NATIONAL INDOOR SOCCER LEAGUE
WILL BEGIN PLAY IN NOVEMBER
Five Teams Will Be Part of the Inaugural NISL Season
The National Indoor Soccer League, the
newest incarnation of indoor soccer in North America, has been created
and will begin the 2008-09 season in mid-November. The NISL was formed
after the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) dissolved in May and
includes four former MISL teams. The NISL will operate under a
reformed business model that transitions away from the MISL’s
single-entity structure and provides greater efficiencies that will
allow for long-term growth and expansion of the sport.
The NISL will consist of five member
clubs including the Baltimore Blast, La Raza de Monterrey, Orlando
Sharks, Philadelphia KiXX (all of the former MISL) and the Rockford
(Illinois) Rampage (the 2007-08 American Indoor Soccer League
champions). With the Baltimore Blast and the Philadelphia KiXX, the
NISL will feature two of the most successful former MISL teams.
Baltimore defeated Monterrey to win the 2008 MISL Championship and the
Blast and KiXX combined to win six of the last seven titles. In
addition to the teams’ on-field successes, Baltimore and Philadelphia
have led the MISL in attendance each of the last four seasons.
“The birth of the National Indoor Soccer
League represents a focused move toward establishing a strong group of
owners, executives and players who are committed to developing the NISL
as the top level of play in indoor soccer for generations,” said Sharks
team owner Sham Maharaj. “I’m excited to finally see this vision move
forward.”
“Our fans will again enjoy the world class athleticism and great
entertainment of the Sharks,” continued team president Rich Bradley.
“A lot of work has gone into getting our foundation right, and today is
a day to celebrate a great future in Orlando and throughout the indoor
soccer world.”
Important Information:
- Each NISL team will play an
18-game conference schedule (nine home games/nine away games) beginning
in mid-November and concluding the first weekend in April. The Sharks
will also play an out-of-conference schedule which includes a home and
away series with former MISL member (now PASL-PRO member) California
Cougars.
-
The complete 2008-09 schedule and playoff format will be released in late September.
- The
NISL will use the same rules as the MISL which featured a
multiple-point scoring system, four 15-minute quarters and unlimited
substitutions.
- The
League has formed a working relationship with the United Soccer Leagues
(USL) and will become a member of the United States Soccer Federation
(USSF).
