Minnesota gets NASL stay of execution, while Virginia readies expansion announcement By Steven Sandor Posted on October 30, 2012 1 0 591 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter David Downs The eight other current NASL teams are taking a wait-and-see attitude with the Minnesota Stars. Meanwhile, they’ll get ready to welcome the league’s newest franchise — from Northern Virginia. The 2011 NASL champs and 2012 finalists were supposed to have their fate decided at this past weekend’s Board of Governors meeting, but FC Edmonton sources confirmed that the league is now waiting on negotiations with potential buyer who would take over the league-owned team. Without the possible investor, the Governors would have had to vote on whether or not to keep funding the Stars for a third straight NASL season. Brian Quarstad had more on this on IMSoccer News on Monday (CLICK HERE), including confirmation from outgoing commissioner David Downs that a scheduled vote on the fate of the Stars was never taken. Of course, the new owner would have to meet the United States Soccer Federation rules for team ownership, which includes having to put up US$750,000 in security. But, NASL fans will have to wait at least another week before hearing any more about possible expansion teams. The New York Cosmos will move league membership to nine (provided the white knight saves the day for the Stars) for 2013, and Downs had earlier told The 11 (CLICK HERE) that two more expansion sites were expected to be announced around the time of the B of G meeting. One of the two looks to be ready to go: It’s been one of NASL’s most poorly kept secrets, but Northern Virginia will officially join Div. 2 next week. A press conference has been called for next Monday in Loudoun County, and the naslvirginia.com site has just been registered. There had been some talk about seeing the team start in 2013, but 2014 looks to be safer bet (when Ottawa joins NASL). For the second time in less than a year, NASL will move into what is essentially an MLS marketplace, as Loudon County is a stone’s throw from Washington, D.C. But news of the second NASL expansion team, which is believed to be in the midwest, has been scant.
