NASL asks supporters’ groups if they want to see format change, winter season

The NASL has sent out a poll (or is in the process of sending it out ) to supporters’ groups across the league’s markets.

And the survey indicates that NASL is seriously contemplating a change to the competition format. The survey, which was sent out to FC Edmonton and Minnesota United supporters on Wednesday, asks if fans like the current Soccer Bowl format or would like to see the competition widened.

The 11 has obtained the survey’s web address — and it asks “The NASL is considering a proposal to broaden the competition for the overall annual NASL championship and Soccer Bowl trophy by creating a four-team competition. This competition would commence at the conclusion of the regular season. The participants would be the respective Spring and Fall season champions and the teams that boast the next two best overall combined (both seasons) records.”

Last year, the NASL changed the format; a spring season champion hosted the fall season champion. The format had its critics; the Atlanta Silverbacks won the spring season and the right to host the Soccer Bowl. And, as feared, the Silverbacks endured a lame-duck fall season in which then-coach Brian Haynes publicly aired his concerns over the format — and how difficult it was to motivate his team to win games in the fall when his players knew they’d already cemented a spot in the Soccer Bowl. Haynes is no longer with the Silverbacks.

The New York Cosmos, which entered the league in time for the fall season’s kickoff, won the big game. Of course, that created more debate: About the legitimacy of a champion that had only played one of the two split “seasons.”

This year, NASL announced a plan to play just a nine-game spring season, with an 18-game fall season to come after a World Cup break.

In a 10-team league, the spring season will see every team get one date each against their rivals. But, an odd number of games means that five teams will play more home than road dates, and vice versa. For example, FC Edmonton will play just four home dates in the spring.

Is it a fair way to determine the team that will host the Soccer Bowl?

The league has also asked its supporters if they would want NASL to switch to the international calendar, and play through at least part of the winter. Of course, with teams in Minnesota, Edmonton and Ottawa, there’s a question if a winter schedule is even logistically possible.

The 11 has learned that this is one of several surveys that the NASL has commissioned through a third-party marketing firm.

When asked about the survey, FC Edmonton brass told The 11 that “Our club and the league values fan interaction and opinion so that they can contribute to the decision-making process.”

The NASL Board of Governors are set to meet next week.