Major League Soccer President Mark Abbott was invited by the Carolina RailHawks, of the NASL, to
visit the Triangle area and have an open discussion regarding the potential of MLS expansion.
Other attendee's included David Downs, commissioner of the NASL, and Aaron Davidson, vice president
of Traffic Sports.
On Thursday April 12th Major League Soccer will visit the home of the Carolina Railhawks. The day
will include a visit from President Mark Abbott and Will Kuhns, Director of Communications for MLS.
League spokesperson, Dan Courtemanche, had this to say on the matter:
"The Carolina Railhawks invited Mark Abbott to participate in a fan forum and meet with a variety
of constituents to grow soccer in North Carolina.
The Strikers are back and with a vengeance! Gone are the Miami FC Blues as Traffic, owners of the
team (And most of the NASL) are ready to put that nightmare behind them. Aaron Davidson set out to
make the NASL a legitmate league by hiring new NASL commissioner David Downs. Of course, we here in
South Florida know the ultimate move was to bring back Tim Robbie as President of the New Fort
Lauderdale Strikers.
The Strikers are back and with a vengeance! Gone are the Miami FC Blues as Traffic, owners of the
team (And most of the NASL) are ready to put that nightmare behind them. Aaron Davidson set out to
make the NASL a legitmate league by hiring new NASL commissioner David Downs. Of course, we here in
South Florida know the ultimate move was to bring back Tim Robbie as President of the New Fort
Lauderdale Strikers.
Here is a recap of South Florida Soccer news for today.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
The Sun Sentinel announced yesterday that the Strikers will have a press conference today to
announce that Tim Robbie will take over as the Strikers President, replacing Aaron Davidson who
will now concentrate on his role as NASL CEO.
Here is a recap of South Florida Soccer news for today.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
The Sun Sentinel announced yesterday that the Strikers will have a press conference today to
announce that Tim Robbie will take over as the Strikers President, replacing Aaron Davidson who
will now concentrate on his role as NASL CEO.
One of the most recognizable U.S. soccer institution names worldwide returned from extinction
Thursday when Traffic Sports announced that the Fort Lauderdale Strikers are back. The Strikers
will kick off their first game April 9th against Edmonton in their NASL home opener at Lockhart
Stadium.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it's official, the team is called the Fort Lauderdale Strikers!
Tons of people showed up, mixed in with TV and radio personalities. The Miami Ultras did a great
job cheering and we got free drinks in the end. Let's go Strikers!
The Strikers also unveiled their new website http://www.
When the North American Soccer League was provisionally sanctioned to run Division-2 soccer last
weekend, there were questions regarding the eligibility of the 5-U.S. based teams and if they would
be able to participate in that tournament. When U.S. Soccer held their press conference on Monday
president Sunil Gulati confirmed that those five teams would not be able to play in the 2011
edition of the 97-year-old tournament.
When the North American Soccer League was provisionally sanctioned to run Division-2 soccer last
weekend, there were questions regarding the eligibility of the 5-U.S. based teams and if they would
be able to participate in that tournament. When U.S. Soccer held their press conference on Monday
president Sunil Gulati confirmed that those five teams would not be able to play in the 2011
edition of the 97-year-old tournament.
Miami FC will hold a press conference today to official rename the team to the Fort Lauderdale
Strikers. The new name may be one of the worst kept secrets ever as the web site and NASL officials
have been calling the team the "Strikers" for several months now. However, it was unclear what form
of that name the team would have because the naming rights for "Fort Lauderdale" Strikers was
already held.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
By JOHN BOSCHINI
After a tumultuous offseason rife with doubt over the future of one of American soccer's two
Division 2 leagues, the NASL lived to fight another day as the U.S. Soccer Federation gave the
league provisional sanctioning over the weekend.
The USSF held a press conference this afternoon with President Sunil Gulati and NASL CEO Aaron
Davidson participating. Each made very brief opening statements with Gulati saying he was pleased
to admit the NASL on a provisional basis.
"It's a difficult environment on many levels," said Gulati.
The USSF held a press conference this afternoon with President Sunil Gulati and NASL CEO Aaron
Davidson participating. Each made very brief opening statements with Gulati saying he was pleased
to admit the NASL on a provisional basis.
"It's a difficult environment on many levels," said Gulati.
US Soccer will hold a teleconference call with members of the media today. USSF president Sunil
Gulati and NASL CEO Aaron Davidson will be answering questions.
The teleconference will take place at 2 p.m. CT. IMS will live tweet some details of the
conference and will report on the event afterwords.
In a briefly worded press statement released Saturday evening, US Soccer confirmed that the
North American Soccer League was provisionally sanctioned as a division 2 professional league for
2011.
Confirming what IMS posted Saturday morning, the statement said: The provisional sanctioning
allows the NASL to operate a Division 2 league during the 2011 season.
In a briefly worded press statement released Saturday evening, US Soccer confirmed that the
North American Soccer League was provisionally sanctioned as a division 2 professional league for
2011.
Confirming what IMS posted Saturday morning, the statement said: The provisional sanctioning
allows the NASL to operate a Division 2 league during the 2011 season.
The NASL held a media conference call on Thursday afternoon. While there was little new news
coming from the event one piece of information did surface. NASL CEO Aaron Davidson stated that his
executive board consisting of himself, Joey Saputo of the Montreal Impact and Andrew Nestor of FC
Tampa Bay will meet with the Professional Committee members which is made up of Carlos Cordeiro,
Executive Vice President Mike Edwards and Secretary General Dan Flynn.
While there's not been a lot of news to report on the NASL sanctioning front in the last
few days, things are about to get interesting.
