National Soccer League (indoor)

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This page is on the proposed indoor league. For the former Australian soccer league, see National Soccer League. For the former Canadian league, see Canadian National Soccer League.
National Soccer League
National Soccer League (indoor)
Sport Indoor Soccer
Founded 2004
No. of teams TBA
Country(ies) Flag of the United States United States

Flag of Canada Canada

Most recent
champion(s)
n/a
Official website http://nationalsoccerleague.com


History

The National Soccer League is a proposed indoor soccer league scheduled to begin play in the summer of 2008 / (TBD). So far the league has played two NSL Select games in Cleveland and Laredo, Texas to test interest.

The league is also exploring the possibility of having a separate Canadian league that would play in the winter.

The league has spent many years in development. As of March 27, 2003, its website (www.nationalsoccerleague.com) touted 20 regular-season games from June to September 2004. By May 23, 2003, the time frame had shifted to June-September 2005, and by January 30, 2004, the league was attempting to play 20 regular-season games from June to September of 2006.

On December 6, 2004, the league issued a release that it was setting a deadline for owners to establish teams for its first season, which would be played in 2006. "We've been very diligent about taking our time putting this league together," said NSL President Sydney Nusinov in the release. "You only get one shot at a successful launch and we want our league and teams to have a healthy base from which to grow and so we have set up a very strict timeline that must be followed."

Exactly one year later, on December 6, 2005, the first season was pushed back to 2007, but with the exact same comment from the league president in the release: "We've been very diligent about taking our time putting this league together," said NSL President Sydney Nusinov. "You only get one shot at a successful launch and we want our league and teams to have a healthy base from which to grow and so we have set up a very strict timeline that must be followed."

More recently, on April 11, 2006, the NSL issued yet another release pegging the start of its first season at 2008, and this time included a different quote from its president: "We're making this sacrifice now for the long-term viability of the league once it's fully operational," said NSL President Sydney Nusinov. "It's better that these short term losses come out of my pocket than for long term losses to come out of our owners' pockets."

Doubt about the eventual play of the NSL occurred in May 2008 when NSL President Sydney Nusinov was named Director of Media Relations for the new professional Premier Arena Soccer League. [1]

[edit] Notes