New NASL team in GTA?

[TFC07]

Can't we just use old Blizzard logo? or is there a trademark issue?

[CasualSoccerFan]

Joe Parolini, former GM of the Toronto Blizzard, might have something to say about the trademark. If I'm reading this right, he seems to have been recently approved by the Canadian IP Office to register "Toronto Blizzard" for use in all kinds of soccer-related gear and stationary, and the "organization, administration and operation of a professional and amateur soccer club".

http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-ci...tIndexOnPage=1

A cursory google search indicates that Joe Parolini seems to have been quite the successful businessman. This site (http://www.allpennystocks.com/aps_us...multigioco.htm) lists him as interim president of Empire Global, which purchased an Italian company and now owns 800 gaming venues (betting shops?) in Italy. Does that count as a real estate company?

So...is Joe just protecting an IP asset he owns, or is he involved in a new Toronto Blizzard relaunch? One tweet and a trademark doesn't a soccer team make, but I am getting irrationally excited about an alternative to an MLSE-run team, even a 2nd division one.

[Doucet3]

To add to this, Duane Rollins said after the TFCA championship last night he spoke to the coach and "Toronto FC WILL have a USL pro team next year" ... Now take Duane's comments with a grain of salt he's tweet happy sometimes I hear, also a Toronto USL pro team could mean in the city .... Or one just directly affiliated, waiting for developments with that.

On the Hanilton NASL team I'd love to see it and have heard the TiCats owner and the potential NASL ownership group were on rocky terms but have recently mended that and are back on track to pushing or a Hamilton team. With the tim hortons field and ticats deadline of 2015 September to make a choice I think it's a decent possibility.

my opinion... I'd love to see Hamilton get a NASL team... I'd like (being from Niagara) to catch some came and if there associated with TFC even better, but it does sound at least a bit promising with ticats actively pursuing it and a ownership group in talks. I'd also love to see TFC II in somewhere like Miss, btown, any GTA city.

[Mark in Ottawa]

The NASL continues to look upon all of Canada as a favourable expansion territory. The chance for CFL teams to get secondary tenants for their stadiums is appealing on many levels.
NASL average attendances are not much more than 5,000 or so and so even without the CFL there are university stadiums etc... where teams could set up shop.
Lamport Stadium anyone??

[flamehawk]

To add to this, Duane Rollins said after the TFCA championship last night he spoke to the coach and "Toronto FC WILL have a USL pro team next year" ... Now take Duane's comments with a grain of salt he's tweet happy sometimes I hear, also a Toronto USL pro team could mean in the city .... Or one just directly affiliated, waiting for developments with that.

On the Hanilton NASL team I'd love to see it and have heard the TiCats owner and the potential NASL ownership group were on rocky terms but have recently mended that and are back on track to pushing or a Hamilton team. With the tim hortons field and ticats deadline of 2015 September to make a choice I think it's a decent possibility.

my opinion... I'd love to see Hamilton get a NASL team... I'd like (being from Niagara) to catch some came and if there associated with TFC even better, but it does sound at least a bit promising with ticats actively pursuing it and a ownership group in talks. I'd also love to see TFC II in somewhere like Miss, btown, any GTA city.

If you listen to the two solitude broadcast, Michael Stefano does say that there will be a USL team next year. Duane has a recording of the interview.

[themodelcitizen]

Is it just me or are people bringing up the most random and irrelevant shit? Yes NASL is a step down. Obviously it won't ever be a level competitor to MLS. Theres also no reason it can't compete to a degree in its own right - the Cosmos aren't exactly a feeder club to NYRB, are they?

[jloome]

Is it just me or are people bringing up the most random and irrelevant shit? Yes NASL is a step down. Obviously it won't ever be a level competitor to MLS. Theres also no reason it can't compete to a degree in its own right - the Cosmos aren't exactly a feeder club to NYRB, are they?

They're not exactly a feeder to anybody. They're hardly a club. And the reason it can't compete is it's being terribly run, largely by owners who've jumped into it as if it were the reincarnation of roller derby, they've so seriously fucked the dog on understanding the marketplace. Minor league soccer in NA has always been a cesspool of schuysters and naive businessmen with more money (usually from one specialized field, from a firm they've owned since they were 29) than sense. Still is.

[Shway]

They're not exactly a feeder to anybody. They're hardly a club. And the reason it can't compete is it's being terribly run, largely by owners who've jumped into it as if it were the reincarnation of roller derby, they've so seriously fucked the dog on understanding the marketplace. Minor league soccer in NA has always been a cesspool of schuysters and naive businessmen with more money (usually from one specialized field, from a firm they've owned since they were 29) than sense. Still is.

