Is it FC Cincy vs. 'silent assassins' for MLS?

So many good news articles today; all my secret hopes and dreams bubbling up to the surface. Of course the actual chances of David Beckham joining the Tampa Bay Rowdies MLS ownership group is still small; but it isn't unthinkable and now we have official word that Bill Edwards has extended an invitation to talk. So that's good. But so far silence from Beckham and other partners of Miami Beckham United (MBU).

Also the article below about FC Cincy vs. "Silent Assassins" aka the Tampa Bay Rowdies is very good. I think as a partisan source the writer has to put FC Cincy chances of getting into MLS as very high, but, really, without their own SSS, FC Cincy isn't getting into MLS, no matter how well they draw in USL. 

But the writer does at least recognize the Tampa Bay Rowdies as a big favorite for getting into MLS, which is a first, coming from a non-Tampa Bay area source, I think. Most writers simply ignore or dismiss or minimize the Tampa Bay Rowdies chances of getting into MLS, based on a number of assumptions and prejudices that simply don't apply anymore, if they ever did. The writer is quite correct to realize that Bill Edwards has been working quietly at this for several years now, and has everything he needs (SSS in a good location, deep pocketed ownership group, large media market) to make it to MLS.

Based on what I know at the moment, I'd have to favor Tampa Bay Rowdies, Sacramento Republic, and San Antonio FC as likely to make it to MLS, simply because they have their SSS plans ready and on track. St. Louis and Detroit are also likely, if they can put a SSS plan together, as they are large markets that MLS would like to have. Las Vegas is a small market with bad demographics and would only likely happen as part of an NFL stadium deal, which is several years away from happening, if it happens, and by then MLS expansion should be done and capped at 28 teams for the near future. 

It is nice to see that Bill Edwards has put the kibosh on the silly "St. Pete Rowdies" name change idea. 

Also nice to see further confirmation that Bill Edwards is putting together an MLS consortium ownership group based on potential investors who live in the Tampa Bay area. This is very good indeed. I'd like to know who they are; we all have made suggestions as to possible investors but we'll just have to wait and see what actually happens with the MLS bid. I imagine the full ownership group won't be announced until the MLS bid is officially approved.  

The recent addition of the two former Orlando City executives Forrest Eber and Brett Lashbrook to the Tampa Bay Rowdies executive team is more positive news that Bill Edwards is serious about taking the Tampa Bay Rowdies to MLS and will take every necessary step to make it happen. These two know the ropes and succeeded in Orlando; no reason why they can't do the same in Tampa/St. Pete. 

Also it is nice to see that someone (Rocco B. Commisso) apparently is saving the New York Cosmos from a second death. I hope that works out. 

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2017/01/04/fc-cincy-vs-silent-assassins-mls/96125434/

Is it FC Cincy vs. 'silent assassins' for MLS?

Patrick Brennan

Published 9:14 a.m. ET Jan. 4, 2017

There's a reason some industry insiders refer to the Tampa Bay Rowdies as the "silent assassins" of the race for Major League Soccer expansion.

The Rowdies are a relative newcomer to the mainstream MLS expansion conversation after formally announcing their intent in December, but don't misinterpret that for a hurried and premature MLS pitch.

The Rowdies' announcement came after years of behind-the-scenes work and investment from the team and Rowdies Chairman and CEO Bill Edwards, who has his club knocking on the door of MLS.

By the way, he doesn't care if you hear the Rowdies knocking or not.

"At the end of the day, I think it's hands down that we belong in MLS and probably ahead of a lot of the guys that are on the list," Edwards told The Enquirer. The Enquirer also toured Tampa Bay's facilities Dec. 23.

Yes, MLS has been in the Tampa-St. Petersburg metro area before. And, yes, it didn't work out.

The Tampa Bay Mutiny were folded by the league in 2002 for a variety a reasons, but Edwards appears to have big plans that would remedy the issues that befell the Mutiny.

The Rowdies aren't to be taken lightly in the MLS expansion race, and what's happening on the St. Petersburg waterfront is a stark reminder to fans of Futbol Club Cincinnati, Sacramento Republic FC and other teams: The groups involved in the expansion application process are all fighting desperately for the same prize.

