Exclusive: California NASL Expansion Bids Take Form

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http://midfieldpress.com/2016/09/26/exclusive-california-nasl-expansion-bids-take-form/

Exclusive: California NASL Expansion Bids Take Form

by Chris Kivlehan - September 26, 2016

Midfield Press has been in touch with an expansion group in San Diego that is targeting a Spring 2018 debut in the North American Soccer League.  While we cannot reveal the group’s identity out of respect for their process, we can share that it is the same group that was reported by NBC in May as planning to start in USL for the 2017 season.

Midfield Press previously shared that we have been in touch with a group in Los Angeles looking to start in Spring 2017.  The L.A. group would need official acceptance into the league soon in order to be ready in time for Spring 2017, however they feel they have all of the pieces in place to make a strong debut next season if approved. 

Neither the Los Angeles or San Diego groups are officially accepted in the league at this time, but they both have impressive backing and roots in the community.  Both groups continue to prefer the NASL model over USL despite the recent reports of turmoil with several current NASL clubs.  Brian Andres Helmick of the San Francisco Deltas calmed fears when speaking to the Telegraph, “We have a core group of strong owners and there is a lot of potential.  I believe there are things the league should have done differently in the past and we’re actually really focused on getting aligned around our vision and what are the alternatives in the future. Expect to see differences in how we operate.”