The USSF Annual General Meeting takes place in Las Vegas this Friday morning and ends Saturday
afternoon. This is the same meeting that the NASL would have been officially approved as the
sanctioned division 2 league in the U.
Triangle Offense blog broke the story late last night and the NASL confirmed it this morning.
The team NASL team in Carolina will continue on with the namesake Carolina RailHawks.
The NASL released a press statement this morning explaining that as previously announced,
Traffic Sports USA have acquired the name to the RailHawks.
Aaron Davidson, NASL CEO, was a guest on Daniel Feuerstein's podcast last night. Feuerstein's
Fire episode #42 features the NASL spokesperson who broke news that the team being set up in Cary,
NC is a "new entity."
Davidson states in the interview that Selby Wellman "wound up his team.
Aaron Davidson, NASL CEO, was a guest on Daniel Feuerstein's podcast last night. Feuerstein's
Fire episode #42 features the NASL spokesperson who broke news that the team being set up in Cary,
NC is a "new entity."
Davidson states in the interview that Selby Wellman "wound up his team.
Tuesday, February 1st 8:00PM EST - 5:00PM PST
Guest: NASL CEO Aaron
Davidson returns as he discusses the De-Sanctioning of Division Two status and what are the goals
to re-gaining it or other alternatives to have a season.
Related posts:
- Feuerstein's Fire Episode #23 Tuesday, August 31st 8:00PM EDT — 5:00PM PDT Guests:
Blake.
Commentary
I am happy that the NASL is taking a pro-active stance after the USSF revoked their preliminary
sanction for D2 soccer last week. The NASL under Aaron Davidson and Traffic Sports is currently
working with the USSF to regain sanctioning in time for 2011 action as the D2 league in the United
States, Canada and the Caribbean.
Despite word last week that that the USSF had revoked the D2 provisional sanctioning of the
North American Soccer League (NASL) granted in November, the league announced today their 2011
schedule for its eight teams.
The season is scheduled to open on Saturday, April 9 with four games that includes a match in
Cary, North Carolina featuring last year's USSF D2 finalists, the Carolina RailHawks and Puerto
Rico Islanders.
Aaron Davidson was making the rounds on Monday night granting interview requests on a number of
radio talk shows. He took time between those interviews to talk to IMS and explain what the NASL
has done in response to US Soccer's rejection of his leagues bid for sanctioning of D2 soccer last
Thursday.
January 21, 2011 – Miami, FL. The North American Soccer League (NASL) confirms recent reports
that the USSF Board of Directors, at its meeting yesterday, withdrew its provisional sanctioning of
the league. The NASL understands that the Board's decision was based on its conclusion that the
league fails to comply with certain of the newly heightened Division II professional standards.
The North American Soccer League released a statement late Friday evening concerning US
Soccer's decision to deny them sanctioning of Division 2 pro soccer in the US.
~~~~~~~~~~~
NASL COMMITTED TO SECURING USSF SANCTIONING FOR 2011
January 21, 2011 – Miami, FL.
Details are far and few between, but word broke this morning that the United States
Soccer Federation has expressed concern over the North American Soccer League for sanctioning
Division II professional soccer in the US for the 2011 season.
According to sources, the federation held a board meeting by phone on Thursday where it was
decided that the NASL has at this time not met enough of the new D2 standards that were set in
August of 2010 for sanctioning of the league.
Earlier this month the North American Soccer League announced the partnering with Playbook
Management International (PMI), a firm run by former MLS FC Dallas executive Michael Hitchcock. PMI
was contracted by the NASL to support each of its teams in ticket marketing and sales.
Thom Meredith
The NASL is continuing on the path of using experienced and proven front office soccer talent by
contracting with both Thom Meredith for league operations and Rich Levy for league branding.
Neil Morris of the Triangle Offense reported yesterday that court documents point to the
dissolving of the Carolina RailHawks organization called Triangle Professional Sports, L.L.C.
Morris reports that the organization originally founded by Chris Economides now includes Selby
Wellman, Atlanta Silverbacks Boris Jerkunica, Bob Young and Dr.
After MLS Commissioner Don Garber received an onslaught of emails for months from a limited
number of Miami Ultra supporters who wanted MLS back in the South Florida market, Garber met with
them last weekend to have his say. He didn't mince words with the group.
"Miami needs to change its reputation as a market that believes in professional soccer," said
Garber to 60 Miami Ultras and other soccer supporters.
Much is being said in the media about the MLS Miami meeting that took place at the Marriot Harbor
Beach Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. South Florida soccer supporters, the Miami Ultras have for months
worked on a campaign called MLS Miami Bid with the purpose of attracting followers and investors
willing to bring a team to this area.
The North American Soccer League's CEO Aaron Davidson was in Minneapolis, Minnesota this week
for the Minnesota Stars press conference. At that gathering the Minnesota Stars where officially
announced to the media as a "league owned team." It was also announced the National Sorts Center
who stepped forward last spring to assure Minnesota had a pro soccer team for the 21st consecutive
season, would no longer own any part of the team.
IMS sat down with Djorn Buchholz yesterday immediately following the Minnesota Stars
press conference where it was formerly announced that the former Thunder GM and Aztex CEO will now
take the reigns of the Minnesota Stars.
A confident Djorn Buchholz listens to questions from the media during Wednesdays Minnesota Stars
press conference.
The Minnesota Stars held a press conference today announcing that with the help of the North
American Soccer League (NASL) they will be back for the 2011 season and will play their games at
the National Sports Center.
Aaron Davidson - Photos by Jermey Olsen - www.digitalgopher.