Strong, monied contenders with compelling pitches could, and likely will, lose out in the end.

The stadium plan: "If you dream it, you can do it"

Perhaps the strongest prong of Edwards' pitch to MLS are his plans for a privately-funded, $80 million expansion of historic Al Lang Stadium, a baseball venue that opened in the 1940's and in recent years was converted to soccer-specific by the Rowdies.

Front office staff can already boast on Al Lang Stadium as a bona fide soccer venue with a waterfront view. They also say the site is essentially ready-made for the expansion, which would upgrade the facility and increase capacity from 7,200-plus to about 18,000.

Edwards told The Enquirer he could have the expanded site operational by 2019.

The venue already features more than $4 million worth of modern soccer amenities including upgraded locker rooms and an in-stadium production studio for match broadcasts, Edwards said (The team uses up to 13 cameras for its broadcasts).

The look and feel of Al Lang Stadium immediately stands out because very few baseball-specific features remain at the stadium.

Clay warning tracks have been sodded. Green and yellow seats were installed in the grandstands, as was a free-standing grandstand and VIP area in what used to be left and center fields.

Even the home team locker room toilet stalls have Rowdies brand marks on the doors

"The biggest day of my life is when I took the batter's eye out of that place," Edwards said through laughter. "Everything you could possibly imagine that you could do with that stadium, we did it."

The first and third base dugouts remain. Other than that, the venue is almost indistinguishable from its past life as a baseball stadium.

The stadium is up to international playing standards, too. Al Lang will host this weekend Florida Cup 2017 matches featuring Bayer Leverkusen and VFL Wolfsburg of the German Bundesliga, and Club Estudiantes de La Plata,  one of the biggest clubs in Argentina.

The Rowdies' stadium plan looks especially enticing following a Tuesday report that Missouri governor-elect Eric Greitens ruled out public funding for stadiums. St. Louis is one of nine other cities vying for MLS expansion and, for months, experts tipped the city as a favorite to earn an expansion slot. The new funding hurdle has raised some doubts.

The organizational build-out

Stadiums top the list of must-haves for all would-be MLS expansion teams, but there's far more to it than a stadium. Youth programming, training facilities and committed ownership are necessary considerations for the 10 clubs applying for MLS.

• Just as former Columbus Crew SC President Mark McCullers works with FC Cincinnati as a consultant, the Rowdies recently enlisted the help of Brett Lashbrook and Forrest Eber, both formerly of Orlando City SC's front office staff. They've helped steer and enhance the Rowdies in their application process, Edwards said.

• Edwards is working to build a coalition of high-net-worth individuals from the Tampa-St. Petersburg metro area to comprise his would-be ownership group. That's important because the Rowdies will need about $230 million in funding to make MLS happen ($150 million for the MLS expansion fee, plus the $80 million to expand Al Lang Stadium).

It''s also noteworthy because part of the reason Mutiny were undone was because MLS couldn't secure local ownership, so a locally-owned organization would be a major bullet point on the Rowdies' pitch to MLS.

"We have a lot of people in this town that are very wealthy of their own right and I'm working on putting together a local group of people rather than going to Wall Street. Rather than going to other institutional people," Edwards told The Enquirer. "Now, I'm not waving them off. I'll take their money, but in the same instance, if we can put together all the money here, we will.

"The people we pick will be the best people we want to be in our league and in our team. You know, I'm not going to bring people in that I'm not going to get along with... I'm a shoot-from-the-hip kind of guy that gets things done."

• TV money is a big part of the equation for longterm MLS success, and there's no shortage of TV money in Tampa-St. Petersburg. During his Enquirer interview, Edwards correctly pointed out that Tampa-St. Petersburg remains the largest U.S. TV market (No. 11) without an MLS team. By contrast, Cincinnati would be the smallest market in the league as the No. 36 TV market.

Each of the top 10-ranked TV markets has at least one MLS club.

• The Rowdies have a standalone training ground just blocks from Al Lang Stadium. FC Cincinnati President and General Manager Jeff Berding said in December he hoped to break ground on a training facility early in 2017.

