Team Owners Association chills relations with USL after sale of league
Atlanta, Carolina,
Miami, Minnesota, Montreal, St. Louis, Tampa and Vancouver to aggressively explore all options for future
August 31, 2009. Following extensive negotiations with USISL, Inc.,
the parent company of the United Soccer Leagues (USL), to restructure the USL
First Division (USL-1) into a league owned and controlled by its teams, the
Team Owners Association (TOA) today announced that it has accelerated its
pursuit of all league options for the 2010 season and beyond. The TOA,
led by the Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Miami FC, Minnesota
Thunder, Montreal Impact, St. Louis Soccer United, Tampa Bay Rowdies and
Vancouver Whitecaps, reached this decision following the announcement by Nike,
Inc., the parent company of USISL, Inc., that it had concluded the sale of USL
to a third-party (NuRock Soccer Holdings) which does not own a team in USL-1.
The TOA has been and remains
committed to a restructuring of USL-1 into a truly professional soccer league
which complies with the international rules established by FIFA, the governing
body of international soccer. These rules include the requirement that
the league be owned and controlled by its teams. Despite this rule, USL
has historically been owned by a single corporate entity responsible for, among
other things, league governance. The TOA believes that this ownership
structure has stunted the growth and recognition of both the league and its
teams during USL’s nearly 25-year existence. Consequently, over the past
several years, the TOA has engaged in discussions with the owners of USL to
restructure USL and is therefore extremely disappointed with Nike’s decision to
sell USL to a non-USL-1 team owner. Accordingly, the TOA now reconfirms
its commitment to achieving a team-owner controlled league and will pursue all
avenues to do so.
“The TOA and its teams thank the
fans, media, coaches and players for their unconditional support and patience
as we explore all options for the future,” stated Selby Wellman, majority owner
of the Carolina RailHawks and spokesperson for the TOA. “The teams are
confident that this process will lead to decisions and changes that are
essential for the further growth of soccer in our respective markets and
throughout North America.”
About TOA
The TOA was formally established in
January 2008. Carolina, Miami, Minnesota, Montreal and Vancouver are all
playing in USL-1 this season, but have not recommitted to USL-1 for 2010.
Atlanta withdrew from USL-1 after the 2008 season due to the continuing
uncertainties of the negotiation and restructuring of USL. Tampa is
scheduled to begin playing in USL-1 in 2010. St. Louis Soccer United, owner of
the St. Louis Athletica in WPS, is committed to establishing a men’s
professional team. Notwithstanding the fact that Vancouver will be
joining MLS in 2011, the Vancouver ownership group is committed to playing in
2010 and to exploring establishing a team in another market for 2011 and
beyond.