You can't seriously say that the Cosmos "are hardly a club" because they play in the NASL. I see the Cosmo's currently taking a different route to get on the World stage (again?), and build their brand.

They are currently averaging 5K in this 11K stadium....with no salary cap, and plans to build something similar to this stadium. Their route to getting on the World stage(winning CCL) may just be easier than a team from the MLS. IMO

[OgtheDim]

You can't seriously say that the Cosmos "are hardly a club" because they play in the NASL. I see the Cosmo's currently taking a different route to get on the World stage (again?), and build their brand.

They are currently averaging 5K in this 11K stadium....with no salary cap, and plans to build something similar to this stadium. Their route to getting on the World stage(winning CCL) may just be easier than a team from the MLS. IMO

5K on Long Island...and dropping. That's like being in Milton and drawing 1K.

As for the stadium plans, those are going nowhere.

Shirt sales around the rest of the world - hardly any in NYC proper.

Schuysters indeed.

[ensco]

Too soon to say about Cosmos. A lot of players (their wives?) want to live in NY, but there are only 6 DP slots available.

http://www.nycosmos.com/article/uuid...onzalez-blanco

[Initial B]

Just more news about the Cosmos: They signed Raul at 37 to be their striker. And the NASL website has an article about the Terminus Legion in Atlanta saying that they'll "always be there to support our Silverbacks".

http://www.nasl.com/article/uuid/4x4...erminus-legion

Is it just me or is the spin on the NASL website articles starting to sound more, well, desperate? I guess the true measure if the league is how much buzz it generates, but the press releases lately just sound overly earnest, trying to make themselves seen from behind the MLS elephant in the room.

I think their only hope for survival is to do an end run around MLS and set up a Canadian conference. Otherwise they're going to get popped like a zit between MLS and USL Pro.

[Fort York Redcoat]

Is it just me or is the spin on the NASL website articles starting to sound more, well, desperate? I guess the true measure if the league is how much buzz it generates, but the press releases lately just sound overly earnest, trying to make themselves seen from behind the MLS elephant in the room.

NASL buzz? Other than when it began again I don't think there has been anybody talking outside of their team markets. But I don't see USL Pro doing any better on a team by team basis or as a league with buzz around it. USL Pro just has bigger, older structure. While the league has more stability it says nothing about their teams solvency which tend to come and go just as fast as previous years in this sport on this continent.

Make themselves seen around MLS? No. In no way are they competing for the footy dollar that way.

[Initial B]

NASL buzz?

Make themselves seen around MLS? No. In no way are they competing for the footy dollar that way.

Then what exactly are they competing for? What's their market? If there is never going to be Pro/Rel, then why even bother to exist as their own entity? Does NASL exist just as an ego boost/footy dream for Traffic Sports or is there some sort of philisophical divide/niche that the league fills that isn't covered by MLS or USL Pro? What does it have that will make the fans want to come back if a rival league is also in town?

[Beach_Red]

NASL buzz? Other than when it began again I don't think there has been anybody talking outside of their team markets. But I don't see USL Pro doing any better on a team by team basis or as a league with buzz around it. USL Pro just has bigger, older structure. While the league has more stability it says nothing about their teams solvency which tend to come and go just as fast as previous years in this sport on this continent.

Make themselves seen around MLS? No. In no way are they competing for the footy dollar that way.

If we're really lucky NASL will be very successful in a few markets and then it will merge with MLS. If the NASL teams are successful in big enough markets they'll have a little negotiating clout in the merger talks and that might go well. Every other North American league is the product of a merger so it could happen again.

[Fort York Redcoat]

Then what exactly are they competing for? What's their market? If there is never going to be Pro/Rel, then why even bother to exist as their own entity? Does NASL exist just as an ego boost/footy dream for Traffic Sports or is there some sort of philisophical divide/niche that the league fills that isn't covered by MLS or USL Pro? What does it have that will make the fans want to come back if a rival league is also in town?

I understand your impatience in seeing the growth of the game evolve to an interaction between leagues like elsewhere but I don't see enough from these leagues yet to see more than a farm system come to pass.

I thought it was widely known that NASL was a splinter from USL. Teams that felt they were successful enough to form their own league. So yeah they've been a division above USL and below MLS.

Why wouldn't we want that division in the pyramid? Players playing at a higher level more likely to stay in MLS vs a bigger jump from USL?

Didn't you have both leagues in Ottawa as recently as 2 years ago?