• The Rowdies are awaiting authorization for its USL PDL team, Edwards said. The Rowdies previously fielded a developmental team in the fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and plans to transition out of NPSL and into USL PDL. The purpose being to continue to provide a development structure while playing in USL.

• "A development academy seems like a no-brainer for us," Edwards told The Enquirer. He noted the club already has the facilities to accommodate an academy.

Edwards on Rowdies' jump to USL

The Rowdies, along with Ottawa Fury FC, announced in October they would leave the North American Soccer League (NASL) to join USL. Since then, the NASL's future has come into doubt. Many questions remain about the league following weeks of speculation about its possible folding.

The Rowdies announced their intent to leave long before any widespread public discussion of the NASL's current difficulties. Suffice it to say Edwards is happy with his team's new situation in the USL.

"They're doing the job to get you where you want to be," Edwards said of USL. "They're out there doing things to make sure your franchise has got what it takes and what it needs, and they do it welcomingly. They don't beat you down for now having it done.

"They help you get it done," Edwards added when asked about the USL's plan to launch a streamlined broadcast initiative for the 2017 season. "So, their organization is superior to any other league I've been in."

Edwards on FC Cincinnati

While focused on Tampa Bay's pitch, Edwards, like others in his position, is aware of trends in this fierce, new American soccer marketplace – especially when it comes to MLS expansion.

"You can't live in a vacuum," he said. "I admire a lot of the things people have done. I go to their stadiums. I go to their games."

Edwards, who said he used to live in Blue Ash, hasn't been to see an FC Cincinnati match yet, but he still appears to hold the upstart, Queen City club in high regard.

"The best team wins the deal. The best team get the franchise. I know there are other people out there that have done a lot of work and spent a lot of time and energy doing what we're doing... Look what they're doing out there," Edwards said of FC Cincinnati. "I'm very proud to see what they're doing. The fans are coming and they're enjoying the games. I give them a lot of credit for what they're doing."

Asked to weigh the viability of Cincinnati as a potential MLS city, Edwards playfully said, "is it better than mine? I don't know."

"But then again, this is a competition, isn't it? There's great people in Ohio... but you can't beat Florida – it doesn't snow in Florida."

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.empireofsoccer.com/rowdies-contacted-david-beckham-about-possibly-partnering-in-tampa-bay-56741/

Rowdies Contacted David Beckham About Possibly Partnering in Tampa Bay

by JAKE NUTTING on 01/04/2017

Time may be running out for David Beckham to get a stadium deal done for his long-gestating franchise in Miami, but he may have another option on the table — if he returns the messages the Tampa Bay Rowdies have left for him.

Only a little under a month into formally launching their campaign to bring the league back to Tampa Bay, the Rowdies say they have contacted David Beckham a few times to gauge his interest in checking out what they’ve built on the west coast of the state.

In an interview with EoS, Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards acknowledged he’d more than entertained the notion of calling up the former England star after his well-documented struggles in finalizing a deal in Miami – he actually dialed the English star.

“That’s come up so many times and there have been so many letters saying ‘Why doesn’t Beckham come to St Petersburg?” Edwards said. “The answer is yes, we have. We’ve tried to reach out to no avail, but [Beckham] should just come visit and take a look.”

Edwards even relied on some help from another former star of the England national team to get in touch with Beckham. According to Edwards, current Rowdies midfielder and past Premier League champion Joe Cole has been in contact with Beckham recently.

“We’ve got one of [Beckham’s] former teammates here — Joe Cole,” he said. “They played for years together. Joe’s reached out. They’re old friends. I can’t tell you what Joe and he said to each another, but we do know that Joe has done that.”

MLS Commissioner Don Garber told media members in December that the time is rapidly approaching for a final decision on whether or not Beckham’s Miami franchise will come to fruition. The group made headway on three different sites since MLS declared its intent to make Miami its 24th team in early 2014 — only to see each proposal evaporate for various reasons.

