Significant shifts in the pro soccer landscape across the U.S. and Canada are "underway that will result in the overhaul, or perhaps the eventual demise" of NASL, according to Brian Straus of SI.com. Sources said that the NASL Ottawa Fury "will depart" for the USL and that the Tampa Bay Rowdies "likely will follow." The six-year-old NASL will "need to keep core clubs" like the N.Y. Cosmos, Jacksonville Armada, Miami FC and Indy Eleven "on board, and then expand, if it’s going to survive." NASL operates as the "independent second tier of the pro game in the USA and Canada," while the USL "sits at the third tier and includes both independent clubs and MLS reserve teams." Both leagues have "applied to the U.S. Soccer Federation for an upgrade in sanctioning and the USSF board is expected to consider those requests at its meeting" in N.Y. tomorrow. However, sources said that it is unlikely that U.S. Soccer "will sanction two leagues at the same tier." But Straus noted NASL has "more immediate concerns." League-wide average attendance has fallen more than 18% from '15 and "despite increased TV exposure on CBS Sports Network and BeIN Sports, it’s trajectory has been troubling." NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson said that he "did not think there was a focused effort to undercut NASL, but he did say that American soccer’s fractured and evolving structure fostered counterproductive competition" (SI.com, 9/21).
STRIKE WHILE IT'S HOT: In Raleigh, Neil Morris cited sources as saying that NASL Ft. Lauderdale Strikers' Principal Owner Paulo Cesso and ownership have "ceased their funding obligations, necessitating the NASL and its member clubs to consider financing the Strikers" for the remainder of '16 so the club "doesn’t halt operations before the end of this season." The club’s Brazilian ownership group has "reportedly put the Florida-based club up for sale." This news and next week's NASL BOG meeting take place amid "several other pressing issues facing the NASL, including turmoil surrounding Rayo OKC, the imminent departure of Minnesota United" to MLS and "rumored uncertainty over the future league home" of the Fury. At the same time, the league’s next expansion franchise, the S.F. Deltas, are "scheduled to debut" in '17 (WRALSPORTSFAN.com, 9/21).
