USL and St. Louis
The question was raised on a previous post, but since it was buried in the comments, some of you may not have seen the talk about Jeff Cooper and the USL.
As has been reported, Cooper, owner of the Athletica and St. Louis Soccer United, was trying to buy the USL from Nike, which acquired the minor leagues of American Soccer when it acquired Umbro. Nike was looking to get out of running a league rather than sponsoring a league, so it put it up for sale. Cooper tried to buy, which would have been the precursor to putting a USL-1 team in St. Louis. But after months of negotiations, the deal fell apart at the last minute and a company called NuRock Soccer Holdings acquired the league.
The league owners were not too happy about this, and may bolt to form their own league, leaving, well, who knows what. Cooper remains interested in a USL team since the next round of expansion for MLS is uncertain and could be four or five or more years away. Getting a USL team doesn’t mean Cooper won’t pursue MLS. Portland and Vancouver parlayed USL success into MLS teams. But nothing is going to happen on the St. Louis front until it gets sorted out as to what league most of the other teams will play in.
Anyway, this press release went out yesterday (sorry I didn’t post it Monday, but I spent the day in Columbia dealing with Mizzou football) which may give some idea on where things are headed.
TEAM OWNERS ASSOCIATION CHILLS RELATIONS WITH USL
AFTER NIKE SELLS USL TO NON-TEAM THIRD-PARTYAtlanta, 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.
Well, no one can accuse Cooper of laziness, I guess.
What I don’t get is, even if he bought USL, wouldn’t Tony Glavine still own USL franchise rights for St Louis? Or is that right on a renewable basis that he could’ve discontinued as a league owner?
My understanding is that if Cooper had acquired the league, it would have included the right to have a team. (Considering that the league’s owners want to run the league, that would be the logical thing.) How that legally sets with any rights Glavin had, I don’t know. They might have had to give him some money to buy into his territorial rights. If the league reassembles as something other than the USL, then I would imagine any claims to a team in the market that Glavin had would vanish along with the USL.
Bigger question: Has Cooper met with Glavin about working together to bring USL-1 to St Louis? Why or Why not?
It apprears this would be a lot cheaper than buying a league or starting a new one from scratch.
I think I’ve heard Tony isn’t interested in working with Cooper, but I’m not sure. Maybe he wants to stay in St Charles County, and Cooper doesn’t? I’d love to see a joint press release from them or something, I too am curious what’s going on between the Lions and Soccer United.
Well this could make stuff a lot more interesting, especially in the U.S. Open Cup.
DaveW: Maybe it’s the other way around and Cooper isn’t interested in dealing with Tony. I have no clue. It would be nice to know. To be honest, the USL-1 appears to be in some major trouble with owners looking to start over fresh with a new league. Regardless, it’s MINOR league soccer and it is what it is - MINOR league. Sure it would be nice to have a pro outdoor team here in St. Louis, but if it isn’t an MLS team, I’d rather watch SLU for the men and the Athletica for women. The WPS games are far more exciting than USL-1 games.
I can’t believe we actually have to go thru all of this just to get a men’s pro outdoor soccer team. That’s ridiculous!!!
Tom-
The quality of the USL 1 is terrible end of story.
However, Tom, I’m a bite concerned that Cooper is telling you what to write. It seems you have failed to call him out this year. Meaning his inability to secure MLS and to tell ‘you’ that he was trying to buy the league.
Just Jack- “The quality of the USL 1 is terrible end of story.”
I got news for you Jack, the quality of MLS is equally as bad, maybe even worse when you look at the results of the Open Cup the last few years.
MLS has more media coverage(which is going to become less and less in the coming years), the quality of the two leagues are very very similar.
People need to stop treating MLS like it’s such an elite league, its not. If a new league wants to form and institute fresh ideas to American soccer then by all means go for it. Buddy up to FIFA, make a league that mirrors successful European leagues.
I Love the passion of Jeff Cooper and when the time comes, he needs to build a SSS in the City of Saint Louis!!!!!!!!! I hope you read this Cooper, TOM tell him what I said won’t You. An URBAN soccer stadium is the way to go.
URBAN!!!!
We have a winner! Lique wins stupid post of the week…and it’s only Tuesday. The USL 1 is terrible. Have you watched the games? 300 people go to some of them. A game is on Friday, please watch and have your facts straight.
Urban stadium? Where do you think we live in New York City? What are we going to do tear down Rev Larry Rice’s homeless shelter and build a stadium? Or head down tucker to N. Florrissant Rd towards crown candy and build it on St. Louis Avenue? Yes Urban is the way to go!!! Jeff Cooper I hope you are reading this……
The people in this town are dumb as they come.Includin the media in this town..Tom included are afraid to confront people with facts and challenge anyone. I fear Tom has his hands in Cooper’s back pocket and won’t do anything but be self serving to Jeff!
Anyone else?
Didn’t think so!
Ligue 1: MLS teams don’t take the US Open Cup very serious. They often play their reserve players and it really means nothing to them. To say the talent level is similar - of that’s ridiculous!!!
If owners want to form a new pro league and rival the MLS, the had better put a lot more money and get a lot more sponsors.
And by the way, do you have any idea how much travel expenses are going to be for a St. Louis USL-1 team? The two closest teams are Atlanta and Minnesota. Then you have 2 teams in Canada and 3 teams out East/Southeast.
I suppose we can have a healthy rivalry with Atlanta and Minnesota.