Hope was renewed in Miami’s bid when the group purchased six acres in the city’s Overtown neighborhood for a privately financed stadium in Spring of last year, but the effort then stalled out again during negotiations to purchase the last few acres from Miami-Dade County. The holdup is reportedly due to Beckham’s group needing time to secure more investors for the high price tag that comes with MLS expansion.

Edwards admits he doesn’t even know if Beckham’s franchise rights are transferable to another market or if his bid is inextricably linked to South Florida.

Still, Tampa Bay’s determined owner is leaving the door open for a discussion if Beckham is receptive to the idea.

“We’d love to see him come on over and say hello,” Edwards said. “Even if he didn’t join us.”

(Follow link for full article.)

http://sbisoccer.com/2017/01/report-rowdies-contact-beckham-hire-orlando-city-executives

Report: Rowdies reach out to Beckham, hire Orlando City executives

By Peter Galindo

Less than a day after the Tampa Bay Rowdies made a pair of major hires, the team has reportedly made contact with a future MLS club executive.

According to Empire of Soccer, the Rowdies have contacted David Beckham to gauge his interest on a potential partnership in Tampa. Owner Bill Edwards also claims that Beckham’s former England teammate Joe Cole has spoken to the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star.

“There have been so many letters saying ‘Why doesn’t Beckham come to St Petersburg?” said Edwards. “We’ve tried to reach out to no avail, but [Beckham] should just come visit and take a look.”

It’s unknown whether Beckham’s franchise rights in are transferable to another market from Miami. If they aren’t, then a possible deal with Edwards is moot.

As for the Rowdies’ plans to move to MLS, they took a giant step forward. Edwards told Empire of Soccer that he hired former Orlando City executives Brett Lashbrook and Forrest Eber.

“I’ve recently engaged the services of Brett Lashbrook and Forrest Eber,” said Edwards. “They’re on board with us and we feel very strongly they’ll help us a lot in what we’re trying to get accomplished. After all, they’ve done it several times before and they know MLS pretty well.”

Both men were vital figures during Orlando City’s MLS bid. Lashbrook was a special assistant to MLS commissioner Don Garber before helping New York City FC with its negotiations in 2013 before moving to the Floridian side. Eber was Orlando’s financial officer until last year and was heavily involved in the club’s move to MLS.

The Rowdies announced their intentions to launch an MLS bid in December. Edwards controls the home stadium and will privately fund the expansion process, which are two huge factors.

However, if Al Lang Stadium undergoes construction, the residents must approve it. A date for the vote is expected to be finalized this month.

This comment on the article is particularly perceptive; I agree with his conclusions: 

The Imperative Voice

Some variation on this is the inevitable endgame for the Beckham Miami concept, which doesn’t seem like it will happen. Either he joins an existing MLS ownership, gets bought out of his option and walks, or one of the expansion candidates buys his golden ticket/brings him in.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.tampabay.com/news/growth/kriseman-rowdies-mls-proposal-a-better-fit-for-st-petersburg-waterfront/2308396

Kriseman: Rowdies MLS proposal a better fit for St. Petersburg waterfront

Charlie FragoCharlie Frago, Times Staff Writer

Wednesday, January 4, 2017 12:01pm

ST. PETERSBURG — Nearly a decade ago, the Tampa Bay Rays deep-sixed plans for transforming Al Lang Stadium into a new ballpark after encountering stiff public opposition.

Last month, business magnate Bill Edwards announced plans to spend up to $80 million to upgrade the waterfront stadium where Babe Ruth once played into a venue suitable for Major League Soccer.

So why does a plan that proved toxic for the Rays in June 2008 appear golden for the Tampa Bay Rowdies now?

"Nothing's changed. It's a different plan. My plan fits the footprint of the ballpark. It doesn't extend out anywhere," said Edwards, who owns Rowdies and wants to join the United States' premier professional soccer league.

The Rays' plans would have impacted Bayshore Drive and involved dredging in Tampa Bay to extend the site into the water, Mayor Rick Kriseman said.

The environmental issues involved with dredging and the concerns about accommodating parking for up to 34,000 fans drove the opposition in 2008, he said.

