carolina RailHawks
Carolina RailHawks FC
Carolina RailHawks FC is an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
. Saputo is Canadian businessman and sports executive, currently chairman of Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
.
Controversy
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. The USL also claimed that the NASL and the TOA ownership group was "tortuously [sic] 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 in the United States and Canada".The NASL disagreed with the USL assessment, and the USL did not file suit against the new league as a whole. The USL sued three of the constituent teams (Crystal Palace Baltimore, Tampa Bay, and Rochester) for breach of contract, claiming that the teams had committed to playing in USL in 2010.
In January 2010, after announcing that it would not sanction either the NASL or the USL First Division for 2010, the USSF announced that it would be running a second-tier league in 2010, putting the NASL on hold for at least a year. The USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
included teams from both the NASL and USL-1.
Controversy continued to surround both the NASL and the USL through the 2010 temporary USSF D-2 Pro League season and in the lead up a 2011 compromise on Tier 2 and Tier 3 soccer in the United States, as the leagues have fought for the loyalty of various clubs. Most recently, USL's Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
joined NASL, while a founding member of the NASL, the Rochester Rhinos, returned to the USL in October.