Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture: NASL Bid for Sanctioning Division 2 Soccer Includes Atlanta and Minnesota

The North American Soccer League released a press statement this morning stating they have submitted to the USSF their final bid for sanctioning of Division II.

The eight teams included in the league will be the, Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, FC Edmonton, FC Tampa Bay, Montreal Impact, Miami FC Blues, NSC Minnesota Stars and the Puerto Rico Islanders. No details were given on the inclusion of the Atlanta Silverbacks or NSC Minnesota Stars.

“This is an exciting time for the NASL as it nears the finish line in its two year quest for second division sanctioning from the USSF. We were encouraged by fans to return second division soccer to Atlanta after a two season hiatus and are thrilled that over twenty years of continuous professional play in Minnesota will continue in 2011 and beyond,” said Aaron Davidson CEO of the NASL.

The Silverbacks, owned by Boris Jerkunica, withdrew from USL-1 (Division II) at the end of the 2008 season. They were signed on as one of the original NASL teams but were believed to no longer be interested in fielding a team in 2011.

The NSC Stars had recently made pleas for a new owner or investor citing higher than expected costs to run the team. The National Sports Center is a non-profit organization.

Click read more for the full press release

North American Soccer League Concludes Successful AGM and Finalizes USSF Application

Teams in Minnesota and Atlanta Added for 2011 Season

November 10, 2010 — The North American Soccer League (“NASL”) recently concluded its 2010 Annual General Meeting held in Miami, Florida on November 7th and 8th. The meeting was highlighted by the approval of two additional teams for the 2011 season – the NSC Minnesota Stars and the Atlanta Silverbacks – and their inclusion in the application to the United States Soccer Federation for sanctioning as a Division II league. The completed application, which was originally submitted with six teams on September 28, 2010, was submitted to the Federation immediately following the conclusion of the meeting.

The application also includes San Antonio (which will commence play in 2012) and an additional team to be announced (which will commence play in 2013). The NASL is looking forward to favorable consideration of the application by the Board of Directors of the USSF at its meeting on November 21 in Toronto, Canada.

“This is an exciting time for the NASL as it nears the finish line in its two year quest for second division sanctioning from the USSF. We were encouraged by fans to return second division soccer to Atlanta after a two season hiatus and are thrilled that over twenty years of continuous professional play in Minnesota will continue in 2011 and beyond ” said Aaron Davidson CEO of the NASL.

Club owners and general managers will continue working on developing the schedule for the 2011 season over the coming weeks. The NASL plans to release the opening weekend schedule of games later this month.