But the Rowdies stadium capacity would be about 18,000, and the structure would be no taller than the neighboring Mahaffey Theater, which Edwards also operates. That translates into smaller crowds and fewer parking issues, Kriseman said.

Edwards, and former mayor Rick Baker, who is president of the Edwards Group, learned from the Rays' mistakes, Kriseman said.

Keeping the upgrades within Al Lang's existing footprint was key, he said. "That's a big deal."

The City Council will meet today for a non-binding discussion of the proposal, which would need to be approved by voters in a referendum. The plan would move forward only if the Rowdies gain an MLS franchise. Ten cities are vying for two spots in the current round of MLS expansion. Another round is likely within a few years.

What sets Tampa Bay apart from Nashville, St. Louis, Sacramento and the other cities gunning for the MLS?

"We're the number 11 TV market," Edwards said.

Another key difference from the Rays' 2008 proposal? Edwards promises he'll pay for it all himself.

With at least $230 million needed for an MLS team (the first expansion round carries a $150 million franchise fee plus the stadium upgrades), Edwards says he won't ask the city, county or state for a dime.

"It's coming out of my own pocket or other investors' pockets," he said Tuesday.

Those other potential investors, including some institutional investors, will remain unnamed for now, he said.

"I'm not sure how it's going to shake out yet. It's a little premature," he said.

If the council approves a May 2 referendum, Edwards will pay the $250,000 cost.

What's important for people to remember, Kriseman said, is the vote only authorizes the city to negotiate a 20-year lease for Al Lang with Edwards. The City Council would have to approve the final agreement. If the MLS bid fails, nothing happens.

"There are a lot of steps to this," Kriseman said Wednesday.

Council chairwoman Darden Rice, an ardent Rowdies fan and season ticket holder, suggested last month that a deal might include renaming the Rowdies for St. Petersburg.

Edwards isn't interested. The Rowdies have a history of 40-plus years as a franchise and have fans on both sides of the bay.

"I have no plans whatsoever for that," he said.

Edwards said he hasn't reached out yet to downtown residents, who led the charge against the Rays' plans, but plans to do so.

Albert Scafati, president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, said his group hasn't formally discussed the issue yet, but he's personally thrilled.

"I think St. Petersburg is on the map and Edwards has done a lot of great things here," Scafati said. "It would be a coup for the city."

The resurgence of a Rowdies MLS bid comes almost a year after an earlier attempt by Edwards to put a soccer vote before city residents. Last spring, a proposed referendum was aborted after Orlando's MLS team asserted its territorial rights. Edwards said in a recent conversation with Orlando officials that the issue didn't come up.

Disarray in the Rowdies former league, the North American Soccer League, he said, influenced his decision to try to move up to the MLS.

The City Council will discuss the issue at a committee of the whole meeting with all eight members at 3 p.m. today in Room 100 at City Hall.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/01/04/al-lang-stadium-improvements-face-questions-from.html

Al Lang Stadium improvements face questions from St. Pete City Council

Jan 4, 2017, 5:35pm EST

Janelle Irwin

St. Petersburg City Council members will kick off the process Thursday of beefing up Al Lang Stadium in hopes of attracting Major League Soccer. It seems straightforward, but there are potential areas of concern.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.themaneland.com/2017/1/4/14162174/lion-links-1-4-17

Lion Links: 1/4/17

Larin involved in Florida Cup tribute, Molino asks out of international duty, former Orlando City execs hired by Rowdies, and more.

by Michael Citro@ManeLandMichael Jan 4, 2017, 7:30am EST

Larin Part of Florida Cup Tribute to Chapecoense

Orlando City striker Cyle Larin will take part in a 20-minute Florida Cup All-Star exhibition on Jan. 15 as the international tournament honors the victims of the Chapecoense tragedy. Former Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath will manage one of the teams and Kaká appeared in a video thanking the Florida Cup for honoring the 71 victims. The exhibition will take place between the double header at UCF’s Bright House Networks Stadium with River Plate vs. Millonarios FC followed by Bahia vs. Estudiantes and $10 from each ticket will go to families of those affected. See? There’s another reason you should go see Florida Cup matches.