[ironcub14]

I understand your impatience in seeing the growth of the game evolve to an interaction between leagues like elsewhere but I don't see enough from these leagues yet to see more than a farm system come to pass.

I thought it was widely known that NASL was a splinter from USL. Teams that felt they were successful enough to form their own league. So yeah they've been a division above USL and below MLS.

Why wouldn't we want that division in the pyramid? Players playing at a higher level more likely to stay in MLS vs a bigger jump from USL?

Didn't you have both leagues in Ottawa as recently as 2 years ago?

Then what exactly are they competing for? What's their market? If there is never going to be Pro/Rel, then why even bother to exist as their own entity? Does NASL exist just as an ego boost/footy dream for Traffic Sports or is there some sort of philisophical divide/niche that the league fills that isn't covered by MLS or USL Pro? What does it have that will make the fans want to come back if a rival league is also in town?

In Ottawa, we had USL PDL for awhile, I think about a decade, up until 2013. We had CSL for one year in 2011, and now we've had NASL since 2014.

To question why NASL exists in between MLS and USL Pro seems a pretty silly question to me, if you think about how many divisions and leagues and clubs there are in lower divisions in footy in Europe and how many minor league sports and leagues and teams there are in smaller cities in North America. Since MLS has decided they wanted to focus on the major markets only, I applaud all the other leagues that have provided much-needed footy for all those unfortunate enough to live in a non-MLS city. Besides, the A-League/USL, which NASL splintered off from as Fort York Redcoat said, was around before MLS anyways.

I hope you have been attending the Ottawa Fury games in the city this year. I used to attend USL PDL, and have since moved to Toronto but made sure to attend a few NASL matches in Ottawa this year. Footy fans in Ottawa and other NASL cities who are dedicated enough will enjoy and love the NASL matches even if pro/rel never exists, you don't need a MLS dream to enjoy footy in North America.

[Initial B]

I have Fury Season tickets, so yeah I'm in for the long haul.

In trying to answer my own question, I came across these two articles. They're rather eye-opening:

http://worldsoccertalk.com/2013/12/1...-more-diluted/

http://dohertysoccer.com/2012/11/07/...l-and-usl-pro/

Apparently, it is a philosophical difference between closed leagues and open leagues. They seem to indicate that the USSF is pretty much under the thumb of MLS. There is also a link to an article about the history of the American professional league from the 1920's that self-destructed and caused the resulting 50 lost years of professional play in North America.

[Macksam]

Joe Parolini, former GM of the Toronto Blizzard, might have something to say about the trademark. If I'm reading this right, he seems to have been recently approved by the Canadian IP Office to register "Toronto Blizzard" for use in all kinds of soccer-related gear and stationary, and the "organization, administration and operation of a professional and amateur soccer club".

www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do?lang=eng&status=OK&fileNumber=1604928& extension=0&startingDocumentIndexOnPage=1

WARES:
(1) Shirts, t-shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys, sweaters, parkas, jackets, ponchos, scarves, caps, knit cap, visors, aprons, towels, cushions, soccer balls, numbered and un-numbered jerseys, gym shorts, track suits, sweatsuits, shoes, tote bags, plaques, trophies for soccer and sports contests, novelty trophies, buttons, emblems, pennants, patches for clothing, stickers, decals, banners, posters, balloons, key chains and pins, letterhead, envelopes, pens, pencils, notebooks, clipboards, binders, calendars, cups, mugs, ashtrays, drink coasters, plastic serving trays, bottle openers, soccer books and pamphlets, and periodical promotional material, namely, media guides and magazines.

SERVICES:
(1) Organization, administration and operation of a professional and amateur soccer club providing entertainment in the form of soccer contests and the promotion of interest in and the development of the sport of soccer generally by means of publicity through the media of press, radio, films, video tape and television.

Ha, Mr. Parolini left out Zippos. I will trademark the Toronto Blizzard specifically for that!

How sexy would a Blizzard version of this look?

[TFC07]

CSN is reporting that there will be all Canadian soccer league in 2017.

I wonder if Toronto will get a team in Canadian league

[Cashcleaner]

^ This could work. Put a club in every major city and the peripheries of Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto. MLS will be the first tier for both Canadian and American teams, but we can have a strong domestic league at the tier below. Also, move Edmonton and Ottawa from the NASL and put them there as well. An 8-team league would probably work out well to start.

[mistercorporate]

Let's do this! Loving the explosion of soccer teams and leagues here in Canada (L1O, USL, Women's L1O, NASL and now moves towards a Canadian League), let the road trips begin!!