What would you think about a TFC Indoor team

[Red CB Toronto]

The game of indoor pro soccer in North America is currently in transition, with MISL folding and the teams splitting into two leagues with different structures, the National Indoor Soccer League and the Extreme Soccer League, What would you think about TFC fielding an indoor team? Would you support it, would it fill your TFC fix during the off-season. I know indoor soccer has had a less than stellar past in our city. The reason I am asking is because the owner of New Jersey in the XSL also owns the New Jersey and talked about other NHL owners eventually becoming part of the league.

From the Sports Business Journal

The indoor soccer divorce is final.

Nearly four months after owners pulled the plug on the Major Indoor Soccer League, the seven remaining teams have formed two indoor leagues. The National Indoor Soccer League announced its formation last week with three former MISL teams, and the Xtreme Soccer League will announce its formation with four ex-MISL teams Tuesday.

The split was the result of differences in how a future indoor league should be structured. The NISL group favored a franchise structure, while the XSL faction favored a single-entity organization.

The NISL will use a traditional franchise structure, with no league office or commissioner. The front office of its five respective teams will administer the league business, and referees will be negotiated through the U.S. Soccer Federation. As for national sponsorship, owners said that wasn’t relevant with just five teams.

Indoor soccer league split
Xtreme Soccer League
Chicago Storm
Detroit Ignition
Milwaukee Wave
New Jersey Ironmen

National Indoor Soccer League
Baltimore Blast
La Raza de Monterrey (Mexico)
Orlando Sharks
Philadelphia KiXX
Rockford (Ill.) Rampage

“Once other cities come into the league, we’ll decide how to handle that,” said Philadelphia KiXX owner Jeff Rotwitt. “It may be we have some of our most experienced and savvy general managers deal with it.”

The XSL will have a central office in Chicago with four employees and a commissioner, who is expected to be named this week. The league office will perform all business functions for the teams, including marketing, accounting, team travel and player contracts. The teams will manage game operations and local ticket and sponsorship sales.

The league office will be underwritten by team operators, who all invested equity to support the league for five years, said Chicago Storm COO Brian Loftin.

While dueling leagues historically face challenges (see the Champ Car-Indy Racing League split), owners of both indoor leagues are optimistic. Both expect to announce the addition of new teams before the 2009-10 season.

Rotwitt said that representatives from Charlotte, Cincinnati and Houston attended the NISL’s press conference last week. Jeff Vanderbeek, owner of the New Jersey Devils and the XSL’s New Jersey Ironmen, said the XSL is in talks with owners and arenas and that some NHL owners “eventually will be in the cards.”

[nascarguy]

cool idea

[Red CB Toronto]

I know it is not soccer in its true form but it would be a good form of entertainment, the Impact also played in the NPSL for a few seasons.

[C.Ronaldo]

more soccer = more better


I love indoor soccer with the boards, but perhaps they should look into a futsal type ball.

Or maybe bring in futsal, as its growing so well in other continents.

[Kenny/Boozemaster/Lenny/togetherness/Roc le Roc]

Its a long way to April , anything would be good .. But I think most guys like to go home and train and catch up on hometown stuff

[Damien]

I'd go to some games... if it beat going to see the marlies

[Detroit_TFC]

I watched a few MISL games on FSC last year. Indoor soccer as done by MISL (now NISL/XSL) = a gooey mixture of cheese and cornball.

[Canadian Blue]

ridiculous........you guys bithch about the turf yet you want our players to play on turf all year round?

[Hitcho]

why don't we start a TFC badminton club as well?

not in favour.

[Kenny/Boozemaster/Lenny/togetherness/Roc le Roc]

Oooops I forgot about the turf issue .. Thats true , bad idea

[mighty_torontofc_2008]

The game of indoor pro soccer in North America is currently in transition, with MISL folding and the teams splitting into two leagues with different structures, the National Indoor Soccer League and the Extreme Soccer League, What would you think about TFC fielding an indoor team? Would you support it, would it fill your TFC fix during the off-season. I know indoor soccer has had a less than stellar past in our city. The reason I am asking is because the owner of New Jersey in the XSL also owns the New Jersey and talked about other NHL owners eventually becoming part of the league.

From the Sports Business Journal

The indoor soccer divorce is final.

Nearly four months after owners pulled the plug on the Major Indoor Soccer League, the seven remaining teams have formed two indoor leagues. The National Indoor Soccer League announced its formation last week with three former MISL teams, and the Xtreme Soccer League will announce its formation with four ex-MISL teams Tuesday.

The split was the result of differences in how a future indoor league should be structured. The NISL group favored a franchise structure, while the XSL faction favored a single-entity organization.

The NISL will use a traditional franchise structure, with no league office or commissioner. The front office of its five respective teams will administer the league business, and referees will be negotiated through the U.S. Soccer Federation. As for national sponsorship, owners said that wasn’t relevant with just five teams.

Indoor soccer league split
Xtreme Soccer League
Chicago Storm
Detroit Ignition
Milwaukee Wave
New Jersey Ironmen

National Indoor Soccer League
Baltimore Blast
La Raza de Monterrey (Mexico)
Orlando Sharks
Philadelphia KiXX
Rockford (Ill.) Rampage

“Once other cities come into the league, we’ll decide how to handle that,” said Philadelphia KiXX owner Jeff Rotwitt. “It may be we have some of our most experienced and savvy general managers deal with it.”