Former Orlando City Executives Joining Rowdies

You never want to see one of your own go work for the enemy but former Orlando City chief operating officer Brett Lashbrook and former OCSC chief financial officer Forrest Eber are heading to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Lashbrook, as first reported by The Mane Land, resigned as Orlando City’s COO back in April of 2015 after helping build the club’s ticket base to 14,000 with a wait list. He was instrumental in helping the Lions sell more than 62,000 tickets for the club’s inaugural MLS game and presided over the franchise’s ticket sales, corporate sales, marketing, communications and operations departments. Lashbrook was hired by Orlando City in June of 2013 to help spearhead the campaign to bring MLS to Orlando and he also helped with securing a soccer specific stadium. Eber served as Orlando’s CFO from 2013 until 2016. He was involved in organizing the financial aspect of Orlando’s MLS bid and worked with the team’s youth programs in the area.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.facebook.com/CTProSoccer/

Connecticut Pro Soccer

Our Team will be competing in the NPSL's Atlantic Conference in 2017. Before the team hits the field, we need to get the word out...current as of 1/1.

Current Facebook Likes:
Boston City FC 4,964
Brooklyn Italians 4,742
New York Athletic Club 4,203 (all sports)
Stockade FC 2,394
HARTFORD CITY FC 2,274
Rhode Island Reds 2,188
TSF Academy 1,669 (all teams)
Seacoast United Phantoms 449
Seacoast United Mariners 85 (Wiki link)
Greater Lowell NPSL FC 42 (NPSL split from Greater Lowell)

Connecticut Pro Soccer

Soccer journalist tweets some encouraging news: 1. NASL will maintain D2 if they have at least 8 teams 2. New York Cosmos look to be purchased by Rocco B. Commisso.

https://twitter.com/WilliamsBob75/status/816824862115266561

Bob Williams     ‏@WilliamsBob75

Some NASL news per a highly-placed source

1) USSF will make sanctioning decision by end of the week

2) NASL will get div 2 sanctioning if they have eight teams

3) The eighth team is the Cosmos, whose new buyer can be revealed

4) It is media magnate Rocco Commiso https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocco_B._Commisso …

5) Commiso will only buy the Cosmos if NASL is given div 2 sanctioning

6) Commisso (typo)

Connecticut Pro Soccer

When you look at the NPSL Atlantic Conference, you can not help but notice the playing credentials of Boston City FC's Head Coach: Jorge Ferreira da Silva...better known as Palhinha. The former Brazilian National Team Player made his mark in 1992 and 93 playing at Sao Paulo -- twice winning the prestigious Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup -- something that not even Kaka could claim while later playing for Sao Paulo before departing for Milan and Real Madrid.

But playing and coaching are two completely different animals. If Boston City's inaugural season is any indication, Palhinha can coach as well as he played. They were the first team to ever beat New York Cosmos 'B' team in 90 minutes and came in second in the Atlantic Conference, only behind the defending NPSL champion Cosmos. With an unbeaten streak of nine games in their first season, Boston City looks to be a team to beat in the 2017 season.

http://www.bostoncityfc.com/

(Follow link for full article.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocco_B._Commisso

Rocco B. Commisso

Rocco B. Commisso (born November 25, 1949) is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mediacom Communications Corporation, the 5th largest cable television company in the United States.

Soccer

Commisso played soccer for the Columbia University Lions in the 1967–1970 period. He is a three time All-Ivy League Honoree.[23] In 1967, Commisso was a member of a freshman squad that finished with an undefeated record of 8-0. Commisso served as co-captain of the 1970 team that went 9-4-0 and made Columbia’s first ever appearance in the NCAA men’s soccer tournament.[24]

Throughout his college soccer career, Commisso was cited numerous times for his skill and leadership[25][26][27][28][29] culminating in an invitation to try out for the USA Soccer Team organized for the 1972 Olympics.[citation needed]

Commisso has been an active contributor to Columbia men’s soccer program for over 40 years. From 1978 to 1986, he was Chairman of Friends of Columbia Soccer. Presently, Columbia awards an Annual Men’s Soccer Prize in his name.[30] On October 12, 2013, Columbia University named its soccer venue at the school’s Baker Athletics Complex as the Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.[31] In 2015 he was named a NYC Soccer Gala Honoree.[32] Commisso was inducted into the 2016 Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame Special Category.[33]

(Follow link for full article.)

http://the11.ca/imagine-theres-no-divisions-its-easy-if-you-try/

Imagine there’s no divisions, it’s easy if you try…

By Steven Sandor

In North American soccer, we go through a lot of needless angst. We waste so much of our lives on my-league-is-better-than-your-league banter. Why?

