In Wake of “Departure Day,” Several Teams Reaffirm Commitment to NASL

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In Wake of “Departure Day,” Several Teams Reaffirm Commitment to NASL

By Jake Nutting on 10/27/2016

Tuesday was about as bad a day as the modern NASL has ever had since its resurrection in 2010.

The league officially lost the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury FC to the USL after weeks of speculation, leaving it to face the reality of a ten-team season next year. The mass exodus has prompted fans to dub Tuesday as “Departure Day.”

And the future is still dubious for other NASL sides. The league number only holds at ten if the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Rayo OKC are able to resolve their financial issues or if the league steps in to facilitate a return.

In the face of this uncertainty, NASL owners have largely remained quiet over the past month. However, with rumors continuing to surface of even more teams contemplating joining Tampa Bay and Ottawa in the USL, some front offices are breaking their silence.