http://nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=2779

NEW YORK (July 12, 2012) ̶ The North American Soccer League (NASL) today announced that the New York Cosmos have joined the NASL and will begin league play in the 2013 season. The NASL Board of Governors unanimously approved the Cosmos’ membership during its meetings this week in New York.

It’s been nearly 30 years since the Cosmos, an iconic global soccer brand, have played in a professional league. Yet throughout the absence from the pitch, the franchise has maintained a loyal and dedicated fan following. The team expects to announce more details about its stadium, ticket sales, soccer operations staff and players in the near future.

Over two days of meetings, that concluded today, the NASL Board of Governors also addressed a variety of league matters, including hearing presentations from a record number of potential expansion team owners and discussing possible changes to the league’s competition structure for upcoming seasons.

The Cosmos ownership group New York Cosmos LLC is an international partnership led by industry veteran Seamus O’Brien. They are committed to putting the brand back at the forefront of North American soccer. The New York Cosmos began play in 1971, spending fourteen seasons in the earlier NASL, winning five Soccer Bowl trophies and bringing some of the biggest names in world soccer history to North America. The Cosmos last won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1982.

"We are extremely proud to welcome the New York Cosmos to the North American Soccer League," said NASL Commissioner David Downs. "As we continue to expand the league and help grow professional soccer in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, the Cosmos brand and their strong ownership group are a perfect fit with us. The history of the Cosmos and soccer in the New York City area are intertwined. Bringing the Cosmos into the NASL is a logical next step as we embrace the heritage of our own past and now reunite the Cosmos, Strikers, Rowdies and several markets with ties to the NASL’s early days. Most importantly, we look forward to the Cosmos enhancing the quality of our league both on and off the field.”

Seamus O’Brien, Chairman of the New York Cosmos, said, “We are delighted to return to our historic home with the NASL and bring the New York Cosmos back to the playing field. We are committed to running the franchise with the highest possible standards on and off the field, and look forward to putting together a competitive and entertaining team our fans can be proud of.”

Aaron Davidson, the Chairman of the NASL Board of Governors, stated, “The team owners are thrilled to welcome the Cosmos back to their birthplace and home, the NASL. The Cosmos ownership group’s decision to join the NASL is the ultimate validation of our efforts to bring back the league which laid the foundation for soccer in North America. We look forward to respectfully honoring the legacy of the NASL and Cosmos of the 1970’s – 1980’s as we grow today’s NASL and play our role in driving the further development and maturation of soccer in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.”

That's cool... but I worry about what it means for the Stars' future.

Technically the league is supposed to have 10 teams starting next year according to the original sanctioning, combined with the three year plan for league ownership I think we're on pretty solid footing for 2013.

Maybe another MLS hopeful signing up for NASL will light a fire under the Wilfs... assuming they are in any way serious about MLS.

This news combined with the MLS stadium plans in Queens makes me wonder if we can start drawing conclusions (err, making wild speculations)?

I don't see this being a very good thing for the Stars. Even with the 10 team deal as mentioned by Jesse we have seen the league get waivers for these clauses.

Lame-duck team with the spectre of the Vikings on the horizon.

NASL: We have an announcement to make.

Dark Clouds: Dooooooooooooooooooom.

JJE and Rook...it sounds as if Ziggy may be serious about an MLS team.
If for no other reason than to put butts in seats over the summer when the Vikes aren't playing.

I read something on different sports themed message board, about a possible retractable roof for the new stadium. The extra $115 or $125 million for that would come out of Ziggy's pocket.
The Vikes and whatever stadium commission get put in place on the new stadium design, are/will be looking into this further.

I forget where I read this, but it does make sense to try and put a retractable roof on the place for those nice fall Sunday afternoons. And if you do that why not bring in an MLS team too.

Jesse, check out the first line of this article:

"For Minnesota soccer fans, Zygi Wilf might be the Grim Reaper."

http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2012/07/minnesota_stars_ceo_optimistic_vikings_stadium_deal.php

Wow. How did I miss that article. Ugh!

Again what I read was on a message board somewhere so I can't be sure how accurate it was.