Calgary to launch bid for NASL team

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

According to Wikipedia, the North American pyramid is like this:

MLS - Div I
NASL - Div II
USL - Div III

while the PDL (where the Calgary Foothills is in) is more like a developmental league (sorta like WHL for hockey).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...gue_system#Men

Is this information correct?

From what I can tell, it is pretty controversial whether NASL or USL is the stronger league. NASL tries to sell themselves as being a competitor to the MLS with eyes on getting to D1 at some point. But in reality, they just lost 6 of 7 to USL teams. NASL seems to be a lot of talk and now appears to have been funded and run by some unscrupulous people who are being brought down by the FIFA mess.

USL has a bit of an identity issue with some clubs being the minor league team of their MLS parent and some being independent clubs.

Further complicating things, USL has applied for division 2 status.

[Resolute 14]

I doubt North America could support two Division 1 leagues. But it could support two Division 2 leagues - so long as they don't end up in a situation like the AHL/IHL in the 90s where they are competing over the same turf. The IHL was spread too far and that resulted in its collapse.

Ideally, you would want a western league and an eastern league (and maybe even a separate Canadian league), then further regionalization in division 3.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

From what I can tell, it is pretty controversial whether NASL or USL is the stronger league. NASL tries to sell themselves as being a competitor to the MLS with eyes on getting to D1 at some point. But in reality, they just lost 6 of 7 to USL teams. NASL seems to be a lot of talk and now appears to have been funded and run by some unscrupulous people who are being brought down by the FIFA mess.

USL has a bit of an identity issue with some clubs being the minor league team of their MLS parent and some being independent clubs.

Further complicating things, USL has applied for division 2 status.

Controversial to whom, exactly? One NASL club, Carolina Railhawks, are owned by Traffic, who was brought down in yesterday's mess. The arrests do bring up massive question marks about that team going forward no doubt.

However, to those who follow the sport quite intensely, there is no controversy.

NASL has USSF Div 2 status, they've had it since 2011. USL has USSF Div 3 status, they've had it since 2011. USL simply does not have the capital nor facilities to meet Div 3 status as we sit today. If you are curious as to what Div 2 or Div 3 standards are, they are listed here. They are financial and stadium requirements primarily, not just some declaration that is given http://www.kenn.com/the_blog/?page_id=5449

USL has applied to have Div 2 status starting in 2017. However, if you've watched any USL soccer this year, you would see that many teams do not even closely meet Div 2 standards. Just watch an FC Montreal game in front of a turf field with stands for 200 and you'll see the quality of the league. That being said there are some USL teams who COULD individually meet Div 2 status: Sacramento, Tulsa, Louisville, Rochester to name a few.

Having USL teams defeat NASL teams 6 out of 7 times in US Open Cup last night does not mean a thing in meeting the financial requirements needed to gain Div 2 status.