RSSJust when we were beginning to wonder if this TOA league would really get off the ground with just seven clubs they go and add two more. Yup, now they are up to nine as Inside Minnesota Soccer has learned they have snatched two prime USL teams away with Tampa Bay rejoining the group and now a new addition in Crystal Palace Baltimore.
The Tampa and Baltimore will join the owners of the Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, St. Louis Soccer United and Vancouver Whitecaps in this new venture.
The name of the new league is expected to come down next week. One hot rumor is it could be called the NASL. Yes the same name as the old league that failed back in the 1980s. Yes Miami FC is the group that has gone out and reportedly gotten the trademarks on NASL. Big Kudos to USLNews.com for digging up that dirt.
Well what do we make of this news? Getting Tampa back was huge for the TOA but adding a solid group in Crystal Palace Baltimore really helps their cause out in a big way. Not only does it bring a good owner to the mix but it puts them to the nine team mark. Nine is a good number in case say the Minnesota Thunder don’t get their act together financially.
As for the news of this league possibly being called the NASL, I just don’t buy it. While I have a feeling it could end up this way with this recent news I just don’t see a way that people will take this new version serious after the old one died off back in the 80s. Should they want a league name that isn’t associated with failure and collapse? I dunno that is just me maybe more people like the idea of that name returning.
Quarterfinal round of the 2008 edition of the US Open Cup kicks off tonight in a few cities around the country. Plenty of interesting match-ups in all.
