The NASL May Not Survive To 2017

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https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/09/the-nasl-is-reportedly-in-a-lot-of-trouble-may-not.html

The NASL May Not Survive To 2017

By James Bridget Gordon  |  September 22, 2016  |  4:09pm

The American soccer landscape could look very different next year.

The North American Soccer League, the country’s second division men’s soccer league and spiritual descendent of the American top-flight league from the 1970s and 80s, is facing enormous financial and organizational pressure. And, ahead of a potentially fate-deciding meeting this week in New York, this could be the beginning of the end.

The league’s biggest immediate problem is that as many as five teams are on their way out the door for one reason or another. Minnesota United, who have been responsible for some of the league’s highest attendance figures this season, are joining MLS next season. Sports Illustrated is reporting that the Ottawa Fury are likely moving to United Soccer League (the third tier in American soccer) next season and that the Tampa Bay Rowdies will likely follow suit.

Meanwhile, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers are in the midst of a massive financial crisis. The team’s Brazilian owners issued a statement saying that they would no longer fund the team’s operations, leaving employees and vendors to twist in the win. The league will vote next week on a measure to cover the team’s financial obligations through the rest of 2016, a move that could cost them as much as $1.75 million.

And of course, there’s the ongoing saga at Rayo OKC, which we’ve previously reported on.

SI is reporting that at least four clubs haven’t paid their league bonds for next season, fuelling fears that a mass exodus is imminent.

The clubs that would remain aren’t without problems of their own. The New York Cosmos, in many ways seen as the league’s flagship club owing to their storied (if complicated) history, have seen their attendance figures drop at Hofstra University. Their plans for a new stadium have appeared to have fallen through and the team may end up playing their games next season— if there is a next season— at MCU Park in Coney Island, home of the minor league baseball team Brooklyn Cyclones.