The XSL will have a central office in Chicago with four employees and a commissioner, who is expected to be named this week. The league office will perform all business functions for the teams, including marketing, accounting, team travel and player contracts. The teams will manage game operations and local ticket and sponsorship sales.

The league office will be underwritten by team operators, who all invested equity to support the league for five years, said Chicago Storm COO Brian Loftin.

While dueling leagues historically face challenges (see the Champ Car-Indy Racing League split), owners of both indoor leagues are optimistic. Both expect to announce the addition of new teams before the 2009-10 season.

Rotwitt said that representatives from Charlotte, Cincinnati and Houston attended the NISL’s press conference last week. Jeff Vanderbeek, owner of the New Jersey Devils and the XSL’s New Jersey Ironmen, said the XSL is in talks with owners and arenas and that some NHL owners “eventually will be in the cards.”

i brought up the same question with a poll involved and 98% were against it, i think you will find the same reaction.

[Troll]

I wouldn't watch it. Part of the appeal is the build up leading up to the opener. Too much football all year round would take some of the lustre away. Also allows me to focus on Chelsea and Sporting.

[AL-MO]

NO!

Indoor Soccer is a joke. It is an activity that is for men's and women's recreational players in the winter.

It is not, nor should it be treated as a professional sport.

[Barbarez]

no thank you...mls quality soccer is enough for me...

[AL-MO]

no thank you...mls quality soccer is enough for me...

yeah Barb, can you imagine a player banking the ball off the boards to another player wide open and then misses the net entirely! But wait, the ball doesn't go out of bounds, it just bounces back into play and everything continues! Soccer at its finest!!!

[Oldtimer]

mlsintoronto said last year (when the same question was raised) that it's a no-go.

[Kenny/Boozemaster/Lenny/togetherness/Roc le Roc]

Back in the day there was some classic 17 to 14 games at Maple leaf gardens with the Blizzard kicking butt..

[Carts]

I'm strongly against it...

Carts...

[Smuttynose]

I wouldn't watch it. Part of the appeal is the build up leading up to the opener. Too much football all year round would take some of the lustre away. Also allows me to focus on Chelsea and Sporting.

i completely agree... well, minus the whole Chelse thing...

[Mrs. Workie]

I watched a few MISL games on FSC last year. Indoor soccer as done by MISL (now NISL/XSL) = a gooey mixture of cheese and cornball.

Ugh- it's like Lacrosse, Basketball and Soccer inbred and had a kid- it's terrible.....

[Detroit_TFC]

Ugh- it's like Lacrosse, Basketball and Soccer inbred and had a kid- it's terrible.....

What's worse is that the Detroit franchise charged $20 for the cheapest ticket plus more for parking. Attendance was pretty good from what I understand but it seems absolutely ridiculous to me.

[Azerban]

i hate the very idea of its existence because i take the game of 22 hirelings kicking a ball around a rectangular field entirely too seriously

i mean, how does

yeah Barb, can you imagine a player banking the ball off the boards to another player wide open and then misses the net entirely! But wait, the ball doesn't go out of bounds, it just bounces back into play and everything continues!

not sound at least a little bit fun to watch

i mean it's not association football but jeez i'd go for 10 bucks

[Azerban]

why don't we start a TFC badminton club as well?

yeah i know i mean can you imagine if barcelona had a figure skating team or bayern had a chess team

how fucking amateur would they seem

[Toronto_Bhoy]

For those of you who are new…football is an outdoor game that should be played on natural grass in the sun, rain and sleet…

I'm not that familiar with the "inside" version…frankly it sounds rather counter to the "beautiful game" but knock yourselves out.

[Azerban]

For those of you who are new…football is an outdoor game that should be played on natural grass

hmmm

[NateDoGG]

kind of off topic but, i have always wanted to know why the mls doesnt have a lower girls league, i thought we were gonna see a toronto fc ladies team almost right away

[Bluenose13]

For those of you who are new…football is an outdoor game that should be played on natural grass in the sun, rain and sleet…

I'm not that familiar with the "inside" version…frankly it sounds rather counter to the "beautiful game" but knock yourselves out.

All of the big teams in the SPL & EPL have teams in the Masters indoor league in Scotland & England.

It has become very popular back home & is growing all the time.

http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/p...322730,00.html

[RedsYNWA]

Beat It

[mighty_torontofc_2008]

kind of off topic but, i have always wanted to know why the mls doesnt have a lower girls league, i thought we were gonna see a toronto fc ladies team almost right away

No thanks....the Lynx have a ladies league team...let them have it...lets stick to real football.

[Cashcleaner]

I kinda like watching indoor soccer/futsal, though I don't think Toronto FC would see any benefit in putting a squad together for it. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's not a pro sport, because plenty of soccer players partake in it during their regular off-season to stay fit and work on skills.

I think in the case of Toronto, it's unneccesary and probably wouldn't generate enough interest to make it lucrative.