In a system without promotion and relegation, why is it important for us to have divisional distinctions for leagues? Really, why do we care so much what a series of suit-and-tie guys deem to be Divisions 1, 2 and 3 in North America?

Right now, a group of North American Soccer League owners — including FC Edmonton’s Tom Fath — and potential expansion-team owners are working to save the league. A lot of us North American soccer followers are waiting on the United States Soccer Federation’s decision on whether or not the NASL will keep its Division-2 status, or if the USL will move up from Division-3 to Division-2.

Neither the NASL or USL would qualify for Division-2 status based on the USSF’s rules for such things. Both would require sympathy from the federation to get the waivers needed to be able to tell their fans, “look at us, we’re Division-2! We matter!”

Yet, there is no competitive movement of teams between the three leagues; all movement from NASL to MLS to USL to MLS is done for financial reasons.

So, why do we need to be told that MLS is Division-1? Is it because, by holding meetings every year, the federations in the U.S. and Canada can “sanction” things? Is it because the word “sanction” is just cool to say? Sanction. Say it with me. Sanct-ION.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/catwalkchatt/sports/usmnt-atlanta-united-coming-to-chattanooga-in-february/article_4594ad66-d298-11e6-8e72-9fd8dc0b83ca.html

USMNT, Atlanta United coming to Chattanooga in February

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/governor-elect-mls-investors-set-to-meet/article_0241a848-7238-584a-bfe5-eabf6cb53aee.html

Greitens, MLS investors meet to discuss St. Louis stadium proposal

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/las-vegas/las-vegas-officials-make-another-push-luring-pro-soccer-team

Las Vegas officials to make another push at luring pro soccer team to city

By JAMIE MUNKS

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

The city of Las Vegas is renewing its drive to attract a Major League Soccer franchise.

The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday voted 5-2 in favor of a contract to pay New York-based Inner Circle Sports, LLC, up to $80,000 to market Las Vegas to possible investors as a Major League Soccer site.

The city made an unsuccessful bid for an MLS franchise for the league’s 2017 or 2018 expansion, which was paired with a controversial proposal for a $200 million, 24,000-seat stadium slated for Symphony Park — and sharply divided the council. That was rendered moot when the league passed on the city’s bid for an expansion team.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3032370/major-league-soccer-orlando-city-dedicates-section-to-pulse-nightclub-shooting-victims

Orlando City dedicates section in stadium to Pulse shooting victims

Major League Soccer club Orlando City unveiled 49 rainbow-colored seats in section 12 of its new stadium as a tribute to the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.

On June 12, 2016, 49 people were killed at the Orlando nightclub when a lone gunman entered the establishment and opened fire.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/01/04/mls-tv-ratings-worse-primetime/

MLS TV ratings do 17% worse in prime time than daytime games

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.socceramerica.com/article/71839/what-theyre-saying-peter-wilt.html?edition=16641

What They're Saying: Peter Wilt

January 3rd, 2017 10:47PM

“Call me a cockeyed optimist, but I think that by the fall of 2018, we could have a 20-team NASL."

-- Former MLS and NASL executive Peter Wilt, a managing director of Club 9 Sports, which is working to bring new teams in the NASL and find new investors for current teams. Three teams -- Minnesota United, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury -- have left for MLS or the USL, and others have faced financial crises.

(Follow link for full article.)
 
http://www.empireofsoccer.com/ussf-division-23-sanctioning-decision-could-come-by-end-of-the-week-56762/

USSF Division 2/3 sanctioning decision could come by “end of the week”