Well, if we let less teams into the playoffs, that would save at least a week, allowing the same number of games to be played during the regular season, while adding a mid-season break when the tournament could be held.

And don't forget NIKE. It could be the "NIKE" Tournament, sponsored by NIKE. Let NIKE be deeply involved in recruit/selecting the foreign teams and in promotion.

It seems to me that we want NIKE to invest heavily in the USL and greatly improve the quality of the league. Perhaps this tournament would give Nike the incentive to give it a try?

I'm not sure the point of this thread is to solicit answers from other forum members! There's a whole rest of the site for that.

I was thinking the same thing...but then again, the point of this thread probably isn't to agree with the people who point out that fact....like I just did.

Thanks for the questions so far. Tim is planning to answer them next week after he returns from a trip regarding a special USL announcement... so you have just a few more days to get your questions in.

Over the next few days, however, I will tackle a few of them for the first edition of Question of the Week.

Thank you for this opportunity.
I think it has been funny to see how helpful people have tried to be in answering questions for the USL.

I hope people will patiently wait and see how the league will answer these questions and not how they would answer them.

1. How much money did Umbro receive for selling the league to Nike?
2. What is the money cap per year that Nike is going to put into the league?
3. How much money per team is Nike going to delve out to the first division teams?
4. Will it be in cash or in kits, merchandise and other miscellaneous equipment?
Or will it be all 4?
5. What percentage of the League does Nike own?

Also In the next few years, what cities, might we see new expansion teams in the USL Divisions 1 and 2?

In case your missed this from a few months ago; Nike purchased Umbro. It's not like Umbro sold their share in the USL.


http://www.forbes.com/markets/2007/10/23...l?partner=links


Here's my questions for Tim.

It seems like the USL 1 is at a cross roads, where some of the bigger clubs are looking to possibly move to MLS. It sounds like the USL is developing more of a long term growth and operations strategy for this level. Can he share some of that with us. What would make up an ideal market and ownership group for the USL 1.

At the NSCAA convention FSC had a interview with Mr. Marcos. In that he briefly talked about two things that seemed some what new.

1. The ability to sell younger talented players on to international clubs.

2. Direct foreign investment in clubs in the USL.

Could you provide additional comments on these?

thanks

On the USL website RSL Arizona and RSL Utah do not show as Super Y league teams. Have these two Real Salt Lake affiliates chosen to not compete in the Super Y league or have they quite competing altogether? Will there be a Rocky Mountain Division of the Super Y league at the Boys U-16 and U-17 levels?

My question concerns the status of the California Victory. There is discussion on the teams possible return in 2009. Since Austin has now joined, and there is some talk about future expansion on the west coast, is there any progress being made with current negotiations with the franchise and is there any possibility that other investors could come forward from the outside that want to see a team kept here in SF. I would think that the USL's efforts to kept the west coast a viable option would include San Francisco. Thank you.

USL should, if they haven't done so already, contact the new American owners of Derby County, who've mentioned they're interested in starting a Rams US club. I saw MLS mentioned as a possibility, but USL would be a much less onerous investment, with growth opportunities if they do well.

My Question for Tim Holt;

The home fields of Crystal Palace Baltimore and Real Maryland FC will be just 40 miles apart this season. How is the league approaching this? I am under the impression that new teams are required to be 50 miles apart. If both Real Maryland and CPB become successful this season, could future distance requirement become altered to accommodate the possibility of local rivalries?